We met on an ugly, rainy day in Louisville. It was a rare chance for me to meet a couple from a different part of the United States before their wedding day. I am normally forced to rely upon phone conversations to get a gist of who the two people with whom I'm going to be intimately spending twelve hours of one of the most celebrated days of their lives are. Chemistry is key. And we had chemistry. Jess is quiet, determined, confident, and so very kind. Joe matched her kindness and complemented her other qualities with warmth and a slight hint of nerdiness. We talked fashion, bourbon, and Madewell jeans (yes. We could put that in "fashion," but in reality that is a category in and of itself.). I assume I showed them a photo of my dog because I show a photo of my dog to everyone to make sure they adore her as much as I do. I assume they adored her as much as I do as everyone adores Kona. It's how I test the level of awesome my couples truly are.

Their wedding day was just as lovely, genuine, and thoughtful as I thought it would be. Jess and Joe's celebration was less about them and more about the support group they had curated. Sounds of joy bounced around the rolling hills of Ithaca's wine country from morning until night as everyone celebrated all the love with which they were surrounded.