A West Point Wedding

This weekend, one of my close childhood friends tied the knot with her now-husband at West Point. Lauren is truly one of the loveliest people I know, both inside and out, dedicating her life to Nick, to her family and friends, and to her patients as a nurse. Her bridal shower was wonderful, and as it happened, the wedding was probably the most beautiful one I’ll ever attend.

 

 

 

 

 

The ceremony was held at one of the chapels on the campus of West Point in the afternoon. Since Lauren met Nick while he was a cadet at West Point, it was very special for them to be married there. West Point is a little over an hour north of New York City, but might as well be a day away for how removed it is from the hustle and bustle. The views of the Hudson from the hills on campus are spectacular, perfect for wedding photos.

 

 

 

 

The chapel, like many other buildings at West Point, is on top of one of the pretty steep hills, so I wore flats to walk from the parking lot to the top and changed into those heels when we got there. I rarely wear heels so it was a little tough to squeeze my feet in (especially since I’d run that morning in the heat before we left) but it was important to me to look as fancy as I could for the ceremony, especially since Lauren and her mom paid attention to so many little details so that everything, from the programs to the handkerchiefs passed out to the ladies before walking in.

 

 

 

 

 

The ceremony was made even more special by the fact that so many people contributed so much to make this day happen. Nick was deployed for most of last year, so everyone coming together to witness their wedding meant celebrating not just a marriage, but a family reunited and a serviceman safely arrived home. From the moment the doors opened and Lauren came down the aisle with her dad, to the saber arch outside the church doors afterwards, it was incredibly moving to be able to share in that joy. 

 

 

 

 

 

After exploring the grounds for a little while, we hopped back into our Zipcar for the drive down to Sleepy Hollow Country Club for the reception. Another stunning location with gorgeous views, and every detail attended to, from the string quartet during cocktail hour to the band that had everyone dancing late into the night, the special “His, Hers, and Ours” drinks and delicious five course meal, the spectacular cake, the decorations, and most of all, the genuinely celebratory atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the night, what got me the most was knowing how much love there is for these two people. Not only do they truly love each other, but their family and friends will always be there to support them, no matter how near or far. And that’s really what counts, especially when your spouse is in the military. Congratulations, Lauren and Nick! And someday, Lauren and I will take a good photo that doesn’t require a flipbook’s worth of very candid shots beforehand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your favorite part of a wedding?

 

Have you ever been to a military wedding?

 

Any fun happenings this weekend?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2016 Renaissance Runner Girl. All rights reserved.

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