Little White Lies

There exists this tiny little nugget of information; a money saving tip that has run its course through the Budget Bride Rumor Mill and come out such: avoid saying the word "wedding" to your baker and save yourself a substantial wedding cake up-charge. Damn those bakers. How dare they? Taking advantage of us in all our desperate-to-fulfill-a-childhood-dream vulnerability. So what's a girl to do? Call it a "family event" and stick it to the man. Get the same cake for a fraction of the cost. Brilliant.

And now, a glimpse of brilliance (tbd) in action:
Setting: Helena's most highly recomended wedding cake bakery. Plot: A woman on a righteous mission. Enter: Me.

"Hi! We're having a family reunion this summer and we're looking for a cake." (Hand over magazine picture of dream cake clipped from a wedding magazine.) Mistake Number 1.

Response from baker: "Ok.... How many people do you need to serve?" To which my trusty sidekick (Mom) says "200? ... 250?" Really, Mom? Have you ever in your life heard of a family reunion that size? Large and obvious, Mistake Number 2.

And that was the moment. The moment in which my confidence faltered. My determination wavered. I felt her eyes on me. She knew. And just to make it clear that she knew, she slid the "Wedding Cake Price List" across the counter for my shame-filled consideration. No price cuts for me.

I had lied. One little white lie, and I couldn't handle it. But I was in too far now; owning the lie and changing my tune would surely be worse. So, squirming, I continued the pretense as long as I could until I found a way to excuse myself and run away.

The minute we were out the door I informed my Mom that we could not use them, despite their well deserved reputation, and that was that.

We will just have to look elsewhere. Perhaps another town even. The lie will haunt me.

From here on out, I'll bite the bullet and risk the extra charge. Besides, you're only a Budding Bride once. Who wants to pretend not to be, and miss her moment in the spotlight? Not this girl.

Mission: Incriminating.

The moral of the story? Be careful which corners you decide to cut. You may get the cake, but you have to eat it, too.