The Nest

Real Friends are there after the wedding, too.

Posted Wednesday, July 09, 2008 5:23 AM

My fiance is in Louisiana, helping his best friend's (and our late best man's) widow.  He's supporting her as she prepares for the Memorial. He's helping her pack up his stuff, pick up his remains and get everything back to California for the memorial.  Matt, my fiance, was a groomsman in his friend's wedding. 

When I think of all their wedding party standing up at the altar while Tim married his wife, I tear up.  The bride in this case wasn't just getting a husband, but she was also getting a really good friend too.  By standing up in his friend's wedding, my fiance was saying, "I will support this marriage.  I will witness a promise between these two people to make each other the most important things in their lives.  And I will honor that promise." 

And so he helps.  He supports her and they remember and celebrate their best friend together. 

I'm lucky to marry this man.  And I can only hope that we can lean on our wedding party like this in hard times.  And then I'm sad, because I know our small but strong circle of good friends has just decreased by one.