Seven years ago . . .

I married my best friend. I know it sounds corny, but it's true, very true for us. Yes, we've had our share of ups and downs but I know I married the right person.

Our wedding was very "us", we both love to create and make things our own and I think we did that. We made our own invitations, programs, place cards; I made the necklace I wore - no dainty little pearls for me, I made a big statement necklace and wore the diamond earrings my beloved gifted me soon after we met.

We had Sting, Frodo's sword from Lord of the Rings, as our cake cutter, and I nearly took off the tip of my new husband's nose. A year later, during our first anniversary party, I nearly took off the tip of my husband's nose. We haven't used Sting since. I like my husband's nose.


We had our parents cater our wedding. My in-laws have a catering business so they provided the tri-tip, salad and rice, and my parents are excellent cooks so they made the Peruvian food I wanted at my wedding. Our guests could enjoy cebiche and picante de pollo, I sure did.

My bouquet flowers were special ordered because I wanted dark, dark Black Baccara roses and chocolate cosmos. My bridesmaids wore burgundy and carried ivory flowers, I did the opposite. My toenails were also burgundy, my fingernails ivory. The nail salon lady got mad at me because I wouldn't let her put fake nails on me. She reminded me of the diamond store lady who almost yelled at me because I wanted a smaller diamond. Hello, my hands, my choice! Like I said, we're not very conventional here.

My husband liked the look of ascot ties, so he wore one for our wedding. We love dressing up. I think we're going to have a steampunk vow renewal for our 10th anniversary.

Our wedding cost far less than the average San Francisco Bay Area wedding, mostly because of our choices in the food. That wasn't so important to us as was having a wedding that represented who we were. But in doing so, we also saved money and that's never a bad thing.

It was a great day. It was a great party. It was great coming home knowing that this choice, this most important of choices, was one I got right.

I love you, honey, here's to seventy more.