Honouring a Promise

“People with good intentions make promises.

People with good character keep them.” – Unknown.

Growing up I was always taught that you never break a promise. And as a child, nothing was more important than keeping a promise you made to your friends. Especially a pinky promise – you just don’t break those. But, life happens, and sometimes sticking to your word is easier said than done: like promising Santa you’d be on your best behaviour ALL year, or promising your teddy bears that you had no favourites but there was secretly one you liked best. Then there’s promises you make that are pretty important, but won’t actually have any real significance until later on in life – like two little girls promising each other that when they get married one day they will be each other’s maid of honour. You’re so sure at the time that it’s forever, and you talk about what it will be like, but as I said, life happens, and who knows what the future will bring?

Well, I can tell you that in my case, what the future brought was pretty damn good, and so I have a happy ending for you.

You see, as little girls, Maddy (one of my closest childhood friends) and I vowed that when we grew up and got married, we would choose each other to be our maid of honour. So when Maddy’s boyfriend proposed to her in early 2014 it was very exciting. There were celebrations, and then bridal magazines bought, Pinterest boards created and bridal expos attended. I couldn’t wait to see Maddy marry the love of her life, and be standing right next to her as it happened.

It didn’t matter that I’d already planned to move to England later that year to complete the final year of my degree, as the wedding wouldn’t be until after I got back. But then after that I got a job, again on the other side of the world in America, where I would be when the big day came around. I was determined to do everything in my power to make sure I was home for it, but what kind of a maid of honour is living in a completely different time zone when a bride-to-be is planning her wedding? As much as I didn’t want to, I gave Maddy the choice – I was happy to step down and let someone else take the role, or step away from the bridal party all together. I mean it’s tough to do a dress fitting in NZ when you’re living in the US. But, like the true friend she is, Maddy said it didn’t matter – if I could get home for it she still wanted me in the wedding, and get home for it I did.

Maddy and Darryn chose to get married at Port Charles, where her family has a beach house, and have spent many years there during holidays and on weekends. It’s a truly magical piece of paradise in NZ, for the Jackson family and for the rest of us who have holidayed there with them. Growing up together, Maddy and I spent a large chunk of our childhood there with our families and as a result have a multitude of priceless memories at that beach. So it was incredibly special to spend six days there, helping with wedding stuff and relaxing with family and friends before, during and after the big day.

And the best part? The whole thing went off without a glitch. After non-stop rain from Wednesday night to Friday morning, Saturday (the big day) was stunning. The venue looked amazing thanks to the vision Maddy had and the help of many family and friends – everything came together nicely. Darryn and his groomsmen were ready on time and looking dapper, and us girls were barely a minute late – after taking Patron shots to calm the nerves before walking down the aisle.

It was an absolute blessing to be able to have a front-row seat to the wedding of one of my best friends, and I felt truly privileged to be the maid of honour. What I didn’t realise, however, is how emotional it is. This is the first wedding I’d even been to since I was very young, and while the movies show the bride and groom getting emotional, you never see every single one of the bridesmaid’s eyes welling up with tears. Obviously though, they are tears of happiness, and also for me they were tears of pride. Seeing the little girl who I’d promised I would be her maid of honour standing in front of the people her and the man of her dreams love the most, vowing to love each other forever, made me incredibly proud to call this girl not just my friend, but also a sister.

So I’m going to stop there, or I’ll get emotional again. But to finish, I’ll leave you with the end of my speech I gave at the wedding: “Maddy and Darryn, to me you two epitomise the ideal couple. You just get each other, and the love shared between you both is obvious. I read a quote the other day that I thought was perfect. ‘Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.’ I have seen how you both make each other so happy, so here’s to Mr. and Mrs. Yern – I wish you a lifetime of opportunity, hilarity and happiness.”

That’s all for now,

Jordyn x

(Please note: official photos of the wedding day were taken by Felicity Jean Photography, Coromandel NZ)