**Chapter 8: Wedding Planning**

The days turned into weeks, and the excitement of their engagement only grew. Dorothy and Lucas dove headfirst into wedding planning, surrounded by the girls' enthusiasm and advice. Rose, being the romantic that she was, took it upon herself to help Dorothy pick out the perfect wedding dress. Blanche, with her southern charm, offered her expertise on wedding etiquette and decorations. Sophia, on the other hand, was more concerned with the food and entertainment, insisting that there be plenty of cheesecake and dancing. As they sat in Dorothy's living room, surrounded by wedding magazines and catalogs, Lucas turned to Dorothy and said, "I have a few ideas of my own. What do you think about a small, intimate ceremony at the park, followed by a reception at the country club?" Dorothy's eyes lit up, and she replied, "I love it! But what about the guest list? We can't invite everyone we know." Lucas smiled and said, "I was thinking we could keep it to close friends and family. We can have a smaller, more meaningful ceremony." Rose, who had been quietly observing the conversation, piped up, "And we have to have a big wedding cake! With cheesecake layers, of course!" The girls all laughed and began brainstorming ideas, throwing out suggestions and making lists. Dorothy and Lucas exchanged a look, both of them feeling grateful for the love and support of their friends. As they continued to plan, Sophia grumbled good-naturedly about the cost of the wedding, but even she couldn't hide her excitement. "I'm only doing this because I love you, Dorothy," she said, "but I'm not wearing any silly hat or dancing in front of all those people." Dorothy just rolled her eyes and smiled. "Don't worry, Sophia. We'll make sure you're comfortable." Blanche, meanwhile, was busy researching wedding favors and decorations, determined to make the day perfect for Dorothy and Lucas. As the planning progressed, Dorothy began to feel a little overwhelmed. There were so many details to consider, and she wasn't sure if she was doing everything right. Lucas noticed her stress and took her hand, saying, "We're in this together, my love. We'll figure it out as a team." Dorothy smiled, feeling grateful for his support. She knew that with Lucas by her side, she could handle anything that came their way. And as they sat together, surrounded by their friends and the chaos of wedding planning, Dorothy knew that she had made the right decision in saying yes to Lucas. The group spent the rest of the day making phone calls, sending out invitations, and making lists. As the sun began to set, they all sat down to a dinner of pizza and cheesecake, laughing and joking together. As they ate, Dorothy raised her glass in a toast. "To us," she said, smiling at Lucas. "And to our wedding day, which can't come soon enough." The others echoed her toast, clinking their glasses together in a joyful celebration of love and friendship. As they finished their meal and began to clean up, Lucas turned to Dorothy and said, "You know, I've been thinking. Maybe we should have a small rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. Just for close friends and family." Dorothy's eyes lit up, and she replied, "That's a wonderful idea! Let's do it." And with that, the planning continued, with Dorothy and Lucas working together to create the perfect wedding day. The girls were all excited to be a part of it, and they couldn't wait to see the happy couple exchange their vows.