You know those rare moments when time seems to stretch, and you feel like you’re floating outside your own body, watching an event unfold? It’s as if a split second morphs into an eternity. That was my reality when I (rather clumsily) plunged into the water on my wedding day. Yes, I fell into the water. On my wedding day.
After a decade of being together, my partner Alex and I chose to celebrate our love with a backyard wedding at my parents’ riverside home. Following the ceremony, while guests were mingling, we ventured off to capture some traditional couple photos.
There was a charming little dock, the sky was adorned with just the right amount of clouds, and like any bride, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Feeling overly confident, I playfully asked Alex to “dip” me like they do on dance shows. (For the record, I’m not a graceful person; we’re certainly not dancers, nor had he ever attempted a dip in our ten years together.)
At that moment, I was chasing that iconic Beyoncé vibe. And then, time slowed down. I saw a flash of panic in Alex’s eyes. Gravity took over as I squealed in slow motion: “Noooooo!” And then—silence—as I found myself fully submerged in the river.
When I resurfaced, I was relieved to find Alex had also fallen in after me. The next few minutes were a blur of nervous laughter as reality sank in.
After we extracted ourselves from the water, we navigated through the neighbor’s yard, trying to avoid our guests, and I retreated to the bathroom at my parents’ house. As the shock wore off, I assessed the damage: my hair was a tangled mess, mascara was streaked down my face, and I looked like a wet rat. I remember thinking, “What just happened, and what now?”
Just when I felt the urge to cry and wallow in self-pity, my brother-in-law peeked in and erupted with laughter. Instead of being annoyed (though the thought crossed my mind), I found myself laughing too. My sisters joined in, and the room was filled with tears of both shock and laughter—I’ll always cherish that moment.
Soaked, hair ruined, dress a disaster, and makeup washed away, I chose to embrace the hilarity of it all. Life often throws us curveballs, leading us to believe that events should unfold in a certain way. We create expectations around our weddings, pregnancies, births, marriages, and motherhood, easily fixating on our definitions of perfection.
My wedding didn’t resemble what I had envisioned; it was far from the ideal wedding. Yet, it turned out to be the best day of my life. After I managed to untangle my hair and down a generous shot of rum, nature decided to add insult to injury by unleashing a torrential downpour.
As we walked barefoot through the rain to greet our guests, laughing about the day’s earlier events, I realized I didn’t care that it was raining on my wedding day. We let go of the expectations and fully embraced our unique wedding story.
Little did I know, this experience would teach me valuable lessons for motherhood. Getting caught up in the “shoulds” prevents us from living in and appreciating the present moment in all its chaotic beauty.
So next time you find yourself stressed from a toddler’s tantrum in the mall, dealing with a family vacation that has gone awry, or simply feeling overwhelmed by motherhood, try to let go of those expectations and cherish the moment for what it is. Choose to embrace the messiness, create memories, and celebrate your unique story.
Falling into the water on my wedding day was unexpected, but looking back, it was one of the best lessons I’ve learned. And I can always remind Alex, “Remember when you dropped me in the river on our wedding day?”
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