In the end, it was the most beautiful day of my life. I didn't expect it to be, had nothing but foolish nerves about all those people! looking at me! can't I just sneak past them and surprise them at the altar, er, fig tree? But when my father and I walked down the aisle and all around us, our family and friends starting humming "Here Comes the Bride" because I hadn't planned for any music - much to my father's chagrin - and when I saw my friend Dave with his new Buddy Holly-inspired glasses waiting for us up at the fig tree, sermon in hand, and when Max and I were told to turn around and say hello to all the people who had come, by planes, trains and automobiles, from Seattle and Jakarta, from New York and Paris, from Rome and Berlin, from Salzburg and Brussels, to assemble in my mother's garden and see us be married next to the house that my grandfather bought and rebuilt 30 years ago, I realized with a full heart and a clenched throat that sometimes clichés exist for a reason.
I'm still in the happy, misty fog that enveloped us that day, even though the beautiful greenhouse-like tent is being dismantled as we speak and the seating chart that I nailed to the shack my grandfather built is gone and the wildflowers my stepmother and friends picked by the side of the road the morning of the wedding to decorate the tables with are now finally wilting. One by one, everyone has said goodbye and gone back home, leaving behind only a footprint in the dusty earth here and a bent bottle cap and a stray sequin there. Tomorrow I leave this house and these gorgeous hills that are forever changed in my mind. Now it is the place where I married the love of my life while our dearest dears looked on and cheered for us in the setting sun.
I am the luckiest girl alive, I thought on Saturday and every day since then. To have had this day, these days, to love this person, to know these hills. And to be a part of so many lives that came together that afternoon. If I close my eyes, I can see them still: my 10-year old cousin Max helping me with my makeup, my girlfriends in the bathroom with me, pinning chiffon flowers in my hair, my husband's eyes filled with tears, my father's speech, funny and true.
May I never forget any of it nor the feeling of happiness within me still. I am a lucky girl.
Congratulations Luisa! You look utterly beautiful, and your husband very dashing!
I wish you a long and happy marriage! x
Posted by: Lisa-Marie | June 29, 2011 at 05:27 AM
Sending you the biggest hug in the world, with tearful and happy heart. I am so very glad!
Posted by: tea_austen | June 29, 2011 at 05:29 AM
You spectacular you, you've got me teary-eyed again. Big hugs & squealing to follow!
Posted by: Sylee | June 29, 2011 at 05:30 AM
Gorgeous writing, and congratulations. Your writing really evokes an intimacy with your readers. Best of luck in the future, since it's clear from your voice you're a lovely woman. Berlin is lucky to have you.
Posted by: Ashley | June 29, 2011 at 05:36 AM
And...I forgot to add, my orginal reason for commenting, I loved the Jane Eyre reference!
Posted by: Ashley | June 29, 2011 at 05:38 AM
You look so unbelievably radiant and happy. It's a beautiful thing. Thanks you for sharing with us! May you have many many more joy filled days ahead!
Posted by: theresa | June 29, 2011 at 05:54 AM
What a special day! You will remember pieces of it forever. We celebrate our 9th anniversary in July and am so glad we had the wedding we wanted, simple and relaxed. Enjoy your newlywed year!
Posted by: Elke | June 29, 2011 at 05:58 AM
Congratulations, you are both beautiful because you look so happy. Marriage is a long journey with its ups and downs but if you can always remember those feelings, that day, you will have a good one. Our wedding day is a cliché, true, because so many people try to express that joy. You don't really understand until it is your turn. Your description however just made it sound lovely and simple.
Posted by: Nuts about food | June 29, 2011 at 06:00 AM
Oh, my!
Posted by: Suse | June 29, 2011 at 06:06 AM
You look beautiful! I always thought this "best day of my life" stuff was stupid until I married myself and it actually turned out to be the most beautiful day of my life... Congratulations to you both!
Posted by: Katrin | June 29, 2011 at 06:09 AM
Congratulations to you and your new husband! You've described that magical day so perfectly. May the years ahead be filled eith even more. x
Posted by: Deborah | June 29, 2011 at 06:09 AM
Oh Luisa, how lovely. I was thinking of you this weekend and hoping the weather was just so and knowing that everything must have all just been going "zing" as you put it when you described seeing Max again after all those years. I have a little envy in my heart at how wonderful it must have been to have all your dearest dears altogether in one place but it's mostly overridden by how much I think you deserve it. You look so happy and so beautiful, together.
Posted by: Sasa | June 29, 2011 at 06:12 AM
Congratulations to the both of you!
Posted by: Annika | June 29, 2011 at 06:19 AM
Best wishes for a long and happy life. You are a beautiful couple with the world at your fingertips. Enjoy!
Posted by: Maureen | June 29, 2011 at 06:27 AM
Congratulations! You look so lovely and happy. Wishing you loads of wonderful times ahead.
Posted by: Kyli | June 29, 2011 at 06:28 AM
Oh! How completely lovely. Happy days to you and yours.
Posted by: Elisa | June 29, 2011 at 06:34 AM
So many, many congratulations! May your marriage be long and as happy as that day :)
Posted by: Adrienne | June 29, 2011 at 06:44 AM
Congratulations, Luisa, I know you two will be extremely happy!
Posted by: The Hungry Traveler | June 29, 2011 at 06:47 AM
Warmest best wishes, Luisa!
I'm sososo happy for you.
Posted by: Merle | June 29, 2011 at 06:49 AM
happy marriage to you and your husband . . . oh how i luv a love story!
Posted by: Patty Marguet | June 29, 2011 at 06:52 AM
Congratulations!! I love how you've described your beautiful day!
Posted by: Alice | June 29, 2011 at 06:53 AM
Congrats Luisa! I´m so happy for you! Can´t wait to hear about all the details from you in person! :D
xxx
http://gypsy-diaries.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries | June 29, 2011 at 06:59 AM
You gave me goosebumps. Warmest congratulations to both of you!
Posted by: Renee | June 29, 2011 at 07:17 AM
oh, luisa...you look radiant and simply stunning. wishing you both a lifetime of happiness! (married life is the best) ;). xo.
Posted by: KMS | June 29, 2011 at 07:18 AM
Congratulations Luisa! from your long time reader and cousin. I was excited to see my dad in the background of this pic, snapping your photo :). I heard it was a beautiful, and from my Mom, a "very cool" wedding. Best, Julia
Posted by: Julia Lindenberg | June 29, 2011 at 07:22 AM
Best Wishes and Congratulations! I've been reading your blog for sometime and have enjoyed every piece, but I've never found the room getting dusty at your discussions of parsnips. All the best, Rachael L. (long time reader)
Posted by: rachael lee | June 29, 2011 at 07:29 AM
Beautiful! Congrats! xoxo
Posted by: Molly | June 29, 2011 at 07:30 AM
Congratulations, and my best wishes for happy days as a married person!
Posted by: Caitlin | June 29, 2011 at 07:38 AM
Congratulations!!! You look very pretty and very happy!
Posted by: Sweet Tooth | June 29, 2011 at 07:52 AM
Congratulations! I am so happy for you both - and sincerely moved. Thank you so much for sharing your emotions with us and giving us a glimpse into your life.
I wish you both all imaginable happiness.
Agnes
Posted by: Agnes | June 29, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Many many congrats, Luisa. I just came back from a trip to Italy. I would have attended your wedding had I been invited :)
I wish you both all the happiness in the world!
Nisrine
Posted by: Nisrine M. | June 29, 2011 at 08:21 AM
When you follow somebody's blog for as long as I have been following yours, you can't help to feel happy as if it was one of your closest friends. I'm so glad you enjoyed so much this day! Congratulations and enjoy the rest of the road ahead. It's even more beautiful. Tanti auguri :)
Posted by: Maria | June 29, 2011 at 08:30 AM
Congratulations Luisa and the heartiest wishes for a long and happy life together to you both! I smiled when I read the title to this post. There's not a hint of plain Jane about you Luisa. What a lovely bridal couple the two of you make!
Posted by: Sharmila | June 29, 2011 at 08:45 AM
Congratulations to the beautiful couple! Far and away, my strongest memory of my wedding was how full I felt, seeing so many of wonderful people from our lives together in one place. Your words captured that feeling perfectly. Much happiness to you both!
Posted by: Christine G. | June 29, 2011 at 08:56 AM
What a precious post! Congratulations! May the joy continue forever!
Posted by: Debbie | June 29, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Congratulations! May your married life be filled with all the joy in the world - and oysters and champagne and pancakes and strawberries and artichokes and...
Posted by: Drew | June 29, 2011 at 09:08 AM
Oh, how wonderful to see! Congratulations! And Max, he's a handsome fellow! Lucky you, indeed!
Posted by: Maggi | June 29, 2011 at 09:17 AM
Thank you for sharing a precious bit of your wedding day with us, and congratulations!
Posted by: Julia of Randomly Yours, Julia | June 29, 2011 at 09:20 AM
lovely! congratulations!
Posted by: Laura in PA | June 29, 2011 at 09:39 AM
Oh, congratulations! You looked stunning and so, so happy. That's the thing about weddings: so many wonderful people, celebrating this life you've created, this life you're creating together. It's such a joyous moment. I hope the love and sense of community from that day continues to nourish you in the years ahead.
Posted by: Rivka | June 29, 2011 at 09:39 AM
You look so beautiful and happy! Congratulations and best wishes for a happy life together.
Posted by: ML | June 29, 2011 at 09:48 AM
Congratulations to all of you!! (Now I know where your dad has been. : D)
P.S. a few more pictures would be lovely. Someone must have taken pictures of the food, right?
Posted by: Bobbie | June 29, 2011 at 09:48 AM
congratulations! you both look wonderful and so happy in this photo - i love it :)
Posted by: meg jones wall | June 29, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Simply beautiful!
Posted by: Mandee | June 29, 2011 at 09:53 AM
So happy everything went well! Can't wait to see more photos. Congrats to you both.
Posted by: Lisa (dinner party) | June 29, 2011 at 09:54 AM
Congratulations! May your greatest joys be ahead :)
Posted by: Crystal | June 29, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Luisa:
I didn't get married until I was 39(almost 40) years old. Sadly, my marriage only lasted 7 years. Now I can say that I've been divorced as long as I was married. Reading your loving post, makes me think there IS that perfect mate and your beautiful writing makes me think I could get married again.
Posted by: Laura | June 29, 2011 at 10:07 AM
congratulations!
Posted by: kayshin | June 29, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Luisa, I love reading your blog. Normally it makes my mouth water and inspires me to attempt cooking (not my greatest talent). This week, your touching words brought tears to my eyes. I'm sending you and your husband a wish for a lifetime of happiness from Brookline.
Posted by: Amina | June 29, 2011 at 10:15 AM
such beautiful words for such a special day! congrats to you and yours!
Posted by: Jacqui | June 29, 2011 at 10:18 AM