You might remember last year’s blog post of my favorite 2011 wedding… Well, here it is – my official favorite wedding of 2012!
My sister — Marybeth — and new brother — Timothy J — were married three days before Christmas in a tiny town in northern Indiana (a town so tiny that it would seem impossible to get lost in… except that I did.) Everything was sparkly lights and Christmas garlands. There was even a bit of snow. It was Magic.
Meet the Groom…
And the Bride… 
I live fourteen hours and 800+ miles away from my sister, which is a bit of a tragedy… sometimes especially so — the past six months, for instance! For the last two years (approximately), there has been a Special-But-UnLabeled -And-Definitely-Not-Boyfriend man in her life, and he was there for way longer than I was comfortable with. My impatience was nearing a slightly dangerous level. Sometimes I can actually be quite patient, but not when it comes to Love and my sister.
After much angst (on my sister’s part too, I’m sure, as well as my own), whatever needed to fall into place fell, and they called me via video chat to tell me that they were finally officially something, and were going to be married in four months – talk about a whirlwind romance! 
A bit of back story ~ My sister and I are four years apart. She is the older one… and thank goodness I won’t have to be the matron-of-honor between us — that has been a big source of discussion and concern to both of us for as long as I can remember (who wants to be called matron??)
We’ve lived together, traveled the world together (barefoot), survived biology lab together, and probably had more adventures and experiences than most sisters out there. I’ve never really met anyone else quite like my sister. She is kindness, selflessness, and Love, and she radiates a life spark that embraces everyone that comes in contact with her. Needless to say, she needed someone as equally unique and special as she is… and that is hard to find. But. I couldn’t imagine her with anyone more perfect.
I have to say – seeing my dad put the wedding slippers on the bride was one of my favorite moments of the day.
He proposed (finally) on an island in northern Michigan, and it was a proposal complete with the bended knee and horse-drawn carriage and sparkly diamond, etc., etc.
For her birthday (September), he had a beautiful, tiny stone that she had found on the island of their proposal set into a silver necklace… I liked this man. She wore the necklace on her garter. It was sweet.
This rapid cycle of events gave me the excuse to travel up north 3 months in a row.
Being able to have some time with them – to see my sister radiantly happy in this new season of life and also to witness how beautiful Love can be – was a gift… as was eating bananas foster and chocolate mousse at 2 a.m. – they definitely know how to properly do midnight snacks.
My sister deserves the most beautiful Love Story in the world, and there aren’t enough words (or portraits) to express how happy I am that she has found an equally wonderful man to create one with… and this is just the beginning of it! I know without a doubt that she will be cherished, respected, adored, protected, and loved every moment of every day until the last word of her love story has been written.
Congratulations Tim and Marybeth!! 
*By the way – I couldn’t do this if it weren’t my sister’s wedding, obviously… every other wedding of the year was tied for absolutely exquisite beauty and perfection 🙂
hanalani photography 