while I tell you a story.

There are always certain Brides that stick out in my mind, either for good reasons or bad.

For some reason I’ve been thinking about this one Bride that I worked with about two years ago.

I had just closed the store and was grabbing a few things at the cash counter.

By this time, I am exhausted.  A day full of hormonal Brides, carrying heavy dresses and directing traffic makes me so tired that all I want to do is get home to my family.  As I turn around to leave, I hear a knock at the window.

I roll my eyes.

I take a deep breath and prepare myself for this:

I turn around and tiredly smile at the women standing at my door.  As I walk towards them, I prepare myself to tell them what I always tell late stragglers that want me to reopen my doors and stay an extra hour just so they can play in my dresses.  ”Sorry ladies, we are closed.  I would be happy to make you an appointment for another day.”

You would be shocked how many women yell at me at this point.  The thought that goes through my head while they rip me a new one is “do they do this at Nordstrom when they show up after they close?  Do they expect them to open the doors and let them shop?  They do understand that with the Internet and cell phones it is super easy to find out store hours and make a plan, right?”

But this was different.  I opened the door and rattled off my lines and these women were so sweet and understanding.  So much, in fact, that they struck a cord with me and I let them in.

Look I’ll keep this short, but she is one of my favorite Brides and I will always remember her and I’ll tell you why.

She was genuine.

I think I’m a pretty good judge of character, especially in Brides and she was just… different.

She was in her late 40′s and had never been married before.

Now that I think of it, I don’t think she had ever really been in a relationship before.  She was tall, lanky, plain and soft spoken.  She had brought her mom and younger married sister with her.

She walked up to a dress, not a particularly beautiful gown and she only wanted to try that one on.  I helped her in the dressing room and when she came out to look in the viewing area, she started to cry.

So did her mother and sister.

The happiest tears I have ever seen come from a Bride.

She felt beautiful.

She was marrying someone that she loved and that she had waited a long time for.

I started to cry just watching the Bride, Mother and Sister embrace each other.

And then we all felt silly and just laughed.

She bought the dress that night and I’m pretty sure I missed out on dinner with my husband, but I’m so happy I got to be with this genuine Bride and her family.

I wonder where she’s at right now…

Hope that wasn’t too much cheese for one night.