from the editor
It’s All in the Details
ZAN FRETT
I’m completing some mundane tasks when I realize I have a missed Facetime call from my best friend. I want to kick myself for missing the call by 26 minutes because I know exactly why she called. I call back, she tells me the story, we squeal like middle schoolers. Months later, my boyfriend and I are entranced as our show of the moment reaches its apex of the season. My phone chimes and I almost ignore it, but I see it’s a family group message, so I open the text. I grab the remote and hit pause, tears already beginning to fog my eyes as I dial my sister’s number. During the holidays, my other best friend is visiting her home country of South Africa. Because of the time difference and her lack of iMessage, I receive an Instagram message of her on a scenic cliff with the most gorgeous sparkler on her left hand. I cannot type back quickly enough, even the right words don’t seem right enough for the perfection of her moment. The year 2018 gave me the gift of knowing that the three women I admire, adore and am most grateful for will spend the remainder of their lives with respectable men that will care for their hearts, cherish their minds and stay committed forever. Now, 2019 will further reward me with the privilege of witnessing their wedding journey begin, evolve and shape. Each will maintain certain traditions, such as the ring as a representation of unity. Yet even more enjoyable — each wedding will be unique, a depiction of loves so specific, so cherished, so joyous that it couldn’t be repeated or replicated. This is my third year as editor of this publication, and I still never fail to tear up or get goose bumps (or both) when I see photos of forehead kisses, videos of a teary eyed grooms or read love stories in your own words. Still, there are batches of trends that surprise and delight me — this industry is ever evolving. I am grateful for weddings because of the union, the commitment, the endurance and the unwavering love they are intended to symbolize. If you’re reading this publication as someone who is planning a wedding, remember this day is dedicated to your love and it should reflect two people as one. The wedding professionals within these pages are committed to your vision, your happiness and your forever. From the smallest, prettiest flower and your favorite foods to a venue that makes your breath catch, they will make sure each detail reflects a bit of yourself. As a writer, a reader and an observer, I’ve always been keen on details. Details are often slight, intricate and descriptive. They could be overlooked. These details though are what amount to the full story. The details are the shy smiles shared when you first met, the joke from your second date that you still tell today, the knee on the ground as the rest of the world fades around you — because all you can see is your future. All my love,
Rebecca Padgett, Editor
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