Like most girls, I literally had been dreaming about my wedding day for about as long as I can remember. Yeah, um...that would be about 30 years! So many questions, so many details, so many thoughts running through my head over the years. Who will be my groom? What type of gown will I wear? How many guests will be in attendance? Where will it be? What will we eat? For as many years as I thought about this day, I surprised myself when the time finally came to start the planning. Let me back up.
Ryan proposed in a simple, sweet way that was totally him, and totally us. We were at home, rushing around the house trying to pack up and head out to Manchester for the long Thanksgiving weekend. We had both worked that day and were running behind schedule as we wanted to spend some time with his parents before we headed out with friends that night. I got home from work first, and Ryan arrived about 15 mins later. The first thing I noticed was his mood. He was almost giddy, but hey...it was a long weekend and we were about to spend it with family and friends. Second, while I was running around packing, I noticed that he was spending an awful a lot of time in our study, and it sounded like he was rummaging for something. I was concentrating on getting our stuff together so we could leave, so didn't really put much thought into what he was doing. The last thing I needed to do before we walked out the door was change. While I was getting ready, Ryan walked into our bedroom just as I was about to pick my jewelry for the night. We always joke that of the two of us, he's more fashionable. Weird- but true. So I held up two necklaces and asked for his opinion. He started walking over to me and I thought "wow, he's taking this question awfully seriously!" as I was thinking he wouldn't really care and just point to one. He came over and said "I think you need to wear whatever one looks good with this." and oh.my.goodness. He stood there holding the most GORGEOUS ring I have ever seen. I'm not sure what he said next- something about me being his wife, something about loving me and, well, I don't even know- as I just remember happiness. I was surprised. I never in a million years would have thought my engagement would happen on a random Wednesday evening while I was rushing about the house. But I loved this man before me. I loved this ring he presented me with. I loved how proud I felt that I got to say he was mine and I was his. And, let's be honest, I loved how that ring looked on my hand! I was so happy Ryan proposed to me when it was just the two of us. It was an intimate moment, and although I had thought about how I would be proposed to many, many, many times before this moment, I didn't know how I'd actually
feel at that time. I felt it was a moment meant just for us. It was perfect. Later that night we were able to celebrate with friends and family. I was in heaven. I had the man, I had the ring, and I had the plans already in my head.
Only once I got into wedding planning, I realized I really didn't want to be doing it. What?! I just spent the better part of 30 years planning my wedding in my head! But when it came down to it...I just didn't...want to spend my days and hours...planning. We found a venue while searching "northern Michigan weddings" online that we thought was perfect, visited it and booked that same day. I called a lady about a cake, liked what she had to say and hired her. I didn't even have a florist lined up until 3 weeks before the wedding. My dress was ready only one week before the wedding. I almost chose an invite because I didn't want to look anymore. My mom asked me to make decisions so she didn't have to. I never worried because I knew my mom was worrying enough for the both of us. In the end, what I wanted most was what I concentrated on. My man waiting for me at the alter. My dad to walk me down the aisle, give me away and dance with me to a sweet song. Good food, endless drinks, memories. An intimate gathering of my most favorite people in the world. And that is exactly what I got. The details (though don't get me wrong, were beautiful) just didn't matter as much as I thought they would. And I wouldn't have had the day go any other way.
For the past couple of months, I realized I want to remember most just two things. The first being how romantic my engagement period was. I don't ever remember a time being more in love with Ryan. There was something so sweet about looking at him and realizing this was it. This was the man meant for me, and I was the girl meant for him. That of everyone else in the world, we were it. We had fun planning the wedding and rarely fought about any of the details. I loved him and was ready to spend the rest of my life with him. The second thing I want to remember is the way I felt when I walked down the aisle on my dad's arm. I don't EVER remember feeling so...happy. It was blissful. And I never, ever want to forget that. I was surrounded by my best family and my best friends and I was in love. I had never before experienced such intense feelings. Happiness, with all of my heart.
So now I sit here, a married girl who is ready for whatever it is life will bring my way next. And I gotta say...I'm pretty darn excited.
:)