This summer I attended three weddings and celebrated a matrimonial milestone of my own. I will always remember 2018 as A Summer of Love.

The edges of tree leaves are already tinged with their fall colors. Reflecting on the events of this summer, my memories of it are tinged with love in many stages and outward expressions.  I have witnessed countless relationships develop, blossom, unfold and mature–including my own.

Silver Anniversary

My partner and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary this summer, so love and marriage have been at the forefront of my mind. It’s no small thing to be with another person year in and year out! Our relationship has been the source of countless joys and victories. Our relationship has survived the deaths of three parents, many moves and changes. We’ve raised two children who are on the verge of leaving the nest. We’ve both faced countless challenges, setbacks. Though we may annoy some people with our seemingly endless inside jokes and our shared “wife and husband shorthand,” we have not and will not always agree on everything–we are two separate people after all! But at the beginning and end of every day I am still overwhelmingly grateful to have shared these years with my best friend. Bonus: he and I are both marriage experts–for real!

Now, in midlife, I have not had the honor of being able to celebrate weddings as frequently as in my earlier years. Not only do I like celebrations and the unique melding of the traditional markers of love unions with each couple’s personal touches, but it is a great honor to be asked to be present on the occasion of the solemnization of a couple’s decision to walk the planet together, come what may. During the Summer of 2018 we had the honor of being invited to witness three beautiful nuptials and each was as distinctly perfect, as each couple were stunning.

Grown & Dapper

One wedding was that of a brilliant, kind and dapper family friend who exchanged vows with his beautiful bride in a very modern and soulful church ceremony. From the church pew, their fondness for each other was palpable and it was clear they were both tickled to be able to commit to the person they cherish most in the world. He has been a wonderful friend to us and an indispensable and active member of my faith community. Celebrating one of the best days of his life (so far!) with him and his true love was pure goodness.

Cherished & Shared

My gorgeous sister-in-law joined hands and shared her marriage vows with the love of her life, before a lattice covered in vines and summer blooms in the backyard of their home. The ceremony officiated by her mom. Dear reader, I want you to know that by “backyard” I mean that they transformed the area behind their home into one of the most elegant outdoor wedding venues I have ever been to! She and the groom were radiant, and absolutely cherish and adore each other. It was such a heartwarming feeling to share the day filled with the love that all who were gathered feel for them and their beautiful family.

Beloved & Bespoke

A former co-worker and his partner are two of the kindest and socially conscious people I know. Their wedding was at a sprawling landmark and the couple encouraged guests to use a hashtag to share memories of the day. Because our workplace had been very casual, they are both millennials and being on the west coast, I was surprised and delighted to see both of them decked out in the sharpest pair of identical suits that surely had to have been tailored from cloth woven with them in mind. Their officiant gave a beautiful message that included readings from Loving v. Virginia and Windsor v. U.S., before leading the couple in a sand ceremony that echoed the blending of the cultures of their families as they joined together their lives.

A Wish

So yes, I enjoy weddings and I appreciate what a huge honor and great privilege it is to celebrate each couple’s wedding day. It is also my duty to wish each couple a good life together. Have you heard the saying “every funeral you attend is your own?” I don’t think every wedding is my own. Instead, every wedding I celebrate is a wish for the kind of love I hope everyone can experience. Pure, focused Wedding Day kind of love. Now I am not saying that everyone should get married or that marriage is the only way to experience love, because it isn’t. Marriage isn’t for everyone, but love is for anyone. Whether you are married or single, younger than many, or older than most–may you and everyone you know have the kind of love in your life that makes you feel beautiful, adored, cherished and blessed!