Love, Actually

This is not my first time blogging about weddings. I've blogged about the outfit I wore to a wedding I attended three years ago, and even partnered with Weddington Way to style a bridesmaid dress into a flirtatious date outfit. But throughout my time crafting sweet lyrical prose about the elation of romance, I had never actually experienced love for myself. I was an outsider writing through rose-coloured glasses about what I thought companionship was.

Last week, however, I attended a wedding for the first time knowing what love really means.

But before we get there, let's review the wedding attire.

Morning

Although I struggled quite a bit with choosing a morning outfit, I managed to happily settle on a ballet-inspired look. The whole ensemble started off with this high-low dress I owned. In the past, I've had issues with how asymmetrical hemlines cut awkwardly across my short legs, but this high-low dress had some magical formula that worked fantastically with my particular stature.

Dress: Unknown - Chinese brand | Bolero: La Senza Girl | Boots: Ned-Nedy | Necklace: Unknown | Earrings: Jones New York | Handbag: Unknown | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

The only thing I'm not too fond of with this dress is the upper half. The black tank leads into the pink skirt too high up on the torso, leaving me with a slightly childlike chest. I combated that with a front-tie bolero I unearthed from my closet to lengthen the black top. If I was in junior high, I would have undoubtedly worn the bolero the way it's meant to be worn - with the bow-tie in the front. Though considering it's 2017 and I'm no longer a preteen, I took my own spin on the bolero by tying the strings around my back, similar to the more grown-up criss-cross tops which have been in style lately. From there, accessorizing was a breeze. I tightened a gold and pink chain choker around my neck, hooked in a pair of earrings that bore striking resemblance to my necklace, and slipped on a pair of black suede booties with gold hardware detailing. Et voilà.


Evening

I'm surprised by how my evening look coincidentally followed a similar theme as my morning outfit - black on top, colour on bottom. I honestly hadn't done that on purpose! All I knew was I wanted to get some use out of the Banana Republic circle skirt I bought a few years back. I classed the skirt up with some filmy black lace, and once again accessorized with gold jewellery. Although I don't follow many traditions, red and gold signify luck and fortune in Chinese culture, so I thought my outfit would be a fitting combination. Moreover, as hoop earrings appear to be on trend again lately, I rummaged through my mother's jewellery box and found around five different gold hoop earrings to choose from. I went with a mid-sized hoop to hit that Goldilocks formula.

Top: Nanette Lepore | Skirt: Banana Republic | Boots: Ned-Nedy | Tank Top: Old Navy | Tights: Unknown | Handbag: Unknown | Bracelet: Unknown | Earrings: Unknown

Now that we've done the obligatory outfit overview, let me get back to the actual wedding and open up about love.

Two years ago, I met the man who would become my first love. During our time together, I learned love truly is about the little things. When he walks back to the car without being told to, just to grab the scarf you forgot to bring. When he congratulates you for completing part (I repeat, part) of a hiking trail, even though you complained the whole way through. When he's seen you with your acne and eczema galore, and still never fails to remind you everyday how beautiful he thinks you are. And the list goes on and on...

In addition to the little things, love is about the rough seas you weather together. Love is as complicated as it is instinctual. As irritating as it is fulfilling. As painful as it is blissful. But ask yourself, if you don't feel the pain, do you really feel the love?

Mistakes and failures will be made, but apologies and kindness will always be genuine. At the end of the day, do you walk out of the storm hand-in-hand, knowing full well there's no one else you rather be going through the rain with?

As I watched the to-be wedded couple that day, I knew they had found that kind of love with each other. The way they joked during their vows about the mundane details of co-habitation, or the way they laughed off technical difficulties throughout the ceremony. They didn't need to make a big show of devotion that morning of their wedding, because they had already been showing it every step of the way since the day they met.