Love, marriage and soul-mates seem to be the trending topics amongst my peers and I these days.

I guess with age, comes the idea of settling down (shivers) and building a family. Growing up in a single parent household, I didn’t have the best example of a functional family unit. As I watched my mother struggle to take care of my immediate and extended family, I became used to the independent woman image. So I wasn’t always a strong believer of the idea that there could be someone designed specifically for me.

Yet, deep down, I am still a hopeless romantic who wishes for a fairytale wedding and a “happily ever after” to follow. All of the love stories I read as a child seem to have been embedded in my brain, because I still wish upon a star.

Recently, I was able to not only witness but also participate in a fairytale wedding. For a person who doesn’t publicly cry, I was happilly drawn to tears. I wasn’t crying because my big sister was getting married, I cried because she found love. That day, I saw hope. It was the most confound mixture of emotions for me, because I now had to share my sister, but in the process I also gained an older brother.

So as I watched her come down the aisle and the saw the raw emotions that cascaded down my brother-in-laws face, I was broken. It wasn’t long after when I was filled with the images of myself following her footsteps. I want it all; the white dress, the cake, my family, friends, laughter, the memories and my prince charming.

Marriage is not just something you jump into, its not an on again off again relationship. You take vows and make a commitment in front of your family, friends and God. It’s an endless journey of work and compromising and if you choose the right one, it can become the best trip you have ever taken.

So as I continue to learn about myself and prepare to be a wife, I hope my future husband is preparing himself as well. Special thanks to the Wilkes family, thank you for restoring my faith.

~Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.~