Unbridled

She and her husband have been dating for almost seven years and became engaged four months before us. It's no surprise that we went through this together. Our lives have been so parallel since the first day of college when we were randomly assigned as roommates and finished each other's sentences within a few hours of meeting. It's like having another version of myself out there, just taller and with a more pronounced Southern accent.

Experiencing her wedding put so many things in perspective for me. She and I have been going through the planning process together for the last year. We have such similar tastes that I think my wedding will just be the "Part 2" of her's. I knew so many of the behind-the-scenes details of her big day, including what the centerpieces would look like and where the guest book was printed.

And yet, I didn't notice almost any of those things. The atmosphere was certainly classy and well-coordinated but it sort of faded away when Rachael came walking down the aisle with tears in her eyes and looked at her groom who had the kind of big, goofy grin that could only belong to a man in love.

At the reception, Rachael visibly relaxed. She looked so purely happy and so very gorgeous. The venue was almost as beautiful, with an impressive live band, a fabulous cake and a chocolate fountain to die for.

But none of it matched the sweetness of the unplanned moment during the ceremony when Rachael just nodded in response to a line of the vows she was meant to repeat but couldn't because she was so overcome by emotion. And the groom just squeezed her hands and smiled reassuringly at her until she could continue. I doubt there was a dry eye in the house.

And now, that other version of me is married, enjoying a lovely honeymoon in Napa Valley with her new husband. I have every confidence that they will live happily ever after. And I can't wait to follow.