All the happy couples say that when you know, you know… well, I definitely knew without a doubt that my wife and I were meant to be; 10 years down the road and every single one in between, I am still just as certain. Let me tell you a little tale of how we came to be (and beyond).
March 6th, 2016: Bernie Sanders Caucus in Waterville, ME – Roommates since October 2015, with untold but very much requited love, found themselves at the local favorite, Buen Apetito, following what can only be described as hopeful passion and a group of friends entirely in on our secrets (unbeknownst to us). It’s funny – now we could never imagine leaving food behind, but we were so into each other that we put down what I am sure was an exorbitant amount of cash, left our boxes in a rush, and the staff has been happy for us ever since. It was all roses (or margaritas and tacos and cheese, to be honest) from there, with our Bernie sign commemorating a day that would go down in our history – and perhaps quite a few other people’s.
We even kept the bumper sticker (sign has seen better days, but so have my forehead wrinkles).
A Spring and Summer filled with fun and laughter and ultimately so much damn love and smiles it’s wild.
September 2nd, 2016: Siobhann proposed on on our back deck; she kneeled down by a rainbow candle – currently on a shelf in our bedroom with our childhood books we wrote and our wedding picture below. When she asked me to marry her it was an easy yes for me. We kept the candle too, until our rascal of a dog ate most of it. Not sure where it is, but I am sure with the other many important things he almost entirely ruined over the years (i.e. a basket in the closet – we’ll talk baskets later!). I bet he was right around this age at the time of the crime – maybe he needed some wax with that rubber burger.
October 14th, 2016: We got the house!! I said drunkenly in the parking lot outside of Mainely Brews in Waterville, ME after talking with Kathy Reynolds – our realtor from Century 21. We knew then we were in it for good – or for better, worse, we really didn’t care much as long as we had each other (and the willow tree and backyard and opportunity in our twinkling eyes). We moved in that November, excited and nervous all at once for home ownership and the next stages of our life – but never doubting one another.
February 17th, 2017: Planning starts. Along the way we coined our home and land Hay-Trie Acres, officially in print for the first time on our wedding invitations. Along the way we may have questioned our sanity, but ultimately could not have chosen a more fitting name – a combination of one another, representing the best of us both.
September 2nd, 2017: Have a bachelorette party – do it together with friends and family you’re entirely comfortable embarrassing yourself in front of – and end the night together. It’s the best. Seriously. 10/10, no notes.
September 9th, 2017: Marriage vows, birdseed, flowers, and rubber chickens – and we were married!
words of the wives:
VOWS: Wow, I would absolutely suggest putting the vows somewhere, because that little tricky turkey butt Siobhann read her heart out entirely – myself? I choked right up with emotion and everything other than I love you so much left my brain. Love is a crazy and unexplainable phenomenon – but I never did quite get to say that out loud. I think, though, over the years we have proved that to be true.
BIRDSEED AND FLOWERS: Locally grown flowers by the nicest lady with the most beautiful gladiola garden is the best choice, if you love wild natural native flowers. Queen Anne’s Lace, Phlox, Daisies, and Black Eyed Susans. Oh, and throw stuff at your friends and family when they walk down the aisle after sealing the marriage with a kiss hopefully not too chaste but mindful and demure, as they say nowadays. Pick a song bird native birdseed – makes for amazing pictures and fun birdwatching the next morning!
MAKING IT OFFICIAL: Get a friend one of those fancy online certificates so strangers don’t infiltrate your special day (unless you do the church thing – but then again maybe the clergy would be your friend in a sense, in those cases). Oh and totally okay for your sister to mess up the marriage certificate with a botched signature in the wrong place – just initial it and move on with your day. No need to, um, be less than kind.
RUBBER CHICKENS: I could not think of a more fitting way to welcome me to the McDonough family – truly. If you know, you know.
MIND BENDING: Tequila and champagne and whiskey and wine, and cider, and beer, oh my. This is in no way an encouragement or endorsement of alcohol, but simply a warning – tread lightly or you will end up like us: smooching for the wedding photographer in a way you never have in public before standing on a wiggly stone step outside your garage, in which you’re hosting a throwback college party, to wake up the next morning with a living room full of open presents, a backyard full of camping friends and family, and no way to know who to thank for what.
THE HONEYMOON: Our honeymoon deserves it’s own post entirely. Rubber chicken has some stories. Stay tuned.
