My son’s wedding
This wasn’t my first ceremony for a family member. My very first ceremony in 2015 was for a dear friend who’s almost family, and in 2022 I married my cousin and his wife. This was a whole ‘nother level.
You might already know, wedding pros have a habit of referring to couples by their first initials, to respect their privacy. So, K joined my family when he was 13. His now-husband Z joined us during COVID lock-down, when they had been a college couple for about a year. Their relationship was then (as it is now) fraught with open communication, plagued by transparency, and deeply mired in mutual respect.
Fast-forward to early 2024! K and Z live in a cute rental house with their two cute tuxedo cats, Milo and Kudzu. Kudzu, wouldn’t you know it, gets into everything. Milo is the elder statescat.
Suddenly and with great joy, we’re planning a fairy-core wedding. 💜💚
Venue: Ely’s Mill, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Photography: Chelbe Jayne
Planning: Simply Eloped
Reception: our house!
A few highlights from the ceremony:
No aisle walk… we began with both partners at the front of the gathering, on either side of me.
In keeping with the theme, I cautioned guests that if they had their phones out, the forest spirits would take offense. Only Chelbe had the blessing of the fae for photographs.
The couple played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would say vows first. They started with at least 10 ties!
Instead of exchanging rings, they moved each other’s right-hand engagement rings to the left hand.
K wore a dress (and outrageously fabulous bespoke shoes!) for the ceremony. For the reception, K and Z wore matching suits.
In place of a cake cutting, K and Z made s’mores at our fire circle and took bites together for photos.
Luckily, my own amazing husband sat where I couldn’t directly see him during the ceremony, because he needed tissues. I somehow kept myself together. Getting the pictures back in a couple of weeks, though… no promises.
