"Say Yes to the Dress" is one of my favorite bridal shows, and it brings a tear to my eye all the ideas I came up with to bring to life my third Itachi/Izumi fic. The happy couple is getting married, but not before facing some dramatic issues with the planning process over the smallest details, with each other, and amongst family. Told in Izumi's POV, SYTTD narrative perspective and in modern days.

Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto or Say Yes to the Dress.

Chapter One

Name, Proposal and Dress

My name is Izumi Miyazaki. I am twenty-eight years old, and I am getting married in five months.

I live in Konoha, Japan. Almost two centuries ago, it was a small village that slowly grew over time when modern days started taking over, and the old world becoming a thing of the past, specifically with the blood, sweat, tears and famine that dominated their ancestors. Today is no different, but not as brutal as back then.

Life is good to me and my fiancé. His name is Itachi Uchiha. He's the same age as me, and we've known each other basically all our lives.

The Uchiha are one of the oldest living families today, but the numbers are few these days. My mom is one of them, but my father was from outside, which had caused bad blood between her and her relatives. Somehow, it didn't shift to me, because it isn't my fault that I'm half Uchiha and half not. Plus, Mom isn't a direct cousin of my fiancé and his side of the family, which made things easier for us as we grew up from the time we were kids.

This is going to sound all too familiar to girls who've been there, but we were fourteen when we had our first kiss. I can remember having a crush on him for the longest time, and I took the risk in high school. Then he was really a girl's dream, with the long dark hair in a ponytail, captain of the football team and one of the honor roll - which I was also - and I knew I was really in love with him. I didn't care if it was adolescent hormones; I wanted to have him for life. Because my mom, Hazuki, said that telling a boy you liked him was like taking a jump into hot water. Burns may happen, but in the end was an amazing feeling.

Only the way I snatched him was me yelling at him after one after-school day of practice to KISS me for his entire team to see. I can remember him staring at me in shock - seen in his eyes only - before he simply turned away, and I couldn't stand it and ran up to him, shouting at him that I wasn't going to let him get away unless he kissed me. So, he stalked back my way, throwing his helmet to the green lawn and grabbed the back of my head before taking me and dipping me, laying it on me in a simple peck. Sparks flew.

I might as well have risked our friendship because we talked about this once before. Why change what we had and turn it into something complicated?

But it didn't happen that way. It was the best thing to happen, and the rest is history.

All of which brings me to the present. After high school, Itachi went off to the army services and I went to community college to become a professional photographer. We'd gone our separate ways in that time, but when we both came back, we reconnected. He's my first love and last, as far as I am concerned.

He's in service to his country, the pride of his family, and one of the greatest men I've known. He doesn't always show his emotions, but with me, it's another story. We could live in a shoe box as long as we are happy.

When Itachi proposed to me two years ago, he told me that he was taking me to the water gardens for some photoshoots for his family, because his parents run a real estate business that is family-oriented, and his younger brother Sasuke - soon to be my brother-in-law - is junior executive. But anyway, I was in charge of allowing the photography to be done with the quality and location, except I had no idea of the surprise in store.

We were both to dress in black and white. I selected a white pantsuit with a halter neck trimmed with black, and in my ears and around the right wrist were square emeralds and diamonds in different arrays of cuts.

Itachi was right behind me, and as soon as the shot on the bridge of the water lily pond was taken, I turned around...only to see him on one knee and holding up the little black box. A RING! I could hardly even believe it when it dawned on me that he set this all up without me knowing. What he did was more than I could have asked for.

That nature-inspired gem was a piece of art which I worked with for the papers, for scenery wallpapers, and everything artistic in my career. The gold frame was slightly hammered, painted red and green in the form of roses as if done by a miniature paintbrush, and surrounded an emerald-cut ruby...which became the focal point outshining me and my new fiancé that day.

It was that day which the photographs taken actually made the front page headlines, announcing our engagement to the town and the country.

~o~

We didn't have time to plan our wedding for the first year because after the proposal, Itachi was deployed to Suna because they were being infiltrated and attacked economically by Ame, which was torn by civil war and suffering tremendously in their own department. The outside world all but was unable to assist them, so this was their form of revenge in attempting to claim what they needed by attacking the larger nations.

In short: the planners were my mother, future mother-in-law and me.

Itachi and I have solid jobs, but it happened that his parents and my mother offered to pay for everything. I didn't want anything elaborate, because it's not wise to spend life savings on one day - especially if it's the biggest one of your life. Though that didn't mean it couldn't be made the best it had to be. I'm a photographer for a living, so I have the biggest say in perfection, which means I'll notice all the little details missing or out of place.

What we did in my fiancé's absence was plan the guest lists on our behalves, and the few times Itachi contacted from across on Skype, he would give the names of his groom's party: Shisui Uchiha, his best friend and cousin. Sasuke. And several of his army buddies.

One person I really wanted was my great-aunt Kazue, Mom's aunt, because she might be healthy as an ox, but she was still an old lady. Who knows how much longer she'll be around, so this wedding is a good opportunity to have her there. I really want her and Mom to walk me up to Itachi.

Both of them as well as my mother-in-law Mikoto, my best friend and maid of honor Rika Nishina were with me when I finally went to get my dress after a year. We'd settled the guest list after booking the venue - and being forced to cut some people out, which is a real pain in the ass - and that meant Itachi hadn't yet seen it, but we both knew it well: the very same spot in the water gardens he proposed to me. It was picturesque without too many words.

Which meant the dress I had to pick would bring everything together.

Something modern, something traditional, sweet and simple was logical. I hate everything blinged out and over-the-top, except when it came to capturing audiences' attention, but this is the most special day of my life. The problem is if my family would agree on this dress besides me...

Mom and Aunt Kazue both wanted sleek and sexy. Mikoto wanted something traditional. Rika was a medium, knowing me better than anyone since we were girls, so I really wanted them all to agree on a dress.

The first was a no-no, despite Rika being in love. It was gold tissue, the bodice ruched and spaghetti-strapped, and the skirt layered. Breathtaking and whimsical. Different and unique, but it wasn't the one for me. Sadly, I had to agree with them all. My friend's face fell as she shared my disappointment.

Mikoto struck the next down herself, simply because it was a little TOO revealing: despite the graphic, appealing lace which hugged the curves, it was also too sheer. That meant older folks would pass out, but that was when Aunt Kazue begged to differ. "My grandniece looks like the showstopper she is!" I had to step in and announce this also wasn't me, though inwardly, I found myself wondering: are we really going to find the dress today? They all want different things. I have no idea how this will happen...

To come on the list was a dress that looked and felt like a kimono, but it was very simple compared to the lush, heavy silk-satin fabrics. It was pearly gold, covered all over with sequins and elbow sleeves, the plunging neckline covering my chest. I had to cut this off the list because it felt more like a dressing gown. Disappointment swelled in my chest as I fought not to cry.

Just then, they all started to pull dresses off the racks to give to me. One was from Rika, which was blushing lace over tulle for dimension. My mom offered one that was visually romance in bloom; the neckline panels were covered with dimensional blossoms which went all the way down to the dreamy skirt. Not surprisingly, mama-in-law found something that would show off my body but also make sure I was a little modest. Mikoto's choice had the top with long lace sleeves, the bottom a sleek satin train which started at the hips. Kazue found something completely out of the box, and it was a slim fit, blushing, but the bodice and hem were heavily embroidered with dark silver lace.

But none of these dresses gave me the feeling I was going for.

However, when hope seemed lost, there was one that finally appeared as the saving grace. As soon as I was in it and looked at myself in the mirror, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I didn't even know if that woman was ME or an angel - not to give myself too much credit. The gown was effortless in the simplicity from the rounded neckline, fitted bodice, billowing train, and the thin straps which weren't spaghetti. "Izumi, you really look like a bride," Mikoto whispered, hands to her cheeks.

Mom wasn't able to stop the tears and had to accept numerous tissues. "My...baby..."

And just like that, they were all bursting with tears of joy with me and came up to embrace me. These women meant the world to me.

What was the final step to do in order to make sure this was the one? I was jacked up. My long brown hair was elegantly twisted behind my head, placed with a cathedral veil patterned over with lace flowers that looked like lotuses. This veil, which was Mikoto's on her wedding day...it's so special. She's not like other mother-in-laws. In my ears were these earrings sparkling with crystals devoid of a certain form, glittering like a borealis across the night sky. A belt was fastened around my waist, the jewels forming a long vine of ivy. I was a bride. I couldn't wait till the day Itachi would see me...I could already see myself walking up to him with this exact look...

"Izumi, are you saying this is the one?" Kazue asked me without shame, making everyone laugh. I did, too, and answered a million times that it was a solid yes.

I chose the earrings and belt to be with this, but now one more thing to pick. Because the gown was big and there would be dinner and dancing, I needed something short and fun. I ended up getting a shorter version of this one, but the skirt ended at the knees. With this and the ceremony gown would be a pair of heels that were three inches in length, the straps bedecked subtly with crystals. These my mom offered me because they had been hers on her wedding day, and her shoe size was literally the same as mine.

Rika, my best friend, rested her chin on my shoulder as I purchased the belt and earrings, but the dress would need more time and alterations - all of which my great-aunt offered to do for me - because brides faced weight gain and loss, even mixing up of the coloring. You were always bound to face drama one way or another.

But because I was going to marry the love of my life, I now wanted as little stress as possible than in the months Itachi was away. A year of fearing for his life was enough.

Except little did I know the real disasters were to come.

Various Say Yes to the Dress scenarios, quotes and situations have worked their way into here that I won't waste time saying all of them in case anyone gets bored. XD

I couldn't resist naming Izumi after the anime god himself, behind Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo and others (MIYAZAKI THE GOD!). I figured she'd have another surname before Uchiha because her father (novel only) wasn't a member of the clan.

Kazue Uchiha is my original from "His Chosen Bride". I loved her so much I had to bring her in. Also, Rika Nishina is a main character from one of my favorite horror movies, "Ju-On: The Grudge".

I can't help but wonder if I am making Izumi OOC, because we don't have her character in the anime or in the novel expanded besides being kind, loving and hopeful - and genuinely caring about Itachi. Although the other half feels she's just fine. I also apologize for the lack of dialogue between the characters, but sometimes less means more. I promise we'll have more conversations to come.

Reviews appreciated. :D