Part 40: Finally A Bride

 I begged Brody to come home for Christmas in 2022. I didn't want to be apart and I wanted him to experience Christmas the Leavitt-style. It was his first Christmas since being home after his mission, so I was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen but I still hoped. 

On December 20th, the night before I left for Christmas in Abbotsford, Brody picked me up from work. Our plan was to make sweet potatoes and watch The Santa Clause. When we got to his house, he disappeared almost immediately. I ended up in the kitchen making sweet potato casserole with his mom while Brody was nowhere to be found. I was happy to spend time with Anita, but I had also been looking forward to being with Brody since I was leaving the next day and wouldn't see him for a week. After I put the casserole in the oven, Anita told me that he was downstairs in the basement getting the movie ready. 

As I turned the corner down the stairs, I saw that the lights had been shut off. There was a path of twinkly white lights and I instantly brought my hand to my mouth. I knew exactly what was happening. At the end of the romantic path of lights, was Brody. He stood in front a row of popcorn bags, each one with a different letter on it, spelling out, "Will You Marry Me?" The bags were lit up by little lights and there he stood, ring box in hand, with the biggest smile on his face. "Becca, will you marry me?" He said as I sped walked towards him. "Yes!" I said as I walked up to him. I answered before I even got to him. I knew my answer nine months ago when he called me in that airport. I flung myself into his arms, crying and saying "no way" over and over again. 

He had picked out the ring all on his own and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I was sad to leave him for Christmas, but I was excited to show off my new bling. Everyone was so excited for me, and I was so happy for myself. There is something about going to church in Abbotsford, back in the place where so many things went wrong for me. It felt refreshing to come back, not as the girl who once lied to everyone and crashed out over a broken heart, but a mature adult who was about to settle down with her husband. But anyways, everyone was very happy for me and greeted me with celebratory hugs. 

While I was home, I asked my three sisters, along with my cousins Erikka and Jordan, to be my bridesmaids. I booked a few appointments to go wedding dress shopping. I had to meet certain modesty lines for my dress, so our options were few and far between. As the day went on, it became less fun, and more stressful. Wedding dresses are expensive, and they don't make many dresses with sleeves and a high back. We found a dress at one store that met the modesty requirements. It was a high front and a high back with a cap sleeve. I felt extremely secure, almost to the point of suffocation. I smiled and said, "I love it!" Everyone cheered and rejoiced, but we still had one more appointment to go to. 

On our way to the next store, we all joked about how we were faking the staff out by trying on more dresses. I had already found my dress, and I wasn't budging. 

When we arrived at "Everything But The Groom" in Langley, BC, we sorted through the dresses, everyone picking different options for me to try on. I thought it was a bit of a waste, since I knew I would be buying the dress from the other store. Each dress I tried on, I would say, "but I still like the other one more" even though that wasn't truly how I felt. I really just wanted to avoid an expensive, stressful situation for my mom, who would be buying the dress. So imagine my surprise, when I put on a dress from off the rack, and it fit me perfectly and was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. As the bridal consultant left the room, my jaw dropped as I looked at my sisters and said, "This is my dress." It was cheaper than the other one, but didn't meet the modesty standards. My mom was not as excited as I was, as this dress would require alterations. I sent Brody's mom a photo and asked if it was something she felt like she could alter (she has years of seamstress experience) to which she agreed. 

My mom still wasn't convinced. As I walked down the mock aisle, and my sisters and Jordan hyped me up with their oos and ahhs, I knew that I felt way more comfortable and confident in this dress than I had in the last one. My mom's face said it all, she was not happy about this dress. I don't really blame her for her reaction. She was paying for it, and after all, it was going to take some work. She had already taken on so much for my wedding, and I wish I had been a bit more understanding. 

We had one more stop to make at David's Bridal. I have no problem saying the name of the store before I trash it online, because nobody should buy their wedding dress there. Not only was my experience awful, everyone I know that has bought their dress at David's Bridal, has had an awful experience. We walked in and they weren't expecting us. Once I told the consultant that I was open to any style of dress except a form fitting dress, she only brought me form fitting dresses. I would emerge from the fitting room in a dress that I already felt uncomfortable in, and the consultant would stare at me blankly. One of the few times I came out, it was so awkward that I just burst out laughing, followed by bursts of laughter from Jordan and Manda. I eventually just told them, "Thanks, we'll let you know" and we left. 

I ended up going back to Everything But The Groom and getting my dream dress. I assured my mom that it would all work out, and she accepted. It was everything I wanted. As someone who is always insecure about my body and clothes, it was a relief to find a dress to wear on the most important day of my life, that I felt completely confident in.