I have been a JW blog stalker for over a year now.

And after becoming engaged, it got worse…much, much worse. Or better?

Each week I would check in to appreciate the gorgeous images, and happy stories of the families being united through the process of marriage. With the ambitious goal of planning a wedding in less than six months, I had much research to do!

My eyes feasted on your beautifully structured gowns of luxurious fabrics, dapper tuxedos, ingeniously arranged flowers, delicious menu selections and colours schemes chosen with care. Unexpectedly, I was also drawn-in by your personal stories through-which your vision of family values, respect of traditions, dreams for the future were shared, while grounded with a true sense of humour.

The photos, as you know, could not be more spectacular.

As I watched the Every Wedding Slideshow for 2009, it occurred to me how the faces and the stories of perfect strangers could be so incredibly familiar to me. There was the bride whose up-do I wanted to copy, the other bride whose earrings made my eyes widen, the feather fascinators, the gowns, the flowers and beautiful cakes. The exotic destinations to which I dream to visit one day. The couple with the killer first dance. The couple who whisked away their closest friends and family -including the bride’s 92-year old grandmother- for a gorgeous tropical wedding. Weddings grounded in strong cultural tradition, and others who serve to weave two backgrounds together, to create one family path moving forward into the future.

So as I watched the EWS, it occurred to me that I’d like to say thank you. Thank you for the creative inspiration. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I’d also like to wish you the very best of luck through this life adventure that we call “marriage”. The choice that we have all made. Because it’s something that we believe in. There are no guarantees, and it will not always be easy, but let’s all agree to do our best.

Thank you for this experience; it has been the most immense privilege.