Five years later and I’m still completely in love.  I was going to wait to post this because our anniversary isn’t until July 21st but our vow renewal was picked up by Style Me Pretty so I knew I had to share it today.

Shiloh and I have faced so many obstacles and literally had everything stacked up against us.  Being able to say we have been happily married for five years seriously brings tears to my eyes.  Life wasn’t easy for either of us before we got together but I can say it’s easy with him by my side now.  Being in the wedding industry I hear so many things about marriage.  You hear all types of advice from people, some tell you not to do it.  Some people tell you it won’t be easy to be married.  Some paint this pretty little picture that everything will be perfect.  Nothing in life is perfect.  Life has its ups and downs.  If you put your marriage first, if you put your family first, if you put the love you have for each other first then I promise it will be worth it.  Sometimes life will have you at your lowest of lows but having someone to share those  burdens with will lighten your load.  Sometimes you will crush your goals and be the happiest person in the world.  To share that joy with someone is unexplainable.

The past five years have honestly flown by.  Shiloh and I threw our wedding together in three months while raising four kids and transitioning jobs.  It wasn’t our ideal wedding but I wouldn’t change it for the world.  We scrimped and saved, we poured our heart into it.  We did it all on our own and we exchanged our vows in front of our closest family and friends.  We also saved for our first home during this time.  As a wedding photographer, I get to see the most beautiful weddings almost every weekend.  I am surrounded by the most amazing vendors who have become some of my closest friends.  Shiloh is a very hard person to gift.  He is not materialistic, doesn’t like parties, and is SO hard to shop for because he is so picky.  Every year I try my best to surprise him with something from the heart because I know that no material gift will ever make him happy.  Since five years is a big anniversary I knew I had to do something special.  When Shiloh proposed I couldn’t get one word out.  There were too many tears and too many kisses.  Even though I tell him on a daily basis how much I love him I knew I wanted to do something bigger.  July is the busy season for wedding vendors so I surprised Shiloh with a vow renewal in April.  I enlisted the help from some of my sweet vendor friends (make sure you scroll to the bottom to see everyone that was involved because they are AMAZING) and completely blew him away.  Each of our boys read a verse from the Bible and I was able to tell him how much he means to me with the kids by our side.  You can read my vows to him at the end of the post as well.

Shiloh and I laugh together.  We slow dance in the kitchen.  I dance like a crazy person in the car just to put a smile on his face.  He tells me I’m beautiful.  I cook his favorite food.  Shiloh listens to me when I talk about nonsense and holds me when I’m being emotional (you guys know I’m over emotional so that’s a lot of holding).  I support him and push him to follow his heart.  He lets me be me and loves all my imperfections.  I tell him how much he means to me every day.  We go on dates.  We netflix and chill.  We still hold hands and grab each other’s butts.  Shiloh knows me better than I know myself.  I know what’s good for him and take care of him even when he doesn’t think he needs it.  We work together as a team.  If one of us is having an off day the other picks up the slack.  If he is struggling with something I will push myself to either get everything else done for him so he can relax or I will help him through it.  If I am overwhelmed, he will clean the house and make dinner just to take a little bit of stress off my plate.  Marriage is about unconditional love.  Love one another always.  Never stop showing each other affection.  Always hold each other.  Always talk with each other.  Forgive each other.  Show grace to each other.  Most of all have fun together.

Shiloh,

We have been married for 5 years and during those years we have gone through so many ups and downs but our love for one another never faltered.  Having you in my life has made me stronger.  You make me believe in myself.  You have shown me unconditional love even when I’m at my worst.  These past 5 years have been nothing short of amazing.  Every single moment I get to spend with you is my best moment yet.

Today, I promise to let go of any doubt I may have from insecurity.  I promise to spend every day building you up and celebrating our lives together.  I promise to always put our family first.  I promise to hold your hand through anything life may throw at us.  I promise to spend every day like it’s our last in complete happiness.  I promise to keep Christ at the center of our marriage and family.  I promise to love you and our boys for all the days of our lives.  Shiloh, I promise that I will love you and only you forever and ever.

VENDORS

Kearsten Taylor Lambert

Name: Kearsten Taylor Photography

Website: www.kearstentaylorphotography.com

Facebook Link: www.facebook.com/kearstentaylorphotos

Instagram Handle: @kearies

Tiffany Von Photography 

Name: Tiffany Von Photography

Website: http://weddings.tiffanyvonphotography.com

Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/tiffanyvonphotography

Instagram Handle: @tiffanyvonweddings

 

Josh Ayantola

Name: Ayan5 Media

Website: www.Ayan5.com

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Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/Ayan5Media/

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Instagram Handle: @ayan5

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