To the Couples Planning Love in a Restless World

If you’ve found yourself staring at a seating chart or a floral invoice lately and suddenly felt a wave of "Why does this even matter?"...please know you aren’t alone.

We are living through a chapter of history that feels loud, heavy, and often unpredictable.

It's not easy when the city you love is also under a huge spotlight, and your community is experiencing grief and pain.

Planning a celebration of love when the world feels like it’s tilting on its axis can feel strange. You might feel guilty for obsessing over tablecloths and florals when the news is bleak, or perhaps you’re simply exhausted by the logistics of a "new normal."

If that’s you, take a deep breath...and then exhale slowly.

This letter is for you.

E & J 2025 _ with permission from (c) Eric Turner Photography https://ericturner.photography/

It’s Okay to Feel Two Things at Once

You can be a conscious, empathetic citizen of the world and still be a bride or groom who wants their day to be beautiful. Joy is not a betrayal of the world’s pain; it is the antidote to it. Choosing to commit to another person, to build a home, a future, and a family is a radical act of hope. Every time you say "I do" in turbulent times, you are making a claim that the future is worth showing up for.

Focus on the "Why," Not Just the "Where"

When the external world feels chaotic, the best way to find your footing is to go inward. If the guest list feels overwhelming or the economy feels like it's squeezing your budget, come back to the center:

• The marriage & the wedding: The party is a beautiful punctuation mark at the end of the sentence that is your life together.

• Your inner circle: Surround yourself with the people who feel like "soft places to land." If a tradition or a guest list requirement feels like a burden, permit yourself to let it go.

• Small joys: Don't let the big picture rob you of the small moments. The cake tasting, the playlist building, the quiet morning coffee, where you don’t talk about logistics - these are moments to take notice.

  
  

Your Celebration is a Gift to Others

Remember that your wedding isn't just for you. In times of turbulence, your loved ones need something to celebrate. They need a reason to put on a nice outfit, hug a relative they haven’t seen in years, and watch two people promise to take care of each other.

Your love story provides a lighthouse for everyone else, too.

A Gentle Reminder:  It is okay to scale back, or not. It is okay to change your mind, or not. It is okay to cry, or not. But above all, it is okay to be happy. And...you're not alone.

Be kind to yourselves, and to each other. The world needs more of what you’re building.

With love and solidarity,

Julia aka Jules