The night I met Molly was at a party Amy was throwing with
some friends on Sunset. Jesse and
I were both new to LA. Molly, I
remember, had shorter hair than she does now and she was wearing a red dress
and she and Jesse, I noticed, seemed to have a really nice ease between
them. And they really made each
other laugh. As we left, I told
Jesse: a) she's super cute and b) I think she likes you. Jesse shrugged this off. Now this was - I promise you - the last
we talked about the idea of a Jesse-Molly romance, until: one fateful afternoon...
But wait: a lot of stuff happened in between...
I
serendipitously moved across the street from Amy and Molly - it took literally
twelve seconds to walk from my door to theirs - and the four of us (me, Jesse,
Amy, and Molly) ended up spending a ridiculous amount of time together. Amy mentioned this in her toast last
night but it's worth repeating: What was so magical about that time was that we
knew it was happening as it was happening. We knew it was special. This is a really wonderful thing to be able to know, and
it's the antidote to regret: when you know how special a time is while you're
going through it, rather than realizing it in the rear-view mirror...
We knew it,
and we really enjoyed it.
But things, of course, couldn't and didn't stay that way: Amy got married to Jeremy, I moved out of that apartment, and Jesse moved in with Molly. They were just friends and roommates, in that order. And then this one afternoon, Jesse was over at my house, we were sitting outside and Jesse said to me, with a kind of scared look in his eyes: "I think I'm falling in love with Molly."
And I - ever the supportive friend - said: "That's a terrible idea."
But come on: They were roommates, we were all friends, we had a good thing going. I thought it could end disastrously. And then who would we play euchre with? Jesse looked so helpless and vulnerable that afternoon and in need of some guidance and I really don't think I offered him much in the way of comfort. I figured it would pass. I was wrong.
Molly: I really love you so much. When you walk into a room it is the exact opposite of a bummer. It's like, "Sweet, Hinchey's here, there's no way some fun won't be had." You are smart, you are funny, you are loyal, you are honest, curious, caring, compassionate, you love a good time and a clean apartment. You love to dance, you love to laugh. There is a great and joyful life force flowing through you and everyone who comes in contact with you can feel it. You are a great great great friend. And you're going to be an amazing companion and wife for Jesse.
Jesse: If you didn't know this already, I'm a fan of yours. I find it physically impossible to drive through your neighborhood without checking to see if you're in and accepting visitors. You are the person I turn to most for advice, the person whose opinion I trust the most, you are my friend, my confidante, my collaborator, my life coach, my producer, my brother. You are a man of great taste, great insight, great strength of character. You have turned yourself into an amazing chef. You remind me of what's most important in life. You're one of the coolest kids of all time. You are, without question, one of the greats. (And Molly totally knows she scored.)
An observation I recently had about the two of you: You haven't changed yourselves to adapt to the other. Jesse, you let Molly be Molly. And Molly, you let Jesse be Jesse; you've created a space for each other to be more vibrantly yourselves.
I think one of the reasons we long to fall in love is to have someone else's eyes see us as the best version of ourselves, the self that we believe we might actually be, to have some sort of wonderful external reference point. It's very hard to know ourselves and trust ourselves because of all the loud and doubting voices within. To finally accept our own beauty, our own divinity - this is maybe what it's all about.
Though we're standing under a chuppa, and though there's a lot of nachas, simcha, and mazel here today... you guys weren't too keen on having a religious wedding. A friend recently shared something he'd read which said: "Love...is the highest religion."
There's so much love here today, between you two, the love everyone in this room has for you and you for them. If love is the highest religion - and I believe it is - this is actually a highly religious ceremony.
Molly, Jesse: Remember this moment: No matter what challenges come your way over the years-- Right now, what the two of you are feeling for each other in this moment, beneath this beautiful chuppa, in front of Hani's amazing painting, in front of all these people who love you so much... this is the truth of who you are.
All in favor of this marriage please applaud and cheer wildly.
Someone once told me something that really stuck with me: "What the feminine wants is to be adored; What the masculine wants is to be believed in." This is a really wonderful union we're all witnessing today because this balance is in place: I know Molly believes in Jesse. And Jesse...he really adores Molly.
A very wise man named Ernest Holmes once said: "Love... is the very reason for our being... The life that has not loved has not lived."
8 comments so far
10 comments so far
Amy, these are fantastic! LOVE them. They're some of my favorites of yours ever.
(12.06.10 @ 03:21 PM)This is beautiful. Who did their flowers? WOW! The pictures are stunning!
(12.06.10 @ 03:56 PM)Unbelievable! I agree with Amanda...That last shot is absolutely beautiful.
(12.06.10 @ 08:59 PM)Spectacular! Stunning! Gorgeous! Wow, what a beautiful wedding, complete with intimate moments of tender classic elegance, to rich, warm and spicy deliciousness! The level of details in the reception decor is amazing! Beautiful work Amy!
(12.07.10 @ 12:00 AM)I mean, I don't even know what to say. These shots are flippin' fantastic. This is soooo Style Me Pretty worthy Ms. Amy. I hope you plan to submit. Everything is so perfect it's like one of the Inspiration to Reality weddings.
(12.07.10 @ 11:37 AM)holy crap, Amy - beautifully shot and processed! hope you are doing well!
(01.01.11 @ 11:49 PM)What church is this? Amazing!
(08.10.11 @ 01:46 PM)ANTON CHEKHOV
These days, I spend much of my time staring up at the empty white sky and endless bare branches...reflecting on the fresh, green days of summer. And it's easy to conjure the feeling of those bright, lush days when I look back on Shantel and Kevin's wedding. But it wasn't just the summer day itself that was bright and happy...it was Shantel and Kevin's gorgeous, sparkling smiles that filled the day, and our hearts, with light and joy. When I look at their wedding, I am instantly transported to the romantic days of summer, and can suddenly see beyond the looming onset of winter...to the glowing, joyful days to come.
1 comments so far
LOVE this. Everything about it.
(03.10.11 @ 09:38 AM)You totally captured the excitement and love of that evening. Well done, fun to re live it!!! Your pictures are beautiful.
(03.10.11 @ 01:09 PM)Thank you Amy and Angela for such wonderful pictures! You were both such a dream to work with, wish we could do it all over again (seriously). You're a great team. I'm sure you'll be documenting weddings and events for many, many years to come. Love, Molly & Jesse
(03.10.11 @ 01:52 PM)Such a great collection of pictures -- I feel as if I was there at their wedding!
(03.11.11 @ 09:43 PM)I loved your idea of incorporating what Josh said throughout the images, it really did take us on a journey. Beautiful work.
(03.14.11 @ 03:23 AM)these are beautiful! she is a stunning bride, and i am in love with her dress. :)
(03.15.11 @ 11:15 PM)Goregous pictures!!! I really love the wedding dress, who makes it? where is it from? Thanks!!
(12.11.11 @ 06:59 PM)Hi Sarah! Molly's dress was from J Crew - here is the direct link to it!
(12.12.11 @ 03:11 PM)http://www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bride/gowns/aline/PRDOVR~29056/29056.jsp