The sun was setting into the San Francisco Bay, the golden light thick and buttery as it faded into the ocean. All the guests had begun to shuffle from their tables to the parquet floor that had been trucked in for the occasion, a canopy of tiny tea lights overhead; as the jazz band struck up "Only You," they began to dance. I took off my shoes. Finally. Watching my best friend and her groom dancing their first dance, I felt the overwhelming sensation of relief and accomplishment: the day was over, and had ended happily ever after. All the stress and table settings and cutting paper flowers and loaning her my (infinitely more comfortable and slightly more practical) shoes was over, and she was beaming. I could finally relax. Leaning back in my folding chair, I closed my eyes and breathed in the summery air.
All at once, two pairs of hands grabbed me under the arms, and a silky blindfold cinched tight over my eyes. Another set of hands grabbed my ankles and someone pressed a hand over my mouth to keep me from hollering. They ran with me, laughing and whispering, out into the darkness of the park. Finally, my feet found the ground and the blindfold was removed, and there we stood, the three bridesmaids and the five groomsmen, in front of the antique carousel I had so loved in my childhood. The boys beamed.
A small man in a three piece suit stood near the controls, pulled down on a large lever, and the whole carousel burst into incandescent glory. Abandoning all sense of decorum, we scampered aboard. Twirling and twirling, we laughed, insouciant and carefree, the joy of the day, the evening, the time of life filling us with love.
The Golden Gate collection is for every woman who knows that sometimes the most important role is Best Supporting Actress. These are dresses that celebrate your beauty, femininity and grace, while letting the lady of the hour shine. Carefully constructed for each individual order and occasion, they are made of sturdy, durable, figure-loving fabrics in cuts that are classy and classic, for bridesmaids of all shapes and sizes. And the best part? Your bride doesn't even have to lie to you… you really can wear these dresses again. And again. And again.
