Every once in a while we are faced with a day that seems almost impossible. Brianna and Marc’s wedding wound up being like that—although you would never see it coming with how much they obviously care about each other.

Brianna’s Grandmother passed away just two days before their wedding. How do you move forward when you are feeling such a profound loss? How can you possibly dance and laugh and celebrate?

It wasn’t all easy but what followed was an incredibly beautiful, heartfelt day of friends and family coming together. Because at our best that’s what we do. Because when we are at our lowest points we hold each other up. Because sometimes these traditions serve to guide us when we are lost.

I was privileged to witness that again and again Saturday. It made everything more meaningful and raw and filled with life. What an amazing group of people. I think her Grandmother would have been so proud.