Moments after Lily was born, Jeff turned to me and asked, “our wedding was still the happiest day of my life– is that wrong?” Sweaty, exhausted and exposed, I wasn’t exactly jumping for joy myself. As a new parent, it felt so wrong to admit that. Of course, the birth of my first born would be the happiest day ever, wouldn’t it? But it wasn’t that simple. Each of my children’s births were filled with a plethora of emotion: Fear, pain, impatience, relief, excitement, and, yes, enormous happiness. They go down as the most important days of my (and Jeff’s) life. But I would say that the happiest day I’ve ever had– just pure, unadulterated happiness– was our wedding.
We got married eight years ago today, on a perfect New England evening. After months of stressing over freak hurricanes and snow storms, we ended up with a cloudless seventy degree weekend. I took it as a sign, along with the countless ladybugs that were drawn to me all day long. I spent 15 months planning every single detail of the entire event: I slaved over the save the date cards, hand painting each and every one. Hotel gift baskets lined our dining room table for six months, a sign for Jeff of my impending insanity. The seating charts, menu, flowers, music, hotel arrangements and ceremony were orchestrated by me from five hundred miles away. Apples were hand dipped in caramel and tied with ribbon the day before we drove up for the festivities. It’s a marvel I managed to hold down a full time job– the wedding consumed me entirely.
And it all paid off, it was the perfect day. If I had it to do over again, there are a few minor things I’d do differently. I would have loosened my “absolutely, positively no children allowed” rule a bit, knowing just how adorable little ones look all dressed up. I would have chosen a different song, as music from the Jeff Healy Band really has no place in modern day receptions. I would let my (paying) parents have a bit more say in the planning process, and not have vetoed half of their guest list. I wouldn’t have poured my heart out quite as much in my vows and I would actually enjoy that meal that I planned down to the grain of rice.
But, there isn’t a day that goes by that I would choose a different groom. As crazy as he drives me, I know that there is no one else who I want to muddle through this roller coaster ride of life with.
Happy anniversary, my love, and to many more…
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{ 57 comments }
Happy Anniversary! Wedding photos are beautiful.
You know, marriage is a commitment to spend the rest of your life annoying another person. :)
hope you have a great day!
I love your dress! Gorgeous! If I had it to do over again…I would have eloped and put the money in the bank :-)
BEAUTIFUL pics!!!!!! And sweet post. Happy Anniversary!!!!
Happy Anniversary. We celebrated eight years this year as well. Your pics are gorgeous and I appreciate your honesty. It should be the happiest day of your lives. Your marriage should always come before your kids. That is not to say that you don’t love your kids but they have a better home when they can live with parents who love each other.
just stunning. I love your flowers and you look gorgeous. Happy Anniversary….
Beautiful trees, beautiful pictures, GORGEOUS dress.
Happy anniversary. Here’s to a life long marriage full of insanity…err…fun and love.
Congratulations!! You looked absolutely beautiful.
Happy Anniversary! It was a warm and joyous day for all of us in attendance. I do, however, disagree about the song choice. One of my favorite moments of your relationship in general was each of you confiding to me that the wedding song was a surprise for the other one. Further confirmation that my bean had found the perfect guy. Love you both.
That was Scary Sweet! Happy Anniversary.
Favorite photo is of the tired nose resting on your eye. That is SO intimate and dear! I have been to too many contrived weddings, yours looks really sweet, like you both really meant it…guess so after eight years!
Happy Anniversary!! Tell Jeff that he’s insanely lucky to have you. ;)
Happy Anniversary! The pics are lovely and yes the wedding obsession days were really something weren’t they. Where did we amount that type energy? Have a wonderful day!
Happy Anniversary!
Beautiful Wedding pics and I love your post! We celebrated 8 years also back in June.
Ditto what Kat said! And you looked gorgeous dahling :)
Happy anniversary. I feel the same way about our wedding day. We got married in Bermuda. Glad that I’m not the only 1 who feels that way
Oh. My. God.
Your whole wedding style is just perfect! Oh, I am so NOT into the whole frooffy, crazy dress and veil (possibly even a crown? Puh-lease.)
But YOUR whole get-up, sister, I give an A+++ in Grace and a A+++ in Fabulousness.
Oh … and congrats on the whole stay’in married n’ stuff.
:)
Actually…ours was not our happiest day but that’s okay…we have had several ones that were the “happiest!” We are hoping to keep out doing the next!
Your wedding picture is lovely and I can see why it would be the happiest day of your life! (so far)
I think if I had to do it over…we would have eloped!
Happy, Happy Anniversary!
The photos are gorgeous! I’m partial to fall weddings ;)
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful pics. I love fall.
It really was the most gorgeous, perfect day. Happy Anniversary to the most perfectly matched couple I know.
Love,
Dawn
Happy Anniversary! I had a rushed wedding and wish I could do it all over again!
Happy Anniversary. You certainly did have a beautiful day, the pictures are gorgeous.
Beautiful fall colors! Wow. Happy Anniversary – hope you guys get to celebrate.
Thanks for deleting that – all is fine, but apparently someone at work heard me on the elevator talking to a friend about my blog and decided to search for it online and then proceeded to make a comment to me about what I posted yesterday. Creepy. So, I’ve decided to rename the blog (new web address) and take our first and last names out of there!
I’m thinking “Out on a Limb” with a cute tree limb and owl? I have no idea – can’t come up with anything I *love*.
Enough rambling. Happy, happy anniversary!
I wish that we could’ve had a fall wedding, but we both decided we wanted it at the beach (because it meant a lot to us), and fall and beach don’t go so well. The picture you posted is just beautiful!
It’s hard to compare the birth of a child to a wedding day. They’re apples and oranges, and it’s not really fair to compare, because they’re such different types of happiness with different emotions. I’ll just say that they’re both my favorite and leave it at that :)
Thanks for visiting! I’ll be stopping by some more!
Happy Anniversary. My wife was in law school and I actually planned it all. I gained 10 lbs leading into it. Damn am I really a dude?
That was so sweet! Happy Anniversary!
Awe. Those pictures are just beautiful. Happy Anniversary sweets.
I don’t think you are even near alone in those thoughts.
Very pretty! Happy Anniversary!!!
Gorgeous photos! Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! You and Hubby are so cute! Congrats :)
Happy anniversary!!!
8 for us, too! Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! What a sweet post. And you looked awesome!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Thank you for the peek into your happiest day. It really does sound magical, and you both look incredible. Seriously HANDSOME couple……..no wonder your kids are so darn cute.
what a beautiful post! You made me want to go give my hubby a big snuggle. Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary you two! What a lovely post. Hope you had a great day!
How sweet… you guys both look hot.
Reading about all it took to plan a wedding makes me glad I made one 15 minute phone call and eloped.
I want more pics!! Your dress looks totally bad ass.
And the fall colors…..
Congrats!!
Happy Anniversary to you both!! I LOVE those pictures…
Awwww Jill….you have me crying over here. You guys were absolutely smoking hot in those pics. Gorgeous couple no doubt.
Happy Anniversary!
Omg! My wedding anniversary is October 21st! Aaaaaannnndddd I had carmel apples for favors too!
Thanks, you guys!!
We watched our video last night with the kids and the they loved it. They were cheering everyone on and dancing around yelling “Mommy and Daddy got married!!” It was really cute.
It’s such a pain to scan the pictures, Coco. It was before the days of digital, which seems crazy!
Okay…You are beautiful! and happy anniversary! I agree with the whole day of birth thing…rewarding yes, happiest day? ummmm no!
Holy cow, those are some awesome wedding pictures! Of course……Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!!
wow, 47 comments. you are one popular lady. i think i’m hot shit when i get 4 comments. ;-)
anyway, i tagged you on my blog if you are interested. if not, no worries – life is busy!
Happy Anniversary!! What a sweet post.
Happy Anniversary!!!
You were quite the planner, I could use that now.
The photos are beautiful!!
happy anniversary
What a wonderful post.
Happy Anniversary!!!!
Happy Belated Anniversary – this was a wonderful tribute to your love and your lives together.
Take care – Kellan
How beautiful! Happy anniversary to you both.
Gorgeous, gorgeous. There is nothing like a wedding on a perfect autumn day.
Happy Belated Anniversary! I agree that the birth of your child is always first and foremost the happiest day of your life. Mine was marrying Thomas. I didn’t know anyone else felt like that though!
I hope you enjoyed your day. I love the black and white shot. It’s perfect!
Sounds and looks like the happiest day of your life for sure!
My goodness those pictures are breathtaking, and caramel apples always make me happy ;-)
Thanks for linking up (sorry, I’m a little late)
3boys1mommy’s last blog post..Maddie
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