My Dearest Sarah,

I remember the first time I met you and Trevor.  It was a chilly Autumn evening and we were all bundled up in our sweaters.  You guys sat across from me at Starbucks and told me all about the day you got engaged!  I remember being struck by your love…your affection…your friendship.  I was struck by the way you looked at one another.  It was a beautiful story…told by two beautiful people.

You and I have chatted a lot since that first night.  We’ve sent emails…we’ve had talks while walking along the canal…we’ve gotten to know each other.  And through that, we’ve been honest and open about the struggles of this life.  About finding our place in this world.  We’ve talked about childhood…about marriage…about confidence and insecurities.  And through you, I’ve learned so much about all of this.  But most of all, you’ve taught me about beauty.

You’ve taught me that beauty comes through clarity…through authenticity…through modesty.  You’ve taught me that our outer being reflects our inner joy.  You’ve taught me that there isn’t a single superficial imperfection that can’t be outdone through our own shining light.  I know this.  We all know this.  But YOU radiate this.

Through your gentleness of spirit…your immense kindness…and a humbleness that enables you to raise everyone up.

Then there’s Trevor…this amazing man who sees nothing but pure magic every time he looks at you.  A man with equal kindness and gentleness and humility.  A man so perfectly created to be your husband.  A man who was always meant to be your husband.

And Sarah, you are stunning.  Strip away all of the things that make you a magnificent human being and you would still take everyone’s breath away.  It’s like you were just born to stop everyone in their tracks!!

But we aren’t made that way.  We are made to be more than that.  We are made to take this outer packaging and refine it with our inner beauty.  And I don’t know a single person who does that better than you…more eloquently than you…more gracefully than you.

And your wedding day was no exception.

My dear, you are a gem.  Getting to know you and Trevor has been one of the great highlights of my year.  Together, you could take on the world and never look better doing it!  I have been so grateful for your friendship…your trust…and your vulnerability.  I have been so grateful for YOU.  Both of you.

As I hit publish on this post of your beautiful day…I want you to know one imperative thing; when the sun shone through the clouds and this incredible man took your heart as his own…you didn’t just look beautiful.

You’ve never just looked beautiful.

Like every day before that, and every day after…in the greatest essence of the word and in everything that you do…

You ARE beautiful…