Last modified: Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:57 AM EST Sun Chronicle reporter Rebecca Keister, left, and Living Well editor Jessica Kosowski display some of the bridesmaids dresses in their collections. (Staff photo by MARK STOCKWELL) The joy of being a bridesmaid BY JESSICA KOSOWSKI/SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Throughout my college years, one of my favorite times of the week was when my friends and I were getting ready to go out for a night on the town. There was always a certain energy in the air, one of anticipation of the night's events, which were bound to be fun, chatting about who we thought we'd run into during the night, and finally, the agonizing over what to wear. The excitement over getting ready to go seemed as much fun as the actual night out. There have been four times in my life that have trumped my beloved college primping prep times. Those were the four times that I've been getting ready for weddings as a bridesmaid or maid of honor. Being asked to be a part of a wedding is like being invited into the inner sanctum of friendship - only the bride and groom's closest buddies and relatives are asked to be in the wedding party, so each time I felt honored to be a part of such a special day. My sister, Kerrie, was the first to ask me to be a bridesmaid, and on a hot day in August of 1999 I slipped on a long, buttercup yellow gown and walked down the aisle of St. John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro. The experience was simultaneously exciting and scary as I stepped carefully, but slowly, down the church's long, slick, stone aisle keenly aware of the hundreds of pairs of eyes watching me. The next wedding wouldn't be until 2006, when I would be in two in one year. My friend Kelli asked me to be a part of her May wedding, wearing a long red dress with a shawl, while my cousin, Susi, bestowed upon me one of the greatest honors a woman can have for October. I was asked to be her maid of honor. Actually, we had an agreement - we would be each others' maids of honor - so when she told me she was engaged, I hugged her and told her I couldn't wait to be an MOH, then followed it up with, "I am, right?" To which she gave an eye roll and said, "Of course!" She then told me I'd be wearing red, with "sparkly" accents, as those were her chosen colors. My dress turned out to be a tea-length halter dress accented, as promised, with a shiny rhinestone brooch at the waist. The most recent wedding was just three weeks ago in December, and I can set the scene perfectly. Five red wine-colored dresses with champagne sashes were hanging neatly in a row, waiting for me and four other excited bridal attendants to slip into them the next day. Meanwhile, a kitchen in Plainville filled with women ready to toast the bride, my friend throughout high school and college, Lauren, who, rightly so, was the most excited of us all. While each ceremony was unique with truly special details, they each held a common thread. There was a certain energy in the air; one of excitement, anticipation and restlessness reminiscent of those nights out in college. The four nights before the weddings of which I was a part, I was nearly sleepless in anticipation of the next morning when all the bridesmaids would gather, get our hair and makeup done, and go to the ceremony, ready to see our friend, sister and cousin take the most important walk of her life. More important than the dress, the hair or the makeup, though, were the conversations that took place leading up to the wedding days and on the days themselves while getting ready. Big events always bring out the funny, heartfelt, silly, and "awww" moments during the hours spent working on save-the-date cards, planning a shower, and organizing place settings. It's during those chats in the company of friends, some old and some newer, that a bond is made between a bride and her maids. Unless you're involved in a wedding, you don't know how much work went into it. The people chosen to be bridesmaids, those with whom you got ready during those college nights, and those with whom you might still get ready for just a fun night out, are the people who really know the dreams, excitement, nervousness, frustration, love, and every other emotion of that time. They were there with you when things went frustratingly wrong and celebrated with you when things went perfectly right. I have one more dress to wear. My college roommate Christine is marrying in May, and I'll be wearing a long royal blue gown. It's beautiful, like the other dresses I wore. And for this wedding, like all the others, I'll be putting so much else on with that dress besides jewelry and makeup. I'll be wearing the shared memories, the laughter, the tears, the dreams and the smiles that got me there, standing with the bride on the most important day of her life, and with my other friends, celebrating her happiness. Jessica Kosowski is The Sun Chronicle's Living Well Editor. She can be reached at 508-236-0331 or jkosowski@thesunchronicle.com.