There’s a lot of entering and exiting in a wedding. I remember being inundated with emotion each time: leaving my bridesmaids for our first-look photo shoot; entering the room where my groom was waiting; then entering the ceremony on the arm of my father to standing guests and vibrant music; then exiting on the arm of my husband in those very first moments of marriage; then entering again to be introduced to the dinner party; and then finally leaving the celebration and our sweet guests behind.
There is something about this ritualistic coming and going that reminds us of what transitions are. Despite our joy and excitement in beginning a new season, there are echoes of sorrow and nostalgia as we walk away from singleness, from our families of birth, to start a new family. With each entrance, we are welcomed into the presence of people who love us dearly. And we leave with their sweet well-wishes and blessing.
The last spritz of perfume before heading to my first look.
I still wrestle with what it means to have made this transition. There were vows, prayers, toasts, guestbook signatures– things that made it so real and official that day. But now we have to live this life that we promised to live, to walk out the faithfulness to which we were pledged. All of the entering and exiting was just the beginning. From now on, we will be traversing through seasons, in and out of joy and sorrow, joining and leaving communities.
We will also be joined and be left, as we celebrate the changing seasons in others’ lives. They will come and go, their friends and relatives will come and go, and we will continue to experience this tension of greetings and farewells.
Somehow I am reminded of the broader human narrative as I look at these images of entering and exiting. We come into this world, we live, and we go. But in these brief moments there are flashes of eternity; of a greater existence beyond our own short story of entrances and exits. And somehow those moments are woven together into the stories of others. The broader communal narrative echoes with everlasting gladness and joy, though our own big moments are truly small and humble.
Enter and exit with celebration and gratitude, friends. I am so grateful that these seasonal hellos and goodbyes are not the end of the story.
{Last week’s Wedding Snapshots: Why Your Girlfriends Still Matter}
Thank you so much Tania, you’re so sweet. Thanks for reading 🙂
I’m loving that beautiful smile on your face! And love the fact that you had not one, but two wedding dresses!! Way to go! You looked absolutely stunning. 🙂
Awesome! I’m looking forward to more. 🙂
Thank you so much Leah! Actually I’ve only written 2 wedding snapshots posts so far, but they go up every weekend 🙂 Hope you find some inspiration!!
Your day looks incredible! I’m going to have to look backwards a little bit into your wedding snapshot series. I’m currently planning my wedding, so I’m all over it. 🙂
Aww, thank you! I love how sweet you always are. You strike me as a very special person, and I love every blog post of your’s. I look forward to getting to know you better.
Thanks Neive!! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thank you so much Ellie! You are so sweet, thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Thank you so much Caitlin!! I really appreciate your sweet words 🙂
Thanks Megan!! That means a lot 🙂
Thank you so much Rachel!! So grateful you can sympathize with my emotions… 🙂 Your comments are always so sweet and I really appreciate them.
Thanks so much Madison!! It’s been really fun to go back and look at the photos again, and we were absolutely thrilled with our photographers too 🙂
Thank you so much Sarah– you are so kind. So glad the post resonated with you, friend 🙂
Thank you so much Kiki!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post 🙂 Your words are always so sweet and I really appreciate hearing from you!
Thanks so much 🙂 Yes, it’s fun to be able to share about our own weddings!!
Thank you so much, Talia! You are so kind!
Thank you so much Lauren 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week so far!
You look so beautiful!! Wonderfully said about entrances and exits too!
Neive xo
theaussieosborns.blogspot.com
Congratulations! The wedding looks absolutely gorgeous in all the pictures and I got goosebumps reading your post. You looked stunning in your wedding and reception dresses!
Ellie | wunderstar
Your wedding photos are so gorgeous! I loved what you shared about entrances + exits… it’s so true, you have to make them count 🙂
You looked stunning!! I loved both of your dresses and your beautiful and glowing smile!
Megan Star | Beauty Brawler
Beautiful post, thank you for sharing! Entering into something new or leaving something behind, there are so many emotions that go with both of those. Many memories. Also, both of your dresses are gorgeous!
I am so in love with BOTH of your wedding dresses. I love that you are incorporating stories into your wedding posts. To me that makes it so much better than just a photo bomb. Which I would also be okay with because your photos are gorgeous!
You, my dear, made one gorgeous bride! II love your reflections–they are amazing! I love that very last statement, “Enter and exit with celebration and gratitude, friends”….That will be haunting my thoughts throughout the day!
Your wedding looked like absolute royalty. Not going to lie I had goosebumps reading this. It’s so true how simple gestures really reflect on how our life begins and ends. (: Thank you for sharing these special memories with us.
http://accordingtokiki123.blogspot.com/
Wonderful wedding. I love weddings! I’m glad I have my own wedding story.
http://www.milallos.com
wooooow!!!!!!! You are so beautiful!!!! PERFECT photos :):)
Congratulations!!!!! http://www.outsidefashioncatwalk.com
This is such a beautiful post, and your words are just as lovely as your photos!
Thank you Prudence!! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thanks so much Morgan!!
Thank you so much 🙂 You are so kind to stop by and comment!
Thank you so much Martha Kate!! You’re so sweet, thanks for stopping by:)
Thank you so much Rachel 🙂 And yes! So glad you understand the feeling!!
Thanks so much Sarah!! Ah yes, I didn’t mean to buy a reception dress, but I realized the week before the wedding that my wedding dress was too stiff to sit down in (much less dance or have a good time). Purchasing the reception dress was the best decision ever. You are so kind, thank you for your sweet comment 🙂
Thanks so much Emily! I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend 🙂
You look absolutely stunning and I really love your beautiful wedding gown! Congratulations!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.wordpress.com
Thank you so much Jen! You are so kind to stop by, I really appreciate it 🙂
Thank you Andrea!! You’re so kind to stop by and comment:)
Thanks so much Annick! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thanks you so much! You are so kind to stop by and comment 🙂
Thanks so much Putri:) You are so sweet to stop by!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thank you!! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thanks girl!! Hope you’ve had a great weekend.
Thank you so much Wendy 🙂 I really appreciate you stopping by!
Thank you so much Denise!! Your words just made my day:) I really appreciate you stopping by, friend!
Thanks Amber!! It’s fun to look back on photos and discover new thoughts and emotions. I really appreciate you stopping by, friend!
Thanks so much Deniz!! So glad you enjoyed the post, thank you for reading it 🙂
Aw thank you!! You are so kind Miriam, I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thank you so much Van 🙂 You are so kind. Thank you for reading!
Thanks girl!! You are so sweet, thank you for reading and commenting Layla 🙂
Thank you Sophia!! 🙂 Hope you’ve had a good weekend.
Thanks so much Sera!! I really appreciate you stopping by:)
Thanks so much Elmira! You’re so kind, I really appreciate your sweet words 🙂
Aww, thank you SO much, that makes my day!! So happy you enjoyed the words and photographs 🙂
Thanks Joanna!! You are so kind, thanks for reading 🙂
Thanks so much Lena 🙂
Thank you so much Sheryl– that means a lot to me. And indeed, transitions can reflect who we are as people, and how we change and grow within different contexts. Thanks for reading and all of your thoughtful comments 🙂
Gorg photos!!
http://www.eenymeenyminymorgan.blogspot.com
absolutely beautiful. congratulations . xoxoxo
So so beautIf il!! I love the photos and the sentiment behind them. Xoxo MK
Lovely, lovely photos. And yes, I remember those early days of feeling like “Is this real? We’re married for real now?” It’s a huge transition, it takes a bit for it to really sink in.
I love your wedding dress but I love your reception dress, too!! SoOoOo Old Hollywood Glam! You look stunning, of course!
– Sarah 🙂
http://www.thecrownbijoux.blogspot.com
Absolutely gorgeous! http://meowemily.blogspot.com
What a beautifully written post. Thank you for sharing those gorgeous photos! There’s definitely a lot of hard work in marriage but as many others will say — it’s worth it!
Jen
http://www.lifeunrefined.com
You guys look sooo nice.Love your dress.Best wishes to you both!
http://www.fabuloustorture.blogspot.com
that’s beautiful! best wishes to you 🙂
http://only4feet9.blogspot.com
would you like to follow each other?
Wowww!!, what a beautiful wedding!!! you look stunning!!! gorgeous dress, beautiful hair cascading down the shoulder!!!, Most of all, What a Amazing smile!!… I wish I recorded all the beautiful events in the past like the way you did in your blog. Now you inspired me!! thank you for visiting my blog. look forward to see more of your comments as well as your posting!!.http://houseofivey.wordpress.com/
Great dress and stunnig pictures 😀
http://WWW.PUTRIVALENTINALIM.BLOGSPOT.COM
stunning!
Passa da me :CHIC STREET CHOC
follow 4 follow on Instagram?<a
Awe you look so pretty!!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Very beautifully written – and beautiful photos too!
You are stunning! Congratulations!!
Xo, Wendy Watson from College Cheese
These photos are absolutely stunning. You look amazing. These need to be in a bride magazine or all over pinterest, so I can pin them.
I particularly love this post because of how you made comments on it. The way you commented is beautiful and love how much it means to you and how you have reflected on it. Such a lovely day!
Denise
http://www.fashionloveletters.com
Beautiful photos! What a wonderful memory of your wedding – everything looks beautiful. =)
http://www.avecamber.blogspot.com
http://www.bloglovin.com/avecamber
I hope you are having a great weekend!
Amber
These are such incredible pictures – you are such a gorgeous bride. I loved reading your beautiful post!
– Deniz
http://www.dressedupdeniz.com
Ugh this post tugged on some heart strings haha. You looked beautiful on your special day (: I wish you the best.
DiscoverMe
You are such a beautiful bridge and this post was written so eloquently. I’m a sucker for emotional wedding videos/photo-caps.
Love, Van | FOREVERVANNY.COM
This is such a beautiful post, you look gorgeous and all the photos are so lovely……really, really beautiful! 🙂
Layla xx
http://www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk
Very beautiful .
http://sophialastyles.blogspot.co.uk/
very beautiful post 🙂
xx Sera | STARDUSTBOHEMIAN.COM
(IG: @TheStardustBohemian)
Wow, beautiful pictures. I really enjoy coming to your blog!
xo
Elmira
http://www.wellputtogetherstylebyelmira.com
Is there a word beyond beautiful, gorgeous, stunning? I want to use them all to describe this. Firstly, the photos alone are all so filled with love and life and joy. And then I read your text and I’m so touched by all of it! Ah, it just makes me so happy to see two people like this. 🙂
Gorgeous pictures and what you wrote is lovely. You two are a beautiful couple!
lovejoanna.com
What a lovely wedding Daisy you look ravishing!! xo~ Lena
http://www.felinecreatures.com
Beautifully written. I love your use of metaphor of what you are leaving as you enter a new place in life. I refer to every ending as a beginning and of course that can be taken as every beginning also have an ending to something. Transitions in life can be very beautiful as we move between what we once were into who we are and are becoming. A wedding is such a perfect example of that.