Paige opened the box and it contained a pair of handmade milky grey colour rhinestone romantic white and its earrings inclusive.
''Whoa… Calia, this must cost a lot and you had to make it from scratch. I feel like I am not worthy enough to wear this'' Paige said.
''Don't you dare cry and ruin the efforts of the makeup artiste. She had made you this beautiful'' Calia warned her and Paige nodded.
''Thank you so much'' Paige said to her, ''it will fit well with my gown''
''Ma'am, you are ready now'' the makeup artiste said and closed her box, ''the wedding assistant is ready to help you in your gown''
''Okay, thanks'' Paige stood up and turned to Maria and Calia, ''I will get changed and come back''
''Sure'' Maria and Calia smiled as they watched her go inside the attached room at their left side.
A few minutes later, Paige emerged wearing her wedding gown. It was a light milky grey gown with long sleeves which covered her mid shoulder and curved below her cleavage allowing the corseted bra that was attached to the gown to fit around her breast. There was a midline around her waist which had another pair of wrapper like milky chevron that rounded up to half of her body making her look beautiful.
''Whoa, which fairy just descended to grace earth with her royal presence?'' Maria asked as she admired Paige.
''Maria, don't I look a little too beautiful?'' Paige asked and they laughed.
''That's the spirit of narcissism'' Calia said.
''You look just perfect. Paige, I am happy to be witnessing this moment with you'' Maria said.
The door opened and the three bridesmaid entered. Carlien, Paula and Mirabel stopped at the door and gasped as they looked at Paige.
''This is the only thing missing'' Paula walked forward and handed her the tiara headpiece.
''You must be Paula, the one Paige made her bridesmaid by force'' Maria said and they chuckled.
''Yes, and you are Maria Lee, right?'' Paula asked. Last night, she had heard Paige speaking to Maria on the phone.
''Yes, same one'' Maria said and hugged Paula.
''You are wearing the same colour gowns'' Calia commented, ''I didn't prepare an accessory that could go with that but I can still make something for you, Paula''
''Huh?''
''She is not a strange person. She is just a little obsessed with dolling people up'' Maria explained as Calia dragged Paula to the bed. Before they could protest, she had already removed the necklace around Paula's neck.
''But, this… won't the one who made this necklace be offended that you are going to change the original design of the necklace?''
''I won't get mad at myself. I didn't know you were such a cutie curvy woman. I should make something that will let you stand out and don't get shadowed by Paige'' Calia said and sat on the dressing chair that Paige sat on. She dissembled the milky pearl stones and started piecing them together. she made a short call and someone brought a small box inside and gave it to her.
Inside the box was her work tools that she always carried around. She opened it and removed her drawing pad and begun to sketch a piece while looking at Paula's neckline.
Everyone sat down and watched her. Indeed, everyone had something that they were good at in this world. Everyone wasn't the same.
After drawing a heart-shaped necklace, Calia took the milky pearl stones and started piecing them together according to the shape of the drawing. She did everything carefully but her handmade style piecing was on point.
''Done'' Calia said and stood up. she placed the necklace around Paula's neck and it stood out even more than Paige's necklace.
''Whoa, it looks and feels different''
''You have a beautiful neckline and your heart-shaped face makes it hard for a lot of designers to get the exact thing that fits your style but as long as you find what suits you, you will always stand out. You are so beautiful, Paula''
''Thank you'' Paula touched the necklace happily.
''The officiating minister has arrived, ladies'' Lisa opened the door and said to them. When she saw Paula, she exclaimed, ''whoa, my darling looks so edible''
Everyone laughed and shook their heads. They realised every one of them was weird in their own way.
Calia and Maria left the room with Lisa while Paula stood next to Paige and Mirabel and Carlien stood behind them. They were going to pass through another door into the venue.
Inside the venue, the men sat at the front row while Jordan stood at the pulpit with the officiating minister.
When Paige emerged from the door together with Paula, Carlien and Mirabel, everyone gasped. They all looked beautiful in their own way. They all had their unique beauty that stood out.
When they walked to the middle of the podium, Paula, Carlien and Mirabel went to the first row to join the men and Paige's father took her hand and walked with her to the pulpit, he handed her hand over to Jordan and smiled happily before stepping back.
When Paula sat next to Andy, he placed his hand on her hand and laced their fingers together. Paula smiled at his gesture.
Lisa who sat behind them smiled watching them. she turned and saw Leslie looking at her and she turned her face away as she asked.
''Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?''
''No, you just look beautiful that's all''
''Oh'' Lisa said suddenly feeling shy.
''Oh? What kind of reaction is this?''
''You don't expect me to be happy that you find me beautiful, right? Because that will be a little out of place''
''You are finally talking to me. Last night you totally ignored me''
''That's because you didn't speak to me first'' Lisa said and pouted her lips.
''Cute'' he murmured.
''Huh?''
''Look ahead, Miss'' Leslie said to her.
''We are gathered here in good faith to unite our son and daughter in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred vow that two people take when they decide that they want to spend the rest of their lives together. It is by this vow that we are here today to witness these two lovely people take the next step in their lives. Surrounded by the people that they care about; they had taken this step. Let us all support them in their journey as a married couple. I will now allow them to say their wedding vows''
''We don't have vows to make'' Jordan said and looked at Paige who also nodded her head.
''We've decided to live everyday loving each other. Looking out for each other and doing whatever makes us happy. We don't want to make vows that would please everyone. We just want to live our lives freely and grow old together'' Paige said and everyone clapped for them.
''We've come a long way. We know it isn't going to be easy but we believe that with our love and friendship which had stood the test of time, we will be able to be happy and live a good life together'' Jordan said.
''This is a rare wedding indeed. I am happy that even without wedding vows, the words spoken are an inspiration in itself. With that, I now pronounce you as husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride''
Jordan pulled Paige closer and kissed her passionately. He wrapped his arm around her waist and everyone gasped.
After kissing, they gathered around for the pictures. They took them in sequential order. With Jordan and Paige taking a family photo with their fathers and Jessi first followed by the close friends and. The groom's friends, the bride's friends.
When it was time for Paige to throw the flower bouquet, she realised that the only single ladies present were Lisa, Paula and Jessi.
''I'm still young'' Jessi said and stepped back, leaving Paula and Lisa.
''I am not into marriage'' Lisa said and pushed Paula to Paige's side, ''why don't you just give the bouquet to Paula instead?''
Paula flushed and shook her hands, ''no you don't have to''
''I wanted to give this to you anyways'' Paige said and handed it over to Paula.
''This will bring us luck'' Andy said and held Paula's hand.
Lisa was about to say something when her phone buzzed. She looked at the unknown number on the screen and walked a distance away. She turned and looked around. When she was sure no one was close by, she removed her phone and took out the battery and stuffed them into her bag all the while, her hands shook.
She finished and calmed herself down before turning to go back when a man walked to her and asked, ''you are Lisa Banks, right?''
Lisa's gaze turned sharp as she looked at the man and shook her head politely, ''I'm sorry but I think you got the wrong person''
''I think I got the right person, seeing how flustered you look just now?'' the man insisted and held Lisa's wrist tightly making her stop in her strides.