365 Days as a Mrs.
On Sunday Oct. 9th, my husband and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary. We were lucky enough to be upstate along the Hudson on Saturday to go apple picking so we got to swing through our darling Cold Spring, walk down by the water and eat dinner with dear friends.
Cold Spring started as the town where we escaped the city to spend quality time making memories with friends and to get our antique shopping fix, then it was the town where E proposed and then it became the town where we would say 'I Do' in the little church on the hill. Now, it is the town we will forever visit and will have a place in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Our video and pictures still make me tear up!
Thinking back on that day, it might honestly have been the best day I could've ever imagined. The night before, I stayed at a stunning revolutionary era bed and breakfast and that is where all the girls gathered to get ready in the morning. We are so blessed to have such talented friends who wanted to help us make the day perfect. My friend Candice did my hair, Gretchen did makeup, we had no less than 10 professional photographers present along with our official ones, Josh and Murphy set up an old school Polaroid photobooth, our pastor Jon Tyson did the ceremony, Zach Williams and Caitlyn sang worship songs, Nate was our DJ, Adam shot video, Josh (one of my bridesmen) and Papa Ice (with a harmonica!) performed our first dance song, my sister-in-law made our wedding cake, Dana helped design the chalk boards, Mo made our DIY cake topper, Kathleen and my girlfriends baked homemade cookies, pies and carmel apples for our desert table.... our community was really the hands and feet of our wedding day. And even today, I'm not sure we'll ever know how to fully express our gratitude. It's true when they say 'it takes a village'. And I guess in our case, it takes a whole borough.
So what has the first year been like?
Marriage is so much more than you can ever expect. First off, to be honest, another human being on this earth has voluntarily chosen to spend the rest of their life with you. Just you. Weird, right? I'm not even sure I always think I'm that cool. Unconditional love is the bottom line. Second, you've got two people living under one roof and doing life together.... news flash, you can't hide any of your freak flag moments anymore, you can't be selfish and you can't expect anything to be resolved - from 'whats for dinner' moments to 'who's family do we spend the holidays with' this year- if you don't learn to communicate. Third, you will learn that changing your name in NYC is harder than being a contestant on Amazing Race. And last, but not least, you will learn how much of a gift it truly is to get to spend the rest of your life with your best friend. This is just the beginning, we've got decades of learning ahead of us.
Got marriage advice? Do share below! Would love other people's first year of marriage stories and ten or twenty year marriage stories.
Dress: Vera Wang
Get Away Dress: BCBG Max Azaria
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Clutch: Judith Leiber
Hairpiece: Becky Shim
Fur Stole: Vintage (gift from my girlfriends before the wedding!)
Photos :: Josh Goleman, Kelsey Foster, Nate Poekert, Andrew Shepherd, Divine Light Photography
Video :: Eric & Amy - "Dancing Shoes" by GRO from Loose Luggage on Vimeo.
October 9, 2011
Reader Comments (10)
Loved this, Amy. Made me tear up, especially as we just celebrated one year too!! I completely echo your first-year thoughts...thanks for sharing :)
beautiful post!
& thank you for validating how hard it is to change your name in this city!!
I believe the best thing that you said in this post was marrying and spending the rest of your life with your best friend. It encompasses all of the things that make marriage work....respect, trust, love, laughter, tears, stress, relaxation. Life isn't always easy and it is awesome to know that you found the person that is willing to work through the hard stuff with you and not just enjoy the fun stuff. I haven't gotten thru the first year of marriage yet, but am loving every day that passes. Great post and congratulations to you and eric! Love you both!
Anna - Can't wait til we get to raise glasses around the yellow table and celebrate 10 years! It will probably be here before we all know it!
Sarah - Yea, and I'll continue that validation with.... I STILL have yet to fully change my name! Got as far as the SS card and threw my hands up in defeat. I entertained the idea of going to the driver's license office, and it's overwhelming just thinking about it.... so I haven't made it there yet. I promised Eric one day.... one day we will conquer the system!
It was a beautiful wedding! So different and fun :) Also, don't forget the beautiful rehearsal dinner by the very talented Diana Anderson :) Happy anniversary!
Wow, that first photo (the black & white one of both of you) is stunningly gorgeous. Love your dramatic black bridesmaid dresses too.
amazing post! Love the vid and photos. I wish we could have had such awesome footage instead of over priced stupid smoke break photographer. HA. But we still watch our wedding video every year and like you, I tear up every time. Everyone kept saying, "the first year is the hardest" but honestly, that first year of marriage was THE best year of my life... and they just keep getting better. Happy Anniversary.
Props to the best comment ever by the husband! This was such a beautiful post and I am very thankful that you shared it with us! Look forward to more cute montages every Oct 9!
OMAGAH!!! Were you ever a gorgeous bride!!! AAAAH; lovely!
Beautiful pics!
ahhh, us, married nerds. ;) and you described it spot on. Love being married. and the pictures are so beautiful - vera wang dress - oh yesss..