Today was a fairytale...

I love weddings. Love em- sometimes inexplicably. I love watching too people in love, surrounded by family and friends, commit to each other for the rest of their lives. I love watching the groom's face right when the bride walks in and the way her father will beam. I love the air of excitement, celebration, and love. I love the ridiculous wedding guests, dancing, the food, an always delicious cake, and taking lots and lots of pictures. I've loved weddings since I was 3 and in my very first wedding- my cousin Lynn's. Ok, so at the time I did not love the 15 lb. garland on my tiny head, but I loved being there with everyone, dancing around the perimeter of the dance floor (according to my mom) and getting a flower girl gift basket upon arrival (my most distinct memory). Now lest you think I am like that girl in 27 Dresses who is utterly obsessed and has been in, natch, 27 weddings, its not just the actual wedding that I love. No, I love weddings for the way they bring everyone and their crazy family together and the sheer joy in celebrating love with one another. I love the way they become sort of mini reunions as family and friends celebrate together and of course do the electric slide.

Maybe weddings are on my mind because a few weeks ago I went to Orlando for a friend of mine's wedding. It could not have been more beautiful and most importantly, more Mandy and David. I love the way weddings depict the couple's personalities and this wedding fit them to a tee. So elegant, so sweet, so simple, so filled with laughter and love. I was in love with it. Everything was so perfect- the sweet simplicity of the bridesmaids, the colors, the reception at the yacht club, the first dance, the beautiful cake. But more importantly it was so perfect because it was so filled with love. If you know Mandy and David, then you know what I'm talking about- the entire room was filled with their love for each other and our love for each of them.

It was so incredible to be reunited with so many of my college friends and to celebrate such a wonderful occasion together. I cannot explain my sheer joy at seeing my sweet big, Allison, in the airport and embracing her for the first time in far too long.

It was so wonderful to catch up with old friends and dance ridiculously;

to be filled with excitement for the weddings to come this summer. Despite the fact that the weekend had some interesting mishaps (one bed for 4 girls? I don't think so Skippy!; or driving everywhere in a really sketchy cab with Pedro), those were all forgotten that beautiful Saturday night in Orlando.

Weddings remind me how truly blessed we are to be surrounded by love- whether its a significant other, family, friends- we are all truly lucky to love. I was reminded of this even more when the Tri Delts surrounded Mandy and sang "By My Side." It always reminds me that love should encircle us, envelope us, protect us, surround us. Nothing is so sweet as singing to the bride with dear friends that "there is a love here, that we can't deny."

Hearing the lovely toasts made me so excited to prepare a toast for my dearest friend Virginia when she gets married- thinking back on our friendship made me tear up in sheer gratitude for her and the love that she has in her life. Weddings are a beautiful reminder of the love we are capable of having for others and is such a beautiful representation of that love. So yes, I love weddings. I love everything about them but mostly I love love and the people who love me and who I love. So to all of you out there who I love, happy wedding season and happy loving!