Happily Ever After

A dear friend of mine got married this past weekend in the small, quiet, town of Manning, South Carolina. Quiet, that is, until her wedding reception began. The outdoor reception reminded me of the one in Father of the Bride. Everything was lovely, the weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the champagne flowed freely. Before we knew it, the wedding party was singing (screaming?) the song Jessie’s Girl and inserting the groom’s name for Jessie. It’s safe to say that a good time was had by all.

I met the bride, Meigs, five years ago. I distinctly remember our first meeting because I didn’t like her very much. Meigs is probably the most direct person I know – and it’s funny to me now that the one thing I didn’t like about her at first is the thing I love most about her now. If you want an honest opinion, you can ask her. (Hell, even if you don’t want an opinion at all…she’ll give it to you.) It may not always be what I want to hear, but it’s always what I need to hear. That is a rarity in friendship, and it’s something that I treasure and love about Meigs.

When I met the groom, Troy, I had the exact opposite reaction. I instantly loved him, and not just because he told me he thought I looked a little like Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line (Hello, he made a friend for life!). There is just something about Troy that makes you want to give him a big ‘ole hug – you can tell from the get that it’s just his nature to be sweet and caring.

Their relationship has been an inspiration to me. They are living proof that two people can find their soulmate, despite circumstances that might suggest otherwise. I’ve watched them grow as a couple, and I’ve watched my friend become a better version of herself (she was pretty amazing to start with) over the years they have been together. I shed more than a few tears last Saturday – but all tears of joy, of course. This girl that I didn’t like, then loved, lived with, shared many laughs, tears, and memories with got married to the absolute perfect man for her, and he got married to the absolute perfect woman for him.

And they will live happily ever after.