Celebrating Love

     A picture from seven years ago sits wedged into a corner on a bookcase in our living room. Almost on a daily basis our two and a half year old picks it out from among a hodgepodge of knick-knacks and novels. She studies that picture and asks about “the day Mommy was a princess and Daddy was a prince”. 

  While she can’t truly grasp what a wedding stands for or what a marriage really means, she does understand that our day was one of celebration.

  My husband asked me to marry him in a cabin at the end of July and in December we found ourselves in yet another cabin. This time though, we were surrounded by our closest family and friends; confirming our love and commitment to each other. 

  We took our time getting ready that day. Friends moved the furniture aside and lit 
candles on the mantle. and then I walked to him. Minutes later I was his wife. There was 
barbeque and banana pudding in lieu of a traditional feast. And that little cabin was filled with conversation and connections made between our most special people. We spent the afternoon and evening laughing and enjoying each moment of our celebration.

  We stood shivering in the cold as we took that picture; the one that now sits on a shelf striking curiosity and excitement from our daughter. 

  So much has changed in the seven years since it was taken. We have lost touch with some of those friends as we’ve all started families of our own, relatives that are now distant that we only hear from at the holidays, and a parent that is no longer here with us. 

  We celebrated that day because we had found each other, when there had been times that we didn’t believe we ever would. We celebrated the good days to come, and even the bad ones, because we vowed to do all of our days together. That day was our wedding day.











































Acknowledgements:
Words: Casey Davis, The Southeastern Bride, Photographer: A.J. Dunlap Photography, Venue: The Parlour at Manns Chapel, Planning & Design: Kast Events, Cake & Macaroons: The Cupcake Shoppe, Furniture & Decor: Greenhouse Picker Sisters, Florals: Serendipity Designs, Linens: Cottage Luxe, Paper Suite: Sage Paper Co., Hair: Parlor North Raleigh, Makeup: Michelle Clark, Bridal Gown: Truvelle Bridal,  Bridesmaids Gowns: Tre Bella, Bow Ties: High Cotton Ties, Cheese Display: Goat Lady Dairy, Ring: Trumpet & Horn, Ring Box: The Mrs. Box, Guitar: Big Fat Gap, Ribbon: Adorn Company, Monogrammed Plates: Sasha Nicholas.