Married

August 26th, 2022

We married in Tampa, FL - on the boat just us, our Pastor, and his wife.

We’re married!

I missed one Friday post and normally I would apologize but I’m not sorry - I worked hard to be wholly present the last couple of weeks of parties and prep for married life. This past Friday (8/26) in the sweetest, simplest ceremony on Blake’s families boat (where we had our first date and got engaged) we promised to love each other forever in front of the Lord, our Pastor Dwane, and his wife Indera (who we owe many thanks for the photos and videos). It was quiet, thoughtful, sweet and felt so perfectly our style. We wrote our own vows, we went through the traditional items, Dwane gave us some great advice, and we ended our little ceremony taking communion.

In the family group text that morning my Dad said of our selfie: getting married in a t-shirt? Heavenly. For the record Blake did actually put on a short sleeve button up but he did get to wear shorts and we both got to be barefoot and it was pretty heavenly. It was my deepest desire that our wedding honor the Lord but also be true to who we’ve been as a couple and who we continue to be. We didn’t want a big to do, we just wanted each other. As we drove back on the boat and later by car to Orlando Blake kept saying, today was perfect. Truly, it was exactly what we wanted.

I’m so grateful that this amazing community of family and friends we’ve built were so supportive and constantly encouraged us to do it ‘our way’. One of my favorite things about our simple ceremony is that I was never nervous. It truly felt the entire time like it was just the two of us, promising our love and that’s what I always dreamed of. I worked hard to make our families and friends feel included by sharing along the way and I hope everyone felt that as well. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by support for our relationship.

I thought I would end this post with a little piece of my vows:

I promise to put you first (John 15:13) and to work daily to be the kind of wife Proverbs 31 talks about

To bring you good not harm, all the days of my life

To work hard

To open my arms to those in need

To have strength and dignity

To laugh without fear of the future

To speak with wisdom

To bring honor and respect to your name

And to fear the Lord

Blake I promise to love you today, tomorrow, and forever with the kind of love the bible promises will never fail.