Happy Anniversary

…a few days late.  But better late than never!  On July 4th, we celebrated our 1 year anniversary!  It’s been quite an amazing ride.  We’ve gone on trips and beautiful hikes, we’ve made delicious food and spent many wonderful nights with dear friends, we’ve continued to challenge, grow and love each other.  Marriage is not always easy.  It takes effort, attention and chocolate chip cookies.  It takes compromise and “I’m sorry”.  It takes admitting you were wrong. It’s flexibility, and allowance for your other.  It takes partnership, passion, determination and caring.  It takes love. On our wedding day, I asked a dear friend, “What is the secret to marriage?”  She responded, “It’s not 50/50, it’s 100/100.  You always have to give your full 100.”  Was she ever right.  On our one year and 5 day-a-versary, I promise to continue to give my 100%.  Love ya husband!

And now for some gratuitous wedding pictures. 

We got married at the House Mountain Inn, a small bed and breakfast in the Blue Ridge Moutains of Virginia.  I’m originally from Richmond, and Tom’s family owns property in Goshen, Virginina, also in the mountains near our B&B.  In fact, we had our rehearsal dinner at his family farm.  It is a place near and dear to our hearts.  Let’s see a picture from there shall we? 

 

I love “getting ready” shots.  It was great that the photographers we worked withwere a husband and wife team.  She could get right in there with us girls while we were all getting dolled up.  I got very emotional after I put on my dress.  I was finally realizing that I was “a bride”.  Then my dad came in.  Dad has had many health complications over the years, and one of the things I always prayed for when he was so sick, was that he’d be there, one day, to walk me down the aisle.   So when he walked into the room, looking all handsome in his tux, I pretty much lost it.  Like, total, hysterical crying mess.  I have never felt such overwhelming gratitute in my life.  I reverted to little girl mode.  I was so happy that my daddy was there for me on my wedding day.  It is a moment I will never, ever forget. 

 

   

Ok, so now I’m crying again.  Let’s move on to something a little lighter.  Here’s the wedding venue!  Stunning.  As we got married on the 4thof July, we were a little afraid that it would be like 150  degrees with 120% humidity, which was very possible, given that it was Virginia in the summertime.  And we were getting married outside.  We lucked out though, and we had a beautiful day, right around 75 degrees with a light breeze. 

 

We got married!  The pastor may have called us the “Dolphins”, to be “funny”, as it rhymes with our last name, and Tom may have cried so hard during his vows that I don’t think anyone understood a word he said, but we did it!  Afterwords, it was time to eat, cut the cake, and party.  And party we did.  We had so much fun at our wedding.  We danced almost every dance.  I have never felt so surrounded by love and joy.  It truly was the most amazing night of my life. 

 

Our wedding was amazing, but so is our marriage.  Here’s to many more years of fun and happiness! 

All photos are from Don Mears Photography in Richmond, Virginia.  Check them out.  They rock.  I’ll be writing another post about some of the details that went into our wedding.  Soon.