Mag-log inAbby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “You’re sure you want to do this?” Karl looks at me and gives my hand as we stand across the street and look up at the small building. The main area of the town is a cluster of tightly-packed buildings, each one more quaint than the last. Stucco walls make way for colorful shutters and wr
Abby Karl and I step into Reginald’s study, and the faint scent of incense mixed with herbal tea fills my nostrils. The room is large with high ceilings and more open-air windows, but it has an even cozier feel now that the sun has mostly gone down. A large oak desk sits against the far wall, wi
Abby The large dining room feels surprisingly warm and intimate as the plates are cleared away. I lean back in my chair, letting out a small, satisfied sigh. “I take it that the food was to your liking, Chef Abby,” Reginald says with a smile. I can’t help but grin. The flavor of fresh salmon,
I feel as if I’ve stepped into a fairytale set somewhere in rural southern Italy. In fact, the personal vineyard flanking the front lawn only adds to that feeling. Reginald gives us a brief tour through the enormous foyer, which is sunlit in a golden glow through the large open-air windows. The ma







