You know those rare moments in life when everything seems to happen in slow motion, and you feel like you’re watching it all unfold from outside your own body? That was me on my wedding day as I (not so gracefully) plunged into the water. Yes, you heard that right—plunged into the water on my wedding day.
After a decade of being together, my partner, Jake, and I opted for a charming backyard wedding at my parents’ riverside home. Following the ceremony, while guests were mingling, we decided to take the traditional couple photos.
The setting was picturesque, with a quaint dock and a sky adorned with just the right amount of clouds. In that blissful moment, I felt invincible and confidently told Jake I wanted him to “dip” me—just like those romantic dance shows. (For the record, I am not known for my grace, and we are definitely not dancers. He had never attempted a dip in the entire decade we’ve been together.)
In that split second, I envisioned a dazzling moment that would rival a Beyoncé performance. And then it happened… time slowed down as I saw a flash of panic in Jake’s eyes, felt gravity pulling me down, and heard myself squeal in a slow-motion voice: “Jaaaaaaake!” Then, silence as I found myself completely submerged in the river.
When I resurfaced, relief washed over me as I saw Jake had fallen in too. The next ten minutes were a blur of nervous giggles as the reality of what had just occurred started to sink in. We scrambled out of the water, cut through the neighbor’s yard, and tried to avoid our guests’ curious gazes. I sought refuge in my parents’ bathroom to assess the situation.
Staring into the mirror, I took inventory: My hair was a tangled mess, mascara was streaming down my face, and I looked like a complete wreck. Just as I contemplated throwing myself a pity party, my sister’s partner, Sam, peeked into the bathroom and erupted into laughter. Instead of getting annoyed, I couldn’t help but join in. We all laughed, tears of both shock and amusement streaming down our faces, and I’ll forever cherish that moment.
Soaked, hair ruined, dress a mess, and makeup gone, I decided to embrace the chaos. Life often presents us with situations we think should unfold a certain way. We create visions of how our weddings, pregnancies, and motherhood should look, often fixating on societal standards. When reality doesn’t align with those expectations, it can lead to disappointment.
My wedding day was nothing like I had imagined, yet it turned out to be the best day of my life. After struggling to untangle my hair and taking a big swig of rum, Mother Nature decided to chime in with a torrential downpour. As we walked barefoot through the rain, greeting our guests and laughing about the earlier incident, I found myself liberated from the notion of how a wedding “should” be. We chose to embrace our unique wedding story.
Little did I know, this experience would impart vital lessons for my journey into motherhood. Getting caught up in the “shoulds” of life can prevent us from appreciating the present moment in all its chaotic beauty. The next time you find yourself overwhelmed by your toddler’s tantrum at the mall, or when a family vacation doesn’t go as planned, remember to let go of those expectations and cherish the moments for what they are. Choose the chaos, make memories, and celebrate your story.
Falling into the water on my wedding day was far from what I expected, but looking back, it has become one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned. And hey, I always have the perfect comeback: “Remember when you dropped me in the river on our wedding day?”
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In summary, embrace the messy moments of life, and you’ll find joy even in the most unexpected situations.