Need A Substitute For Christmas, Any takers?

Wedding preparations

Heather's pov

“How do I look?” I asked, stepping out of the changing booth. We were at Lovely Bride, and yes, you guessed it—I was trying on my wedding dress! I’m getting married this weekend! Not just any weekend, but the first weekend of the festive season. Amazing, right?

My best friend Sally looked at me, eyes brimming with tears, and I rolled my eyes.

“Skip the drama, Sal. We've been through this before,” I said, trying to stifle the nervous flutter in my stomach.

She laughed, shaking her head. “Well, alright then. I thought you wanted me to give you the full splendor of a dramatic reaction—your best friend seeing you in your wedding dress for the first time.”

I raised an eyebrow, but couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips. “Well?”

She studied me for a moment, and even though she'd seen me in this dress before—heck, she'd helped me pick it out—there was a nervousness creeping in. This was the final fitting before Sally and I met the girls for my little bridal shower. I hadn’t planned on doing a fitting today, but the nerves were eating me alive. I kept nagging Sally and even Johnathan—soon-to-be husband and the love of my life. He’s so understanding, he even agreed to drop us off on his way to his bachelor party.

Sally stood up and walked closer, placing her hand on her chin like she was analyzing a piece of art. “Could you do a little spin for me, please?”

I did as she asked, slowly spinning in the gown. As I twirled, the fabric fluttered around me like a soft breeze, the layers of chiffon lifting off the ground with a light whooshing sound. For a moment, it felt like I could float away.

The dress was a beautiful blend of modern and classic. My parents are very traditional, while Johnathan's family is more contemporary, so we had to find something that bridged both worlds. The fabric, soft as clouds, hugged my body gently before flaring into a flowing A-line, light and airy, like it was made for dancing.

I admired the delicate lace that covered the bodice, the intricate patterns growing from the sweetheart neckline—elegant but not over the top. The off-the-shoulder straps rested lightly on my skin, adding a subtle grace to the whole look. I spun again, watching as the fabric caught the light, tiny crystals sparkling like a thousand stars woven into the lace, glowing with every movement.

“You look fantastic, Heather. Everyone will drop dead when they see you at the wedding,” Sally said after my final twirl.

I chuckled. “Oh no, we don’t want them dropping dead. Who’s going to enjoy the reception if they’re all dead?”

“Tch, you know what I mean!” She smacked her lips in playful frustration. “They’ll love it. Don’t stress about your parents. They won’t think the dress is weird—they’ll love it, okay? And as for Johnathan... he was swept off his feet the first time you wore that dress, so this weekend, he’ll probably be swept off his feet a hundred times by his gorgeous bride.”

Sally's warm smile reached her eyes, and for a moment, I felt at peace. The dress was perfect, everything was falling into place. But deep down, the knots in my stomach wouldn’t go away. This weekend was going to change everything. But was I ready? I was really nervous!