"Are you sure we have to wear this stuff? It's so... frilly. I look ridiculous," Vinyl's voice came through the changing screen in a muffled but worried tone, as it had all morning.

"Yes, we do. Weddings are formal occasions, Vin'. We have to look our best." Octavia tried to sooth Vinyl, hoping the consoling look on her face transferred through her voice.

"But I look silly..."

"Nonsense, darling. I'm sure you look fabulous, all my customers do," Rarity trotted in, a bundle of fabrics and ribbons in her magical grasp. "Now, come out, Vinyl dear, I need to fix your dress. Inspiration has struck!"

"I don't want to. This is stupid and pointless." Vinyl's voice held a particular foalish stubbornness which Octavia knew was hard to defeat.

She tried a different attempt. "Vin', dear, can I come back there and see you first? I'm sure I won't think you look ridiculous."

"No. I look stupid."

"No, you don't." Octavia said firmly. "Rarity is a very talented designer, I'm sure you look fantastic. Come out, Vinyl."

"Okay." The reply was so quiet Octavia could hardly hear it, and she was amazed it was the same loud, energetic pony she had gone out with all those years.

Vinyl stuck her head around the screen, a worried look on her face. Her mane was styled, curling slightly at the ends in an elegant but still rebellious style. It looked sophisticated, but not unlike the mare who wore it, which was already enough to impress Octavia.

"Come on, Vinyl Scratch. We're waiting!" Rarity sang, practically dancing on her hooves in anticipation.

Vinyl stepped hesitantly out, revealing the rest of her body in a form-fitting gown with a flowing train. The dress was pale blue, silver, and white, reflecting the white mare's own colouring flawlessly, the white silk blending with her shining fur.

Octavia gasped, eyes wide. "Y-you look beautiful, Vinyl."

Vinyl gave a nervous giggle, blushing like a schoolfilly. "You're just saying that 'cos you love me. I look ridiculous."

"Nonsense. You look absolutely fabulous! I just need to add a few finishing touches - "

"Do I look fab-you-liss too, Mama?" Tambourine stumbled in, followed by a teenage Sweetie Belle, wearing a sky blue and purple flower filly's dress with a little silver tiara on her head. "Belle says I look like a princess!"

"I'm sorry, Sis. She kinda insisted on the tiara," Sweetie Belle said, looking embarrassed.

"I think it's an excellent addition," Rarity said warmly, smiling at the filly in front of her. "You look smashing, Precious."

Tambourine looked at Octavia with worry. "What's smashing, Mama?"

"It means you look beautiful, Tamby, Darling. Now, run along, and let Mommy and I talk."

"Yes, Mama. Can Sweetie Belle play with me?"

"You'd better ask Sweetie Belle."

"I don't think I have any other plans. So sure, I can play with you. Let's just get you out of this dress and then we can..." The older filly led Tambourine out of the room again, and Rarity smiled after them.

"I'm so proud of my little sister. She's grown up to be an excellent helper."

"Ahem," Vinyl coughed politely. "I still don't like that I have to wear a frilly, girly dress. Can I take it off now?"

"No! I have to add embellishments! This is just a base." Rarity smiled. "I'm so honored that you would fly all the way across Equestria to come to my boutique. Not many ponies have that sort of dedication, you know."

"We needed a holiday." Octavia shrugged, brushing off the compliment. "What with having to take care of Tambourine and all, we won't be having more then a one-night honeymoon."

"Oh, how awful!" Rarity gasped. "Sweetie and I could take care of her for at least a week, it would be our wedding gift to you."

"B-but you're already giving us these dresses. We couldn't accept that, it's too much."

"Nonsense! Tambourine is an absolute gem, Sweetie and I absolutely adore her. It would be no trouble at all. Now, back to the dress. I think it needs some red, to match your eyes. You simply cannot wear those dreadful shades to your wedding, it would be a crime against fashion, and tradition, and everything! And perhaps some darker blue, your mane is an absolutely stunning colour, with the right accents and t style it will be simply breathtaking. And gems! Definitely, what this dress is lacking is sparkle. It's far to flat and dreary. But never fear, I'll have it fixed up in no time at all!"

Within the next five minutes, what felt like millions of accessories and add-ons were put on and taken of, put on again, pinned, sewn, cut, glued, and sprinkled. A cloud of pink dust and Vinyl looked like a walking glitter factory.

"There - Oh, dear me, I've gone and overdone it. No problem, just a second, it'll look much better as soon as I - "

"STOP!!" Vinyl shouted suddenly, her voice ragged. "Listen. I-it's really nice of you to do this. Rares, and I know Octy will appreciate it more then me, but can I make a suggestion?"

"Oh! But of course. What seems to be the trouble, Vinyl?"

"I know this isn't exactly a traditional wedding, because there isn't a stallion, but can I please wear a suit instead? I... I don't like wearing stuff like this, and Octy looks so much more natural in it, I just think it would be better." Vinyl looked meekly at Rarity, as though fearing the answer.

"Oh, uh, heh, I hadn't even thought of that. Well, maybe we could make it work. It won't be nearly as fabulous, but..." Rarity trailed off.

"Oh, praise Celestia, thank you! I can't believe how easy that was! I'm finally free!" Vinyl struggled out of the dress and galloped around the room in jubilee.

Octavia put a hoof out in front of her crazed fiance to slow her down. "Woah, Vinyl, take it easy. You still have to wear a suit, remember?"

"Well, in that case, I guess I'll have to sit through another fitting for a suit, won't I?" Vinyl asked sadly.

"Well - no, actually," Rarity sounded disappointed. "I have a lot of suits already made, for both mares and stallions, mostly for business purchases, but I do have a good many fit for a wedding, as well. All we have to do for you is find one that fits. Now, let's see, I think black is better then grey for you, a blue tie, perhaps? I'll have to find..." She hurried off, in search of the correct suit and tie, leaving the two brides alone.

"Well." Vinyl sighed. "That's a relief. I'm so glad I don't have to wear that dress. It was much to sparkly, don't you think?"

Octavia shrugged. "Don't know, You looked great to me."

"You're prejudiced. But anypony as fabulous as me would have that effect."

"That's not self-centered at all, Vin'." Octavia said sarcastically, nuzzling her.

"No, of course not. It's just the truth," Vinyl replied easily, her trademark grin taking over her forced-shadeless face.

"I'm ba-ack," Rarity sang, two coat-hangers levitated ahead of her. One carried a traditional black suit and a small, plain skirt to match it, and the other carried a basic white dress base, which Octavia could only imagine would be transformed to fit her personality perfectly. "Now then, Vinyl dear, try this on for size, then come back and show us. It's very simple, but I think the red rose boutonnier will really make those beautiful crimson eyes of yours pop. Go on, I don't have all day, we still have Octavia!"

Vinyl was shoved behind the screen again, and Octavia stood in silence as Rarity levitated the white dress over her head and pulled it into position.

"There. Now, don't move, Octavia, we've got to get this just right!" She clucked her tongue contentedly as little frills and trains and fake flowers began floating around the room their crazed erratic dance making Octavia dizzy.

In a short time, the dress was completely redone, with accents of deep purple and pale rose-pink to complement Octavia's eyes and mane. A thin, almost invisible veil covered Octavia's now curled mane, which flowed in an elegant froth about the bottom of her ears.

"There!" Rarity clapped her hooves is satisfaction. "Rarity, you've done it again! Yet another fabulous couple ready for their wedding day. Oh, Vinyl! You can come out now. Octavia looks simply stunning!"

Vinyl stepped out from behind the screen, wearing her suit, but before she could see her mate, a little yellow mask was clapped over her eyes.

"Oh, dear, how silly of me!" Rarity squawked, looking worried. "You didn't see her, did you? The groom, or in this case, the bride-who-is-pretending-to-be-a-groom, must not see the bride in her gown before the wedding day. That would be a disaster! But, I assure you, she looks marvelous. Now, hurry, Octavia, take it off, take it off. We mustn't let her see you, there now, I'll put it away. Shall I bring it with me when I come the day before the wedding?"

Octavia could only nod as another whirlwind of activity swirled around her. The dress was whipped off, placed in a garment bag, and hidden away in one of the many closets.

Rarity dusted of her hooves and let the mask drop from Vinyl's face. She still wore her suit, but her mane was combed down in a relatively normal style to match it, which made Octavia think of that stallion - who was he? Shining Armour, or something? - from the royal wedding. She giggled.

"Well?" Vinyl asked, striking a pose. "How do I look?"

"Very handsome," Octavia nodded in approval. "Much better then the dress, though that looked good to me, too."

"Good," Vinyl looked satisfied. "If my bride thinks I look good, I don't care what anypony else says." She shrugged off the suit and skirt and floated them to Rarity. "There. Bring that, too, would you? I'll just get it all dirty."

"I'll bring them all with me the day before the wedding. You have no idea how happy the girls and I are to be invited."

"Well, you're all my friends, and Octy's too caught up in her music to have any, so I guess you'll have to do," Vinyl answered, earning herself a light jab in the ribs from her marefriend.

"I do too have friends, and you know it," Octavia argued, looking a bit hurt.

"Aw, I was just teasing you, Octy. I know you have friends. You got all those other Canterlot Symphony stiffies to talk to."

"Stiffies sounds like they're dead, Vinyl. Would you mind coming up with something else?"

"Their music makes me wish I was dead, so yes, I would mind, very much. They're stiffies, and I'm not calling them anything else."

"Very well, but the hooligans you mix up with have the same affect on me. How are we going to tell them apart?"

Vinyl wrapped her hooves around Octavia's neck, enveloping her in a tight hug. "Who cares? They both suck, I guess, depending on how you look at it. But come on, let's find Tambourine and go back to the hotel."

They bid their goodbyes to Rarity, and left the white unicorn standing in the door, watching them go. She smiled to herself, a little sadly, wondering if she would ever meet somepony who made her feel the way those two clearly felt.

Just think of it, she said to herself, still watching them go. Five years, and they're still madly in love with eachother. Such lucky things, they are.