Bachelorettes Party
Asked to be a bridesmaid and unsure if that means participate, photograph, or both, I snap a photos with my phone.
![May 14, 2016: Mel wakes up early to get to Chicago for the party. It seems an unreasonable hour to be up, but the coffee helps.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cbdf992cee13d6a01659126e6d33898d417cab7f0815d6a734e18008a5536f97/anselm-brides-02.jpg)
![May 14, 2016: Mel’s sister and the bridesmaids gather in the hotel in downtown Chicago. The sign above the bed reads “Cheers Bitches.”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b32fd0e8611c8c741d7c6af5f47e9c0a1ac79bf3d8b2684b68389571c7b8eaa4/anselm-brides-03.jpg)
“The brides will be arriving shortly,” one conversation starts. “Brides?” is the confused the response. Emphasis on the “s.” Yes. Brides. “Oh so it's shared!”
![May 13, 2016: Rainbow keychain atop a laundry machine while the bachelorettes pack for the morning trip to Chicago.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/69ff19b07e515e2455cb5d6964b532ac865d191414d095a3cd3915d13b020d60/anselm-brides-01.jpg)
![May 14, 2016: Dancing with feather boas in the basement of a Chicago burlesque club to the music of Davide Bowie.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ad448174d485f37b3359419b8819a638073e4c188957a9e9105e060e0a678eb/anselm-brides-05.jpg)
![May 14, 2016: Preparing for the night out with two brides and four bridesmaids.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83cfe81511c15fa1cb00a65e00bf2f0787eaba1cfc48d31e66f030641e851113/anselm-brides-04.jpg)
![May 14, 2016: Walking back to their seats to watch the burlesque show, Mel is filled with joy.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9d67432eafb6d07982e9056606e35539a0cce856604af2f3656184fe3da2a562/anselm-brides-07.jpg)
![May 14, 2016: Heather and Mel share a kiss after dancing. Mel began crying from happiness after and asked me to not share photos.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d0600c162ccfc583408ab5349bfef872469dfcbcb428afbeda0ff2ed423babce/anselm-brides-06.jpg)
![May 15, 2016: Wild conversations late into the night.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ac45e9c5e5c730ca5d6f2a865d82079a8f75c1778f97cf536c830d0dc5dca1a8/anselm-brides-10.jpg)
![May 15, 2016: Walking to Chicago’s “L” on the first part of the trip back home and a life together.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/530b70791808085d2a3237900abf794931d8be61576e87c7fde7249ce006a014/anselm-brides-10.jpg)