Laughing With My Parents Before The Ceremony.
This image is out of focus and in bad lighting, but I love it because it was a real moment! As guests were arriving my mom, dad, and I were inside giggling with each other. I will always remember this conversation. Changing my name was a BIG deal to me, and it's still a hot topic between my husband and me. But this photo reminds me that I may have added Shedd, but I didn't give up being an Eggers.
As a wedding photographer, I always make sure to capture real moments, even if they're not perfect. Because these are the moments that make you who you are.
The Post-Ceremony Celebration.
My absolute favorite wedding moment is right after the ceremony. The moment it sinks in that you actually got married usually leads to the largest smiles and reactions. Real, authentic love stories are what my favorite wedding moments are all about.
Our First Dance
Taylor and I aren't big dancers in public. I can silly dance all day long, but actually dancing while others watched didn't seem fun. Rather than cut our first dance, we decided to dance during cocktail hour, right after our entrance, as everyone was taking their seats for dinner. This was our moment to celebrate just the two of us, and this photo captures us in our own little world.
I always suggest couples take time to celebrate just the two of them on their wedding day. Whether you go on a walk or have a dance, remember it's your day! Soak it all in together because the moments will fly by.
My Bridal Portrait
I've never been the type of girl who likes photos of herself, but I love this photo of me in my wedding dress. It's the most beautiful I've ever felt, which is why this photo makes the list. Here's to being special on your wedding day!
Our After Wedding Adventure Session
The reason Taylor and I choose Love & Water to photograph our wedding was because I've been following their Land & Sea Sessions for years! The colors are so dreamy! Check them out! Would you be interested in doing as adventure session after your wedding?
I work hard to make sure my couples treasure their wedding photos for years to come. When you look through your wedding album 10, 20, 50 years from now, I want you to remember the little moments that made you feel special. Please contact me if you're interested in remembering real moments on your wedding day for years to come.
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Hi Kids,
This week your dad and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage and I need to tell you a few important things.
First of all, twenty years.
Your dad married me two days before my 22nd birthday. It was the best birthday of my life.
He surprised me on our wedding day and sang to me and we've been making music together since.
You know how as musicians you play a piece over and over again, until you get it right? And sometimes even with all the practice and perseverance, you don't play it perfectly, but you still make music? And then sometimes, you play it and the sound fills the room and you know you've nailed it?
That's what marriage is like.
It's a lot of hard work, it takes a lot of practice, a lot of redoing and fine tuning. There are missed notes and off days mixed with magical moments and beautiful melodies. And if you ask an accomplished musician if they've ever played a piece perfectly, they answer no. But they keep playing.
A good marriage isn't about one bad day or one good one. It's about not quitting on either.
Your dad and I have had both. You've seen some good and bad and there are stories of freedom and forgiveness we will tell you when you're ready.
A good marriage is about looking for the small gifts that we don't always see.
Like when your dad got home in the middle of the night recently from his out-of-state trip. It wasn't because of a delayed flight, it was because he stopped to help a man in the parking lot jump his car. I used to get angry about things like this–arriving home late, making dinner wait, but when I really look past the small inconveniences, I see the big heart of a good man, always looking for ways to help other people.
Daughters, this is the kind of man I married.
And it's the kind I pray for in your future.
I pray you're the kind of wife who counts the good your husband does more than you count the bad.
I pray you're the kind of wife that says I'm sorry first.
I pray you're the kind of wife who asks Jesus for help.
Because that's the kind of wife I want to be.
Son, since you were a little boy, you've been trying on your dad's shoes. Keep following his steps.
I pray you're the kind of husband who makes your wife laugh until her sides ache.
I pray you're the kind of husband who whispers over your wife in prayer when she's asleep.
I pray you're the kind of husband who will love God more than anything else.
I pray you're the kind of husband who will bring sweet tea on sour days.
Because that's the kind of dad you have.
I pray you know deep, abiding love. I pray you are each other's favorite people. I pray you are good forgivers when you drive each other crazy and believe in each other when you can't believe in yourself.
I pray you have half of what we have.
Most of all, I pray you keep God in the middle to draw you closer to each other. I pray you keep Him above you to remind you that life is a breath and to look for the gift in every day. Because He can take the bad days and hard moments and turn them into beautiful years.
And one day when you look back, it will sound a lot like music.
Love,
Mom
Reader Interactions
That is awesome. I hope my marriage is like that. Your husband is one lucky man to have a wife that can see all that in him.
Thank You for sharing.
Happy anniversary.
My parents just celebrated their 40th, and I think if they were writers, this is what they would have said. Beautiful, Kristen.
This was beautiful – thanks so much for sharing!
Your essay needs to be a required reading, once month, by everyone between the ages of 13 and forever… the message is strong and clear…
Beautiful words that any child would want to hear! Congrats on 20 amazing years together!
This is amazing. Praise God!
Thank you for all of the laughter, wisdom and truth you impart through you writing for all of us who are on the journey. We are “that” fan club. Merry Christmas!
I was raised in a family such as yours. My parents are no longer here on earth with us, but they saw to it that God was in our lives. He is the center of my world and my children are being raised that way as well. This letter to your children is a great idea and really gets the message across better than just saying it. Thank you for sharing! God Bless you and your family!
Your words are very inspiring. I have been married for 32 years, together 35 with my husband and have been separated for 4 months now. We have had our ups and downs, (good music & bad, also) but we both are not ready to give up just yet. Still working on our marriage and I'm hoping to be back together very soon. Thank You, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing this. (We know you didn't have to.) This is such a beautiful letter.
Marriage is probably THE hardest job ever!
God holds us together; that's one thing my husband and I agree on 100%. We love to serve Him together, give when and how much we feel called to give (even if we can't always see how finances will work) and we help people when the Holy Spirit shows us people who need help. I pray our kids have a better and closer marriage than we have.
We know the enemy has been attacking marriage since Adam and Eve. God designed marriage and it's a very beautiful thing.
It's a blessing to hear about 20th anniversaries. It's a blessing to your children to have this wonderful letter. Happy and blessed anniversary! And here's to many more!
Happy Anniversary you guys! What a lovely tribute!!
Happy Anniversary and so beautifully written! I am going on 22 years at the end of the month and I might just put a copy of this on my kids' breakfast plate that morning. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much for the beautiful inspiration. My husband and I will be celebrating 32 years in a couple days and I'll be writing a letter to our kids too!
This was a lovely message and excellent advice!
Excellent! Greatly inspiring! What a precious gift your husband has in you; and your children too…
Today is our 20th wedding anniversary (July 20th 2022). It's been awesome and we give God all the glory.
I pray your love will grow stronger and stronger to the point that it will mend homes and draw men to God's Kingdom.
Please permit us to share the beautiful words of your letter to our children.
God bless you, dear Kristen.
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What is the anniversary dance at a wedding?
Wedding reception traditions are beginning to get a bit dated. How many of your girlfriend’s are fighting to win the bouquet toss or men scrambling for the garter? But there is one traditional reception activity that I am quite partial to: The Anniversary Dance. This is a great way for your wedding DJ to get people on the dance floor as well as celebrate longevity in marriage with usually slow wedding music. The Anniversary Dance works best if you have a lot of guests who have been married for a long time.
How does the anniversary dance work?
Your wedding DJ will invite all married couples to the dance floor to share a dance with the newlyweds, usually with slow wedding music. Once the dance floor is full, your DJ will then politely ask couples (with the exception of the bride & groom) who’ve been married less than 1 year, then 5 years, then 10 years, etc. to please leave the dance floor.
The Bride & Groom will be left dancing with the couple that has been married the longest (usually grandparents). Your DJ will get a round of applause for them and then ask them if they have any advice for you (since they’ve got more experience than anyone else in the room).
What song should we choose?
You could use any wedding music or songs you might want, but it’s best with a slow song that is enjoyed by all ages of married couples. Our Mike Staff Productions DJs put together a Spotify playlist of some of the best options for the anniversary dance at your wedding reception.
• Can't Help Falling in love – Elvis Presley
• (Everything I Do) I Do It For Your – Bryan Adams
• Through The Years – Kenny Rogers
• The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
• Remember When – Alan Jackson
• How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
• Forever and For Always – Shania Twain
• I Was Made For Loving You – Tori Kelly, Ed Sheeran
• At Last – Etta James
• Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
• Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters
• It Had to Be You – Harry Connick, Jr.
• The Rest of Our Life – Tim McGraw, Faith Hill
• Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon
• As Time Goes By – Billie Holiday
• Endless Love – Lionel Richie, Diana Ross
• Let's Stay Together – Al Green
• The Best Is Yet To Come – Michael Buble
• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Your budget will love our Team Approach Package.
Photography + DJ + Videography + over $1,500 in extras = $5,797
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When you bundle services with Mike Staff Productions, our
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Traditional Wedding Anniversary Colors
Wedding anniversary colors can play a lovely role in your celebration, and you can incorporate them in any way that you see fit.
For example, the color for a fifth wedding anniversary is blue. You could celebrate this by wearing blue, or by choosing table décor in that hue for any anniversary dinner. Or even by wrapping gifts in blue paper. The possibilities are endless!
The First 10 Years
Years 11 to 20
The appropriate wedding anniversary colors for years 11 to 20 are as follows:
The Second And Third Decades
A celebration of 30 years of marriage will be a significant one – in fact, most people host special events to mark the occasion and invite their nearest and dearest to celebrate.
The wedding anniversary colors for celebrating years 21 to 30 of marriage are as follows:
• 21st anniversary: orange
• 22nd anniversary: green
• 23rd anniversary: silver
• 24th anniversary: lavender
Beyond 30 Years
• 75th anniversary: diamond white
• 80th anniversary: ruby red.
Each and every anniversary is special. By taking the time to celebrate, you get to create more wonderful memories with your spouse and family. And, by adding the traditional wedding anniversary colors, you can make it all the more significant.
If you are adding an anniversary band to your collection of jewelry, you’ve got a few choices as to how to wear it.
Celebrating anniversaries is one of the perks of being married — as is dreaming about anniversary gifts! Anniversary bands are a popular gift choice, and they’re appropriate for any anniversary or any occasion, any year.
When shopping for an anniversary band you may have questions about how you should wear it with your other jewelry (your engagement ring and wedding ring). Luckily, in this day and age there is no one right way — there are several options to choose from. If you and your spouse are shopping for rings together, be sure to discuss all the options.
Diamonds are far and away the most popular choice for anniversary bands, but you may want to choose color gemstones that have special meaning for you.
One idea that many couples choose is for the wife to replace her wedding ring with an anniversary band If your wedding ring is somewhat plain, it might be fun to switch it out for a diamond anniversary band.
Another popular choice is an eternity ring: a simple band with diamonds and/or other stones set in a row (usually a channel) all the way around the band.
The anniversary band can also be worn with the engagement and/or wedding ring. You can either coordinate the diamonds with your engagement ring or choose color gemstones you love. If you only wear your diamond engagement ring for dressier occasions, a wedding ring or band would also look great stacked with an anniversary band for everyday wear.
You can even choose to wear your anniversary band on the opposite hand, either by itself as a statement piece, or complementing another favorite ring. Unlike wedding or engagement rings, an anniversary band may be worn on any finger.
By the way, placing a congratulatory or loving inscription on a ring is a romantic touch that acknowledges an anniversary.
An anniversary ring doesn’t have to replace your wedding band — unless you want it to. If you love your engagement ring and your wedding band and your new anniversary ring, wear them all together! For maximum versatility, it’s a good idea to make sure all three rings work together in metal, color and style, so you can wear all three, two together or just one.