Elegance: this I feel is the perfect word to describe the weekend wedding experience of my dear friends just a few days ago. It was an extravaganza filled with dancing, food, and oodles of laughter, but before I break down my adventures as a bridesmaid, I first have to say just how happy I am for my dear friends as they embark on the next adventures in their beautiful union in holy matrimony.

The bride – a very close friend – was an absolute goddess. Her beauty radiated both inside and out throughout the entire ceremony. Just watching the giddiness exude from her now husband was enough to unleash the romantic in me and give way to one of the most genuine smiles to ever break through my hardened resolve. I’m pretty sure that the smile was cemented on my face for a majority of the late afternoon and early evening events.

I got to witness the enormous weight being lifted off the bride’s shoulders after planning an entire wedding while also finishing undergrad with a near perfect GPA … talk about determination, dedication, and an unwavering drive toward success. I am truly in awe of just how beautifully she planned her own wedding. Actually, I take that back. I had no doubts that she would in fact have one of the most elegant weddings and receptions I’ve ever seen.

Watching her plan her happily-ever-after reminds me of all the times she’d talk about a boy with whom she thought she was “just friends.” We all knew fairly quick that these two soulmates would soon make it official, and we even started placing lighthearted bets as to when they would officially tie the knot.

Just last summer, as I was attending to 15 loud children during my stint as a camp counselor, I received a random photo of a stunning solitaire diamond nestled atop a slim rose gold band. Not long after my phone pinged again with the snapshot of the sunrise proposal on the beach, and I could not have been happier. I knew in my soul that these two beings were meant for each other.

When we began our senior year of undergrad, I was then asked to be a bridesmaid, and of course I said yes. I was so excited to be a part of what truly was an amazing celebration. Love was in the air, and as cliché as that sounds, I felt it, I saw it, I heard it. As I looked around the room during the reception, I saw love in the faces of her family, friends, and of course, her husband. I felt the love as guests swarmed the dancefloor scream-singing “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel. And, most importantly, I heard love ring truly and freely as the speeches rang out amongst the guests.

The speech that really opened the flood gates for me was when the father of the bride took his turn at the mic. Like I said, the romantic in me melted as he talked about his daughter and the amazing woman she has become. I then heard love in the speeches of the maids-of-honor and the best man. Talk about “bringing down the house.” The sister of the bride gave the most epic speech in rap formation, and just as she bro-fisted the happy couple, the center portion of the head table took a tumble. That will surely go down in history and will be a funny story for the future.

But, before I get a little wordy – us English teachers tend to do that sometimes – I’ll bring this tidbit to a close. The point: sometimes love is just so powerful from the start that you know two people will be together forever. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to witness this union. The long drive home mid-reception to make it on time for my island vacation was well worth the memories I’ll have for the rest of my life.

I cannot wait to see where life takes my dear friends; I know they’ll both continue to be successful down the road. But, I cannot wait to continue making memories with the beautiful souls I met during a time in my life when I felt most lost. The bride and a few others managed to get me through college, and for that, I’ll never be able to repay them. And while they were my undergraduate sidekicks, I guess coffee will do for now … and Mr. Know-it-All, of course. Until next time …