I'm always slightly disturbed when I browse in the women's magazines section of the bookstore. Along the top shelves are magazines devoted to weddings. Directly underneath are the ones for prom. I think of how much money these companies make off of the fantasies of women and girls for "that one special night," and it makes me slightly nauseous.

That being said, I'm a little embarassed by my ignorance of most things bridal. Like the nice girlfriend Adrienne is, she invited me to a bridal show last year. I promptedly said no. If you asked me to list diamond cuts, I would only know princess and (as of tonight) pear. Ask me to point them out in a jewelry store, and I would be lost. Looking through wedding magazines for me is like looking through FHM -- helpful for undertanding this other "species" of human but ultimately irrelevant to my thinking.

My mom created this monster. She thought she married too young and instilled this desire to get married later in my sister and me. Actually, now that I think about it, my sister buys wedding magazines for fun. Okay. So it's only me. If I were single now or if I were dating a commitment-phobe, I would be screwed.

I will likely change as more friends get married, as I get further away from college. For now, I'm content with my blissful existence and take comfort in knowing the few things I do want out of my wedding: lots of flowers, all my friends and family, a real waltz with my husband, more flowers, and, if I'm lucky, an ocean view.