The Nest

More than a bride

Posted Tuesday, June 19, 2007 6:13 PM

Before I had this ring on my finger I was usually able to go through an entire day without using any of the following words: wedding, bride, invitation, fiance, honeymoon, ketubbah.

No. Really. I could do it.

Now when I meet people I’m not “Shoshana, the sisterhood board member,” "Shoshana, the copy editor" or even "Shoshana, the Disneyphile." I’m introduced as "Shoshana – she’s getting married.”

I know people around me are dying to know every detail about the wedding: where I am in the planning process, have I picked out this vendor or that, when my shower is, how many people are in my bridal party. And I love to tell them, but I sometimes feel that’s all some people want to know about -- and as soon as I change topics, they lose interest.

I know it is cool to talk about our blue, white and silver color scheme (because it will be really pretty), but you can also ask me who I plan on voting for in 2008, what I think of what’s happening in Israel and even if am I going to watch the new season of "Big Brother."

While my fiancé does get asked the same questions, he can luckily say: That's Shoshana’s department – ask her (thanks, honey).

The other problem is that when I do talk about the wedding plans with anyone who isn’t also a bride-to-be, I start to slip into bridal lingo and acronyms: FI, FILs, STDs, MOH, RD, HM, DOC and OOT– that would be fiancé, future in-laws, save-the-dates, maid of honor, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon, day-of cooridnator and out-of-towners. It really is another language that in a few years will likely have its own dictionary.

For those who make an effort to engage in nonwedding chat, I speak on behalf of many brides-to-be when I say "thank you" Of course there are some brides-to-be who think about their wedding day and night and actually have no idea there even IS a presidential election next year. Just look at them and, using one of the handy-dandy acronyms above ask: what are you doing about your __________. You can keep em talking for hours.

Meanwhile I’ll be in the corner practicing my new name: Shoshana She’s Getting Married. I wonder if I should start filling out forms with that. The love of my life is Adam Shoshana’s Fiancé. His middle name is my first name, but we’re going to make it work.