Maid of honor duties complete

I was under the misguided assumption that my maid of honor duties would end when the wedding reception was over - but though my cousin's wedding was May 1 I finally think my duties are complete today.

See, when the professional photographer from the wedding posted up more than 600 photos from the wedding day, my cousin suddenly realized there were not that many pictures of just the two of us together. There were some group shots, a few of me helping her get ready before the wedding and helping to bustle up her train, but none of the two of us actually looking like we were enjoy ourselves.

She already had plans to go out with the groom again to get more photos of the two of them in a more relaxed and playful setting - like with his Harley in some of the pictures. A couple days after the wedding she sent me a text asking what weekend I had to fly out for my friend's wedding. I had no idea what the inquiry was about. And then she texted me back and said she wanted to pay for me to have my hair done again so that we could get some more photos together.

Now after the wedding, I swore I was never going to wear the floor-length blue gown again. Even after two alterations, it was too big and I had to pull it up all night long. Someone spilled champagne on it. Someone else stepped on it all night long. I took my shoes off and it dragged all along the floor at the reception. And the day after the wedding, I folded it in half to make it easy to carry out of my room to the car - all because I figured I would never wear it again.

But as maid of honor, I figured it was still my duty to make the newlyweds happy. So this morning I skipped my long Sunday work out so I could shower and blow dry my hair for a 7 a.m. appointment to get it all curled up. Then we came back to my house and I helped her get back into her wedding dress, heels, tiara and veil. And then I put on the floor-length blue gown that is now even looser on me since I upped my running time at the gym.

The photographer took us out to a local garden off Hecker Pass and as the sun came out, I also served as the photographer's assistant by holding a diffuser that helped keep the happy couple from squinting into the sun. I didn't have to have too many photos taken, which is good since I always feel a little uncomfortable and awkward having my photo taken. See, I always get a fake smile on my face that looks really bad and I know it looks bad so then I get even more nervous about it. The result is it just gets worse and worse. The only really way to get the natural smile is for someone to make me laugh a little. So luckily the photographer we were working with has known me since I was 15 and he had a knack for relaxing me.

I can't wait to see the latest photos of the bride and groom, especially the ones of them with the motorcycle. And I was happy I was able to help out with the final photo shoot - even if it meant donning the too-big, too-long blue bridesmaid dress one more time. Now I just have to have my hair done again on Saturday and deal with more photos - and try to avoid the fake smile - at my friend's wedding next weekend. But at least as a bridesmaid, I don't have nearly as many duties as maid of honor.

Stop and smell the (pricey) roses

I'm beginning to think I don't believe in marriage. Or more specifically, I am not sure I believe in weddings.

I've been immersed in wedding planning as maid of honor for my cousin who has plans for May nuptials. And every step along the way I am shocked with how much everything costs.

The latest stop along the way included a visit to a local flower shop. I can't claim to be an expert on flowers since I rarely send them to other people and have rarely received them myself (although I am still wondering who sent me the mystery bouquet of roses and stargazer lilies when I worked at SJSU.) But it seems to me that a small bouquet of flowers with which to walk down the aisle really shouldn't go for nearly $300. And then there are the bouquets for the bridesmaids, boutonnieres for the groomsmen and corsages for the mothers and honored guests. It all adds up to way more than I would ever want to spend on flowers.

That doesn't even count the venue, food and drinks, invitations, the wedding dress, the cake and a whole bunch of other costs.

As my friend put it, weddings can cost as much as a really good car or a down payment on a condo. If I had that kind money I'd put it to good use by paying down my student loans. But I guess I don't have to worry about any of this for a while since I haven't made any progress yet on Resolution No. 9.