I will never forget that moment

The sunset was perfect that evening. The hot summer breeze blew calmly over the pond where the bride stood next to her groom for the photo shoot. It was their dream come true, she wore her embellished gown, he wore his blues. She held her bouquet made of blue and green hydrangeas and white peonies at her hip making sure to smile ever so slightly as she gazed into his eyes. How can this moment last forever? She felt the strong bicep under his coat as she squeezed his arm and never wanted to let him go. Her marine. Her husband.

For the next half hour, the photographer spent time gliding the newly-married couple around the ranch house venue, positioning them just perfectly to capture each moment of their special day. Hair in place, shadows and lighting playing off each other's features, every detail of the gown was showcased and the look in each other's eyes caught forever on film. One more week together- then he'd be gone. Deployed to serve in Japan for six months.

She was used to being apart from him from the beginning. All during boot camp at Camp Pendleton, during basic training on the east coast, and having to wait to make wedding arrangements for when the military decided at the last minute that he could have enough leave time to get married. And then there were pandemic restrictions for gatherings on top of everything else, and leaving enough time to quarantine once he got back home from their week-long honeymoon.

It was all coming full circle now though. Wedding details were not really his concern. "Just let me know what you need help with and I'll handle it," he'd told her.

"You are in charge of the groomsmen. Just make sure they wear these colors, but you decide if they will be in suits or something more comfortable for summer since it will be hot." She wondered if he would get it right. It was hard not to step in and control even this. After all, she had never asked him to arrange for something as special as this before.

Her bridesmaids had picked out their attire way in advance, sage green long dresses, and their bouquets would be the same colors as hers, but smaller. Many phone calls were made back and forth. Planning a wedding from a distance when you aren't even sure if your fiance can get leave can become very complicated to say the least.

She wanted the wedding day to be captured in time, by photographs, signage, or memories of the event itself and the people who attended. For her deceased grandmother, a special memorial table was positioned when guests arrived to remember how important she was and how her presence would be missed at the wedding.

A photo booth! Props, making memories, that would give guests something to do while the bride and groom's photo session was happening, plus appetizers and drinks could be served. But about an hour before the wedding started, a fierce wind began to blow across the yard, table cloths, greenery, photo booth props, and lights made their way to the ground. The bride's family frantically retrieved what they could salvage, but the ceremony must go on. Luckily, the ranch house separated the ceremony from the reception and guests never knew the effort it took to keep everything from blowing into the pond. Who needs a photo booth anyway?

Despite last minute frenzy, everything turned out lovely, the weather calmed and cooled, the guests ate, couples danced and made toasts, and then there was the send-off. The bride called on her mother to assist in getting out of the delicate lacy gown. It was her mother who had stayed up until 2:00 AM that morning finishing the lace insets so the mesh wouldn't tear when the dress was slid on. It was a moment just for the two of them. A lasting memory of a beautiful day ending, her little girl now a married woman. Beginning her life with the man she loves.

But there was one last thing that needed to be taken care of. The bouquet must be preserved. The bride had not thought about this. Picking it up off the side table, the mother took a moment to gaze upon it. She went to her things and brought a brown paper wrapped box to her daughter with the inscription "cherish forever" on the lid. The flowers fit perfectly inside and they closed it up to save until the next time they wanted to remember that beautiful moment, the end of the day, the last reflection of serenity in a long-awaited moment in time.