A very un-bridel show

Now that Toni and I are planning weddings together, plus her good friend Kelly, things have kinda been thrown into a frenzy. The three of us are constantly e-mailing each other ideas and questions. So when I got yet another e-mail for what was dubbed "The Great Bridal Expo," at the Cherry Hill Hilton, I decided to see if they - and my other engaged girls - were interested.

Jess was planning to shop for bridesmaid dresses, while Kirsten, well, she just knew better.

But Kelly was all about it. And after calling Toni numerous times until she was forced into agreeing to go, we planned on making a nice Sunday of it. I had already been to a few others - all free - but I figured what the hell. It would be fun to go with newly excited engaged girls who still have lots of questions.

I brought the coupon I received via e-mail, and forwarded it to Toni and Kelly. It read exactly like this: "Free admission with this coupon. Buy one get one free." (otherwise, $10)

I interpreted the card like so - free admission if you are a bride going alone. Buy one get one free if you bring a buddy. I told Toni and Kelly I would meet them there.

I arrived a little late, and had to stand in the longest line ever in life. No one at the check in table seem pleased to see anyone - which was odd considering vendors pay big money to book with these brides.

Wedding lady: (looks at paper, wrinkles face, looks at me) "Uh, what is this?"
Me: "Oh, this is the coupon I got in my e-mail ... free admission?"
Lady: (sneers) "Um, who is with you?"
Me: (looking confused) "Well, no one. I'm here alone, but I'm meeting friends inside."
Lady: (speaking slowly like I am 5) "It says right here - buy one get one free. (tosses the paper back at me) So, ten dollars."
Me: "But no, it says right here before that - free admission with this coupon."
Lady: "No. Ten dollars."

!!!

I stood there for a moment, waiting for the other ladies at the table to step in. Instead, they all stared back at me, waiting for me to fork over a ten to look at their stupid vendors I've seen at two other shows for FREE.

Now, why would they be like this? Booking with some of these vendor costs thousands of dollars. Brides should get in free. It didn't take long for me to think about this.

Me: "I don't think so."

I walked over to the corner of the room, and called Toni. No answer. I called Kelly. No answer. The ladies at the table glared at me, wondering what the hell I was trying to pull. Then, my phone rang. It was Toni.

"Um, I'm here, and they're trying to charge me ten dollars," I said.

"Yeah, they did it to us too, and they were really rude. We did the buy one get one free so it wasn't as bad."

"Well, I'm not paying ten dollars," I said.

"I don't blame you," Toni said. "We're in here, and it sucks. We've been here 15 minutes and we're already just about done here."

So, we opted for a plan B - spending our money on lunch instead. We went to Don Pablos and had tacos and decided we really - for real this time - are forever done with lame ass bridal shows.