I'll just go ahead and admit it, with the disclaimer that I do consider myself to be a "modern" woman: I couldn't wait to get married. I wish it was possible to pinpoint one individual moment that spurred this pronouncement. Quite simply, I've been a romantic from the start. As a child, I devoured fairy tales and stories of love conquering all. Barbie and Ken were always kissing in my shiny, pink Mattel convertible, and my favorite bedtime story by far was that of my parents' wedding day. Usually I preferred it from my mother as she gave me more details, like how the cake tasted and the exact shade of the bridesmaids' dresses (sea foam green, in case you were wondering).

Raised in the South, I often wondered if geography had something to do with it. As I grew up, it seemed to me that an incredible amount of emphasis was put on who was marrying who. I was barely out of my Super Woman undershirts when I learned about the Hope Chest. Traditionally, this trunk contained items for unmarried women in anticipation of their future marriages. My toy box doubled as one until my mother deemed I was old enough to accept a few pieces of china, my grandmother's silver and a purple nightgown she found at TJ Maxx. I used to peek inside every once in a while, fingering the monogrammed "N" on the base of the utensils and the smooth silk of the very PG-rated negligee. Although I didn't fully comprehend it at the time, I was collecting tangible pieces of my future as a married woman.

While my mother and aunts married young, as was common for their generation, I noticed around me that the pool of my single, female friends also grew smaller and smaller after I graduated from high school. Having dreamed more of dating than going on any actual dates in high school, I scooted off to college in North Carolina. While it was an all-women student body, it should be noted that I did dream of attaining more than my "MRS" degree. I was encouraged to explore a variety of career paths, and soon began learning there was a world beyond finding Mr. Right. However, living amongst other girls, the conversation often turned to who we might end up marrying one day. Inevitable, really, when staying up late eating Krispy Kremes and watching Golden Girls reruns, instead of studying for a test the next day.

After graduation, I headed north for New York City, where I had always dreamed of living. There was such a vibrant, energetic and, dare I say it romantic- feeling about

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