A Virginia Homestead: The Sailor Gets His Swedish Fish

My brother and his beautiful bride became husband and wife last month on a hot, gorgeous, unforgettable July day! And oh what fun it was to be a part of these nuptials! Our whole family was involved with the preparations...and it was really all-hands-on-deck since Stephen and Elinor had planned for their reception to be in my parent's backyard.

There were so many gorgeous details in this wedding! Elinor's beautiful touches were everywhere. It was downright dreamy...straight out of a fairytale!

I felt such excitement leading up to this wedding and could barely contain my joy the day of. I wrote a little caption on Instagram about how honored I felt to be a part of Steve and Elinor's wedding day. And I still feel that way! Of course it's a blast to join in the lead-up to the wedding day...the showers and parties and planning. And it is downright fun to get ready with the bride the morning of...the hair...make-up...dress reveal. But I felt deep soul-satisfying joy to stand there alongside Elinor at the front of the Naval Academy Chapel as she looked into my brother's eyes and made these simple, weighty vows to him. And I felt quite overcome as I watched my brother's steady gaze into his bride's eyes (he never looked away!) and heard him repeat these same vows. What a sacred and incredibly beautiful moment to witness. And what an honor to be invited to love and support this couple in all of the years to come.

Andrew and I both feel such great joy at the wonderful season they are entering into...not without its challenges, of course! ;) But marriage is such a great and good gift. And Stephen and Elinor had waited so many long months to begin that journey together. We were, and are, simply filled with happiness for them.

Here is a little photo dump of so many beautiful moments from the weekend. Hard to recap it all...Annapolis, Pastor Lon's wonderful words to the couple, celebrating with the Swedes, boating on the Severn River, running across the Yard to make it to the chapel on time!...I think the sweetest thing about a family wedding is that you can recount those memories for years and years to come.

Congratulations to these head-over-heels newlyweds...my brother and my darling new sister-in-law!

the reception tent on Friday morning

practicing their first dance

sisters! the bride & her beautiful maid of honor

If there was a wedding VIP award it would go to Abby Smith! Babysitter...chalkboard designer...purse wrangler...and all-around woman extraordinaire! *insert praise hands*