Wed Prep

Wed PrepVictoria sat at the dining table, her phone in hand, scrolling through endless wedding inspiration posts. Zander walked in from the living room, a cup of coffee in hand, and sat down across from her.

“You’re deep into wedding mode, huh?” Zander chuckled, watching as Victoria flipped through photos.

Victoria sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “I just want everything to feel right, you know? Nothing too extravagant, but still special. It has to be perfect for us.”

Zander leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he watched her. “We’ll make it perfect. You don’t have to stress. It’s about us—our family—and the people who love us.”

Victoria smiled, grateful for his calm demeanor. “I know, I know. It’s just hard to narrow down choices when everything is so… big. I don’t want to overwhelm Ethan or make him feel like it’s all too much.”

Zander reached over and gently placed his hand over hers. “It’ll be easy, love. Whatever we do, it’ll be just right because it’s ours. Ethan’s already excited, and you know what? That’s the most important thing. He’s looking forward to this, just like we are.”

Victoria nodded, her heart swelling with affection for both of them. “You’re right. I want him to feel like he’s at the center of everything, like this is his day too.”

“And it will be,” Zander said, his voice firm yet warm. “How about we start with the venue? I know we talked about something small, but we need a place that can hold just the closest family and friends.”

Victoria leaned back in her chair, thinking. “Maybe a garden? Somewhere outside. It feels intimate and peaceful. And we can have everything set up with twinkling lights for the evening. I want it to feel cozy, like it’s just us, even though there’ll be other people.”

Zander grinned, clearly already picturing it. “I love that idea. We can find a venue with a view. Maybe near the water, so the sunset can be our backdrop.”

Victoria’s eyes lit up. “Exactly. I want it to feel natural, simple. Nothing too overdone. Just us, with everyone we care about.”

“Done,” Zander said with a smile. “I’ll handle the rest of the details. We’ll make sure it’s perfect, just the way you want it.”

Victoria squeezed his hand, her heart full of love. “Thank you, Zander. I know you’re not the biggest fan of planning, but I appreciate you helping me through it.”

“I’m happy to help with whatever you need,” Zander said, his voice sincere. “And hey, when it’s all over, we can just enjoy being married.”

Victoria smiled at the thought. “I can’t wait.”

After a few moments of silence, Zander added, “Have you thought about what you want to wear yet? I know we’re keeping it small, but I imagine you’ll still want something beautiful.”

Victoria blinked, momentarily surprised. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but now that you mention it…” She paused, a vision of a simple, elegant dress filled her mind. “I think I want something classic. Nothing too flashy. Maybe a lace dress, something that fits well but still feels comfortable.”

Zander nodded approvingly. “That sounds perfect for you. Just beautiful, and you’ll feel amazing in it.”

Victoria grinned. “I think I know where to go for it.”

“Alright,” Zander said, standing up. “Let’s get started on the details. We’ve got a wedding to plan.”

Later that day, the couple visited a few local venues, trying to narrow down the perfect spot for their ceremony. Victoria’s vision of a peaceful, intimate setting came to life at the first location—a serene garden with rows of blooming flowers and a sparkling lake in the distance.

As they walked through the venue, Victoria felt her heart race. This place was everything she had imagined. It felt like the perfect setting for their small but meaningful wedding.

“We found it,” she whispered to Zander, squeezing his hand as they stood near the edge of the water.

Zander smiled, his eyes reflecting the same sense of peace. “This is it, isn’t it?”

Victoria nodded. “Yes. This is perfect.”

The next few weeks flew by in a whirlwind of planning, with Zander’s calm presence balancing out Victoria’s excitement. They chose a caterer who specialized in local, organic dishes, and a photographer who understood their desire for candid, natural moments.

When it came to invitations, Victoria wanted them to be personal. She hand-wrote a few notes on each one, ensuring that their closest family and friends felt included in the day’s significance.

Ethan, of course, had a lot to say about the wedding. “Are we going to have cake?” he asked one evening, his eyes wide with excitement.

Victoria smiled, her heart swelling. “Of course, sweetie. There will be a cake, and I think you’ll have a special job on the day. You’re going to help us with the rings, right?”

Ethan’s face lit up. “I’m gonna be the best ring bearer ever!” he declared with enthusiasm.

Zander chuckled, pulling Ethan into his arms. “I have no doubt about that.”

As the wedding day drew closer, Victoria found herself filled with anticipation. She wasn’t nervous, but she was overwhelmed with gratitude for how far she had come—and for the life she was building with Zander and Ethan.

Everything was coming together. The ceremony would be everything she had ever dreamed of: simple, intimate, and full of love.

The days leading up to the wedding felt like a blur of activity and anticipation. The garden venue was now fully booked for their special day, and the details were falling into place—flowers had been selected, the cake tasting was done, and even the music playlist was set. Victoria couldn’t help but feel the excitement growing, knowing that this day wasn’t just about the ceremony but about the new chapter in their lives.

On the morning of the wedding, Zander and Victoria woke up early, each preparing for what would be the most important day of their lives. Victoria took a long, slow breath as she looked out the window of their new home. It was a perfect day—clear skies, a slight breeze, the kind of day you see in movies but never think will happen in your life.

“Are you ready?” Zander’s voice interrupted her thoughts as he walked into the room, dressed in a simple but sharp suit, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

Victoria turned to face him, her heart skipping a beat. “I think so,” she said, her voice soft, her nerves suddenly bubbling up. “I mean, I’ve been planning for this for months, but now that it’s here…” She trailed off, unsure of how to express all the emotions swirling inside of her.

Zander walked over to her, taking her hands in his. “We’ve been through so much together. This is just the beginning of our new life. Nothing will change that. Today, we celebrate us.”

Victoria smiled, feeling the weight of his words settle in her chest. This wasn’t just about a wedding—it was about the promise they had already made to each other and the life they had already built.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” Zander said, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “Let’s go marry each other, okay?”

Victoria’s heart fluttered as she nodded, her eyes brimming with happy tears.

At the venue, Ethan was already there, buzzing with excitement. He was dressed in his best suit, holding onto the ring pillow like it was the most important job in the world. His eyes were wide, and he had been talking about the wedding non-stop for days. He couldn’t wait for his “big moment,” as he called it, and the excitement in his voice was contagious.

“Are you sure I’m ready, Mommy?” Ethan asked, his small hands wringing the edges of his jacket.

Victoria knelt down to his level, smiling warmly. “You look perfect, sweetie. You’re going to do great, just like we practiced.”

Ethan’s face lit up. “I’m gonna be the best ring bearer ever, right?”

“Absolutely,” Victoria said with a wink, standing up and brushing the wrinkles from her dress. She looked over at Zander, who had just joined them. The look of pride on his face was unmistakable.

“You’re all set, little man?” Zander asked, crouching down next to Ethan.

Ethan nodded enthusiastically. “Yep! I’m ready, Dad.”

Zander’s eyes softened at the sound of the word, and he reached out to ruffle Ethan’s hair. “I’m proud of you.”

The moment felt surreal to Victoria—watching her son and Zander, the two people who meant the world to her, standing side by side, both a part of her future. She didn’t know if she had ever felt more complete.

As the ceremony began, the guests took their seats under a canopy of trees, their faces glowing with smiles. The soft rustling of leaves filled the air, and the scent of fresh flowers mixed with the salty sea breeze from the nearby shore. It was intimate, the soft hum of the music only enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.

Victoria felt the butterflies in her stomach as she walked down the aisle, her heart racing. Her eyes locked with Zander’s, and she could see the depth of emotion in his gaze. He was standing at the altar, waiting for her, and she felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. This was her person.

Zander’s voice was low and steady as he spoke his vows. “Victoria, from the moment we met, I knew my life had changed forever. I had no idea what kind of journey we’d be on, but I’m so glad we’re on it together. I love you—more than you could ever imagine—and I’ll spend every day of my life proving it.”

Victoria’s eyes glistened as she heard Zander’s words. He had always been the steady, calm one, but now, standing here, his vulnerability was beautiful. Her heart swelled with love as she thought about everything they had been through to get to this moment.

Her voice trembled slightly when it was her turn to speak. “Zander, you have made my life so much more than I ever thought it could be. You are my partner, my best friend, and the person who makes me feel safe. I promise to be by your side, through every high and low, for the rest of my life. And I’ll be there for Ethan, too. We are a family, and I can’t wait for all the adventures we’ll have together.”

As the officiant guided them through the vows, Victoria felt like the world around them faded. It was just her, Zander, and Ethan—the family they had made.

When it came time for the rings, Ethan stepped forward with a proud smile, handing them to Zander. The weight of the moment was not lost on either of them. Zander carefully placed the ring on Victoria’s finger, sealing the promise they had just made.

The ceremony ended with a kiss, their lips meeting softly but with all the emotion of a thousand words. The crowd cheered, and as they pulled away, Zander whispered, “I love you,” before kissing her again, this time more passionately.

As they walked back down the aisle together, hand in hand, Victoria couldn’t help but feel that this was exactly where she was meant to be. With Zander, with Ethan, they were a family—a real family.

And as the evening carried on, filled with laughter, dancing, and the joy of their closest loved ones, Victoria knew that this was the beginning of a beautiful chapter in their lives—one filled with love, peace, and the promise of forever.