My Best Friend's Wedding

As luck would have it, when my family moved from Richmond, Virginia to Northern Virginia when I was 8 years old, we moved in to a house right across the street from another little 8 year old girl. Over the years, Kristin and I became inseparable. We did gymnastics together, danced (terribly) together, joined swim team together, played soccer together, and then in high school, we both joined the lacrosse team. There were countless summer nights spent playing flashlight tag, long days at the pool, many sleepover parties, and days that we'd make the short trek across the street to each other's homes simply because we had nothing better to do. If it happened in the first 18 years of our lives, you can bet that Kristin and I experienced it together. We had many nicknames over the years, including Double Trouble (courtesy of Kristin's dad), the Package Deal, and Frick and Frack (courtesy of our lacrosse coach). I think everyone was in mild shock when we chose to part ways for college.

Life went on, and time and distance separated us over the next decade. When I got the letter in the mail from Kristin requesting that I be one of her bridesmaids, she said something like this: the measure of a true friend is when you can pick back up right where you left off, no matter how much time has gone by. I agree with that wholeheartedly. I am so lucky to have many friends from childhood that this applies to, and Kristin is no exception. I was honored to be part of her wedding a few weeks back.

My date for the evening. And most evenings, for that matter.

My parents came too, since they were second parents to Kristin growing up.

The bridesmaids with the beautiful bride. I absolutely adore this group of girls.

Every bride needs a bedazzled pimp cup. Right?

Outside of Kristin's childhood home, waiting on the bus to pick us up and take us to the church.

I must admit that I was a tad disappointed that no little ones were invited to the wedding since I was daydreaming about how Camden would look in a suit the moment I heard Kristin was engaged. But, Camden got to spend the weekend with my parents, which worked out well for everyone. Apparently he was the perfect gentlemen and no trouble at all (or they were sugar coating things for me, but I choose to believe the former). When my parents left the hotel for a few hours to attend the wedding, my awesome little brother (who had tagged along on the road trip solely to babysit while my parents were at the ceremony) took over Camden duty. Camden adores my brother, so I wasn't worried about how it would go. However, in all of his 23 years, my brother had never changed a diaper prior to that night. When I asked him how he felt about that, he said something along the lines of, "Kerri, I'm 23 years old- I'll figure it out." I probably don't even need to tell you that Camden had an epic poop blowout that night, because that's just how those things go.

Despite that little mishap, it was a fabulous weekend full of family and good friends. And I couldn't be happier for the other half of Double Trouble.