And while I don't LOVE going to weddings, I have loved this year of weddings.
In April we got married so that was my favorite. We got married at a brick wall in a renovated iron-work building with Edison light chandeliers by one of our best friends in the world. Our friend played John Mayer's cover of Beyonce's "XO" as the people closest to us walked down the aisle ahead of me. And when I finally got to look up and see Tucker at the front of the room, I started crying... and didn't stop basically through the entire ceremony.
In June, two of my favorite people in the world got married in this rustic-modern setting and we danced the night away in a barn with a live band (complete with coordinated dance moves!). We dismissed the bride and groom with sparklers after an entire night of perfectly planned and executed doughnuts, wine, speeches, and decor.
In July, I attended the first "new family" event, the wedding of my husband's cousin. It was on July 4th in the flatlands under blazing heat and humidity that turned to a beautiful dark evening, lit with completely legal fireworks.
In September, my husband's sister got married in a beautiful meadow on a ranch. Music by artists you've never heard of played late into the night and then men with beards and washboards and girls with banjos took over and played until the early morning.
Now it's October and two of my very best friends are getting married. And I know it's going to be so good.
It's been a privilege to walk with them from the moment that he told me he had a crush on her to the day they'll start calling each other husband and wife and then (hopefully) for years and years to come. We've spent hours and hours over good food laughing too loudly and celebrating engagements, birthdays, and for no reason at all. But, these two aren't ready because their path has been all sunshine and rainbows.
They're going to be so good because they love each other through arguments and fear. The kind of tough conversations that lead to crying on the sidewalk in front of Wendy's or encouraging notes and chocolate just to get through the night. They're going to be so good because in the best moments and the worst moments, they're connected. They are each other's people - texting, snapchatting, instagramming - awesome memories and anniversaries or just chatting about nothing.
It's a showcase of the kind of love we should have for each other - thick and thin, fun and tearful - until death do you part.
It's wedding number five. And I can't wait.
