She rode in the back of my SUV, Jesie and I in the front.  Her only seat companion was her pouffy, wedding dress.

We talked about everything under the sun as we drove from her house to the Air Force Academy Cemetery… how stunningly beautiful she looked, how Jer’s jaw was going to drop when he  saw her.  We talked about the butterflies in her tummy.  We talked about how wonderful her aunt was to make us sandwiches.  We talked about a lot of things… A lot of things to, maybe inadvertently delay us from engaging with the emotions from the moment to come.

A few moments of silence passed when she pipped up from the backseat.

“What makes a bride a friend?”

Jesie and I looked at each other, she in the driver’s seat, I in the passenger’s.

“Cause I always read phrases like, ‘Client turned friend” on your blog,” Lizzy continued.

Jesie and I hmmed and hawed, not really exactly sure how to answer that question.  I’m sure we gave some good answers in the moment.  We said a lot of things.  A lot of things to, maybe keep the conversation rolling, delaying us from engaging with the emotions from the moment to come.

We made our way along the long Academy roads, and finally that moment came.

Rolling up to the entrance to the Academy cemetery, just the three of us, Lizzy directed us to his grave site.  Jesie and I hopped out and grabbed our cameras from the back.  You could see Lizzy’s silhouette through the tint of the windows.  You could see her breathe in and exhale slowly.  She grabbed his flowers and stepped out of the car.

Bravely holding her dress she walked across the cemetery, finding her way to that headstone she had visited so many times before.  The wind whipped and whistled, flapping the material of her dress and the tresses of her hair.  Jesie and I stood our distance, fighting back tears as we looked through our view finders.

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, kneeling at his grave.  She laid the flowers on the headstone and started talking.

Talking to her father.

Jesie and I exchanged glances from behind our cameras.  After a few minutes, Lizzy stood up and said she was done.  Jesie and I walked over to her and the three of us fell into a tight embrace.  And cried.  Engaging with our emotions, we stood there with the wind shaking us, and cried.  And through my tears, thinking about how strong this woman is, I whispered in Lizzy’s ear, “These are the kinds of moments that make a bride a friend.”

Married: Lizzy and Jeremiah

Lizzy and Jeremiah were married Memorial Day Weekend at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel.  We couldn’t have asked for a better day, even despite the wind.  The family and friends present were just as warm and beautiful as the springtime sun was that day.  Jeremiah and Lizzy, I love you two to the moon and back.  Lizzy, you are an amazing woman.  Stronger than anyone I know.  Jeremiah, it’s evident that you are going to be an amazing husband and leader to her.   Thank you both for your honesty, friendship, and vulnerability.  I hope you have the time of your lives in Europe and I can’t wait to hug you when you get back!

With love and joy,
René + Jesie

P.S.  We’re definitely lifers. ;-)

The story above was posted with permission, and the images of the moment remain private.