My Co-Worker Bridesmaid

My bridesmaid I work with, Carrie!

Carrie and her oldest daughter at a school event (picture provided by Carrie)

Carrie and I met on a fateful day four years ago when I came in for my second interview at the accounting firm I currently work for. Over the years we've become good friends as we've worked together (those tax seasons can be grueling). Sometimes I get to hang out with her and her two daughters (who are quite the hams, I must say).

This one is a trooper though, day in and day out getting to listen to my ramblings, my out of left field questions and my general silliness. In turn, she reminds me of 80's songs I haven't heard in ages, Disney movies I need to revisit and why she and the other girls should wear tie dye dresses (mostly to piss Justin off, lol). I know that Carrie will be a huge help the day of the wedding keeping everything (and everyone) running.

 Carrie and her youngest daughter (picture provided by Carrie

As I was writing this post, I realized that Carrie and I don't have any pictures of us together (which needs to be remedied soon). Although there are a few with me and the girls (one in particular of me and the youngest when she was 3 months old and a look of "get me out of this girl's arms!" on her face).  Nonetheless, she's one of my closest confidants and I can't wait to see her by my side on mine and Justin's big day!

My First Best Friend in Life Bridesmaid

My first best friend in life Bridesmaid, Cassie!

Cassie with her (almost) husband Ryan and his daughter Alexia

Cassie and I have known each other from birth practically. We grew up in the same church and lived no more than a quarter mile apart.

Cassie and I in the "horse show" at the fair when we were 5 (personal photo)

My mom babysat her and her brother Craig before Cassie and I started school, so my normal 4 year old routine was waking up before daylight, riding a minute up the road and then climbing into bed with Cassie to go back to sleep for a bit. Our days were spent playing, swimming and trying to "run away" (although Mom did catch us once).

Middle School Dance Team (personal photo via Brock Studio)

I lost touch with Cassie a bit during high school, although when we did get a chance to talk it was always as if no time had gone by. After graduation, we went our separate ways to college and several years later I ran into her at a high school football game. Our friendship was rekindled and we've been back together so to speak for several years now. And she was even there the night that Justin and I became official.

(personal photo)

Cassie herself has some happy things to celebrate in her life. She just finished up her MBA, and later this month she'll be getting married on a beautiful beach in the Dominican Republic, gaining a step-daughter in the process and then coming home with her new husband to celebrate with family and friends. I can't wait to see the video of the ceremony! She also completes what I lovingly call my group of "Married Maids", seeings how once she says "I do", all of my girls will be wives :)

Choosing my Girls

I think that every girl has a list of bridesmaids in her head from early on in life. As you grow, as life changes, new friends are introduced and old friends are lost to time, distance and just simply growing apart. So it's only natural for that list to change throughout the years, no matter how sad it may be in the end.

I knew from the first verbalized murmurings of Justin and I wanting to be married someday that my decision relating to my girls was serious business. On one of the biggest stepping stone days of my life, I wanted those closest to me there to help hold my hand and steady me along the way.

In some respects, it was a tough decision. There were some people I'd always imagined by my side that no longer played a part in my every day life. And then there were those that although our times together were far between what they used to be, I still cared for them and our friendship greatly.

After months (literally) of back and forths, what if's and "but I's", I finally made my decisions and put together a pretty rockin' group of girls. Each one represents a part of me, of my life that I treasure and genuinely brings happiness to my soul. And since each of them is so extraordinary, I'm going to give them all their own little post :) But not before I tell how I asked them to take part in mine and Justin's special day.

I had grand visions of ways to ask my potential bridesmaids if they'd like to sign on when it came time. Make cute cards, write poems, bring them all together for supper together and ask them at once. As per usual, my grand ideas and my actual putting one foot in front of the other to make it happen didn't quite meet in the middle and I managed to eek out a couple cutesy slideshows to ask 2 of the girls. Another got asked over the phone (simply because her work schedule was crazy and I wasn't going to be seeing her in person in the near future) and the fourth happened while at work (she's my supervisor of sorts). After being on the receiving end of an awesome bridesmaid package by my Matron of Honor earlier in the year, I felt slightly inadequate, but I promised myself I would make up for it with fun later on :)

Stay tuned for the introductions of some of the prettiest girls in the world...