One Year of Marriage | Life Update!

365 days ago in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Quentin and I said yes to forever in front of our closest family and friends.  Our day was absolutely magical from start to finish and has been such a treasure to look back on!  Today, in honor of our first wedding anniversary, I wanted to share a look back on our wedding day as well as what we've learned in the past year.

Our wedding was full of bright colors, bold stripes, and lots of personal touches that were a part of our story.  Q and I met in our Accounting 201 class in the fall of 2014 and not long after becoming friends, he told me, "You don't know it yet, but I'm going to marry you someday."  I was equal parts shocked and confused by the assertion and just kind of went with it.  Our first date was at Cracker Barrel and just over three years later, we were engaged.  

We were married by our college president, Dr. Jerry Wallace, which was extra special for an unusual reason.  Dr. Wallace was the person who originally introduced my parents in the late 1970s and who watched their love story unfold all those years ago!  Having him as a part of our happily ever after was so sweet and special.  

My favorite part of our wedding day was all the color!  When I think back on November 3, the first thing that pops in my head is all the bright, happy colors - from the flowers to the table linens to my bridesmaids' dresses - there was so much color that helped create the joyful atmosphere of our day that I absolutely loved! 

Q and I have always loved breakfast dates; they kind of became our "thing" while we were in college (when he was on campus).  For that reason, we chose to do a morning wedding with a brunch reception, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.  If you're considering a brunch wedding... we say go for it!

I asked Q this week what the biggest thing he's learned about marriage this year has been, and his answer (without any delay or hesitation) was "communication."  We are both very honest, straightforward people, but as with anything new, there's a learning curve!  Being upfront and "real" about the big stuff and the small stuff helps so much in cultivating a rewarding and joy-filled marriage.  I know more about the world of a golf pro than you can imagine, and Quentin is just about as well-versed in The Redheaded Camel as members of our team who are working day-to-day.  Being open communicators means we know better how to show up for each other and also helps us be more proactive in resolving any conflicts.

The biggest thing I've learned in our first year of marriage is the importance of presence.  As a business owner, I am constantly connected to emails, sales, website issues, other team members, and our social platforms.  Similarly, Q is really connected to his work, too.  For this reason, we really intentionally set aside time to unplug and be present with each other - whether that's no phones at the dinner table (like, ever) or turning on a "do not disturb" setting while we're watching a movie.  Being fully present allows us to more deeply cherish the time that we have together, and after so many years apart, we're all about being together!

Over the past year, I've learned how to drive in New Jersey, how to actually cook, and how to make a house a home.  Together, we've learned how to truly be a team and to put our family of two first on the priority list (something that definitely takes some getting used to!).  We traveled to the Caribbean, to Maryland, and to North Carolina, and navigated our first golf season together!

We're so excited for all the changes and adventures year two will bring (no, no baby! haha) and are looking forward to traveling more and connecting more with people in our community.  This year has been the most special and happiest of my life, and I am so immensely grateful that I get to do life with my best friend every day.

I hope you've enjoyed this little life update and reflection on our first year of marriage!  It's been so sweet, and I know that the best is yet to come.  If you'd like to see a special glimpse of our wedding day, click here!  Our wonderful videographers created this highlight film for us and I cry every time I watch it.  Enjoy! 

photographer:  Jamie Blow Photography
videographer:  Farmer Visuals
hair/makeup:  Styled by Sofia
venue:  Pinehurst No. 9