Last Updated on October 21, 2020 by Stacy Averette
As a little girl I didn’t dream of a fairy tale romance and wedding day. Rather, I imagined a life full of far away adventures discovering people and places yet to be known. I spent hours in the woods around my house building forts or sitting beside a tree just thinking. Even as a teenage girl, when asked about marriage and children, I proclaimed proudly and independently that I wasn’t getting married until I was 26. Apparently, that was the magic grownup number when all adventures must end.
And then he came along.
Who could resist that face! We “met” the year after high school even though we’d grown up 4 miles apart in a small town. Two years later we were making wedding plans.
Here’s a confession: My wedding day was not the happiest day of my life. I was exhausted and stressed and just wanted it all to be over. The tomboy in me wanted to wear a sundress and flip flops and get married outside. There would be hotdogs and lemonade and chocolate cake. My bouquet would be wildflowers and my faithful old dog would be welcome. There would be picnic tables and blankets and laughing and talking and we’d drive off into the sunset in his blue ’65 Chevy.
Many people worked really hard to make our wedding beautiful (on a tight budget) and I am very thankful. It was beautiful and big—my hair, my bouquet, my dress. It was the ’80’s, people. Before Pinterest. How did we survive?
If Pinterest had been around in 1987, this would be my board:
My wedding day wasn’t the happiest day of my life . . . but marrying him was. There have been many adventures with this man I love.
I still wear sundresses and flip flops. We celebrate with hot dogs and lemonade and chocolate cake. Wildflowers sit on my desk often and dogs run a muck in the back yard. Picnic tables and blankets and laughing and talking got more fun with every blessing God added to our family.
Today we celebrate 28 years of happily-ever-after. Our morning started with coffee like always. Around 7:30 am he headed out the door. Later he returned with our anniversary present.
No. Not a new car. $900.00 tires. He knows my love language. Seriously.
After lunch we have a hot date to Sam’s. We might have a hotdog and some lemonade. Then we’ll head to Starbucks for coffee and chocolate cake. On the way home we’ll stop at Wal-mart and buy flowers for my desk. He knows my love language. Seriously.
Life with him has been a grand adventure.
Maybe it’s all the coffee.
i do remember this day very much! Love you both
Love your blog – love your love story. Just celebrated 45 years of marriage.
Thanks! Happy Anniversary and wishes for many more!
Great read! I know exactly what you mean..:)
Thanks!
That was the most beautiful story. As I read it, I could just feel & sense all of the emotions. You are quite the writer. God has indeed blessed you & Eric. You are a wonderful wife & mother. I will join you at Starbucks any time. There is a soothing comfort in having a SB. May God continue to bless you with many more happy years together. Thank you for sharing your story. Love ya!!!
Thank you, Lynn. We’re are blessed!
I like be happily ever after!
I loved reading your honest blog post and seeing all of your fun photos. Happy anniversary! So encouraged by the reminder that is isn’t the wedding that is significant but the life together. Thrilled that I bounced over here from a link on Emily’s IG. Feeling blessed to read your post regardless of if I win the coffee print (although it is super awesome).
Thanks, Katherine! Glad you were encouraged.
Love you both!
Well of course you do! And we love you, friend.
New subscriber via Emily 🙂 happy happy anniversary!
Thank you and welcome, Amanda. Glad you’re here!
I love the idea of making every day reflect our dream wedding atmosphere! And happy anniversary
Thank you, Trina!
Happy Anniversary! I love reading your posts and looking at the old pictures. Brings back precious memories.
Thanks, Kayla.
Oh! And Happy Anniversary!!!!
Thanks!!
Isn’t it funny how we bow to the conventional and traditional when it comes to important milestones?
I will do my best to remember this post in a few years when my teens are ready to get married.
Katherine, I’m trying to remember that for the upcoming wedding at my house for sure!
Of course, I’m already subscribed (because getting a notification of a new blog post from you pretty much makes me want to stop in my tracks, make some coffee, and sit and enjoy as I’m shaking my head, “uh huh. Yep. Exactly.”)
I love this post and can totally relate. If we could only get the point across to “young people” (I don’t like that phrase) that it’s not the wedding but the long, slow dance of the marriage that matters.
“the long slow dance of marriage”. . . that’s certainly a great description!