What Do You Say?

What do you say when you’re writing the blog post for your best friend’s wedding?

 

Do you recount all the happy memories you’ve had with each other? Do you share all the embarrassing moments? Or do you tell the world what a wonderful woman she is? How her husband is the luckiest man on earth?

 

 

I think you do all of the above, try not to cry (happy tears, of course), and remember how lucky you are to count her as a best friend.

So today I am sharing my story about how I met Cora Pack, now Lyons, and her lucky Mr. Jason Lyons:

 

 

 

Cora and I met for the first time the day I moved into apartment W35 of the Elms apartment complex in Provo, Utah. Having just returned to university after spending the last three months exploring castles and eating all the Doner I could find during my study abroad in Vienna, I was convinced the upcoming semester would be tremendously boring in comparison. The fact that I was moving in with my fellow study abroad friend Bri, as well as Cora, though, meant  I could not have been more wrong.

 

 

The next year and a half of my college career were filled with Netflix weekends cuddled in tiny twin beds, hatching plans to get a date with our latest crush, and exploring the best photo locations we could find.  We went out and did crazy photo shoots, which generally required Cora or Bri either getting wet, having crazy makeup and insanely poofy hair, or wearing ten yards of fabric draped around them with safety pins. School was hard, but life was good and my friends became the best part of my college experience.

 

 

During my time living with Cora, I learned that she was perhaps one of the most unflappable and calm people I knew. With a measure of patience that I will always admire, she is also talented in so many other ways. Photography, sports, violin, and a myriad other pursuits in her repertoire, she is uniquely Cora in every way that matters.

 

 

As things tend to go, Cora met Jason the very next semester after I graduated, and so I did not meet him until I flew out to take their engagement photos last fall. As easy going and happy as Cora, I knew as soon as I met him they were meant to be together. Jason himself brings a smile to everyone’s face, has a talent for putting everyone around him at ease, and is a talented artist himself. The thought of their future family traveling and painting away their afternoons with laughter and love warms my heart… and makes me a little bit envious, to be honest. I want kids as cool as Cora and Jason’s future prodigies (because we all know they will be).

 

 

So thank you, Cora, for taking in two Vienna-hung-over students and completing my favorite trio. Life hasn’t been the same since you lived two rooms down from me, but while our rooms have gotten further and further apart, our friendship hasn’t. I’m so happy you found someone to make you laugh every day for the rest of forever. Jason is an incredible guy who brings out the absolute best in you (and most importantly, is Maddie approved).

 

 

These wedding photos are my gift to you (with a little special surprise making its way to you as we speak… no I won’t tell you. It’s a secret!), but your gift in letting me be a part of your wedding far exceeds these small memories I can give you.

May you and Jason always end your day with a smile for each other and love in your hearts. I love you both!

 

 

Yours,