Wow, the time -how it flies

Dear Two-Years-Ago Me,

Tomorrow is your wedding day.  You have waited and hoped for so long, so relax.  The day will be perfect.  When you look back and remember exhaustion and frustrations that everything was not perfect the day before the wedding, the wedding day was amazing.  Do not confuse the two. 

From Andy waking you at 5 to cut his hair, to getting to the salon before your eyes are all the way open, to the joy of watching Alex get ready, so full of pride in her 4 year old self... to dressing at church surrounded by love... to the relaxing of your heart when you hear Andy is ready to see you... to seeing his face light up as you step into the hall.  Watching family arrive and ohh and ah over the two of you, preparing to celebrate with you.  Your bouquet will weigh one million pounds, so be prepared now.  And the fishnet stockings Andy requested, forget it.  They will make your feet hurt before the service even starts, so don't bother.  He won't even remember.

Alex won't stand still for pictures.  It will be ok.  The ones she is in turn out perfect, so just let her be.

The moment of joy walking down the aisle, your father on one side and your mother on the other, a symbol of your life that only half of the room understands... the moment Andy takes your hand...  Pastor Mark singing the "Our Father"... or making a joke about the ring...

The groomsmen stalling the reception so they could make a liquor run.  They will think you don't know, so pretend you never figure it out.  And Chris and Bea arriving after the reception was half over - that will make for life-long jokes when you get together.  So what that they flew all the way in from Florida.  That is what will make it so funny.

The wedding dance..."If I were you"... the smiles and laughter, the tears of joy.  Dancing with your father... only a few people knew just how much that really meant...

Tammie and Katie insisting on a private moment.  In the bathroom. 

The standing ovation as you walk into the after party at the local pub with a few of our closest friends, and the Marines on leave will buy you round after round - men you don't even know honoring their brother in uniform.  And how handsome he will look.  So perfect.

Try to catch a short nap while you wait for the after-after party - and don't let Bill set the house on fire.  He will try, but don't even let that phase you.  Just enjoy the celebration of love surrounded by loved ones.

When you look back, it will be a blur of smiling faces and laughable moments. 

Celebrate your love.  That is all that matters.

Love,
Me, on the eve of our second anniversary