We had both taken the day off work to kick off our big weekend.
She had been planning this for months, practically once the engagement itself had been announced.
"Todd and I aren't even getting married for another year," I had told her carefully when she had first told me of these big plans.
"That doesn't matter!" Susan declared. "You're engaged, therefore, you get a bachelorette party. That's the rules - and guidelines don't stipulate any time limits, don't you know that?!"
I laughed, "well, actually, the 'Bride-to-be guidelines handbook' kind of bypassed my place, so no..."
She rolled her eyes and laughed.
Friday afternoon, we had planned to have a full spa treatment day at the Salon Sonya & Spa - complete with manicures, pedicures and massages. Those activities would then lead us to the big Friday night gathering at the Rosehill Venue. I had invited a few of the girls I had gone to school with as well as some female co-workers. A few of our old friends from school were also flying in from New York for the festivities.
The afternoon rolled on as Susan and I enjoyed our 'luxurious treatments' at Salon Sonya.
As I was leaving the spa, I couldn't remember a time in which I had felt more content and relaxed. It was such a wonderful feeling!
Our group was assembled at my apartment and Susan had arranged a car to take us to Rosehill.
"Wow, you really went all out, didn't you?" I smiled and asked her as the town car pulled up to the drive.
Susan just grinned, "....of course! Like I told you, this is a huge tradition in my family!"
Our group laughed and talked until the driver pulled up to the corner of Yonge and St. Clair.
"We're here!" Susan announced, opening the door.
We all stepped out on the sidewalk and Susan spoke to the matre'de.
He ushered us inside and to a section near the back with plush leather sofas and a big dance floor.
Susan started off by ordering us a bottle of champagne.
Then, she reached in to the bag she had brought with her and pulled out a tiara covered by a white lace veil.
The girls giggled and I burst out laughing.
Susan looked at me and smiled, "...in keeping with the tradition, the bride-to-be has to wear this all night so that everyone who sees her can immediately know what she's celebrating!"
I laughed heartily, taking the veiled tiara and put it on my head.
The chatting and laughs continued for three hours, along with two appetizers and four bottles of champagne.
Needless to say, all of us were well on our way to feeling pretty good, some moreso than others.
"So, what's next?" I asked with a bubbly tone.
Susan raised her eyebrows and smiled, "....well, from here on, you decide! You want to go dancing?"
"Yes!" I exclaimed so excitedly that Tara, one of our college buddies, nearly choked on the champagne she was sipping.
"Alright, where should we go?" Susan asked.
"How about Guvernment? That was always our favorite place in college and I haven't been in years!" Tara piped up.
I wasn't in any way going to argue - Guvernment was always a great place to dance.
Susan settled our bill with the waiter and all of us gathered our things to head off into the chilled evening air.
Our town car was waiting for us out front - we all hopped in the back and Susan gave directions to Guvernment.
I was laughing and singing along with the music playing.
It was a short car ride to Guvernment - the line to enter the club was as long as usual.
Jesse was working the door - we had been good friends with him in college.
"Jesse!! We're celebrating this chick tonight!" Susan said, putting an arm around my shoulder while I was still wearing the tiara. I am sure it looked ridiculous to everyone else but I didn't care - I was too happy to worry about anything.
Jesse grinned, allowing us access ahead of everyone who had been waiting and was no doubt angry by this point.
It was around midnight so the club was pretty well packed and into the full swing of things.
Dancing figures crowded the dance floor and the music was amped to full volume from the speakers strategically placed around the bar and dance floor.
I was handed another drink before I even knew what was going on and so I continued....through one mixed drink after another.
We had grabbed one of the tables near the bar and were there for a couple of minutes when 'SexyBack' started pumping on the speakers. I jumped up.
"I want to dance!" I exclaimed, clearly not myself at all.
Susan burst out laughing at this huge change in my demeanor, even if only temporarily.
I headed out to the dance floor, not really knowing if any of the girls were following me and not much caring at the time.
I started dancing in time to the music and before long, there were others dancing around me.
~~~~
After a few dances, I broke away from the group to order another drink. I stumbled past a couple of tables until I turned and ran straight into a guy who had been standing in front of me.
"Oh s&^%! I am so sorry!" I said, my heavy eyelids betraying the sober behavior I was attempting.
The guy turned to look down at me.
The guy had a baseball cap pulled down over his head so that no one would recognize him. His eyes went from my face to the top of my head - that was when his expression went from surprise to full-on shock. He appeared to be staring in shock at the wedding veil tiara on my head.
The guy was Hayden.