Saturday Teddy picked up the other three to go find Nikki's wedding dress and then go for lunch after. Nikki liked to downplay the big things in her life, she had confided in Teddy that she wasn't sure she deserved a big wedding, they had already put mom through two big weddings that made her mom stress out.
At the bridal boutique they were looking through dresses and Nikki was shutting down. Teddy went to stand with Nikki.
"You're hiding what's going on," Teddy asked.
"Everything is too exposed," Nikki whispered.
Teddy looked at the dress Nikki had on it was a typical cut for Nikki a higher neck line, definition at the waist then the skirt to her knees. Nikki's style was typically very covered.
"Try a few things on," Teddy said, "we can look for something with lace over your chest and shoulders."
Meghan went to walk over but Evelyn put her hand on Meghan's arm to stop her, "let Teddy work this through with Nikki."
"I don't want to look short and round," Nikki said.
"You won't ,' Teddy said, "we will find something that you feel gorgeous in. Nikki you don't need to hide what are you hiding?"
"Me," Nikki said.
"Nikki," Teddy said, "stop hiding."
"Easy for you to say," Nikki said, "three kids and still wearing what a small?"
"So," Teddy said, "it doesn't change that you are stunning."
"But I'm not a small and I should be. All the wedding magazines show these perfect brides that look like you or Meg," Nikki whined, "I wear a large. I'm not tiny, I have boobs, my stomach will never be flat again, none of these dresses will hide it."
"Then we find one that does," Teddy said, "you've said no strapless."
"The freckles," Nikki said, "I'm covered in them Meg doesn't have any."
"And you're you,"Teddy said, "what does Brett say?"
Nikki stayed silent.
"Has your fiance ever said anything about your freckles," Teddy asked.
"He was playing connect the dots with the ones on my back this morning," Nikki said, "he does that a lot draws patterns between them with his finger tips."
"Has he ever said anything about your weight," Teddy asked.
"Never," Nikki said.
"What does he say," Teddy asked.
"He called me gorgeous," Nikki said, "but he didn't know me when I was a small. I was a medium before Ty."
"Brett loves you for you," Teddy said, "not what you look like. He fell in love with you and your personality. Who was trying to take you on dates days before you had Ty?"
"Brett," Nikki said.
"Why are you worrying," Teddy asked.
"Because I want it to be perfect and I'm not perfect," Nikki said, "my brain is broken as Allison says."
"You're overwhelmed," Teddy said, "you need to breathe."
Nikki nodded, "there's too many choices, it's overwhelming."
"You go stand with your mom. I think I have an idea of what you want," Teddy said, "let Meg and I pull some dresses for you to try."
Nikki walked to stand with Evelyn, "too many choices, not enough brain."
"What do you like," Meghan asked.
"Covered," Nikki said, "not strapless and something that shows I have a waist."
"We can do that," Meghan said.
"Meg, come help me find a few things to look at," Teddy said.
Meghan followed Teddy, "she's been really modest since she was 18. Nikki is comparing herself to us. We need to find something that she feels gorgeous in. I didn't think the body image was still this bad."
"She'll be okay," Meghan said as she flipped through the rack of dresses, "there's supposed to be someone to help us."
"It's busy today, they must be behind schedule," Teddy said.
"Nicole," a brunette woman in her forties called.
"Hi," Nikki said.
"I'm Carla," the woman said, "who did you bring with you today?"
"My mom Evelyn, my sister Meghan and sister in law Teddy," Nikki said.
"What are you thinking," Carla asked.
"White, slimming, something I can wear a bra with, simple," Nikki said.
"Simple, understated," Carla asked.
"Yes," Nikki said.
"Your normal style," Carla asked.
"Lot's of dresses," Nikki said, "higher neck lines, defined waist, very girly."
"Feminine," Carla asked.
"Yes," Nikki said, "I like lace and chiffon, satin, not a fan of silk."
"Neck line," Carla asked.
"Not a lot of clevage," Nikki said, "fitted bodice. I like A line skirts."
"Boning," Carla asked, "back?"
"I'm flexible," Nikki said.
"Do you have a picture of your fiance," Carla asked.
Nikki showed Carla a picture of her and Brett.
"With your niece or nephew," Carla asked.
"My son," Nikki said, "Brett is trying to adopt him."
"Your wedding where is it," Carla asked.
"Church wedding," Nikki said, "Brett's dad is doing the ceremony."
"Reception," Carla asked.
"Small," Nikki said, "indoors because it's April, overlooking the harbour, we've rented out a restaurant so they do the food, it's all romantic and candlelit."
"Sounds beautiful," Carla said, "are we dancing in the dress?"
"Yes," Nikki said.
"Celebrity influences," Carla asked.
"I loved Princess Eugine's dress," Nikki said.
"Champagne while we try on dresses," Carla offered.
Nikki looked at her mom and sisters. Teddy and Evelyn gave her a smile.
"Yes," Nikki said.
Carla poured the four glasses, "I'm going to pull a few ideas for you to try on."
In a few minutes Carla was back with several dresses.
"Try them all on before you make a decision," Evelyn said.
Nikki followed Carla who reminded ," these are sample dresses, I pulled as close to your size as possible but the fit won't be perfect."
"Okay," Nikki said.
"Down to bra and underwear so I can help you put these on," Carla said.
Nikki hung up her dress and sweater. She tried on the first dress.
"It's okay," Nikki said, "but it's not the dress."
"Show your mom and sisters," Carla said.
They agreed the dress was pretty but not Nikki. They repeated the process with four more dresses until on the sixth dress Nikki paused.
"This is it," Nikki said, "it's perfect."
"Nikki," Evelyn said.
"It's my dress," Nikki said.
"That's stunning," Meghan said.
"Buy it now," Teddy added.
"You like it," Nikki asked.
"It's perfect darling," Evelyn said.
"I feel like a Princess," Nikki said, turning around. The dress was ivory satin with a slight sheen, the bodice was fitted with a V at the back and tiny pearl buttons up the back. There was a slight V at the front showing Nikki's collar bone, the dress had cap sleeves that sat off the shoulder. It suited Nikki perfectly; she felt elegant and beautiful.
"We'll measure you properly now and get one in for you. It should take 8 weeks to come in," Carla said, "then get it altered for you."
"Thank you," Nikki said, "this is my dress."
"Go get measured," Evelyn said.
In the fitting room Carla asked, "is this the bra you plan to wear with the dress?"
"It is," Nikki said, "unless its not the right one."
"It fits you well and works with the dress," Carla said, "how do you feel?"
"I feel good," Nikki said, "I just bought the bra with wedding dresses in mind."
"Keep this one out of rotation until after your wedding," Carla advised, "only wear it for fittings."
"I will," Nikki said.
They finished the fitting and Nikki went to buy the dress.
"No," Evelyn said, "this is my gift to you."
"Mom," Nikki said.
"Just let me," Evelyn said, "I bought both your sisters dresses."
"Both," Nikki asked, "Meghan and Teddy?"
"Yes," Evelyn said, "that was a big argument with Teddy."
"Mom, I had a dress in the wedding budget," Nikki said.
"No," Evelyn said, "I do the dress and shoes darling. Do you want a veil?"
"No," Nikki said, "I want to see his face."
"I have a tiara I wore for my wedding that my mom gave me," Evelyn said, "I want you to wear it on your wedding day."
"Thank you," Nikki said hugging her mom.
"Your welcome baby," Evelyn said, "it's your time to be happy!"
"It is," Nikki said, "I'm happy mom."
"Good," Evelyn said, "that's all I've ever wanted was for you to be happy and loved."
"I am," Nikki said, "mom I'm happy and loved and in love."
"Then your set," Evelyn said.
Nikki sent a couple pictures of the dress to Julie and Sydney who agreed the dress was perfect.
Over lunch they continued talking about the wedding.
"You have six months, we need to get everything organized," Teddy said.
"More than that," Nikki said, "I need to get some things figured out for the ceremony for Bill. we have to pick music."
"What are you thinking," Evelyn asked.
"I want the wedding march to come in," Nikki said, "and Owen is going to walk me dow the aisle. I want mom to do the mother of the bride things. Nate is going to escort mom."
"Flower girls," Teddy asked.
"Brett has three nieces five, three and four," Nikki said, "we thought a small heard of them lead by Allison. I haven't found a role for Faroke or Danny yet."
"Don't worry," Meghan said, "he will understand."
"We want all of our nieces and nephews involved," Nikki said, "our families are important. Those kids are important. I have my sisters with me and he has his brothers in law with him. This is about family."
"Ty is your ring bearer," Teddy asked.
"He is," Nikki said, "and Bill has something he can add to the ceremony about being a family the three of us that we're going to do. It's about our family the people most important to us."
"It's about you two," Evelyn said, "celebrating how much you love each other."
"Our family is the most import thing to us," Nikki said.
"And we all want to celebrate you," Meghan said.
"Not a big fuss," Nikki said, "we've kept it simple."
"Elegant but make sure we're celebrating," Teddy said.
"We are," Nikki replied, "we just don't like over the top, both of us are quieter."
"Music," Teddy asked.
"We found a DJ for the reception," Nikki said, "we like to dance."
"Menu," Meghan asked.
"A few things to finalize," Nikki said, "a fish, beef and chicken choice. The perk of the restaurant is they have some great options already on the menu. We're choosing from the menu. We'll have four choices for main, two salads and then just appetizers passed around."
"Pictures," Evelyn asked.
"Kylie at school does pictures on the side she's doing them," Nikki replied, "her work is beautiful."
"Is that who you had come do our family photos," Meghan asked.
"Yes," Nikki said, "she gets people's personalities. Her photos have life and sparkle."
"I love the family photos," Teddy said, "she's a good choice."
"Hair, make up," Meghan asked.
"Simple and I need to find hair. I'm going to do my own makeup," Nikki replied.
They continued chatting about Nikki's wedding plans and they made a few more decisions for the wedding and plans for the next few months.