30 Years Later: The Wedding Celebration I Never Had
Thirty years ago today, I made one of the best decisions of my life—I married my best friend. There were no fancy gowns, no towering cakes, no sparkling chandeliers. In fact, there was no big wedding at all. We eloped, just the two of us, full of love and excitement for the life ahead.
Back then, we didn’t have the means—or maybe even the patience—for a grand wedding. We chose simplicity and spontaneity over tradition. And honestly? I never regretted that. Our love wasn’t defined by how many guests we had or how extravagant the venue was. It was just us, committing to forever.
But fast forward 30 years, and something unexpected happened.
We decided to throw a party.
Not just any party—a celebration of 30 years of marriage. And in many ways, it felt like the wedding I never had.
There was laughter, music, good food, and the smiling faces of friends and family who’ve supported us throughout the years. I wore a beautiful dress, had my hair and makeup done, and walked into a room filled with love—not just for me, but for us. For the life we’ve built, the memories we’ve made, and the journey we’ve walked together.
Looking around at everyone who came to celebrate with us, I realized something: this party wasn’t just about marking an anniversary. It was about honoring our story.
We’ve had three amazing daughters, faced life’s ups and downs, and shared our home with some pretty incredible fur babies (shout out to Allie and Gigi, who were the unofficial party mascots). We’ve laughed until we cried and cried until we healed. We’ve grown not just older, but closer.
This celebration gave me the chance to have the wedding moment I skipped 30 years ago. But better, because it came with decades of real love, shared experiences, and a deeper bond than I ever could’ve imagined back then.
To anyone reading this who also chose to elope, or who didn’t get the big celebration the first time around—let me tell you something: it’s never too late. Whether it’s 5, 10, or 30 years later, you deserve to be celebrated. Your love deserves a spotlight.
And to my husband—thank you for saying “I do” all those years ago and for saying it again every single day in the way you love me, support me, and walk through life beside me. Here’s to 30 years of us. And to the party that reminded me just how far we’ve come.
Happy Anniversary to us. Here’s to love, laughter, and maybe even a few more dance parties in our future.
