10 Year Wedding Anniversary

Zak and I met in September of 1993. Although this picture is from 1995, trust me when I say that all the pictures from 1993 to 1997 looked just like this with various liquid filled cups and wacky poses with friends (and even strangers).

We dated for five years, and Zak finally proposed (after much prompting) in the swimming pool at my dad's house on August 2, 1998. The ring was in the pool, and I had to dive in and get it.

We moved to Chicago a few months after we got engaged, and because we were so far from friends and family (and because formal weddings are ridiculously expensive), we decided to marry in Maui on April 17, 1999. Because we made this decision, many friends and family whom we love dearly were unable to attend our wedding (including Zak's parents). In fact, we had thirteen guests total, and we invited well over 200.

We rented out a house on the very tip of Maui's Makena Bay for the ceremony, and made an aisle paper lanterns for my dad and I to walk down. Amy Jones Harris and Brian Harris stood up for us, and we had this great Hawaiian minister marry us (and sing to us).

I didn't cry during the ceremony, but welled up a bit during my vows, and then giggled as Zak misunderstood the minister because of his thick accent and made up some words for his vows ("in plenty and in woaunt").

The ceremony was planned at "sunset" with no specific time just so we could take some beautiful photographs.

After the ceremony, we had some yummy cake, and then went out to dinner with our guests and began our life together.

Marrying Zak has been one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. We just seem to fit each other so well, balance out our individual quirks, and have common interests, opinions, and a similar outlook on life.

I love you, Zak. Happy 10th anniversary!