I had the most wonderful opportunity to play an important role in my friends Maggie and Michael’s wedding as Maid of Honour. I was originally surprised when she asked me, but I immediately felt so happy to be part of it. I had never been in a wedding before, so I was more than excited. That excitement only grew when I found out the wedding would be in Dallas, Texas. Of course, not all happy occasions begin smoothly, and this one certainly tested me before I even arrived.
Rough Waters
The plan had been simple. I would arrive on Friday morning with plenty of time to get ready, attend the rehearsal at 4:30, and then head to the rehearsal dinner at 6. I was slightly worried about my boyfriend flying in from London, but overall I felt prepared and not too stressed. I arrived at the airport early for my 8:40 flight, went through security without issue, and checked the departures board. That was when I saw the word no one ever wants to see next to their flight. Cancelled. Not delayed, but completely cancelled. I could not believe it. I was the maid of honour, and suddenly it felt like I was going to miss an essential part of one of my closest friends’ wedding weekends.
I ran to the United customer service desk and stood in line for what felt like forever. By the time I reached the front, I was already shaking with anxiety. I explained my situation while the agent typed away on her keyboard. She told me the best she could do was a seat later that evening, which meant I would miss the rehearsal dinner. I tried to reason with myself that at least I would still make the wedding, but then things somehow got worse. She suddenly said she had lost that seat, and the next available option would get me there the following day at 2:30 in the afternoon, after the ceremony had already taken place. That was when I completely fell apart. What had started as a few involuntary tears quickly turned into full panic. I was crying, hyperventilating, and convinced I was about to miss the most important moment of the entire weekend.
The woman clearly felt bad and continued searching. After a few minutes, she looked up and told me that if I ran immediately to Gate D21, I could make a flight that would get me to Dallas by 3:15 that same day. I did not hesitate. I ran through the airport as fast as I could, down the C gates and into the D gates, barely making it onto the plane before boarding closed. When I finally sat down, I could breathe again. It felt like everything might actually work out. Somewhere during that connecting flight, still a bit shaken and disoriented, I turned to the man sitting next to me and asked what city we were flying to. He looked at me in confusion before realising I was serious and told me we were headed to Chicago.
By the time I arrived in Texas, everything fell back into place. The entire group had kindly waited for me before starting the rehearsal, and we quickly went through everything in about fifteen minutes. With that done, it was finally time for the rehearsal dinner, which felt like a reward after the chaos of the day.
The Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents and was such a special event. It was Texas themed in a way that felt fun rather than overdone. The venue in downtown Plano was beautiful, with exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, and plants draped along the walls that softened the whole space. After such a stressful day, it was exactly the kind of setting that helped me relax.
Of course, the most memorable detail of the night was something I had never seen before. Maggie’s dad had created what he called a shotterhorn. It was essentially a longhorn fitted with shot glass holders, used in the same spirit as a shotski. A group of you would lift it together and take a shot at the same time. It was equal parts ridiculous and brilliant, and very on brand for a Texas celebration.
The rest of the evening was filled with good food, an open bar, and the chance to catch up with friends I had not seen since college. After everything that had happened earlier in the day, it felt like such a relief to simply enjoy myself. By the end of the night, I could honestly say I was so happy to be in Texas.
The Morning of the Wedding
The next morning, the focus shifted entirely to the wedding itself. We all gathered at Maggie’s house to get ready, wearing matching robes that coordinated with our bridesmaid dresses. Maggie had also given each of us thoughtful gifts, including bath salts, exfoliating gloves, and much-needed oil blotting sheets. The morning was a blur of hair, makeup, and laughter as we prepared for the day ahead. Once we were ready, we headed to the church for photos before the ceremony began.
The Ceremony
The ceremony itself was simple and elegant, without any strong Texas theme, but perfectly reflective of Maggie and Michael. As one of the maids of honour, I stood beside them as they exchanged their vows. It was such a special moment to witness so closely, and I found myself getting emotional as they were pronounced husband and wife. It was beautiful in a quiet and meaningful way, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony, the wedding party made their way to the Royal Oaks Country Club in northern Dallas. There were several rounds of photos, with different groupings taking turns, so it took a while before everything wrapped up. By the time cocktail hour began around five, everyone was more than ready to relax. We enjoyed drinks and light bites, and I happily made my way through plates of cheese and fruit. It is also worth mentioning that the bartender poured my wine glass all the way to the top, which meant that after two glasses, I was definitely feeling it.
One of the best parts of the cocktail hour was finally having time to properly talk to my college friends. I had spotted them earlier during the ceremony, but I had been busy with my responsibilities as maid of honour. Standing there with them again, it really hit me how much I had missed that part of my life. Sometimes you move on from a chapter without fully realising what you have left behind. In the span of a year, so much had changed. One friend was interning at Disney in California, while another was completing her master’s in Toronto. Hearing about their lives made me realise how quickly time had passed, but also how easy it was to fall back into those friendships.
The Reception
The reception began at six, and as we entered the room, it felt like stepping into something out of a film. The entire space was elegant and beautifully arranged, exactly what I would have expected from Maggie. At some point during the evening, it was my turn to give my maid of honour speech. Despite my nerves, and perhaps helped slightly by the wine, it went incredibly well. I do not remember much of what I said, but I was told afterwards that it was very touching. Later on, a wedding video was put together using my speech as the audio, which was both surprising and reassuring.
It was also the first formal event Victor and I had attended together, and we had such a great time throughout the evening. Looking back on everything, from the panic at the airport to standing beside my friends as they got married, to celebrating late into the night, it felt like one of those weekends that stays with you. It was chaotic, emotional, and joyful all at once, and I would not have changed a single part of it.
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