An Open Letter to all Wedding Guests

Photo Credit: Shelby Chari Photography

Friends,

There is a time in everyone's life where they feel like they are attending a wedding every weekend.  Ladies go shopping for a new fun dress, the perfect shoes, and all the accessories.  The guys may even pull a tie out from the back of their closet to wear.  Getting dressed up can be fun!  

Friends and family from near and far travel to share their love and support for the couple and wish them many years of health and happiness.  Everyone enjoys dinner, drinks and maybe even some dancing.  We catch up with friends we haven't seen in awhile and make some new by the end of the night.  Weddings bring people together and good times are had by all.

As a guest remember the couple has spent lots of time and money making decisions about every detail to make this their perfect day.  You may or may  not have made the same decisions and that is okay because today isn't about you.  Be respectful to the couple and the other guests around you.  Sign the guest book, give marriage advice, take a photo in the photo booth, interact as the couple has intended and have fun.  

I realize we live in the 21st century where we all have a cell phone and enjoy the luxury of being able to snap a photo and share it instantly with the world, but I ask, no beg, that you "unplug" yourself for one evening and truly be present and experience this day with the couple and the guests around you.  You won't get these moments back.  There aren't do-overs.  The only time is now to truly experience this moment.  In 10 years, when you are reminiscing and sharing stories you will be glad that you can recall the sounds, sights, and how you felt from the moment because you will be able to paint a much more vivid picture for your listeners than to just show them your iPhone photo, that may or may not even turn out.    

The couple has paid a pretty penny {or two} to have a professional photographer and maybe even a videographer to capture their day. The couple has paid for these professionals so you can enjoy the day with them and not worry who is going to take the pictures and videos.  When you are trying to get your perfect shot the photographer and/or videographer has to work around you maybe making their job harder.  Plus, when the couple gets their professional photos back do you think they want to see a bunch of guests distracted by their cell phones?  Also, when the doors open for the big reveal of the bride, I am pretty sure she doesn't want to see a bunch of cell phones pointed in her direction.  One more... What about when the couple is announced at the end as the newlyweds? They want to see your smiles and hear your claps, not your phone!  Not to mention, the raising up and down of cell phones and moving around can be very distracting for the guests around you. 

For one night, put your phone away.  I promise you will survive and be happier knowing that you fully embraced the experience.  From the smell of the bouquets, the taste of the food, the sound of laughter and cheers, to seeing and appreciating all the details put into making this day all about the couple up front, make yourself fully present because there is truly so much to experience and when you come out from behind that phone you will be amazed by what you have been missing out on. 

Your fellow iPhone lover,

Stephanie

P.S. I am positive the couple will be more than happy to share their professional photos with you in a few weeks.  Patience.

Lucky Anniversary

Back in March...

Andrew and I celebrated 17 months married on the 17th.  

How fun is it that this anniversary fell on St. Patrick's Day?

In true Stephanie fashion I couldn't let this day slip away without some fun treats and celebrations.

Sneaky leprechaun left some goodies

I live for this stuff

Lunchbox jokes

I am so glad Andrew just smiles, tells me I am cute, and plays along, because I am a sucker for a good theme, printables, and a celebration!  Who is really making out here, though?

I may or may not need to reel it in before we have little Welshicans {aka kids}. 

What will I think of next?

It isn't St. Patrick's day with out green beer and it isn't an anniversary without "cheers" to many more.

YES, I take my printables with me in public and have no shame.

Life is about celebrating your journey {no comparing} and enjoying every stage.  Don't wish the days away because someday you will be wanting this moment back.  Be present and make the most of where you are at right now.  Andrew and I aren't perfect but after living 3 years of our relationship with an ocean between us we try hard to balance difficult times with fun times. 

Challenging times come and go but without them we wouldn't know how to fully embrace the good.  When we make the most of even a silly anniversary it is something we can hold onto when we feel like our world is crumbling beneath us.  All these moments help us to keep a realistic outlook.  

What is your secret to staying balanced?

Blessed and in love

Don't you worry, I had my green and sparkles on as well...

If you are counting...today marks 19 months married! Time flies when you are having fun.

13.1 or Bust

13.1 - check!

I went 13.1 miles on foot!
3 hours, 14 minutes, 57 seconds later.

I trained for hours, weeks, and months for this one race.

I wanted to prove to myself I could do hard things.

Green check-marks were my motivation

Race weekend came and went and I am still reflecting on what happened.

It wasn't anything like I imagined.  It wasn't fun.  It was seriously the hardest thing I have ever done. A friend at the finish line made me feel a little better when she said, "childbirth was easier than this!" {if that is the case, bring on the babies}

In our corral waiting for our turn

The support and excitement I received from friends and family leading up the the race was amazing.  People were proud of me and I hadn't even made it to the finish line yet.  The emails, cards, Facebook posts, gifts, and cheerleaders on the sideline is what got me through every mile.  I hated every moment of the race, and I wanted to walk off more times than not. I just kept telling myself, "one more mile" and "you trained for this" 

Friends make torture running better, right?

All smiles at the start line 

I didn't give up.  The closer I got the finish line the more excited I got because I knew my loved ones would be there cheering me on those last few steps...  

I never heard them and they never saw me.

  My heart broke.  

I just completed my first {and only} mini-marathon and no one saw me cross that finish line.  I know they were as disappointed as me and their hearts broke too.  I know it didn't change the fact that they were proud of me, and understood the accomplishment but for me it almost feels as if I didn't complete the race.  

Days after the race and I am still waiting to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.  I am waiting for that high and excitement to do another race, but it isn't there.  

I am confused.  This isn't me.  I am hard on myself but not this hard.  I often choose not to show my excitement for my own achievements, but I would have that sense of pride deep down and all I can find is frustration.  I can't help but tear up when I think about the day.

I am a half-marathon finisher!

I knew enough people that have run this course before that I had a pretty good idea what I was getting myself into, but there were still things I couldn't prepare myself for.  These are the things I am trying to process and tell myself it is no reason to quit...

• The Indy 500 track is a long 2.5 miles, that was not good on my hips and knees
• My shoes! Although fit for me at a running store, they were the cause of many frustrations and pain.
• Walkers walking 4-people wide and inconsiderate of those trying to pass
• 13.6 miles is not 13.1 miles.  My tracker on my phone gave me almost exactly the same finishing time as my electronic chip but a difference of 0.5 miles! Half mile is a significant difference in my book and talk about discouraging. 

I said going into this race, I will never run another half-marathon and after my experience I definitely won't be back.  I will continue to run, but I think a 5K is more my style. 

Who wants to join me for 3.1 miles? 

Our first race together!

Thank you to everyone that supported me through my training and then sent their love and good luck vibes my way for race weekend.  You kept me going.  I now have a new respect for runners and they will forever hold a special place in my heart.