Monday, October 27, 2008

(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons

Two years ago today, on a sunny, Friday afternoon, my husband, E, and I married at the county courthouse. Only two days before had we decided we were going ahead with the plan (those who know us, know we can be slightly indecisive at times...) We were engaged, but a deployment to Afghanistan for E led us to want the wedding sooner than we'd originally planned.

I knew I wanted the dress, as well as a ceremony and reception to celebrate our marriage with our families and friends. For all of them, I wanted the big day to feel like the "real deal." But, for us, we wanted the courthouse too.


It wasn't fancy, but it was exactly the way we wanted the day to be- about us making an important commitment to each other. From the moment we stepped into the courtroom, I couldn't stop smiling, and looking at E, I saw my endless smile mirrored on his face.


Three days later, we drove to Kansas, where E had additional training for the three months prior to his deployment. We spent our "honeymoon" in a shady not quite five-star motel, because it allowed our two dogs to stay too, and we had no choice other than to laugh- a lot. After three days, the pups and I returned home alone.

It was difficult without a doubt (and it's certainly not an uncommon story in the military world,) but I wouldn't change a thing.


I felt then, as I still do, that I was luckiest girl in the world. I married my best friend (cheesy, I know.) We are silly together and laugh often. His intelligence never ceases to amaze me, and I love how his brain sees things differently than mine. E is supportive and encouraging of me in every possible way, and, after almost five years together, my stomach still flips when he gives me a sideways smile or wink.

My favorite photo from the day. It is a too dark, grainy and fuzzy, but I love it all the same.

We've now had both weddings- the courthouse and the chapel (after E returned home.) They were both incredibly special in their own ways, but I will forever celebrate the first one as the day we truly said, "I do."

Happy 2nd Anniversary, E. I can't wait to see what is ahead.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is too uncanny! This weekend was also the one year anniversary of MY courthouse wedding! It truly was special to have the first small ceremony just for us, then do an 'encore' for family and friends.

Congrats to you two! Hope you have special plans to celebrate :)

please sir said...

You make such a cute couple - sounds wonderful!

Courtney said...

yeahhhhh happy happy happy anniversary!!

Shalet said...

Happy anniversary!

MIMILEE said...

How very precious! Happy Anniversary and wishing you many many more!!! God Bless!

Rebecca said...

so sweet! congrats to you both!

evencleveland said...

Courtney -

Plato said that at the touch of love, we all become poets. Certainly true - what a beautiful post. It made my heart flip to read it.

Congratulations to you and your fellow - I hope you had a rare and wonderful day.

Tina { Luphia Loves... } said...

what a sweet story, many congratulations!

vicki archer said...

Congrats to you both. I have been married forever, and i think it still gets better and better xv

Courtney said...

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

And Anne, that is uncanny! Congrats to you all, and I hope you had wonderful anniversary too!

Anonymous said...

First time on your blog..and this is the first story I see. Makes me believe in true love, thank you!

Congratulations :)

gracemejin said...

so which anniversary do you officially celebrate? your courthouse date or your wedding date?

Courtney said...

Gracie- My mother-in-law thinks we should celebrate both! Truthfully, I suppose we will honor both in some way, but the "real" anniversary to us is the courthouse date!

We think for most of our family and friends, they will think of the wedding date as the real one- only one of E's grandma's remembered our courthouse anniversary this year. Even our parents forgot! And that is completely ok with us :)