Note, this a true story, none of the names have been changed, but certainly not the events of the days!, this is taken right from my diary entries of the time.

My (email) name is Joyce Devries and it was a real life adventure that till this day has never been matched for an exciting adventure. I am 5’2", TV, live near Toronto, Ont., Canada, pass quite well as a woman and have done tons of "real life" things as a woman, but this was the ultimate in adventures.

 

Bridesmaid For Real
by: Joyce Devries
joyce_devries@hotmail.com    ICQ: 26082876

 

Part #5

A long adventure of how I became to be a Bridesmaid in a real Wedding when only the Bride and Groom knew my real gender.

 

REHERSAL DINNER, THE NIGHT BEFORE, NOVEMBER 1989

The shock of what I learned during the Bacehlorette party certainly was not far from my mind as the days to the Wedding came. It was an eye opener for me and my girlfriend teased me a couple of times by slipping into her outfit from the evening and wearing it around the apartment. It was all in fun and thank heavens she did not go out wearing it.

I got a call on the Saturday with one week to go from Debbie, she wanted to know if I had fun going clubbing and told me that she thought my outfit was cute. I told her I had never felt anything like that before, getting gawked at and hit upon, etc., she laughed and said, "now you know how the ‘other’ side feels, bet you won’t look at a girl in a miniskirt quite same again?". I had to admit I probably would not. She reminded me that the rehearsal dinner was a formal occasion and that we were now meeting at the church for 6:30pm, and then told me that my girlfriend was invited, as all of the other girls were bringing husbands/boyfriends. I asked her if that would be odd, and she said, "all the girls know you are single and have no boyfriend, I am sure no one will think you are Lesbian or anything". I said that I would ask her and was looking forward to the evening as I had never had a chance to get all dressed up with my girlfriend and go out to a fancy restaurant with her. She also said, "oh yes, what size pantyhose do you wear?", I told her my size and asked her why, and she said, "if you girls have spent all that you have to be perfectly matched, I am going to make sure the hose does as well". She told me that Teresa would be doing this and that they would be at her parent’s house on the day of the Wedding along with everything else.

I hung up the phone and asked my girlfriend if she would like to go and said right away, "sure I would love to go, besides it gives me a chance to wear my graduation dress again". She asked me if I had given some thought to what I was going to be wearing and had not thought about it allot. She immediately told me that one of the formal dresses I had already would be perfect, and when I asked her which one, she said, "certainly not the crushed velvet one as it is inappropriate for such an occasion". She then suggested that I get dressed up and give her a little fashion show and we would then decide. I left her in the living room and made my way to the bathroom to shower and clean up. After finishing in the shower I made my way to the bedroom and slipped in a pair of purple satin panties and my now favorite white lace bra. I grabbed a pair of sheer nude nylons and slipped them on, and moved to the mirror for a very light application of makeup. Just eyeliner, a little blush and my reddish pink lipstick. I had three dresses to choose from and grabbed the first one, which was a dark floral dress, it had a boat neck collar and was tea length with a built in crinoline to push the skirt out a little. I zipped it up as far as I could, then grabbed my pair of 4" black patent heels and went to meet my girlfriend in the living room. She told me that the dress was more than appropriate, however she was planning on wearing that dress to the Wedding, and would not look right if I wore it the day before.

I went back into the bedroom and slipped out of the floral dress and pulled out a long, below the knees black velvet dress, with a peplum skirt, it was very figure flattering. I slipped back into my heels and went to the living room, where my girlfriend help zip me up. I paraded around the room as she was making comments and then told me the dress was appropriate but she would hold off her judgement until she saw the last dress. She unzipped the dress and went into the bedroom and slipped out of it and then into a silky hunter green, below the knee dress. The dress was a fitted style and the skirt was a-line and a little snug around the bottom, I certainly could not take big long steps. The dress buttoned at the back and I did up as many as I could, then joined my girlfriend, who immediate started laughing as she did up the buttons. Her comment was, "wait till you see my dress, it is almost the exact same style and length but it is more of a teal colour and it has a belt!". I asked her if we chose this one would it be a problem, she said "of course not, besides I think it looks good on you and it is not really the season for wearing velvet just yet". So the dress decision was made.

As I turned to have her help me undo buttons she noticed how tight the bottom of the skirt was and asked me if I had problems walking, I told her no, then she asked, "what about the rehearsal tomorrow, will you have a problem then?". I said that I was not having a problem walking around the living room, so why would Friday night be a problem?, and she said, "no silly, when you have to practice walking down the isle". I asked her what the difference was between walking down the isle and walking in the apartment. She laughed and said, "I am glad we are talking about this now, and not at the rehearsal, when you walk down the isle, it is not the same. Every little girl dreams of getting married and learns this and practices it". So for the next hour I walked back and forth as she showed it to me, the only way I can describe it, is as a "one two, stutter step". She was right the stride I had to use I could feel the bottoms of my legs being restrained. She saw this and had me turn around and then noticed the dress did not have a "kick pleat" or a slit up the back and told me that the dress needed to be dry cleaned anyway. She said she would take it to a seamstress to get that done before Friday.

The week leading up to the Wedding had me wearing my satin heels for the dress every single night to break them in. They were so comfortable, I could not see any reason to even break them in, but wore them all the time anyway. Then the Friday came and both my girlfriend and I took part of the afternoon off to get ready. At around 3pm, I took a nice long and hot shower and made extra sure that I was "squeaky clean", and as I left the shower, with a towel wrapped around me, it was my girlfriends turn. As she was going in she asked me if she wanted her to do my makeup and I told her that I was fine. She just reminded me as she was closing the door, "remember not too dark as we are not going ‘clubbing’ after all". I picked out the same lace bra and panties that I wore to try on the dress and slipped them on. I then very carefully slipped on a pair of ultra sheer nude hose and just loved the way they made my legs feel and look. I put on my pink satin makeup coat and sat down to carefully do my makeup. My eyeliner was done a little darker than normal and the colours that I used for eyeshadow were darker and more defined. I put on a healthy coat of mascara and looked over my eyes, and I must say they looked great. I was applying my darker blush and my girlfriend left the bathroom and walked into the bedroom and commented she liked my eyes and warned me not to apply too much blush. I carefully put the blush on, and decided to wait until later to put on my lipstick. I pulled out a bottle of matching nail polish and started to do my nails.

It was about then when my girlfriend came back into the bedroom to grab something and noticed my nails and said, "oh darn, I knew I had forgotten something, I meant to book you a trip to the salon to have your nails done before the Wedding". She asked me what time we had to be at Debbie’s parents house and I told her 10:30am, and also if nails were going to be part of the makeup and hair routine that Debbie had planned. I told her that I had not heard Debbie talk about it and my girlfriend went and called her salon and booked a 9am appointment just in case. As I was packing my black clutch purse with the essentials for the evening my girlfriend came into the room with her hair freshly curled and could not help but compliment her on how pretty it looked. She thanked me and asked if I was finished and I told her I was and gave her the seat at the mirror. I asked her what she was packing in her purse and she told me that the usual things, lipstick, blush, napkins, etc., and I did the same. She told me to relax in the living room and that she would come and get me when she was ready to slip into her dress for the evening. Before I left I applied a healthy coat of Halston’s perfume and retire to the living room to wait for my girlfriend. It was around 5:45 pm when I heard her heels clicking out of the bedroom and she said, "ready to get into our dresses?".

I had to compliment her again, with her hair and makeup all done up, she truly looked gorgeous, certainly a look I had never seen before. She was in her bra and panties and the nylons she was wearing were a smoky gray colour. She was wearing pearls and small peal earrings that matched. Her heels were low, about 2" and were gray as well, I took a glance at the dress and knew that it was going to be a perfect match. I had totally forgotten about jewelry and I also grabbed a pear necklace and long dangly pearl earrings and put them on. My girlfriend was slipped on her dress as I came out of the bedroom and I gave her a hand doing up the buttons, she handed me mine and slipped it on and she did all my buttons up. I took one last look in the full length mirror in the bathroom and slipped on my 4" black patent heels and finally put on my lipstick, as I left the bedroom, my girlfriend was just checking her purse, which was a gray one to match her heels and smiled at me and said, "ready to go?". I told her I was and we both helped each other into our longer winter coats and headed out the church for the rehearsal. As I slid into the car seat, I was anxious and excited about the evening, certainly not nervous!.

We had directions to the church, however my girlfriend assured me she knew were it was, as she passed on the way to work all the time. She asked me if I was nervous, and I told her no, and she giggled and said, "well tonight there is not going to be a church full of 300 people staring at you and watching your every move!". I told her "thanks" and she giggled again and said, "just relax, everything will be fine today and tomorrow". About 15 minutes later we pulled into the large parking lot of the church and ran into Teresa and Debbie getting out of heir car and we all walked in together. We were greeted by the minister and shown were to hang our coats and to gather in the back of the church.

As we slipped off our coats, Debbie was the first to compliment me on my dress and she also complimented my girlfriend, telling us how much she loved the dresses. When Debbie and Teresa took off their coats I was in awe, especially Teresa. She had on an off the shoulder dark green velvet dress, that came to just above her knees and what looked like ultra sheer black hose, and black patent heels the same height as mine. Debbie was wearing a dark blue dress that was fitted around her bodice and showed off a little cleavage, with see through material near the top. The skirt flared out and she was wearing nude hose and what looked like 3" black patent heels. Her makeup was perfect and she had hair done up in and little wisps running down the side of her face. We chatted for a bit as others came it, Liz was in an equally beautiful dress as Debbie and Teresa, and she too had her hair done up and her makeup was perfect. Connie was the only one of the girls in pants, she wore a black jacket with a white blouse underneath and matching pants and really low black heels.

We sat down in the back of the church and talked and eventually all of the people arrived, including both parents and all of the ushers. Once we all were "present and accounted for", the minister started to tell us about what would happen on the day of the Wedding. First the guys would arrive 60 minutes prior to the service and stay at the back of the church to seat all of the guests. The girls were to arrive about 15 minutes prior to the service and wait in one of the rooms at the front of the church. Our order was set on when we walked down the isle, it was to be Teresa, followed by Connie, then myself and finally Liz. The minister then had us go to the positions we were going to be in and that we were going to run through the ceremony.

The minister asked all of us to proceed down the isle and just before Teresa went down Debbie told us to hold our hands in the position that they will be when we walk down the isle with flowers. Teresa went first and I was glad that my girlfriend had shown me the walk, as Teresa started walking down the isle with the step my girlfriend had shown me. I smiled over at my girlfriend and she smiled back, she mouthed "smile", and eventually it was my turn. I cannot describe the emotion as I walked down the isle in the empty church, thinking what it was going to be like the next day. Eventually I got to the front and the minister was explaining how we were to stand and how to position our bodies. Eventually Debbie came down the isle on her father’s arm and stopped at the front. The minister then told all of us what was to do what when, Teresa had the most to do with the rings and handling Debbie’s bouquet as well as hers, the rest of us basically just had to stand there. Eventually it was time to go back down the isle and to do that, we had to hold our bouquets in one hand and wrap our arm around the guy that we were paired up with. Paul was the one that offered me his arm and as we walked to the back of the church, he leaned over and told me how pretty I looked and I thanked him. As we got to the back, where the other guest where waiting, I saw my girlfriend smiling at me. When we got to the back of the church we waited and the minister to come and Debbie explained that after we got to the back, she wanted pictures at the front of the church. The minister explained that afterwards, all of the Wedding party was to retire to the room at the back to wait for the church to clear.

As we were standing in the back of the church and Debbie was talking with her parents and the minister about a few things. Paul came up beside me and whispered in my ear, "my you look lovely tonight, I understand you are single and looking for a guy. I am single too and maybe I could be that guy". My girlfriend was close enough beside me to hear this and I could she was waiting for me to respond and I quietly said, "NO, I am not ‘looking’ for a guy right now and don’t you think a church is a little inappropriate for a comment like that?". He just gave a little laugh, and said, "just remember, I have the first dance at the reception". I moved away from him and my girlfriend followed, and said "looks like you are going to have your hands full at the reception". I said, "forget about the reception, the whole day!". She gave a little smile and said, "more lessons to be learned by you on what it is like to be a single girl and have men chasing you. Just stick to the job at hand and you will do fine".

Debbie and her parents finished with the minister and we were asked to get our coats and it was time to go to the dinner. Debbie walked around and made sure each of us knew where we were going for the dinner location. My girlfriend and I helped each other into our coats and followed all the others out to our vehicles to leave for the dinner. I got a chill up my spine as I looked back at the church and knew that the next time that I was going to be walking in there was in a Bridesmaid dress and it was going to be for Debbie’s Wedding. My girlfriend knew exactly where to go, and drove us to the private golf club about 15 minutes away. As we drove she asked if I was ok and also asked if I was scared of Paul and his advances. I told her that I was nervous about him and that I really did not enjoy his advances and hoped that he would quit and leave me alone. She told me that "there was nothing she could teach me or do to avoid men like Paul". We held hands all the way to the golf club and she squeezed my hand every once in a while in support and told me that everything was going to be fine.

We pulled up to the front gates of the golf club and even though it was dark I could see this was a classy and elegant place. My girlfriend drove the car to the front entrance and ahead of us was Connie and her husband and we watched as she was ushered out of her side of the car and then into the club by a man in a tux. We watched as her husband go out of the car and one of the men in a tuxedo got in and drove their car off. We pulled up after they left and both of us had our doors opened by men wearing tuxedos and gave us their hands as they helped us out. I saw my girlfriend give one of the men her keys and came and stood beside me as I watched as the gentleman drive the vehicle away. My girlfriend took the lead and I followed her into the golf club main building, and it was incredible, the ceilings were high, chandeliers where everywhere and the place was definitely high class. Connie and her husband met us and lead the way to a ballroom that was hosting the rehearsal dinner.

As we entered the room, we were met by servers that had glasses of champagne, that where offered to everyone. My girlfriend and I grabbed on and started to mingle with the other guests. I recognized almost everyone and my girlfriend and I quickly got separated and I saw her talking with Debbie in one corner of the room and I found myself stuck near the main door with Paul. He was relentless, telling me how pretty I was and that I should not be just a single girl and that he was "the answer to my prayers". I was totally disgusted and was so turned off, I was about to really tell him off when Teresa came over and butted in and complimented me about the dress I was wearing, and how she loved the look. I focused my attention to her and started talking to her and that is when Paul got bored and walked away. As I spoke with Teresa she asked how things were going with Paul, and when she saw me roll my eyes, she giggled a little, and said, "remember, you were warned". I told her that I was glad it was only for one day and that he better keep his hands to himself. I did not know what to think, but laughed with her and felt a little better.

Debbie came walking around and told all of us that dinner was ready and to find our seats at the main table. My girlfriend came over to me and we walked to the table and noticed that everyone’s names were on little cards and at each place at the table. My girlfriend and I found our names side by side and thank heavens, I was sitting next to a girl that was "supposed" to be the girlfriend of Paul. Before dinner started there were several toasts, given by Carl, his father, Debbie’s father and such. The most special toast was the one given by Debbie to the Bridesmaids. Debbie had tears in her eyes as she addressed us, she had lots to say, but the most touching was when she looked at me and said, "to Barb, the girlfriend that gave me many experiences I will never forget". I was touched and went flush as I knew what she was talking about and had my girlfriend sitting right next to me, not knowing a thing about what happened several months before.

After her speech, she walked around to each one of the Bridesmaids and handed out a gift wrapped little box and when she was done, asked us all at once to open it. My girlfriend giggled and said, "I know what it is", I looked over at her and she just smiled and said, "open it", I quickly did. As I opened the box I found a pearl necklace and matching pearl drop earrings, and I heard my girlfriend gasp, "oh my god, their real!". As we all finished opening our presents, Debbie stood up and said, "ladies, that is the final touch to making sure you are all matching, and looking so pretty, enjoy". What followed was Debbie coming and giving each one of the Bridesmaids a hug, and I could tell she gave me an especially large one when she did. Following Debbie was Carl as he toasted the ushers and did the same as Debbie, giving out gold cufflinks to them. Dinner was served and my girlfriend kept on looking in the box and looking at the pearls and earrings and admiring them. Dinner was prime rib, and was delicious, conversation was nice between all of us and one thing was for sure, we all were looking forward to the next day and the Wedding.

Dessert was served and afterwards an after dinner drink and Carl gave a toast and asked everyone to mingle in the lounge to finish off the evening. That was fine, but the problem was everyone started smoking, and first of all, I HATE smoke and second of all, since I was wearing a wig, I did not want to smell it all the next day during the Wedding. I quickly drank my drink and went back into the room that we had dinner in and sat down. Debbie and my girlfriend quickly came right behind me and asked what was wrong. When I told them what it was, Debbie looked at my girlfriend and told her the night was over anyway, "why not take me home now so that I would be "fresh" for the morning". I could not have agreed more and quickly asked Debbie if the people she had at the house the next morning were going to be doing nails. She told me that was not part of the plan, and my girlfriend smiled and quickly said, "don’t worry Deb, her nails will be perfect". Debbie and I hugged and kissed lightly and she said good night to me and looked forward to seeing me the next day. I followed my girlfriend and we helped each other into our coats and said our good byes and left for home. I don’t think Paul saw me leave for home and I was certainly glad for that.

Once at home we talked for a bit and noticed the time on the wall was 12 am and, my girlfriend told me I definitely needed to get to bed and get some beauty sleep for the huge day ahead.

To be continued.....

Joyce Devries        joyce_devries@hotmail.com     ICQ: 26082876

 

 

*********************************************
© 2001 by Joyce Devries. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.