Sweet 16

We were married 16 years ago today. As a little twist to a traditional anniversary post, this one is about the things I would change about my wedding. There are just a few regrets I've had through the years.

1) My dress. It was beautiful and I really loved it, but my Mother's dress sat in a box in the basement. It was really beautiful and it would have been so meaningful to wear it. I didn't like the skirt because it was short, but I wish I would have thought about having a new skirt made from it. Duh!
2) I wish I would have thought to brush my hair or apply lipstick after the trolley ride from the church to the reception. I was just living in the moment (my usual mode of operation), but it would have been nice to have my reception pictures resemble a bride on her wedding day not a girl hangin' with her homeys.
3) This one was out of my control, but I definitely would have censored our sweet Pastor's joke during the ceremony. It went something like this..."There was an ad in the paper that read, "Lost dog. Only has three legs. Missing teeth. Deaf. Blind in one eye. Neutered. Answers to the name 'Lucky'." There are some words you want to hear at your wedding like honor, faithful and cherish. Neutered is not among them.

(My Mom found the above post card in London and brought it home for us knowing what a special place that joke holds in our hearts now. )

4) Neither can I change that I was upstaged at my wedding by my own father. I have had two people on different occasions tell me how handsome he looked in his military dress uniform and then say "When he walked down that aisle...". He did not walk down the aisle. He was escorting me. I was the main event. I was the main dish. He was supposed to be a side item. But, what can I say? My Daddy had it goin' on.
5) Bangs. Power Bangs. It was 1993 after all. Tonight Bill's mom was telling our Em how beautiful our wedding was as we all looked at the pictures together. Emmie's response, "Well, my wedding will be prettier because it won't be so old-fashioned." It will be after you've been married 16 years, sweetie. It happens to the best of us.

But, there is definitely one thing I would NOT change. The groom. I would marry Bill again and again and again. He is the calm to my storm. The Sonny to my Cher. The peanut butter to my jelly. He is my one and only. No regrets about the man. None. I love you, babe.