Bittersweet.
Definition: pleasant but tinged with sadness
This weekend was bittersweet for me. Pleasant on almost all counts but I had my sad moments...
My best friend got married to an amazing guy. She's off to start the rest of her life (on the wonderful island of St Lucia of all places). We had a fabulous weekend full of tons of new memories, toasts and laughter all celebrating the marriage of these two sweet people. There was dancing, Buca di Beppo (fabulous Italian food), pictures and TONS of talk about love. Which there could not be any more of in their marriage... they are like the definition of being deeply in love.
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| The Mrs. and Mr. |
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| Bridesmaids! |
But it reminded me of two things.
1. We are growing up. Yeah I was technically the first one to get married out of my group of friends. I guess since I didn't have all the hoopla surrounding a ceremony and reception.. it just didn't sink in until this wedding. I mean.. we are old enough to be married. It just doesn't seem real. Our lives are all starting to go there separate ways as we build our own families and start our careers, get our Master's degrees or attend law school, raise beautiful babies and move away from the known to the unknown. Life's going to take over for each of us as we find our paths. Frankly, that makes me sad.
and 2. My husband, my love, was not by my side. When the slow songs came on I found myself exiting the dance floor and more often than not finding my way out of the reception tent all together. When the pastor talked about love during the ceremony, I smiled and nodded thinking about how it applied to my own marriage. All the while wishing I could get just one hug after the ceremony from the one person who can still make my heart flutter when he looks at me and says 'I love you'. I guess you could say it is just another thing that military wives have to stay strong through during a deployment... weddings.
Regardless the weekend was nothing short of perfect. The new Mrs was absolutely gorgeous in her dress and wedded bliss and the new husband was beaming the whole day. And that my dears is the definition of a success.
Congrats again you two!!! Thank you so much for letting me be apart of your day. Oh, and Piston and I promise to take the very best care of Winston next weekend. :)
Always,
Amanda
What a fun wedding! I'm so sorry your man couldn't be there!
ReplyDeleteI am quite shocked at it too, the fact that we're all old enough to be having our own adventures. Craziness! I wish we could take the loved ones we've found and added to our families and all just move back to Overland Park and party with the ones who made us who we are :o)
Weddings during deployments....SO.HARD. :( its not that we aren't happy for the couple like you said, but it is difficult to go through that experience while your husband is so far away. One of the wives from my husbands SFAT team wrote a letter for my blog about going home for a wedding last weekend, you might be interested to read it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lora, wedding during deployments are so very hard! I am sorry your hubs could not be there. Congrats to your friend!
ReplyDeleteThey make a very cute couple. That's interesting she's headed off to live island life. I can understand the wedding being a bit hard on you with your husband away but glad you were able to keep smiling and be happy for them. I agree with you on growing up. I didn't get married as young as some of my friends, but many of them are single, and since I just applied yesterday to graduate school it is pretty weird to think of being that far in life. It doesn't really make me sad though because my life has definitely improved from when I was younger and it seems most of my friends' lives have as well. It is a little sad we're all in separate directions, but that's been the case for several years so I guess I've had more time to get used to the idea.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I've had this page open since yesterday so I'd remember to comment on it? Yeah, I'm that awesome. Walked away for a second and it's 16 hours later... ANYWAY, I'm sorry you had to face a wedding without your hubs. My sister's wedding was that way for me. But I'm so happy for you that you have someone you love and can think about when you are alone!
ReplyDeleteAwww! It sounds like you had a great weekend. I remember when I realized my friends and I were growing up. It's sobering. Yes weddings remind you that your love isn't there, but knowing that some day he will helps. I'm glad you had a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine going to a wedding while Daniel was deployed. It looks like so much fun, and I'm so happy you got to be there for your friends, but I want to cry just thinking about it! I was however, a hot emotional mess the ENTIRE time Daniel was gone. And to think, I get to do it all over again next year! haha You looked so pretty though! I really like the bridesmaids dresses.
ReplyDeleteYou know what, though? It sucks that he wasn't there, but it's so lucky that he still makes your heart flutter. That's awesome.
ReplyDeletehow fun!! you girls look gorgeous!! i know what you mean about bittersweet moments, i'll email you about it! growing up is hard to do sometimes! but nevertheless, beautiful.
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