Cole and I got engaged in September 2018, and agreed to have a longer engagement to make the wedding planning process less stressful. Then came COVID-19. Initially, I was not very concerned, but slowly our pre-wedding events were postponed. In mid-May, the time came to postpone our big June celebration.
Fortunately, my engagement ring had a matching
wedding band that we selected via text message…
Cole and I still wanted to get married and did not want to wait any longer. We asked our amazing venue, Vandiver Inn about having a private ceremony that weekend in June and scheduling the same weekend in 2021 to celebrate our wedding reception and first anniversary. With less than a week before our plans, I found out I had been exposed to COVID-19. I could not get a rapid test, so we postponed our private ceremony. Fortunately, I was negative.
The time between our original June date to our August 2nd wedding day went by so slowly. I kept knocking on wood anytime I would discuss the wedding in fear of jinxing ourselves. I had another ‘crisis’ when the zipper of my dress broke and I had to find a new dress the week of the wedding. I scrambled into Macy’s and quickly came across a beautiful Calvin Klein dress that I ultimately wore. It coordinated well with Cole’s suit that he wore as a ‘brides-man’ in his sister’s wedding. Fortunately, my engagement ring had a matching wedding band that we selected via text message with Smyth Jewelers.
The morning of the ceremony I was surprised at how calm I was. By the time I walked down the aisle, I was thrilled! In attendance were my parents, my two brothers, Cole’s parents, and my matron of honor who is also married to our wedding officiant/friend. Other members of our family and wedding party were able to watch on Zoom. We selected to read the poem, “All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum because we met in college as aspiring teachers. Also, we both started our careers as kindergarten teachers. After we stated to each other the vows we had written, the ceremony was over and I felt a rush of relief! We continued our celebration nearby, at MacGregor’s Restaurant in their private banquet room. It was a simple, but fun day nonetheless, and we look forward to continuing with our celebrations into 2021!
Written By: Shelby B.