photos by Snap Photography
Three years ago today was my favorite day of all time.
After months and months of planning and designing (before Pinterest, I might add…) and trying to make as many people happy as possible, and after 6 years of dating and living together and trying it all on for size, and after a blustery morning Cape Cod wind and rain storm, they sky opened up, the sun came out and I got to marry my person.
It was the best party I have ever been to and ever thrown. I loved every last moment and still remember not being able to sleep that night we were so hopped up and chatty.
It was a magical day.
In the interest of keeping things real, I will tell you that marriage, has not been magical. It has been really friggin' hard.
I know that sounds harsh, and people don't really say that too often, particularly people who write fairly positive and upbeat greeting cards. But it's true. It is the most challenging thing I have ever done, and the most challenging thing we have ever done together. There has been lots and lots of good, and lots to celebrate, but if I am being very honest, I would say, mostly hard.
But as hard as marriage has been, the easiest thing I have ever done is decide to marry him. To choose him. That was a cinch. And we continue to choose eachother every single day, and it continues to be the simplest decision I make and the one that brings me the most joy. We are, day by day, inch by inch, making eachother better people, supporting the people we want to be and accomplishing that together. It is a lot of work, but I can't think of anyone I would rather do it with.
Happy Anniversary Coach! I love you and I love who we are becoming.
xoxo
I love this. I love your honesty. That’s exactly how I feel. Happy Anniversary, and here’s to many more years of amazing-ness.
Just another reason why I love your blog and believe we were BFF’s in another life 🙂 Thank you for sharing – gives me hope!
Cami
Gorgeous, and hard-won words. How we can contain the pardoxes of the universe!
Was out in CA this month and stocked up on your cards and magnets, but hope to find the new ones around here (VA/DC) soon too… so affirming and uplifting. Thank you!
brave and beautiful girl. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Love, love, love your honesty. I was just married in January, and it’s tough business. But you commit to love that person through the good and the bad, and learn from each other every day.
By the way, I’d love to tell you about my Curly Girl wedding! Your products made several appearances in our special day!
oh you got me. little weepy from that one. perfectly written, deeply felt. happy happy anniversary! love you both oh so much!
Maybe that’s the key…choosing each other every day. I think that’s true about many things in life. As a singleton, I would imagine that those kinds of choices are the only way to navigate a marriage.
Leigh,
Happy Anniversary and congrats on 3 years! I married the person I most admire and love 3 years ago too, in October 2008.
Marriage IS hard, but so worth it. It is a prize of high value because we have to work so hard at it, appologize often and get up and work at it some more.
I have a request. I have a terrible time finding romantic cards that speak in ‘man’ to give to my husband.
Many cards use terms like ‘love’, ‘you make me feel…’, ‘you complete me…’ etc… these sentiments are in terms that women use.
Would you make a romantic card to be given to a guy using terms like ‘I admire/respect you because…’ ‘You are my hero’ etc…
Thank you for your beautiful work. I have it in my work cube and enjoy it almost every day.
The one card I have given my husband that he kept and that is still on his desk is your ‘I would reather do nothing with you than something with anyone else’ card. I love that one.
Since we are being honest today I want to say I’m a Curly Girl fan with Curly Red Hair & after 24 years I am still waiting for the easy part of marriage to begin…..We have always set our marriage aside as belonging to God & have rarely enjoyed the lessons…hahahaha……..& Just so you Know …….you have inspired me to wear a Tiarra Whenever I feel Like it being a princess….& sometimes…..when its in the Middle of a Heated debate…its invisiable…so he has have NO IDEA he’s talking to the QUEEN
Thanks for saying it! You’re right, it’s completely true. If it were easy, more of us would be successful. Hopefully someone reads this and it helps them with their journey in some way. Happy happy happy anniversary and here’s to a whole bunch more!!
“All my love, all my life” sums it up for us 23 years since our favorite day. Congratulations! You, as usual, capture in words life is all about. Happy celebrating!
multiply your three years times ten and that is us! 30 years now! hard to imagine so much time has passed. you are correct to use the word “choose” – there are many days when the choice is easy and so many more when it is harder.
i love the honesty of this post leigh.
thank you for writing it.
Lettie
Yep it is hard work. We have made it now for 38 years and believe me it has been for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health.
The tests do make you stronger if you live through them. LIFE is worth it to stay with the one true love who knows you the deepest.
Beautiful pictures.
Hard work is right. Well worth it is also right! Spot-on once again. Thank you for being such a kindred spirit! Happy Anniversary to you and Coach! Keep choosing each other. Keep becoming 🙂
Congratulations and may you have many more. Next month Mr. Cottage and I will celebrate our 44th! There are times I wonder how we made it this far, but with the grace of God!
THANKS for having the courage to say what so many of us feel, Leigh! We’ll have been happily married 38 years next week and know that your thoughts ring true. Marriage is LIFE – with a partner. It’s wonderful to know that we’re in it together and for always. Happy Anniversary, to you both!
Love, Mom & Dad
Leigh..I have been married to my sweetie for 23 years. I so often say to him that I choose him everyday….it is not a given. It is a circle that keeps coming around each day. Always different, usually amusing, really supportive and just plain magical…
Amazing pictures….
Colleen
Such beautiful memories of that day!! You are an amazing couple. Marriage is hard, but it is worth every bit of work to feel the true love. Congratulations! Hugs to you both, Wendy
PS: good looking bridesmaids! 🙂
Leigh;
Happy Anniversary and continued best wishes to you both! Your words are spot on and they and your pictures are beautiful! Hope your celebration day is as special as you are. <3
P.S. Btw, scrolled back up for one more peek at your pictures & find myself instensely curious about what your reception decorations, cake & invitation(art) looked like! Did you design it? Future post maybe? Just a suggestion! 🙂
Congratulations and I get tingles looking at all of the beauty from that day! You do everything, the easy and the hard, with such grace and honesty…Well Done 3 years ago and Today.
I just read this to my future daughter-in-law. She asked me to forward it to her.
We loved the dead-on truth and deep love!
Thank you. The weddings in a month-this helped!
This is a bit of a long comment:
However, First, let me say, that I too think its hard – particularly the 2nd year. I’ve been married 12 years.
I just came across this passage from a book I read. I had typed it out (about a year and a half ago) and put it under a file called ‘Marriage’. Then, I checked out your blog today.
I feel it is appropriate to share:
From the book “Why do I love These People?” by Po Bronson
“I’m on my second marriage, so I’ve learned from my mistake. I think monotony is the easiest problem to ignore, and overlooking it is dangerous. It may not seem like a “real” problem, so couples go five or ten years, easily, doing nothing to fix it – when suddenly it’s too late and they discover their problems are all too real. At that point, you might have no choice but to endure it. Until then, you do have a choice. Babysitters are cheaper than psychotherapists. Plane tickets are cheaper than divorce lawyers. Making your spouse feel loved and secure is a whole lot easier before you cheat. That your mind goes places doesn’t mean the rest of you will follow. If you can communicate well enough to cut those daily mosquito bites in half, the good will outweigh the annoying, and the marriage won’t feel poisoned. Marriages are not hard work – they are gratifying work. The tools of this work are diligence, awareness, and communication. Getting good at this line of work pays off.”
Happy 3rd Anniversary! Beautiful down-to-earth pictures!
Life is not always easy and you take the good with the bad. Unfortunately, today’s reality TV shows portray an unrealistic picture. Couples flocking off on private jets to private island resorts. They ride off into the sunset on horseback down a white sandy beach. Real life is going to Home Depot with one another and getting your hands dirty in the backyard. Oh, and if you’re a fellow dog lover like myself…don’t forget about picking up the dog pooh! Keeping it real is the real deal.
Wishing you and your husband an abundance of blessings!
I love this post and all your pictures. Happy anniversary!
Those pictures are stunning, the shocking pink, gorgeous! Marriage is always hard, mostly in the first years but the love and the commitment will make everything a lot easier! Thanks for sharing!
All those lucky people who can use Pinterest to wedding plan!! 😉 😉 you wedding looked beautiful! Congrats on 3 years!
xoxo, Leigh
Hey Leigh, I “awarded” you a Versatile Blogger Award! To see what that means, visit this post on my blog: http://granolameetsgrits.com/2012/08/07/versatile-blogger-award/#
On the one hand, I am thrilled to share your blog with my readers because I like it so much, but on the other hand I am sorry because I realize this is kind of like those silly chain letters I always threw away when I was younger. 🙂 If you would rather not post about this on your blog, I will not be offended in the least. Just wanted to include you on my list of favorites, that is all!
Let me know if you have any questions I can answer, though I don’t know much about this thing myself. 🙂 Have a good day!
Lovely…. Happy Anniversary!
Wishing you love, happiness andgood health on your anniversary and always!
well said.
nice pictures.
love
tricia