I stare at my dress, carefully created by my own hands. I had chosen the fabrics, measured out each piece, cut and stitched everything together. I didn't even use a sewing machine, as I wanted complete control over every stitch that I worked into this masterpiece.
It's long, trailing a little behind me when I walk. White, of course, but I added black and red jewels throughout the body and draped shoulder sleeves to help add a little personal touch to it. I wanted people to look at my dress and know without a doubt, it was made for me by me.
Putting it on, I can't help the tears that that threaten to stream down my face. It's not only beautiful, but I am too. I look like a Princess, with my hair in a beautiful braided updo, my makeup done, and my dress perfectly wrapped around my body with the long bejewelled cape-like shoulder sleeves that drape over and down my back, trailing behind me when I walk almost like wings.
The corset style bodice makes me look curvier than I really am, and the dress flares out at the waist into a beautiful ball gown. The gown from my waist downwards is purely white, with little hits of small white jewels throughout that will make me look like I'm sparkling when the light hits it. I even added a springy white petticoat underneath the layers of fabric to help my dress stay perfectly flared out around me. Despite this, it's not stiff enough to hinder my closeness to Adrien throughout the ceremony. I used a test dress to ensure that the petticoat and several layers of fabric wouldn't get in the way of our vows, first kiss as a married couple, and obviously dancing afterwards.
"Marinette! I'm coming in!" Alya calls out, barging into the room seconds later. When her eyes land on me, she gasps and covers her mouth with her hands, tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh my god! You're so- you're so gorgeous!"
"Thanks, I feel pretty."
"You're more than pretty, girl. You're every child's dream, the beautiful gown, the stunning complexion, the makeup, the hair, the love in your eyes. You resemble everything that a princess is believed to be."
"Oh, stop it." I laugh out, waving my hand in the air at her nonsense. "You're giving me too much credit. Though I do feel beautiful, I wouldn't go as far as to say all of that. Plus, I'm stressed out beyond imagination. I hate that everything is being rushed, it all feels out of my control. I want today to be the exact definition of perfect."
"You know what will make it perfect?" Alya approaches, hands reaching out to grab my sheer white veil, helping to attach it to my hair and drape it over my face. "By choosing to give up the idea of what is perfect. Today is meant to be about uniting you and Adrien in holy matrimony. There is always going to be stuff beyond your control, in everything you do. Relish in the fact you are surrounded by people you love. It doesn't have to be picture perfect to be wonderful. Today isn't about the people who are coming, or the food we'll eat, or the songs we'll dance to, or even the pictures we take. It's about you and Adrien, living in the moment, choosing each other to be partners for life."
I sniffle up the snot threatening to run down my face, and the tears that want to destroy the makeup that took hours to do. She's right, today isn't meant to be some huge display for everyone else. It's about my husband and I. It's about my little bean growing in my tummy, and the family we're going to be.
"Alya, I love you so much. You've always been the most amazing friend in the whole wide world. I don't know what I would do without you."
"Duh, I have to up the standards every day for what you consider to be best friend material so that no one can ever even think about replacing me."
"No one ever could." I cup her face, squishing her cheeks in my grasp. She laughs, swatting me away. She's wearing a light blue dress that hugs her curves beautifully, accentuating her hips and breasts. Alya is every bit the stunning Goddess she's always been, something Nino tells me frequently he's flabbergasted she's stayed with him throughout all these years. Though, Nino has aged very well might I add.
But no one compares to my soon-to-be husband. As the years go by, though we may only be 23 years old right now, I must admit he is as handsome as ever. Each day I wonder how he manages to be so effortlessly beautiful. Perfect hair, gorgeous green eyes, soft and clear skin, pearly white teeth and such a strong body. I'm mesmerized by the sight of him in the morning, when his eyes are still droopy with sleep, a lopsided grin on his face, and hands that reach for me the moment he's waking up.
I'm always taken aback by how kind and soft hearted he is, when he has many reasons not to be. How generous he is with his time and money, and his ambitiousness to not only begin the works for starting his own business, but his own charity as well for children struggling with abuse. He's never failed to amaze me.
Today, I'm going to marry him. I'll officially become Marinette Agreste, and we'll begin our married life together. Sure, we're rather young, but we've been living together since we were 18, and we've grown up at such a young age that I think we're far more experienced than most people we know.
Plus, we're surrounded by a village of help at all times. I know that we're going to get through any struggles that may arise, together. As a big, happy family.
"Let's do this thing." I smile at my best friend, as we head out to where everyone else is. I spend quite some time being peppered with love and praise from all the women in my life, before soon enough it's time to walk down the aisle. My dad comes over, offering me his arm outside the big doors.
"I can't believe my baby girl is getting married." My dad smiles through teary eyes, making me giggle.
"I can't believe you keep saying that." I laugh, watching him roll his eyes playfully at me.
"Let me be sentimental. It's not every day a dad gets to do this. Especially since you're my one and only daughter."
"Child," I correct with a pointed look, "lets not get started on how the whole dad-handing-off-the-daughter thing isn't laced through hundreds of years of patriarchal beliefs that a woman is property to be traded from one home to another, through the-"
"Okay, okay!" My dad laughs, reaching out to fix my veil gently. "I stand corrected, you are my one and only child and this will likely be the one and only wedding you'll have. So please, let me feel emotional. I'm so proud of you, and seeing you all grown up makes me feel sentimetal. I still remember the day you were born, you were so tiny, wrinkly, soggy and-"
"Dad!" I laugh, making a gross face at him. I'm cut off from saying anything else when the doors slowly begin to open. I chant in my head a little mantra to remind myself to walk one foot infront of the other, just like I practiced. No face planting for me today.
We make our way down the aisle as the soft piano music fills the air, and the eyes of all the people I love most stare at me with love and admiration. I nod my head to those who I can catch sight of, but it's not long before my eyes snap to Adrien's gorgeous and intimate gaze.
He holds no smile on his face, his lips parted slightly as his wide eyes stare at me in awe. As I draw closer, I see the tears filling up his waterline, threatening to spill over. Next thing I know, I'm standing in front of him, and he's reaching up to lift my veil over my head to expose my face.
"My God, Marinette. You are the most gorgeous woman in this whole world. Not a single day goes by that I'm not in awe of your beauty. I can't believe I'm really so lucky to be able to marry you." His tender voice says so softly, like a gentle breeze that only I can hear, keeping this precious moment between just the two of us, despite the room being filled with all of our family and friends.
"You look so dashing, my Prince." I smile, raking my eyes up and down him. He's wearing a black suit that fits him perfectly, with a white dress shirt. His black tie provides the perfect background for the small golden bell sewn perfectly into the top of it. I almost laugh, loving that he incorporated a small piece of his super hero identity into his suit. Two halves of the same heart, I had once thought to myself. I couldn't be happier with the outcome of everything.
"You're even more breathtaking, my Princess." He whispers, giving me a playful wink. The wedding ceremony commences, and my anxieties have completely washed away. It's all going so perfect that I don't even need to think about what to say or do, it just flows naturally. Next thing I know, I hear the words I've long anticipated.
"You may now kiss the bride."
And kiss me he sure does. Taking my face in his hands, I lean forward as Adrien kisses me so soft and passionately. His lips work slowly, the kiss gentle and so very sweet, in a way that we both can savour each second. Our first kiss as husband and wife.
The room has erupted into cheers, and when we pull away I feel my face heat up slightly at the thought of everyone watching that very intimate moment. Yet, in the heat of it, I forgot there was an audience in the first place. Everything was just so wonderful.
We walk hand in hand down the aisle to prepare for pictures outside of the massive hall, before we head into the ballroom for the dancing, food and drinks. As we pose for many cameras, I look primarily at our own personal photographer that we hired. I don't care for the paparazzi, I care to smile for the camera that'll be directly giving us these prints. I'm not interested in googling my own wedding day to get our photos.
"I'm sorry it's so crowded." Adrien leans in to whisper, his lips brushing my ear in a way that lights up my body with goosebumps.
"It's okay, I knew marrying a supermodel would result in this." I giggle as I gaze up at him, placing my hand on his cheek, mesmerized by his gorgeous green orbs.
"Well I'm the one marrying the famous Ladybug."
"We both know I'm the real winner here, marrying you, Chat Noir."
Everything feels right, even if this moment isn't ours alone.
We make our way into the ballroom with everyone else, and the night commences beautifully. Everyone laughs, sings, dances and enjoys delicious food with us. Alya was right, after giving up the idea of having everything picture perfect, I was able to actually enjoy my wedding.
"My wife." Adrien's voice startles me out of my thoughts as I break away from my friends to follow my husband. "Dance with me?"
"Say that again."
"Dance with me?" He chuckles, giving me an adorably puzzled look with his eyebrows knitted together. We continue to back up, with him leading the way to the dance floor.
"The first part, dummy."
"My wife."
"Yes, my husband. Let's dance." I laugh, placing my hand delicately into his strong grasp, as he twirls me into his arms. I can't help the smile thats plastered on my face, so wide it makes my muscles sore.
But I wouldn't change a thing about this day.
We dance together, swaying to the music that's playing and when the song switches into something more fast pace, Adrien has no struggles keeping us in perfect rhythm. I'm no dancer, yet as I follow his lead, I find it easier and easier to just live in the moment.
I can't wait to live out the rest of my days with my wonderful husband, and the family we're going to create together.
All my friends are here to support us, and though I'm sure everything won't always be this beautiful, I know that we'll figure it all out. Through the difficulties that is being pregnant, giving birth and raising a child. I know that Adrien and I will be okay.
At the end of the day, we are partners.