Spending this past Sunday celebrating the union of two souls and recently tying the knock myself, got my husband and I talking. While we reminisced over our celebration and all of the details that went into it, we came to the conclusion that a select few are actually able to enjoy their wedding, without the added stress we unnoticeably add ourselves. With any wedding there will be moments of discussion and compromise, strains on relationships and the inevitable accumulation of the tab. However, when did it become the "norm" to have to fit a certain mold? The unspoken guidelines for planning a wedding, dusting the pages of bridal magazines and Pinterest boards.

Most girls have dreamt of their weddings since they were sporting sundresses, bows and a sugary kiss on the cheek from the boy next door. Back then the ideal wedding goes a little something like this: a white ballerina like dress, a towering white cake, flowers and millions of fireflies. The groom would be standing there smiling, in awe of the beautiful girl making her way towards him holding tightly to her fathers arm. Simple, realistic- maybe not every girls' dream wedding, but that's what my adolescent childhood memory entails.

Now, to come back from the reverie of fairytales and fireflies, we are bombarded by millions of cake flavors, flower options and one too many dress styles. Some couples will spend years planning the best day of their lives and not truly enjoy it or remember that the big day isn't about the decorations, the song choices, how many candles should go on each table or how to fit the pieces together for the seating chart puzzle. It's about the vows you make to one another, the promises made no matter what, through life's ups and downs. The last two words you utter are a reflection of your love and the choice you've made to love that person for the rest of your life. "I do", such an easily overlooked phrase- the stronghold those words encompass seems to get lost in the piles of RSVPs that need to be sifted through.

That was one thing my husband and I are so thankful for, that we were able to recognize the blessing a union of two souls before God is. We didn't stress over the details or the issues that arose, we remembered that at the end of the day it was just he and I, committing our love for one another in front of God and our closest friends and family. The day was truly a reflection of God's grace and love for us, which only made our words to one another more powerful. Yes, there were pressures of what people may think or prefer but with our open communication we were able to side step unneeded complications.

Remember girls and guys, it's not about checking items off your list, meeting an unspoken criteria or spending outlandish amounts of money on things that you don't necessarily want. It's a reflection of your commitment & love to one another surrounded by God's grace and beauty. Maybe a celebration with delicious cake and fireflies isn't that unobtainable if we channel our childhood selves.