This last weekend we were able to celebrate Taylor's sister Hannah's wedding. She was so gracious to ask me to be her Maid of Honor. I am so bummed I didn't grab any pictures with her on my phone, but regardless it was a total blast. She looked absolutely stunning & her wedding turned out perfect! Nicole & Kev were the best friends ever and came. Nicole helped set up the whole thing & Kev stayed later with Taylor taking everything down. I seriously love them both to pieces. I don't know what I am going to do if we don't live next to each other our whole lives.
This trip was such a quick one. We flew into Burbank on Thursday night and flew home to Salt Lake on Sunday afternoon. It was BUSY! We didn't get to see or spend enough time with everyone we wanted to, but it was still such a special trip.
On the plane ride down, Harper held our hands during take off. It was so precious. She was such an amazing girl during all the traveling. I can't believe how much of a trooper she was. When we landed, we got to back to Grandpa Upton's house to go swimming. Harper had total blast. From then on our days were filled with setting up the wedding and running errands. Harper again was such a trooper. I can't believe how big of a girl she is getting.
The wedding was absolute magic. Harper was prancing around like a little fairy smelling all her flowers and rolling around in the dirt. I am glad I got a picture of her in this dress before it got totally destroyed by dirt, leaves, and waffle toppings. It sure is hard being an almost two year old. During Hannah & Fischer's wedding, I kept having flashbacks to mine and Taylor's special day 4 years ago. I can't believe how lucky I am to have found him. He really is my whole world.
Hannah & Fischer asked me to give a speech for their wedding. I was so nervous and had so much I wanted to share with them. Due to nerves and time, I didn't get to share everything I wrote to them. So I plan on sending it over to them. But I also thought it would be cool to share it on here so that every one would get a chance to read what I have to say about marriage. I don't know everything. But I do know a thing or two. Being married for a few years, growing my testimony in Christ, and majoring in Marriage Studies has taught me a lot. I hope you can take something out of it & apply it to your own life. So here it is:
Hannah & Fischer.
Today marks the beginning of your life together. I want you to take a second and look around you. Look at all the people here who have come to support you & share this special moment with you. I want you to soak it all in. This day will go so fast. I remember 4 years ago sitting under these same oak trees on the day I married Hannah's brother. I had no idea how much my life would change after that moment. This decision you are making to spend eternity together, is truly the God's greatest gift. I believe that marriage is the most sacred covenant we can make with God. I know that God is cheering in heaven at this very moment. You are choosing one of his children to love, protect, encourage, support, forgive, and serve every day for the rest of eternity. How could He not be pleased? Marriage is hard work. It can be messy, frustrating, disappointing. There will be moments where you feel sad, angry, hurt, or even betrayed. In my own marriage we have faced times of serious darkness, gone through trials that seemed so unfair. I promise that for every one of these moments that there are infinitely more amounts of joy, peace, excitement, and pure love. Even in the darkest times, there has been happiness in every moment.
When you leave here today you will be on your own. Creating your own story. The best part about marriage is that you two get to choose how wonderful your marriage will be. You have the choice to have an awesome marriage. You cannot begin to imagine just how much your love will grow. Just how amazing this decision is. To have someone always there to lift you up, support you, cry with you, hold your hand, laugh with you, fight for you. The more you spend time together, the more your souls will intertwine. You will be filled with moments where you had no idea it was possible to love someone so much, no idea it was possible to be this happy. You will look back and not only see how much your marriage & love has grown, but how much you have. Marriage softens our hard spots, shines our dullness, smooths our rough edges, and strengthens our weaknesses. We become infinitely better with a loving spouse by our side.
Many people ask what is the secret to a good marriage? I don't know if there is one. But I know that trying our best and seeking forgiveness makes up a lot of it. As you leave here today I want to share my own little recipe for a happier marriage: Be a little kinder, speak a little softer, forgive more, criticize less, choose to see the good, be fiercely loyal, be slow to anger, kneel in prayer together, kiss more, and know that God is with you. Seek His atonement every day & try your best to be the spouse He needs you to be. Hannah & Fischer I wish you the marriage that God has intended for you. May you put Him first in every season of your life & experience the deepest joys marriage can bring. We love you!
xo, Carly
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