This summer, on a beautiful sunny afternoon, a strapping, gentle man married his beautiful high school sweetheart on an apple orchard farm. Calling him a man, still makes me smile, because I’ve know him since he was six and consider him the closest thing I have to a little brother. His older sister and I are the same age and have grown up like sisters, their mother like my mother.
When he was little I remember his wild fascination with insects, coming home from a walk with locust shells and looking at them in awe. I remember him staying up late with us girls on slumber party nights, watching us drool over boys in movies and giggle ourselves to sleep. I remember looking forward to his colorful stories on the deck, as he’d periodically get up to check the grille, with a dish towel over his shoulder. I remember him doing the most perfect impressions while we opened presents around the tree, having us all in stitches over our hot cocoa. I remember he would sometimes sit the same way as his dad at the dinner table. Then I remember him growing a beard. And sprouting like a vine, towering over us like a large oak tree. His hair grew long and he went away to high school on a farm. Where his heart was. Literally. One day on a break from school he came home with her. His heart wide open and in love, and she the same. They have been dancing ever since.
Watching these two during their ceremony was one of the most heartfelt I have ever seen. There were a lot of tears. For joy, and memories and love. And for his dad, who left us too soon. I’d like to dedicate this post to the parents of these two sweethearts. For without them, and their own story, this one could not have been told.
A HUGE thank you to Jimmmmaaayy (Jim Altieri), my dear friend and insanely talented videographer from Vintage Cinema for putting together this video for me! You can see all his videos HERE as well.
are you serious. jasmind!!!! holy toledo I freaking am obsessed with this. every part. wow. so…you. so wonderful!