Time Travels

On our last trip to Florida, we did something we've wanted to do for years: we took our girls to see the church where we got married. It is a gorgeous church and obviously holds such dear memories for us. It was totally trippy to be there almost 12 years later, especially with our progeny (and niece!) in tow. It was like a weird time warp because it looks and feels exactly the same as it did back then. Beautiful, serene and ethereal. We, however, are decidedly not exactly as we were back then. I mean we're still Us, we're just Us 3.0. ha ha ha Really, it was wonderful to show our children this very special place which is as much a part of their history as it is ours. They've seen it in pictures but it was completely different to be there in person.

Over the past 12 years, we've built so much together and so far it's been a really lovely ride. Not perfect (what's that?), but so incredibly lovely. Because I could talk it to death and still not really scratch the surface of how I feel about Us, I'll just say this: the way we came together, first as friends and then as two people ridiculously head-over-heels in love with each other was and remains very pure and sweet. And, well, right. You need look no further than our children to see evidence of that fact.

Beyond that, I'll just let the pictures do the talking and hope that the poignancy translates. Because, for me, seeing Anna Sofia, our youngest, running around in front of the church where we said our I do's surrounded by our family and friends was really, very emotional. (insert fanning of the face a la Linda Richman here) (gratuitous SNL reference)

Really, it was sweet. Very, very sweet.

"Now, I'm verklempt, talk amongst yourselves"

(fanning face again) (ha ha ha)

Guy & Nino B.C.* ; Plymouth Congregational Church, Coconut Grove, Florida - January 21, 1995

(*before children - lol)

Anna Sofia, the youngest of our 3; Plymouth Congregational Church, Coconut Grove, Florida - circa January 2006

Comments

[Tracy]

First of all, my friend, congratulations on 12 blissful years. That wedding picture takes my breath away. I love learning more and more about you, my fabulous friend, through life and blog. Thank you for the link to "We Meet Again" -- I don't remember reading it before and it is so sweet and romantic.

Bless you both.

[Lisa]

You guys are like a movie star couple!!beautiful! Congrats...

[Rebekah]

I love the pictures. And the church is absolutely beautiful. Toby found the church we got married in ... and the scary thing is my Mom and I almost nixed it! (We came in through the not-as-nice side entrance the first time and weren't that impressed.) It's an old Spanish-style stucco church with gorgeous stained glass windows and the most amazing ceilings ever. We love to drive by it when we're in San Diego, and one of these days we'll take the kids inside.

Do you feel like your children were somehow there at your wedding? I know it sounds crazy, but I absolutely feel like the spirit of our children were in the room when we got married. I thought of our would-be family during the ceremony and how much we would love them (even referenced them in a song I wrote for Toby that a friend of ours sang)... to the degree that when I think about our wedding day it's hard to imagine that they weren't actually there. Does that make sense?

[Desiree]

That picture brought me back to your wedding my friend. Has it been that long since we have seen one another, hugged, chatted face to face?
Hope you come to ATL soon!

[em]

What a wonderful romance!

Love & kisses for your 12 happy years, Em xxx

[Kelly]

Oh wow!! Happy 12 Nino!!!

I loved this entry, I LOVE all of your entries and the pictures are AMAZING!!!!

I love and adore you! And your entire family!!!!

[erin rae]

This is too cool Nino.

I love the full-circle-ness of bring the children back to the church. My sister and I used to dig out my parents wedding movie (and the movie ~projector~ to play the 8mm film on), because we kind of felt it was our wedding. The concept that our parents ever existed before us was always hard to grasp as a child, and that they weren't solely brought together to create us...

Thanks for sharing.

[Aimee]

Very touching! I love the pictures.

[Leta]

Wonderful post, Nino. The pictures and your family are beautiful.

[momof2pumpkinfairies]

The pictures are great!!! Love the post. Congrats on 12 years!!

[JK]

Congrats! Beautiful pictures and post.

xoxo!

[Libby]

Aww how sweet Nino! Congratulations!!

[Sandi P.]

Happy anniversary, you two lovebirds. May you have 60 (plus!) more together!! :)

[ma mere]

Your post brought so many beautiful memories! You two look so gorgeous! ( you still do by the way ). It was a great day for me too. And after 12 years (incredible how time goes by ) it is even more so. Your girls will love every moment of your wedding throughout your pictures, writings, and now with the visit to the church, forever. That is eternity for me, the memories that we leave behind that will be passed on for generations. Memories conquer death,the ultimate humankind dream. Love, Ma mere.