I will never know how many hours my mother poured into our wedding.
Every time I came home to visit my parents she was knee-deep in another wedding-related project. When I asked her how long it took her to remove the intricate beading on a back up veil she purchased in case the veil I ordered didn’t come in on time, she said, "No time at all! It’s not a big deal, really."
I assure you it took her hours.
When I asked her how long it took her to tie flip flops together and stamp decorative numbers on feminine labels to note their sizes, she replied, "Just a little while. I had a movie on, so it went by quickly!" 
(The flip flops served as "dancing shoes" for the women to wear to dance at our reception.)
She went wedding dress shopping with me… many times.
She helped me and my sister tie together programs and menus and secretly finished the majority herself after we went to bed.
She bought me numerous pairs of wedding shoes when I was in a frantic hunt and was convinced I would never find the blush pink pumps I wanted.
She helped convince my dad that chiavari chairs were a very important thing.
She calmed me down during my first dress fitting when I tried on my dress two weeks before the wedding and it was several sizes too big.
She told me it was okay to cry when we were sitting in the emergency care clinic the day before the wedding. 
She was a best friend, a mother, a confidant.
I know I touched on it briefly in a previous post, but I was blow away by the way my mother looked on our wedding day.
I was stressing out over my make up when I walked into the hall with my sister.
My mom was hurrying down the hall, back to our suite, after a brief stop at home to change into her dress and check on my dad.
My sister and I gasped when we saw her.
She looked incredible. 
She looked healthy, strong, alive and… happy.
For a woman who had been battling breast cancer for the past two years, seeing her look so radiant literally took my breath away.
Tears began to flow. I looked over at my sister who was wiping tears from her eyes.
“You look amazing,” we told her.
She was clearly surprised by our tears.
So were we.
I never expected to be so moved at seeing my mother on my wedding day. I assumed she would look beautiful, but I didn’t think how she looked would affect me so deeply.
I think seeing her look so vibrant made me realize just how far she had come in her journey against such a terrible disease. It made me realize just how lucky I was to be able to share this day with her… to have her zip me into my dress. 
She was beaming the whole weekend.
She was happy.
She was perfect.
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This is wonderful 🙂 My mother had her last chemo treatment for breast cancer 3 weeks before my husband and I said ‘i do’ 🙂 such a crazy ride we both went through!
I am new to your blog and i stumbled on it while googling ‘is it bad to be addicted to peanut butter’ hahah pretty awesome, huh? I love reading your stuff! Thanks for always updating, reading about your life is a fun little escape!
I have tears in my eyes right now.. amazing post!
Oh my gosh. Julie, I have been reading your blog for a while now and I dont know how I missed this post. I am sitting at my desk at work, crying. So beautiful!
I thought reading this would make me cry. I’m a long time reader, since about August of last year actually, but coming back to this post something is different for me.
My mother has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. There is no chemo, no cure, no treatment. The best doctors can do is make sure she’s not in any pain. I give her injections twice a day. I’ve just turned 25; my youngest brother is 17. She’s only 51 – she’ll be 52 on August 9th.
It’s breaking my heart, and I thought reading about your mother surviving and being at your wedding would make me cry for all the things I’m losing; but actually, it’s made me grateful for the time I had with her, and she’s still here, so grateful for the time we still have as well.
I want to say to people, tell your family you love them every day. I did and I have no regrets. This has happened so sneakily and suddenly (there are no symptoms until it’s past treatment). Life is so precious. Please, everyone; live every day as fully as you can. I want to send love to you all. Julie, have a great day – you make me smile every day.
oh becki, that is heartbreaking. i’m so sorry for you and your family and wish your mother peace, happiness and undying love at this time.
Thank you. x
What a lovely post! And sweet testament to your mother. She sounds so thoughtful and giving (and creative!) I bet pouring herself into it was good medicine for her. Love how she had things sitting out for your anniversary this weekend.
I know from personal experience how shocking it is when parents face a health crisis long before we ever expected they would. Praying your mom will be in most excellent health for many years to come!
Oh gosh Julie~This is probably my 2nd time reading this post, but I am just so touched to tears! Your love and affection for your mom is just so amazing!! I give you 100% kudos for that. <3 And it's a great reminder to always, ALWAYS live in a grateful way as we take advantage of what we have now, and look forward to an amazing future.
i am sitting here crying reading these beautiful wedding posts- especially the ones about your mom and dad!! so beautiful, and such an awesome way to always remember all of the little thoughts and details from your wedding 🙂
Reading thru your old posts, this one brought tears to my eyes!
Julie, I read your blog every day. I know I have read this post before too. but it still makes me cry today. Such a touching post.
I’m going back and reading your wedding posts because I’m planning my own wedding and needed some inspiration, and this made me cry immediately!!! (Now I’m just sitting at work looking completely insane). Your mother is so beautiful, and this is a beautiful post! I can’t wait to share my wedding day with my own mom. Thank you for such a moving post (even if I am reading it 2.5 years later!)
I just got married and am reading through your wedding posts and I just have to say that this post was incredibly moving! I have such a wonderful relationship with my mom and couldn’t imagine if she had any sort of illness. And she too spend HOURS planning and doing little things for our wedding. My husband however knows family illness far too well. He lost both of his parents to cancer and I know they watched down from heaven on us on our wedding day. You are so incredibly blessed to have a strong fighting mom and I know you don’t take time with your parents for granted and your love truely shows through every post. Thank you for sharing these special moments with the world!