Down the Aisle: Betsy + Henry | West Point, NE

In what can only be described as the ultimate compliment, I found myself back in West Point, NE for the third time in four weeks (the fourth time since May). Three years ago I began what was to become an ongoing relationship with this darling town... and I am beyond honored to have pretty much officially become a member of the community. Wedding guests often ask with a smile, "Why don't you just move to West Point? You're here every weekend!" Betsy and Henry's wedding felt like the culmination of all the various years I've had the honor of shooting up in West Point (and Snyder). It was like coming home to my own family in a sense. At several points during the day, I found myself prone to tears for all kinds of random reasons. Maybe it was the way Henry's Grandpa's eyes sparkled, reminding me of my own Grampa we lost quite some time ago. It could've been the way Betsy teared up repeatedly during the ceremony... conveying the sense of the enormity of such a moment, the beginning of a new family. Or, perhaps it was just the overall sense of community that abounds at these classic small town weddings. Everyone knows everybody. No one is a stranger. They've been having the same gatherings in the same places with the same people for a lifetime. It's rich with tradition and the familiarity that comes with time.

Speaking of, this is the handbag from Henry's great grandmother's wedding. I love the texture and design....