Chapter One: How It Started

Sandy and Chandler’s story started in high school as frequent competitors in public speaking competitions. Though they were rivals, their respect and appreciation for one another bloomed effortlessly into a deep friendship. Shortly after graduation, Chandler suffered a major car accident and spent weeks in a coma. Sandy visited him in the hospital and communicated with his family to check on his condition. Sandy had moved away for college, but when she returned to their hometown during school breaks, they would go on long drives on rural streets to catch up and look at the stars. Though they had a special bond, their connection never moved beyond a friendship. 

As years passed, their communication would ebb and flow. The pair would lose contact for a while, only to reconnect and carry on as if no time had passed. Fifteen years after the start of their friendship, Sandy reached out to Chandler to say hello and apologize for neglecting a text he had sent her months before. This time, as they rekindled their friendship, romance sparked unexpectedly.

Their bond quickly developed into infatuation, and infatuation into love. After eight months, Sandy and Chandler were sure: they were soul mates, and they did not want to spend another day without each other. 

Chandler arranged a sailboat proposal during sunset. He coordinated an elaborate surprise and planned every step months in advance. The hardest part was waiting for the proposal date to arrive. The mix of excitement and anxiety from keeping the secret was almost unbearable; he often wondered why he hadn’t chosen a plan he could carry out immediately. The wait was worth it. By the time Sandy and Chandler had returned to shore after a beautiful sunset sail, they were engaged.

As they considered what sort of wedding felt most authentic to them, they realized a classic ceremony would not be a good fit. The bride was born in Mexico and had always envisioned getting married among her loved ones in the country she has always called home. However, a destination wedding in Mexico would have meant forgoing the attendance of beloved family members in the U.S. who would not be able to travel overseas, not to mention a longer engagement. 

They opted to mix and match events in order to tailor a wedding that would fit them and their unique cultures and circumstances: a small backyard ceremony with friends and family, a larger brunch reception with loved ones, and in the future, a second, bilingual ceremony on the Mexican Riviera alongside family from both countries.  

Chapter Two: The (First) Special Day

The couple decided to hold their small ceremony on the deck of the bride’s parents home, where they live and run an AirBnb called Casa del Bosque, or House in the Woods. In the early afternoon, the couple took pictures at a local arboretum. The natural beauty served as the perfect backdrop for the genuine, down-to-earth, joyful couple. 

The ceremony followed alongside fifteen of their closest family and friends. The bride’s sister served as the (adult) flower girl alongside the bride’s beloved dog, Lincoln. The ring bearer was the groom’s dog, his dear Sammy. The parents of the couple all had roles in the ceremony, a reflection of their love of family. A close friend officiated, weaving the ceremony with wisdom about marriage and sweet stories about the couple.

Sandy and Chandler recited traditional vows, then shared the personal versions they had written to each other. Both expressed their gratitude for the other, their commitment to their partner and marriage, and their hopes for a life filled with laughter, comfort, respect, and love. Friends and family passed around tissues and handkerchiefs– it felt like a moment many lifetimes in the making.

Chapter Three: A Lakeside Brunch

On Sunday, the couple invited a larger group of loved ones to join them for a brunch celebration. The venue was an event space by a lake surrounded by views of the Blue Ridge mountains.  The menu reflected the couple’s multi-cultural relationship– tamales and sliders, pan dulce and parfaits, Bloody Marys and Sangria. Some guests lounged on the deck’s rocking chairs, others drew with the art supplies at each table, and kids blew bubbles by the lake. Later, the groom’s brother and bride’s sister toasted the new couple. 

As Sandy and Chandler drove off to start their next chapter, their family and friends lingered to bask in the warmth of the afternoon and the happiness in the air.