This past weekend I was up in Maine celebrating love. I am so so in love with weddings. This one was extra special as it was my boyfriends brother getting married. Although it wasn’t one of my own family members getting hitched, it sure felt that way. I’ve known my boyfriends family for 17 (?) years and they have always been like a second family to me.

The drive up was amazing. The leaves, dear god the leaves!! I hardly noticed the 8+ hours in the car because it was like a never ending slideshow of trees and mountains and colors and lakes and beauty! It was all so beautiful. Ahh, life.

Thursday was the day for rehearsals and then the rehearsal dinner and speeches! I was so excited all week waiting for the speeches (bf thought i was evil due to the fact that he was giving one). I know it’s super hard to stand up in front of a bunch of people and talk about how you FEEL towards them. Trust me, I would be just as nervous but it got me thinking just how scared we are to tell someone how much we love them. We kind of just go through life assuming our family knows that we appreciate them, that they played a key role in shaping us, that we are happy for them and that we LOVE them. Speeches are scary but my god are they fucking beautiful. To hear someone tell another exactly how they feel from the heart is gold. It usually involves all the good stuff: laughs, smiles, memories, tears, hugs, kisses, connection. I loved listening and I think after every speech we are forced to give we open our hearts just a little bit more.

It rained!! The day of the wedding was rainy and grey but that’s good luck right? In my opinion it made the wedding super cozy and romantic and everything ended up being perfect. The ceremony was short and sweet (laughs&tears included) and the reception was a blast. Good food, good drinks, photo booth fun, plenty of dancing and new friends made.

All in all it was a beautiful weekend of celebrating love. I will leave you with this amazing poem they read before the vows:

Blessing of the Hands

“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.” –

LOVE. that is all,
Ash