1. how it all began: how you met, first date, first kiss, how long did you date? first picture together…..etc.
2. when you knew he was the one: self explanatory.. but how and when did you know?
3. proposal: how it happened, how long were you engaged for? was it a total surprise? pictures of that… etc.
4. the ring: tell us about it! did you pick it out? did he? pictures! tell us about his ring too!
5. engagement/bridal pictures: let’s see em!
6. the colors: show some of the flower and colors you used
7. the dress: was it what you always imagined? did you have it made for you? white or ivory?
8. the little accessories: you know, veil? shoes? jewelry?
9. the reception: where was it at? show us some pictures! what day did you get married?
10. the cake/food: i love food. so tell me about what you had at your wedding!
11. your song and/or the first song you danced to at your wedding: share a music video or lyrics if you can!
12. favorite part of the day and least favorite part of the day: can be anything.
13. honeymoon: where did you go? was it good? 😉 haha…jk.
14. thoughts on marriage: what is the easiest/hardest part? if you could change anything, what would it be?
15. first place that you lived together: pics if you have them!
16. kids: do you have any yet? if not, when do you plan on it? how many do you want? any tips on good/bad birth control?
17. most recent picture of you and your significant other and what you love most about them 🙂 and any other thoughts
Growing up, the idea of being married always scared me. All I ever seemed to hear about was how much work it was, how couples were happier when they didn’t see too much of each other, and how the divorce rate kept climbing.
I don’t know what made me change my mind. Actually, I do. It was Matt. And my mission.
On my mission, I saw a lot of couples who somehow managed to stay together despite terrible hardships and stressors. I saw couples who were about to call it quits who started to live the restored gospel and saw their whole marriage do a complete 180. Basically, by the end of my mission, I realized something very key: marriages built on the gospel of Jesus Christ will be successful when both parties are willing to live its principles and love each other selflessly.
After this realization, I finished my mission and fell in love with Matt about two weeks after getting home. I didn’t tell him that early on that it was love, of course, but I knew–that little intuitive part of me just knew that this kind of love was different: it was the love I was willing to commit to. Forever.
And you know what I was surprised to discover once I got married?
That I loved it.
That it wasn’t as hard in nearly as many ways as I thought it would be.
That it was kind of hard in ways that I hadn’t really thought about.
When I asked Matt his thoughts on marriage, he texted me this: “It rocks!”
When I pressed him to give a little bit more depth to his answer, he responded with this:
“[In marriage], you always have someone there. And it’s not just someone–it’s the person that you most care about and always want to be with.”
I couldn’t agree more; that’s one of the things that I love most about being married–I know there’s always somebody there at the end of the day to give me a hug, tell me he loves me, and to talk and share my dreams with. Matt is the kindest, most considerate, and most thoughtful person I’ve ever known, and I feel so lucky to have him as my husband.
As for the hard stuff, well…it’s not even the stuff that I thought it would be. I thought that marriage meant conflicts, esp. conflicts over little things, but Matt and I have never fought. I’m not saying that we never will, but we have learned to settle any differences in a way that’s sensitive to the other person’s feelings. I guess the hardest part about it all is learning how to be less selfish in my life–to be less selfish with time, with money, with service. My mission really helped me out with that, but I still have a long way to go.
One thing I’m sure of though is this: I am so grateful every day that I have Matthew in my life–that I do have that someone who is always there for me, who I want to be with more than anyone else.
And I love that.
Marriage really does rock.
