I stand for Heather + Dan!

I have this crazy belief that relationships, especially and most importantly marriages, are not just sustained by the two partners in the relationship, but by the people that rally around the couple to hold them up and hold them accountable.  It’s not easy in the world we live in.  We live such strange lives with technologies that allow things or people to creep into our relationships that don’t belong there, allowing ourselves to get wrapped up in things that don’t matter, and we gripe to our friends or coworkers when we’re frustrated instead of turning to our partner or spouse.  What if we, the people that are listening to the upset, gave sound, pro-relationship advice and offered support that was positive for the marriage instead of just leaning back and saying ‘yeah, man.  marriage is hard and you need to make yourself happy’ or if we saw something happening that wasn’t good for the relationship, we’d step up to the plate and say ‘it’s not right and something needs to change.”   It sounds very simplistic for as complicated as relationships are, but what if instead of standing back, we actively participate in supporting that love and that relationship?

HD2Heather + Dan’s engagement session by Spencer Combs

I know you probably get invited to a million weddings a year.  After a while it’s a drain on your wallet for the gift and the outfit and the travel and the overnight stay.  Pretty soon, instead of being excited to attend the wedding and feeling honored that you were chosen to witness such an occasion in your friends’ lives, you’re griping about that too.  Next time you’re stressed about what to wear (just wear the same dress again… you looked hot in it last time!), think of it as this: This couple trusts and loves you.  They are asking you not only to take part in the celebration of their relationship and new marriage, they are asking you to stand as witnesses to the vows they took and to rally around them as a couple to help support them.  Be there and be the friends that encourage their relationship to grow stronger as a couple and be their shoulders to lean on when they hit the inevitable tough spots of a relationship.  Be the friends that want to see them succeed and make babies (if they want that) and get gray hair together after learning a lifetime’s worth of wisdom that can be passed onto grandbabies.  Think of this every time you attend a wedding.  It’s not just you partaking in a celebration, but also you pledging your support and promising to actively help them achieve whatever it is that they want to accomplish in this life together – as partners in crime, as best friends, as husband and wife, as parents…

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Spencer and Alex getting the perfect shot

I am so excited I could burst about Heather and Dan’s wedding this past weekend.  As 190 of their closest family and friends gathered, we all promised to help them uphold the promises they made to each other.  We (the three of us!) spent 14 months planning for Saturday, but a lifetime learning how to be there for each other (even if we (as sisters) annoy the crap out of each other sometimes).  I was being a control freak about design stuff being perfect because I want everything to blow their minds and give make them deliriously happy.  But, just like my very favorite clients say, it didn’t matter if the place burned down (still standing) or the food was cold (which it wasn’t) or a snow storm hit (which it didn’t) and only 5 people could make it (it was a full house).  All that mattered to Heather and Dan, is that at the end of the day, they were Mr. and Mrs.  And I can always stand behind that.

You totally thought I’d give you teaser shots, didn’t you?  Psych!  My point -n-shoot Canon could do NO justice to what Spencer and Alex Combs have in store for Heather and Dan.  All you need to know is that Heather and Dan say they truly didn’t think a perfect wedding existed, until Saturday.  And that makes this sister VERY happy!

  1. leah says:

    Even if I hated marriage/weddings, this post would have kindled a fire! Love it. So happy for them!

  2. Beautiful post Kirsten! So happy for your sister, brother-in-law and new family! 🙂

  3. Dawn Fischer says:

    Beautifully stated Kirsten.
    Your a wonderful Daughter and sister and the wedding was beautiful.

  4. Anita says:

    Love it! Beautiful wedding, beautiful words about love! Keep it up!

  5. Dan says:

    And this is why you are amazing Kirsten. You are so passionate about every couple you work with. Incredible. Admirable.

  6. Heather says:

    Beautiful post Kirsten. Dan and I were so happy and blessed to have you be such an intricate part of it all.

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