During my own wedding week, my wedding coordinator (aka my maid of honor’s awesome mom), kept reminding me not to use the word “perfect” when talking about the wedding day because I kept looking around and saying, “EVERYTHING IS PERFECT!” and she didn’t want me to get my hopes set on nothing going wrong the day of. I completely understand where she was coming from and while there are a few things I would adjust looking back (for example, eating more of the wedding food/getting a solo photo with my mom and with my dad/being more present in general) it felt pretty close to perfect while I was living it. All that to say, I try to steer clear of describing weddings as perfect because of what dear MaryLynne Hodson taught me. After all, the perfection of the day itself isn’t nearly as important as the fact that two separate people are becoming one new family.

BUT THEN CAME EMMA AND COLLIN’S WEDDING DAY.

And you know what? I think their day was an exception to the rule. I watched as they soaked up every little moment with their closest friends and family. I was there when Emma teared up when she walked into the room where she would don her wedding dress. When Collin couldn’t stop laughing with his groomsmen. And then when he couldn’t stop tearing up when his bride walked down the aisle. When they so beautifully integrated each of their family members into their wedding ceremony (that one of Emma’s brothers officiated). Even when things “went wrong” and music played when it wasn’t supposed to during the ceremony they just laughed and danced until it stopped! When the Texas-in-June weather felt 80-something degrees, just unimaginably perfect. When the sunset was more golden than I’ve seen before. When the fireworks went off during their exit and COMPLETELY SURPRISED Emma.

Oh man, you guys. For what it’s worth, it certainly felt perfect to me.