MY BEST FRIEND GOT HITCHED

Two weeks ago, when I was feverishly typing up my blog post about moving to Spain, I had much grander, more looming things on my mind: Like the fact that my best friend was getting married the next day.

I think many people can relate to how strange and wonderful a feeling it is when your first friend, close friend, gets married. You’re just a teeny bopper twenty something, half-feeling like you’re fresh out of college when suddenly you start receiving wedding invitations left and right. I knew this time would be upon me soon, but now that it’s here I’m still a little awestruck. Growing up is…complicated. And part of me was dreading this tidal wave of celebrations in my not-so-distant future. The traditions, the stress, the social norms and expectations, the rules, the fluff, the money spent…but my thinking has changed and honestly, I couldn’t be more excited for “wedding season”.

Even after Krystal’s wedding this month, I can still count on one hand the number of wedding’s I’ve gone to. Each time has been a different experience. Before, I was either bored out of my mind, in awe, or too young to really care what was happening. And I think the first time one of your oldest and closest friends gets married, it kinda changes the game.

I met Krystal when I was 15 years old. It was the fall of my sophomore year, and I had just begun getting close with Shelbie and Jess (we were in the same theater class). Jess knew Krystal through a mutual friend, and introduced us because “you both love One Direction”. It was a time of great shifting for me. If I was into astrology at the time, I’m sure I would’ve read something about relationships and connections and a great pivot. I was starting to grow apart from the friends I’d had for years and years. One was at another high school, the others were finding new friends and groups that they felt belonging in. I was trying to find my niche. I was growing out of this painfully, embarrassingly long phase in my life where I spent a lot of time trying to impress popular girls. Girls who I thought I wanted to be like, who dressed like Hollister models, who had money, and honestly, were kinda mean. I was finally prioritizing friends who lit me up, understood my weird, loved me through and through.

That’s around the time Krystal came around. She was this bubbly, ecstatic, dramatic little human who I instantly loved. She was like a Disney Channel character, always dressed in layers of cool clothes, got excited about everything, and never doubted herself for an instant. We bonded over all things One Direction, and I think the first five years of texts were sent in all caps. It was a high energy friendship. We spammed Vine stars on Twitter, we scrutinized 5SOS music videos, we obsessed over so. many. boys. and every once in a while, we had deep and meaningful conversations that made our friendship really strong over the years. With Krys, I felt a part of my personality open up that had never seen the light before that point.

The reason for such heavy backstory is simple: I feel like our friendship sometimes gets swept under the rug because we never spent as much time together as Jess and Shelbie and I did. The three of us were a trio, and I think a lot of people tend to forget Krystal’s been in my life just as long. This October, we’ll be celebrating 12 years of friendship. It’ll also be the 11th anniversary of my first ever concert: One Direction (fully intact, RIP) opened by 5SOS. It was iconic. Yes, we cried profusely. Yes, I cringed a little typing that out.

So when Krys asked me to take part in her wedding, to speak during the reception, and to join her and her loved ones to celebrate her and Colin, an excitement for wedding season like I’d never felt before suddenly blossomed.

I flew into Florida for the week (Krystal Week, as it was appropriately penned). First, to take enagagement photos of Krystal and Colin in downtown St. Pete, where they live. This alone was special beyond words. I got to spend the day with them and Jade (the mutual friend mentioned above who started it all! a.k.a. Maid of Honor) parading around the city and taking Pinterest-worthy golden hour shots on a cool, picturesque, March evening.

Then, for the festivities. They were married on a Friday evening, in the most perfect Florida weather you could dream of. There was a barn, an ivy chandelier, a flower-adorned arch, the whole nine. The sun filtered through arching, moss-laden oaks that made the whole thing a dreamy, ethereal landscape. Colin wore a green suit, his crew light brown. The girls were adorned in different shades of pink and Krystal’s dress was show-stopping (I still get teary to think of it). We cried, we cheered, we toasted, we drank, and we danced. I myself danced to a lot of One Direction. The entire thing was incredibly heartwarming, aesthetic, and fun. Most of my family was there, friends of Krystal’s who I only see for special occasions, and her family members that I've seen here and there over the holidays. I started to realize how wonderful celebrations like this are. How special they are, bringing people together who usually wouldn’t see one another. Everyone united with a common focus: to celebrate two people we love and love to see happy. It was an incredibly beautiful celebration that I feel so grateful to have been apart of.

And I guess that’s why I’ve now written an entire blog post about it. The first of what I’m sure will be many weddings, celebrating the closest people in my life. That week was a maturing time for me. I didn’t feel like the little shit who scoffed at all things traditional (though I still am, let’s be real). I felt like I was growing up, just a bit. I felt my age— not that it’s old or anything— but I really felt it. I’m not the geeky little Directioner I was in high school, and I’m not even fresh out of college. I’m at a point when things start coming into focus for a lot of the closest people in my life. Big life decisions are being made, and there are big reasons to celebrate. I still feel young in many ways. But the youth and the immaturity have started to separate like oil and water. And I don’t think it’s dumb or gross. I think it’s kinda nice, kinda beautiful. And it makes me feel pretty darn lucky.

So here’s to my gorgeous friendship with Krystal, for 12 more bubbly and ecstatic years to come. And to Krystal and Colin, the newlyweds!

xo, Lau