I just have to put it out there – my job totally rocks. For someone who’s obsessed with finding the next cool thing, DIY projects, and weddings there is, literally, not a better job. Now, it was a long and windy road to get here, but looking back I can how life’s twist and turns were leading me right to this spot (well, except for the leg warmer phase. That was just a plain ole wrong turn).

But, rather than bore you with the details of my stints in various professions -  copy writer, voice over artist, sales executive and one short stint as a telemarketer – I figure I should put our Delightfully Engaged mantra to the test. Around here we believe that the best weddings are those that truly reflect who a couple is at their core. So, why don’t we see if mine passes muster?

1. I’m married to the funniest, most fun, handsome man who happens to be very private. Good thing his wife works on the Internet all day.

2. We are huge travelers  (I’ve visited over 25 countries as a nanny, backpacker, tourist, and for one year with the service organization Up With People) so we decided to get married in a surfing village outside of Puerta Vallarta. I’d like to say that we toured the sites but, honestly, we mainly laid on the beach and drank margaritas.

3. I was sure that our wedding was going to end up small because people would have to travel but almost 100 folks made the trek. I don’t know if I’ve ever been happier or more touched. Seriously, I thought my cheeks were going to fall off from the fun of having everyone in one place – see what I mean?

4. We both wrote our own vows, gave very long speeches, and performed a first dance that culminated in The Robot. I’m not going to lie. We like an audience.

5. I spent roughly half of my waking hours the year before our wedding creating DIY projects. By the end I’d: sent out invites that looked like airline tickets, folded 150 boxes by hand, cut out 200 pom poms, pasted together 100 seating cards and paper place mats, cut and ironed 100 napkins, and found photos of myself or my husband with each person attending the wedding for their favor. Man, it was fun.

6. The other half of my waking hours were spent looking at wedding blogs and scouring design blogs and fashion and craft sites for ideas. Wait a minute…

6. My mom made my dress and sewed (by hand!) dozens of layers of ruffles, our best friend married us, my sister made us a huge gluten-free cupcake…Why yes, I am the luckiest gal I know.

7. Our reading was from “The Velveteen Rabbit” and pretty much sums up what I hope for everyone who falls madly in love and finds themselves standing at the altar during what can only be described as one of the coolest moments you’ll ever have:

“Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Here’s to loved off hair, weddings that speak to who you are, and gorgeous wedding dresses for all!

Photos by the incomparable Joann Arruda Photography