17 Amazing Years Full Of Incredible Adventures
Our love story began five years before our actual wedding day, at a high school basketball game in Marietta, Georgia! I was a junior and my future husband had just graduated the year prior. We met how all kids in the suburbs meet- through friends and little white lie told to mother about having a ride home from the game, when in fact we did not.
He and his friends gave us a ride and from that moment forward it seemed like our paths would just forever be crossed. Even though we showed little to no interest in each other for months after this first encounter, many of our friends were dating and we were always the third and fourth wheel.
As fate would have it, we finally started dating.
Growing Up Together
We spent the remaining parts of our teenage years growing up together, navigating the ups and downs of high school, work and college. We got our first apartment together on my 18th birthday, purchased our first home the year later and have been together ever since!
Over the years, we faced many challenges, but our love for each other only grew stronger. We shared countless memories together including the 8 years we spent living nomadic throughout the US in a variety of RVs. We grown up and grow together, together- if that makes sense.
Our journey was not easy, and we faced our fair share of obstacles, but our commitment to each other has withstood the test of time and I’m so grateful to have him as my partner still today.
So as I look back on that beautiful day 17 years ago, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion, gratitude and just sheer joy of having been married to my husband for 17 incredible years and to have been his partner in life for 22 years and counting!
That’s so insane to thing about actually!
Our Wedding In Negril, Jamaica
June 3, 2006, was the day I married my soulmate in the picturesque setting of Negril, Jamaica.
The sun was shining bright, and the sky was a vivid shade of blue as we exchanged our vows on the white sand beach. The gentle sound of the waves crashing onto the shore provided the perfect background music for our special day. The entire atmosphere was magical and filled with joy and excitement.
We were such kids! Literally I was like 20 years old and only able to drink, because we were in Jamaica! We made a ton of missteps with the wedding including insisting on traditional American attire… as in a princess gown with tons of layers and a full tux for him. (LOL As you can imagine, we were incredibly hot!) Also both of our mothers wore white, which probably would have been the final straw for some young brides, but instead I laughed it off and made them walk down the aisle together so they could have a shared moment.
I also remember being filled with butterflies (and THC) as I walked down the aisle, but seeing everyone smiling and so happy for us, eased my nerves! I’m forever thankful to our family and friends had made the journey to be with us on this momentous occasion, and their presence added to the beauty and significance of the day.
So surrounded by loving family and close friends and or daughter, we exchanged vows that bound us together for eternity with the most perfect sunset right as we said ‘I Do’.
Our Wedding Reception
The reception that followed was an intimate affair, filled with laughter, tears, and heartfelt speeches including one from my mother who insisted on mentioning that when I was is elementary school I memorized the book Little House on the Prairie… still not sure how she worked that in, but it was her moment to be mom, right?
The food was delicious, our signature drink was a rum & coke and of course we had a 3 tier Jamaican run cake for our wedding cake which was amazing! The whole day was filled with so much love and happiness, and it was a true testament to the strength of our relationship and the support of those closest to us.
As I reflect on the past 17 years of marriage, I am grateful for the memories we have created and the love we have shared.
Happy Anniversary Mr. Collier
I am forever thankful for that beautiful day in Negril, Jamaica, where we began our journey as husband and wife. It was a day that brought our families and friends together, and it was a day that marked the official beginning of a love story that continues to unfold with each passing day.
To my beloved husband, thank you for being my rock, my best friend, and the love of my life. I am grateful for every moment we’ve share and continue to share with our amazing kids. I look forward to a lifetime of more beautiful memories together and the many adventures we still have on our bucket list.
Looking back, I am grateful for that chance encounter at the high school basketball game, which set us on the path towards our forever together. I am grateful for the memories we have created, the challenges we have overcome, and the love that has only grown stronger with time.
I am grateful for my husband, who continues to be my rock, my confidant, and my partner in life.
And I am grateful for our kids, family and friends, who have supported us every step of the way. Together, we have built a life filled with love, laughter, and endless joy, and I am forever grateful for the day we said “I do.”
Happy Anniversary Mr. Collier!
