June 26, 2015 Brandt and I were flying to New York City to celebrate the 30th anniversary of 42nd Street. We had a connection at Reagan and were on the tarmac ready to take off when the pilot announced traffic was halted as often happens in DC. I turned my phone back on, opened Facebook and immediately felt like a box of balloons and confetti had exploded in my hand. Every post on my page announced the Supreme Court had just declared the right to marry is a fundamental right guaranteed to all citizens by the Fourteenth Amendment and required all 50 states to license and recognize same-sex marriages.  I said, “Oh my god”. Brandt responded, “What is it?”. To which I replied, “Gay marriage was just legalized!!!”.

HE REPLIED…

“Do you want to get married?”.

I REPLIED…

“Are you asking?”

He said, “Well, yes”.

I said, “Of course!!!!!”

I immediately posted, “We just got engaged”. The pilot announced we were beginning our taxi and I turned off the my phone.

Brandt looked out the window as we taxied and there in the distance was The United States Supreme Court Building where the decision had just been made which allowed us to be lovingly and legally married. It was all a bit surreal.

We landed at Laguardia and my Booneville/Memphis friend Steve Nabors who was seated behind us had turned his phone on after landing. Steve asked, “Did you all get engaged on the plane?” He was the first one to congratulate us in person.

Of course, it was BIG NEWS in New York.

Later that afternoon I took a call with an unexpected offer for a fall design project. As I got off the phone Brandt could tell I was titillated and said, “what was that about”. I responded, “That call was confirming the budget for our wedding”. In true Brandt fashion he said, “Well, that’s nice!”

We had tickets at Lincoln Center to see an evening performance of Swan Lake with Misty Copeland and ABT. Knowing Bolud Sud was across the way we made time for a celebratory glass of Champagne and a tantalizing piece of Country Pate.

Brandt is an original cast member of 42nd Street. He and sixteen others did the entire eight year and five month run. We enjoyed a weekend of reminiscing. However, my mind was truly on planning a wedding. Choosing the date was the first challenge. I had four people on my list who had to be there and I knew it would have to be before the first weekend of September or between Christmas and Valentines to get them all there. I had no intentions of waiting until the new year and decided to give Labor Day weekend a try. By the time we got home, realized we really were getting married and talked to those on the “must attend” list it was mid July. I had six weeks to plan our wedding.

September 5, 2015…a day which will forever be the best day of our lives!!!!

Earlier this year we started thinking about our anniversary and thought we might travel abroad. We actually did some serious planning but for several reasons shelved that idea and soon found out why we weren’t supposed to leave the country.

We knew the anniversary of A Chorus Line was on the horizon. There had been a couple of queries but nothing more than speculation. Then, June 1st I saw a Facebook post announcing an event the last weekend of July. That was actually a premature, unapproved announcement as it took a while for all the details to get worked out. But they did…and if we had invested in a trip to Europe it would’ve been a challenge to make the trip to New York, as well. The 50th anniversary celebration of A Chorus Line was the most amazing wedding anniversary experience I could’ve ever wished for.

I still have trouble talking about this moment in our lives. My eyes are even tearing as I type this. My heart hadn’t been this full since we were announced “lovingly and legally married”.

As September 5th drew closer we thought maybe we’d go to dinner but didn’t feel the need to have a “To Do”. However, we ended up celebrating for three days…much like our wedding weekend.

The evening before our wedding chosen family hosted a dinner at Seasons 52 which was a very special way to begin our wedding weekend.

Thursday we returned to Seasons 52 to relive that special evening. We didn’t need a table for 12 so we sat at the bar with bartender Everett. As Brandt would say he was “cute and adorable” and made sure we had a memorable dining experience.

Friday we had a busy day but not too busy to stop by Buster’s Butcher. We decided our anniversary dinner would be either oysters or duck. If Buster’s had a duck breast we would have that…if not, we had oysters in the fridge. Of course, Buster’s came through…not only with the duck breast but they’ve started carrying their Housemade Foie Gras Mousse regularly. On the fly…I once again decided to pay homage to our wedding reception. Our treasured friends Rosemary and Hunter Gaines catered our reception. I can’t tell you how many of our guests continue to talk about the food and presentation. Rosemary is actually a floral designer and owner of Jody’s Flowers in Tupelo. She and I share “the knack” for more than just flowers. Her son Hunter, took our food waaaaayyyyy over the top. Then, we had a crew of amazingly talented designers aka chosen family “making the house lovely”. Bucky, Tommy, Todd, Scott and Glenn all made TimMagic without me even making a suggestion.

Friday dinner was sorta FABULOUS if I do say so. It was just us…on the farm…really delicious and the perfect way to remember a day neither of us thought would ever happen.

Now, here’s the real reason I had to post this blog. We are fortunate beyonds words. The day after our wedding sweet chosen fambly Carrie and Sam did an Day After Brunch for our out-of-town guests. It was absolutely perfect. The day after a wedding is one of my favorite things about the weddings I’ve designed. To visit with the parents…to relish in the memories…to try and remember all the TimMagic details I didn’t even know anyone noticed…it’s always so special. Well, Carrie’s brunch did not disappoint and we got to visit with Weir, Durham, Rita, Monica, Perk, Jules, Tommy, Scott, Todd, Glenn, Susan, Bucky, Fred and Sue.

How could it be that ten years later our sweet chosen family member, Nina calls to say she wants to have a “Day After” cocktail party to celebrate our Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Honestly, a trip to Europe couldn’t be better than a cocktail party at Nina’s. Everything about the evening was perfect. Have you ever had people you’ve never met come celebrate your anniversary….amazing!!! In an environment where it feels freedom to marry could be denied at the flip of a switch there is hope in knowing people we don’t even know believe in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness… For ALL!!!!

Like Carrie’s “Day After” event…Nina out did herself.

If that wasn’t enough we finished the evening at Oxford’s Snackbar. Truthfully, we were not real hungry because Nina’s food was so amazing. However, we made it work.

Finally, we cut the cake. Nina didn’t know but my birthday cake Mom made every year of my life she was on this earth was Devil’s Food Cake with Seven Minute Icing. This was Devil’s Food Cake with Vanilla Buttercream…but it still had enough nostalgia to make me feel like Mom was celebrating with us. It was absolutely the perfect finale for our three day celebration.

27 years of love and happiness…our 10th Anniversary was lovely…and a good time was had by all!!!