1 Year Anniversary

Part 1: The Morning Of Our Wedding

The morning of our wedding day, I was feeling overwhelmed & frazzled. It was definitely not what my younger self ever expected to feel but the stress and pressure was starting to be too much. I was also not great with delegating or asking for help.

I think there was a part of me that worried I’d be that “uptight bride” or “bridezilla”. I worried more about everyone else (and everyone else’s opinions) and I didn’t prioritize myself or my mental health.

My twin sister was the only bridesmaid that was able to come get ready with me that morning which had made me a little sad but I understood because I didn’t want things to be too hectic for the bridal party and The Beekman is quite pricey to stay in. The morning felt quieter than I expected and I was filled with more nerves than excitement. Looking back though, I would’ve been nervous no matter what!

It was lovely to my have my mom and mother-in-law there that morning to have their hair and makeup done. They looked even better than me!

When it was time to do our first look, I tried my darnedest to remember every detail I was seeing as I walking down the corridor and to focus on the importance of the day. I was going to get married to the love of my life today!

I felt my nerves ease when I saw my husband, Tony. Our most cherished memories from that day are the simple moments where it was just the two of us. I’ll forever treasure the feelings of peace and belonging when I saw him for the first time.

One of our favorite moments were when we exchanged private vows to one another. It was so important for us to do this before the whirlwind of the day and recommend this to any bride! We initially wanted to read our vows at the ceremony but we felt that we could be more vulnerable if we did it privately. Tony also gifted me a beautiful Melissa Joy Manning sapphire bracelet for my “something blue”!

I’ll never forget the joy and comfort I felt while we took photos together. Time seemed to stop and the only thing that mattered in those moments were the two of us. He was the ultimate source of support during wedding planning and on the wedding day itself. I was lucky to have that because a lot of grooms do the absolute least.

Having this quiet morning away from everything and everyone else actually worked out for the best! It almost felt like a mini-elopement before the wedding. The day was truly incredible, despite the stress. I loved getting to hug our family (especially our parents- so thankful for them!) and friends. It was also great getting to attend our cocktail hour - which having a first look gives you time to enjoy!

It’s important to remember that your wedding day is about you and your spouse. The true celebration is two people coming together and agreeing to do life together no matter what happens. Your guests celebrating with you is just an added bonus!

Part 2: One Year Later…

We went back to The Beekman to spend our 1st anniversary! It was surreal to be back. Walking through the same majestic halls. Having dinner at The Temple Court the night before and staying in a corner suite. The hotel staff even left a bottle of champagne, chocolates and a card for us!

I got to rewear my wedding tiara, earrings and shoes! I paired them with a blue Staud gown. I felt like Cinderella! Tony wore a blue suit to match and his grandfather’s cufflinks that he wore on our wedding day.

When our photographer arrived, she took detail photos of some items from our wedding, which included wedding cards, photos with our loved ones and our invitations!

We shared “1 year later” vows in the same stairwell and it just as special (if not more!) as when we shared vows on the wedding day. It felt like a reset to be able to stop and appreciate one another as partners and made sure we were holding true to our vows from a year ago.

Then we popped a bottle of champagne and exhanged presents. 1 year is the paper anniversary but we exchanged YSL gifts instead. Hey, you can make up your own rules!

We enjoyed a Milk Bar cake (champagne and cake for breakfast, yes please!). We had saved our cake from our wedding but honestly we were too afraid to eat it, ha! We also used the same cake topper and table number from our reception which was a fun added detail.

After the shoot, we got back into our pajamas, watched Love Is Blind, took a nap, woke up and went to Nobu for our anniversary dinner. HEAVEN!

One year later, I am in a much better place mentally. You learn a lot about yourself and your partner through wedding planning. How you handle issues on your own and together. Since our wedding we’ve traveled a ton, learned many new recipes, invested in friendships and we moved! What a year!

I am more in love with my husband than ever before. It was absolutely incredible to look back at our wedding and feel the same excitement as the day and the year that followed. Here’s to many more years to come!