Our Wedding, Our Love and the Soundtrack of Our Life

I've been thinking a lot about my wedding lately. Family friends are getting married this weekend, and wedding commercials are gearing up. MSNBC also recently told the sad-but-beautiful story of two 24-year-olds who married in three days when it was discovered the groom had mere weeks to live.

But, most of all, I recently received a copy of the CD I made as a favor for everyone at our wedding. (Both of our originals were stolen.)

Listening to that CD is like watching a favorite old movie you've seen a hundred times. Only the scenes that flashed before me were from my own life: the moment I fell in love with him, the time we spent an hour sobbing in the airport, the comfortable reassurance I always felt (feel) in his arms.

Our early courtship was a long and painful process. We had MANY break-ups and reunions in the tumult of our youth. For three years, he lived in Japan, and then I moved to France. No relationship could withstand those pressures.

Somehow, ours did. Not without a few broken hearts and broken promises, but it did.

I made the CD because I wanted to invite our friends and family into the soundtrack of our "movie." The songs came from different genres and had different messages but together they painted the complex picture of a relationship — one that wasn't easy or picture-perfect, but one that survived against the odds.

So when I slip in our CD, I'm transported back to the emotions I felt as we navigated our path to true love.

These songs tell our story remarkably well — and in more or less chronological order — so I'll shut up now and let them. I'm sure many of these songs are ones you've heard before, but I can guarantee at least one of them you haven't. If you want to know what any of them sound like, clicking on the link will take you to the YouTube video.

Walking on Sunshine, by Katrina and the Waves

Kiss Me, by Sixpence None the Richer 

Your Body is a Wonderland, by John Mayer

Foolish Games, by Jewel

Do What You Have to Do, by Sarah McLachlan 

Come Away With Me, by Norah Jones

Yes, my husband had a horse-drawn carriage take me to the reception site.
I'M AN EFFING PRINCESS!!!

When You Come Back Down, by Nickel Creek

Walk Away, by Ben Harper

So This is Goodbye, by Stina Nordenstam

Thinking About You, by Norah Jones

Ma Cherie Amour, by Stevie Wonder

I have to include a shout out to Divine Cupcakes,
not because it's my brother's cupcakery,
but because they are beautiful and DELICIOUS!!

Feeling Good, by Nina Simone (I highly recommend this video.)

Unforgettable, by Nat and Natalie Cole

What If I'm Right?, by Sandi Thom

Holding You, by Gretchen Wilson

Take Me the Way I Am, by Ingrid Michaelson

The Promise, by Tracy Chapman (This is the song I walked down the aisle to.)

I Wanna Get Married, by Nellie Mckay (A retro tongue-in-cheek lounge number that some may have felt was an odd choice for our First Dance. I loved how its vague sarcasm celebrated the longing I think most women — no matter how feminist and career-driven — feel for domestic life.)

Love Prevails, by The SGC Project (This was actually from an album from my mom's church with lead vocals by the beautiful, talented and now-semi-famous Halie Loren.) 

My First, My Last, My Everything, by Barry White (Of course!)

In addition to the CD, we also had a board that we decorated with pictures and parts of
love letters from over our very long courtship. In this one (from almost 10 years ago!),
Matt says he'll wait for me. Awwww....

All pictures are from my good friend at Jaime Valdez Photography!