I exhibited at a wedding fair the other day: brides and grooms and brides and friends everywhere!  I asked a lot of brides and couples questions about where and when they’d be getting married, loving the excited faces and new romantic energy: how exciting!

And then I asked one woman if her husband was the dreamiest dreamboat ever.  Her answer?  No.  But they’d been together for awhile, so he thought she expected him to propose.

Seriously?

I can’t really judge too harshly.  I was married before because I thought it was the thing to do at the time.  Now though, I AM married to the dreamiest dreamboat ever.  And if I have one piece of advice to give, it’s that you should only marry the one who makes the butterflies in your tummy go crazy.  Only marry the one who thinks you can do anything.  Only marry the one who will support your dreams while pursuing his or her own.  Marry the one who is your best friend, who makes you laugh every day, who tells you he (or she) loves you often and gives the best hugs.  Because life is tough, but being with your person shouldn’t be.  And when you find this dreamboat, remind yourself every day how special and important it is that you found one another, because it’s easy to forget.  The amazing becomes commonplace all too quickly, and we take it for granted.

Jeff and I after we just met: can you believe what I’m wearing?!?

Before we got engaged we did a photo shoot at Stanley Park.  Me: maxi skirt from the 80s and a black sweater.  Him: his uniform of jeans, Melvins t and hoodie.  We look exactly like ourselves.

Celebrating our one year anniversary at the scene of the crime: the Banff Springs hotel.  I’m wearing a 50s dress I still have, he’s wearing his wedding suit!

Same photo shoot at Stanley Park: running away together…always.