Wedding Bells ... In the Distant Future

It's inevitable that I'm going to marry my boyfriend, Ivan. I'm not forcing him to marry me. We're that dreaded "engaged to be engaged" crap stage because I promised my parents I'd graduate from college before getting hitched. Thanks to my cousin, Gladys, I have to fulfill the promise. Not just to my parents, but to my grandmother. (Side note: My cousin Gladys was either a sophomore or junior in college when she got engaged. A while later, she got married. She promised my grandmother she would still finish school even though she was married. That didn't happen. She had a baby and never graduated. So the pressure is on!).

Anyway, I found the PERFECT place for the reception. It is the Harold Washington Library, in downtown Chicago. Even before weddings made me feel fuzzy inside, I was in love with this place. Not just because it houses thousands and thousands of books. But it has the most amazing party hall.

When I was in 8th grade, I was awarded with a trophy for having perfect attendance from 4th to 8th grade. The Chicago Public Schools held a dinner for all the students that had perfect attendance and were graduating from either 8th grade or high school. That year, 2001, it was held on the 9th floor of the Harold Washington Library (HWL).

Yesterday, I had to go to the HWL because I forgot a book I needed for my Children's Literature class. Since my friend Samantha and I had 2 hours to kill before our next classes, I invited her to come with. On our way there, I told her how I wanted to have my wedding reception there. She thought I was crazy. After getting the book I needed for class, we decided to wander onto the 9th floor so that she could see what I was talking about.

Coming in from the elevators

These pictures really do not give the location justice. It is beautiful.

Me: This is the place where I want to get married. 

Sam: Oh my god, Lily, it's so pretty. 

Me: I'm in love with this place.

Sam: I thought you wanted to have your reception among the books. I didn't think it had this. You have to invite me!

Samantha took the pictures with her phone (hence the crappy quality and the slight tilt). She had to remember the beauty. She said my eyes were watery the entire time we were there. I believe it. As I look at the pictures, I feel warm inside. I feel that this is the place that will witness my first moments as a married woman. 

The end of the hall. 

The only thing now, is to convince Ivan that we need to have a reception. I have a list: 

1) Our Mexican families will not approve of us eloping. 

2) If we elope, we can still have a party.

3) If we elope, we can still have a party with an open bar. 

    a) Said party with open bar will sit better with our families. 

4) Registry = PRESENTS!

There are similar doors on the opposite side. The other doors are open and have a mural.

Even though I know I'm not going to get married any time soon, I want to start planning. I want to book this place NOW. I want to pick a wedding theme, colors, flowers, bridesmaids dresses, china patterns. 

I just sit back and think, how for the longest time, I believed I was going to be single for the rest of my life. In fact, I have said it a million times. And I used to refer to my boyfriends as "future ex-boyfriends" as if I were predicting that our relationship would not last. I remember when I told Claire about my unofficial proposal. We were having dinner at Elephant & Castle. She cried. I didn't think it was a big deal. But when she said it "You're going to get married, Lilz." I knew there was truth to it. 

I hate to emasculate my boyfriend, but the first time I told him that no matter what I did, or who I dated, I only ever loved him. His eyes watered a little. I think we both started hinting about marriage earlier this summer. Some time in June, I told him in a drunken text "I wanna marry you". It was kind of left alone since I was drunk, and wasn't really something that should be taken seriously. 

Then he said something along the lines of "You'll have to do it because I'm your husband". 

The next time was something along the lines of him saying, "I want to be with you forever". 

During one conversation I said, "I don't plan on having any future boyfriends". 

And then the day. 

A little back story first: My friend Diana has this thing where she says I'm not allowed to go to Vegas unless she goes with me or I'm already married when I visit. She feels that I'll get so drunk that I will lose all my money and marry a complete stranger. I'm not going to lie, but it does sound like something I would do. 

Okay, back to the day: My sister, Ale, was going to Orlando with my aunt Lupe, her girlfriend, her girlfriends' daughter, and [my aunt's] ex's daughter. When they dropped off my "cousin" (ex's daughter), I was asked by the ex why I wasn't going to Orlando. 

Me: I have to work. 

Lupe (to the ex): She already went on vacation when she was little too. (This was true. I had already been on a lesbian vacation. I had gone on a Mexico trip with my aunt and the ex when I was 9). 

Me: Plus, I'd rather go to Vegas!

Ex: To Vegas?! That's where all the honeymooners go. Why do you want to go there?

Me: Just for funsies.

Lupe: Next time [girlfriend] and I go to Vegas, you can come too. 

I immediately texted Ivan. (I love that my phone holds a million texts) 

Me: My aunt just asked me if I want to go to Vegas next year. 

Ivan: I wanna go to Vegas again so bad (He has family there)

Me: OMG, if I go ... I'm going to lose alot of money

Ivan: Good thing I don't gamble.

Me: I don't usually. But it's Vegas! But I won't marry anyone.

Ivan: Not even me?

Me: Only you. 

Ivan: :)

Me: In Vegas? [Chicago]? Both?

Ivan: Where do you want to? 

Me: Anywhere. 

This is the only decoration I don't like. 

Anywhere is the Harold Washington Library.