The Wedding of my Dreams...

     October 8th, 2011 at 5:30pm I stood with my father on the pier of Destin Florida's Henderson Beach State Park looking down at my future husband, my family, friends and the amazing view of the sun starting to set and the ocean crashing light waves against the shore. I looked at my father as we were wrapped arm and arm and I watched my best friends walking down through the sand in front of me and I felt so honored that they were all by my side. I told my Dad "You know what is crazy? I'm not nervous one bit and I know exactly why...because this is right, this is what is meant for me." I felt confident and beautiful and beyond blessed. Having my father give me away at my wedding and walk me down the aisle (or the sand in our case) has always been my dream and with my Father's health I worried many times that we wouldn't have that chance so I embraced that moment for everything and I will cherish it always. Walking down through the sand I couldn't see anything but Bret...all the preparation, time, money, labor, sweat, tears, and heart that went into making that wedding ceremony possible was worth every bit of it. My father gave me away and we kissed eachother's cheeks and as he told me he loved me his voice cracked and I knew he was about to cry and I wanted to turn back around and tell him "Daddy you know I'll always be your little girl"...but I calmly looped arms with Bret because I knew and my Dad knew that this day was meant to be. We said our vows, had a beautiful sand ceremony where my friend Hannah sang Jack Johnson's "Angel", exchanged the rings, kissed and were announced as the newly Mr. and Mrs. Bret Ray! I was so happy...I got to marry my best friend. A love like ours is rare and not everyone will find one like it and I have always told Bret that I pledge to honor and respect our love because it is so precious and I think every bit of our wedding showed that.