California Cliffside Affair
I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and adore a good love story. I was able to be part of the incredible journey my niece and her recently married, husband Broc shared with their families over the last two years. Their romance blossomed quickly, and both knew they were meant to be together. Although they lived many miles from most of their tribe, they wanted to include everyone in their love story.
We got word that Chanel would be bringing her new boyfriend, Broc, home for dinner. Upon arrival he was polite, friendly and had an impressive handshake (an important quality in our family). He treated Chanel like she was the most important person in his life, and like her, we fell in love with this man too. Once dinner was over, he quickly got up and started helping my Mom in the kitchen; which won her and my Dad over in an instant. He had captured Chanel’s heart, and now he had captured ours.
Once they became engaged Chanel and Broc started planning the day they would become one. They decided on California, the place they called home. Even though it wasn’t a destination wedding for them, for most attending it would be. They had every single detail planned with great care. For many of us, it would be the first time meeting each other.
Our first night in Trinidad, Chanel and Broc had invited everyone over for dinner and cocktails. It was a chance for the families to meet. We greeted each other with open arms and soon blended our lives together. Both our families expanded that night. They were warm, and inviting as he had been, and they loved Chanel as much as we loved him. Prayers of love and gratitude were offered and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
As the next days unfolded, we all were able to witness the beautiful love story first hand. From swimming in a river, picking flowers for the wedding, hiking in a canyon, walking in the redwoods and yoga, lovingly led by Broc’s Mom. We were a family…..connected by love.
The day of the wedding arrived, it was an outdoor affair nestled high along the oceanside cliffs; the views were stunning. As the ceremony got underway there was so much joy that filled the space. A small intimate affair of the people they loved. They each wrote vows, and sometimes their words were hard to hear over the barking of the seals on the rocks below, protruding from the ocean….HA. It made the event even more special. My favorite part of the ceremony, hands down, was when Chanel was finished with her two, handwritten pages of vows and wasn’t quite sure how to segway and said, “The End.” We all laughed……I love that girl.
I can honestly say, it was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been a part of, not just because it was my niece, but because of beautiful love story, and the blending of families. #californiacliffsideaffair #colormecrider #criderwedding
xoxox…..Sheryl