Julie and Ryan- Toledo, OH Wedding
I love seeing real life love stories played out. Perhaps that is why I am drawn to the wedding world so much. This wedding was all about stories, and this couple all about real love. Their love for each other and their friends and family spilled out into every part of their day. Julie wore her grandmother’s pearls, she said of her desire to have her bridesmaids choose their own dress, “I wanted you all to feel beautiful, and you know what you feel beautiful in more than i do!” and Julie and Ryan chose to eat last- only after they had greeted and thanked each guest at the reception did they go grab their food to enjoy together. I can see why they are adored so much! Wedding party members Ryan and Anna even surprised them with the Unbreakable Vow as a part of their wedding day festivities… just in case anyone thought the wedding ceremony was official enough, it would just not be enough for these two!!
To introduce Julie and Ryan’s story properly and tell you about their day, I couldn’t possibly say it better than the Matron of Honor and Bride’s sister, JoAnna, as she toasted the newly married couple:
“Stories have always been a part of my relationship with Julie. We are big fans of Friends, The Hunger Games, the Avengers, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and Jane Austen. We can talk for hours about obscure fan theory of Harry Potter. Seriously, it ALWAYS comes up…even in a marriage proposal!…
…When Juile and I enjoy a book, movie or TV show, I am often struck with how much art imitates life. I notice how the qualities of some of my favorite fictional duos remind me of us.
We are Lorelai and Rory, from Gilmore Girls. One of us is an over caffeinated chatterbox and the other is a wise, introspective encourager.
We are Jane and Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. As close as sisters could be and always on the look out for human folly.
We are Diana and Anne from Anne of Green Gables, kindred spirits and fast friends.
We are Harry and Ron from Harry Potter, and we solemnly swear we are up to no good.
Anyone who is fortunate enough to count Julie as a friend or family OR WIFE, knows that her sweet spirit brings humor, laughter, sympathy, stability to your life. She is truly my treasure and my life would be a dark place without her.
When Julie and Ryan’s relationship began to take off, I realized that he had some pretty big fandoms too. When our friend MaryAnn had a party for the season premiere of Doctor Who, and Ryan showed up dressed as a roman soldier it was clear that he was a fan of the series. Well.. actually it was just clear that he really, really liked my sister.
It’s fitting that Ryan dressed like a Roman Soldier that night. He based his costume on another character named Rory. In the Doctor Who storyline, Rory and Amy are an engaged couple when Rory throws himself in front of the doctor to save him from an alien death ray. Rory is then unfortunately erased from all of space and existence when a crack in time swallows him up.
Now Lest you think I have chosen the worst character metaphor ever, let me explain that the story continues when Amy’s love enables her to will Rory back into existence and then he spends 1000 years watching over Amy as she sits in the Pandorica.
I know a lot of the words I just said don’t make much sense if you’re not a Doctor Who fan, but just know that I think Ryan is the kind of guy who would wait for a girl a thousand years or more just so they can be together.
I have enjoyed analyzing stories with Julie for decades. I’m sure that we will also read new books and love new fandoms. But today, she and Ryan begin a new chapter in a fandom that I love grately. Now it’s their turn to create a real-life wonderful, adorable, funny story of their lives and I can’t wait to see all the sequels.
To Julie and Ryan and their story!”
Yes, “to Julie and Ryan and their story!!” You two are lovely beyond words!
