April 12th, 1980

This past week was my parent's 30th wedding anniversary. She had just turned 28, he had just turned 30. They had known each other for 3 years and had already "married themselves" outside at the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, NH a year before.

She was 5 months pregnant with my older sister and I think she viewed the church wedding as almost a formality, because hey, she was already devoted and committed to my father.

The ceremony took place at a teeny chapel in Southern Maryland in the early morning. They dug up several forsythia bushes from an abandoned gas station, clipped some and replanted the rest outside as a thank you for the church. Each spring when the forsythia blooms, they get a little kick thinking about it.

It was a close family and friends only wedding. No aunts, no cousins, or fuss, or seating charts. No DIY extravaganza projects. They just picked up the bouquet and corsages from the florist that morning, my aunt Terri (holding the baby) made a carrot cake, they went out to a big lunch and then my parents went to the Kennedy Center for a performance of Giselle. Is this kind of wedding still even possible?

Her dress was a Gunne Sax that cost $60 from Woodward and Lopthrop in DC. She kept it hanging on her wall displayed for my whole childhood, so everyday she'd wake up and be reminded of her wedding.

They have a really strong relationship and I think it boils down to the fact that they talk. A lot. Everyday. They talk through every thought and concern and problem. They also joke a lot, which means they laugh a lot.

But my favorite thing about them is that whenever I have my camera out, my dad will swoop down and give my mom a big, romantic smooch. Without fail, they still kiss for the camera and it gets me every time.