WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN LOVE

GREENVILLE, SC & BEYOND

Living Life in the In-Between Moments Happy 5th Anniversary!

Forward: throughout this post we are going to scatter iPhone photos from our recent 5 year anniversary trip in honor of 1) our Anniversary today and 2) the message of this post! Ok carry on…

It’s been 5 years. 5 wonderful, crazy, fun years since we stood side by side in Glassy Chapel to say I Do. 5 years since two babies, who didn’t know what the next few years would bring, promised to love, honor, and respect one another, in good times and bad, whatever life may bring.

We’ve had an incredible first 5 years together. High points and valleys, just like every other couple. And those tend to be the things most people see. The highs, for sure. But it’s the in-between moments where our marriage counts, where true marriage is lived out, and that’s what we want to share today.

As we were thinking back on our wedding day, we were reminded of what our Pastor said to us at the time. (Ok, to be honest, we had no idea what he said and had to look up an email with our ceremony text. But this still works!)

Right before our vows, he charged us: “If you aren’t working to make your marriage all that it should be, it won’t work. Marriage is an incredible blessing but it doesn’t just happen. You must both determine that you will please the Lord in everything you or you will create something that is not what God intended for you. Follow Christ and lovingly serve each other as a way to show your love for Him.”

Marriage doesn’t just happen. It takes real work, when no one else is watching. It means loving each other when you’re running on less than 5 hours of sleep heading into your third wedding of the weekend. It means going out of your way to serve your spouse and make sure they have everything they need (meals included!), even when you don’t feel like it. It means being sweet and respectful to one another, even if you haven’t had your coffee yet. And it means laughing through the mistakes you’re bound to make, and easily forgiving your spouse when a seemly wrong decision is made.

Marriage, and life, is lived in those in-between moments. And that’s where our vows that we promised to one another take on a deeper, richer meaning. 5 years ago, we promised each other:

Ryan to Alyssa: I promise to be a faithful and sacrificial husband, as I lead and direct you. I promise you my deepest love, my unselfish devotion, and my tenderest care. Alyssa, throughout my life, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, ‘til death do us part.

Alyssa to Ryan: I will joyfully give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your leadership, as to the Lord. I promise to live my life loving you, obeying you, learning from you, and seeking to please you. I will always strengthen you, help you, comfort you, and encourage you. Ryan, through whatever life will bring, I pledge you my life as a loving and faithful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, ‘til death do us part.

Reflecting on those vows reminds us that we’re fighting for our marriage in the in-between moments. And those moments hardly ever get shared, celebrated, or discussed. Yet those are the moments in which we grow closer to each other, that our bond gains strength, and where the Lord is most glorified.

So we want to share some of those in-between moments with you as we were celebrating our anniversary in Paris back in March. You’ve seen some of them already throughout this post. They’re simply iPhone photos of our trip, but to us, they hold some of our dearest memories as we took time away to celebrate how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go as we experience life and marriage together. Most of these never made it on social media. But everything on Facebook and Instagram is supposed to be perfect, right? That’s probably why these didn’t make it. Because they are not perfect in the sense that they are flattering or with perfect lighting, “Instagram husband” style. And that’s ok. Because these are the memories that truly matter.

And as you experience those in-between moments in your own marriage, learn to celebrate them! Acknowledge the little wins with each other, the painful growth you may be experiencing, and the depth in which you’re learning to love your spouse more. Celebrate your marriage! Especially in those little things. Happy 5 years to us, and here’s to a lifetime of more!

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