Every week is Bridal week from my balcony

‘I wonder if she can see us staring directly at her,’ we chuckled. I made it even more obvious that she was my muse for this article as I switched sides on my balcony. To one direction, I see the lake. The other, this weekend’s first bride doing her photoshoot.

I couldn’t be more grateful for our balcony views, really. We were just talking about how not only do we get 360 views of the hotels, condos, restaurants, and lakeviews. But we also get front row seats to every weekend’s three-in-a-row weddings! Last weekend, an Indian, Persian, and Italian wedding—this weekend, our first bride is blonde.

We first noticed the woman in white when Frank was eating a banana on the couch. I reckon this is perfect comedic timing for the fresh bride and my boyfriend to make eye contact. Alas, she’s starting off the bridal shoot with a bigger smile… and an organic banana—I mean, laugh, for her photos. Yes, ladies, this is certainly one for the books.

I wait for her to make her comeback into my field of view, but all I see is her gorgeous tulle veil swept up by the wind in the corner of my eye. The breeze really was a paid actor.

[Oh… here she comes. Nope, just the photographer in black. Her hair is tightly pulled back into a classy bun as her counterpart photographer wipes off a bead of sweat. Yes, people! Get those angles.]

I casually glance up to renew my inspiration, but no view of the bride just yet. Instead, I take each pause to think of my intention for this article. Will I write about bridal designers to look out for? Should I pitch my opinion on cathedral versus mantilla veils? Would I dare write about non-traditional wedding gown colors? Right now, I reminisce about the smile on face and the simplicity of this bride’s look.

Last week, the brides were more traditional. Beaded gowns, long trains, and some ornate jewelry from our Indian bride. This week, ‘feathers’ is the word. Her tanned skin contrasts beautiful with her pristine white dress.

I notice that her hair is down with loose curls as she looks over the balcony to where the photographers point. A candid shot, I can only imagine… If only she knew I was writing about her.

She’s got a perfect fit-and-flair gown with an off-shoulder neckline. Is it thrifted? Is it new? Is it borrowed? I can’t quite tell from my vantage view. Though I don’t have a clear sight on any detailing, it appears to be a beaded gown with some light feathering. Around her neck is a glistening dainty tennis necklace. It goes perfectly with the neckline of her dress… and the early afternoon sun.

I pause as she returns inside. Beyond the bridal highlights and choice of veil, I wonder what their story is. Sure, I can wait until they do the lakefront photoshoot to pinpoint her choices of heels for the night. Is she a strappy heels or sneakers kind of bride? I ponder her choice of lipstick and the cut of ring she got for a moment until my mind drifts to deeper thoughts.

At this moment, out of my sight, she’s in the middle of the best day of her life. And I am in the middle of thinking how lucky I am to live here—to witness brides every single weekend marry the loves of their lives. Each bride, no matter her past or future, is feeling her most in-love right now. And we get front row seats on the mood, the magic, and, eventually, the questionable choice of music.

I wonder how she feels right now—sometime between the photoshoots and the party they’ll have shortly. Ah, to be in her bridal shoes…

I look up and notice the bridesmaids are dressed in baby blue. It’s a fitting color for this perfect July evening. A waterfront wedding at the most exquisite banquet. This bride’s something blue isn’t just a detail, it’s her best friends, her sisters, her cousins. I’ve thought a million times of who I would have in my bridal party, and as a bird lands on her balcony, I imagine just for a moment if I were in my bridal shoes.

All I see is the sun shining on the closed-curtain videos. The trees sway and I sit here, thinking of my own wedding one day. Will I choose a sleek dress? A fit and flair? Will I opt for a nude lipstick and highlights? Will my hair be up or down like hers? I think of the moments that will be captured, like hers.

Every girl dreams of her wedding. None, like me, can ever imagine what it will amount to.  

It’s been about ten minutes since this weekend’s first bride has left my sight. I’m lost in the daydream of my own wedding one day. My banana-eating-bride-gleaming boyfriend is ready to workout. So I get ready to close the laptop and hope for one last glance of our Saturday-night-bride. If you told me we would still be living together after 12 years and five homes, and that I would get to write about the weddings I witness every weekend… The inner girl in me who always dreamt this dream would bow at your veil.

But now, I sit here humbly awaiting my turn—gathering inspiration from the brides I see from my balcony, knowing I’m (metaphorically) closer than I’ve ever been. I think one last time to whether my bridesmaids will be my something blue, whether we’ll get married in the July sun, and what kind of veil I will wear… And just thank God that love is in the air and every week is bridal week from our balcony.

What kind of bride do you dream of being—classic, feathered, or something entirely unique?

xx,

Sarah Elle