I am still feeling warm and fuzzy, reliving moments of our wedding day. I just don't think I ever really understood just how amazing it is to be surrounded by a group of people with whom you share so much love. I really had a great day, and I know some people describe their day as a blur, but I remember all of it wonderfully.
I feel like I just can't say thank-you enough to everyone for coming, and helping, and just being extraordinary people that you are. I already said it once, but here it is again:
I would like start by giving my wholehearted thanks to all of you for sharing our wedding day with us. The love and the friendship that we have shared with you throughout so many stages of our lives has undoubtedly shaped us into the people we are today and the relationship we share with each other. I find it difficult to express how much gratitude I have for this.
We appreciate the gifts of those guests who have traveled to be able to join in today. I know we have guests who have faced their fear of flying in order to get here, and there are several guests who have traveled a great distance with busy young children to share with us. Thank-you.
We also thank Reverend Uncle Don Parsons for officiating this afternoon, and Reverend Granddad Pete Collins for his words during the ceremony. Thanks to everyone who has spoken this evening, to Jordan for is enthusiastic emceeing and thanks also to all of you who made this day possible by helping out behind the scenes. It is an incredible feeling to know that we have such an amazing support team.
We appreciate our friends. You accepted us for who we are, for all our strengths and vulnerabilities, and we love you for it. You have helped us to recognize the importance of loyalty, of laughing at ourselves and of asking for help. Whatever the distance is between us, we are bonded by our common memories. We are grateful that we share these memories with you.
We give thanks to our families. We have learned with your help, how to be kind to each other, to compromise, and to forgive. You have shown us the importance of sharing, of acceptance, and of supporting one another.
Britt and Alex, I cannot imagine a sistership I would rather be a part of. I can always count on you to get excited with me when I have good news, to ground me when I need grounding, and to take care of me when I need some TLC. I can also count on you always to tell me when my shoes just don’t go with my pants, and then to walk with me proudly when I refuse to change them. Tory and Katelyn, I am so excited to have you as sisters too. I feel like we have already shared some fantastic times together, and, although I don’t think that you are quite at the point of critiquing my fashion sense – I welcome your comments and suggestions – and I believe in the fact that you too will walk with me proudly should I choose to ignore them.
I have had a few occasions, especially with graduation being so recently, when people have remarked to me that my parents must be so proud. For a long time I fumbled with my response to these compliments, but now I know to say that, yes, indeed they are proud, and I lucky. Lucky to have two parents who supported me wholly in all my endeavours, loved me unconditionally, and created a home in which I was able to learn about respect, and develop self-confidence. For all your support in the 27 years leading up to today, I thank – you.
To Jean and Keith…I am grateful for your warmth and acceptance into the family. Contrary to my reluctance regarding group solitaire, I have felt very comfortable integrating into the Merritt bunch. Thank-you also, obviously, for creating this guy…and I don’t mean actually making him (although that is the first step I suppose) but thank you for being the family that you are, and supporting Kyle to grow into the person I have had the pleasure of knowing and loving for the past 3 years.
To Kyle, I thank you for your patience and honesty and for your kindness. I appreciate your quiet understanding, your thoughtfulness, and insight. I can’t do without your hugs, or your words, or your help organizing my paperwork…and I love you for all of it, and everything else too!
The advice that I will offer to those planning a wedding (and asking me for advice) will be:
1. It's not only your day, you are sharing it with your friends and family, and you live in a society in which weddings have existed longer that you have. Stick to your guns on a few things you really care about, but otherwise, have an open-mind.
2. You might feel like you need to plan every last little detail, but if you run out of time, or energy, then don't worry, things will actually still work out. I actually feel like having loose plans is the way to go, that way, whatever happens, you can be happy with the way it works out!
3. Your wedding day will be beautiful. I was totally surprised by how peaceful I felt, and how overwhelmed I was by the strength of the love I felt from everyone who attended. Whew.
And so, we graduated, and wedded, and then slept for a few days (almost straight). Tomorrow we fly to Madrid. We will be back from our Spain/Morocco adventure with just under 2 weeks to spare before moving to Prince George.
