This week, I’ve found myself replaying little moments from the wedding. The quiet ones, the joyful ones, and the ones that surprised me. And one moment in particular keeps coming back to me.
A few nights ago, Tim and I were sitting in the living room, still surrounded by half-opened cards and the wedding gifts that are still slowly arriving on our doorstep. He looked at me and said, almost out of the blue, “Your mom is incredibly talented. I knew she was good… but what she did for our wedding? That was special.”
Hearing him say it made me smile because it’s something I’ve known my whole life. But it hit me differently after the wedding. Everyone who comes through The View gets to see her talent on full display. They see her eye for detail, the way she notices beauty in things most people would overlook, and how she can walk into a space and instantly make it feel warm and intentional.
But watching her bring our wedding to life was a whole new level of magic.
When we first started planning, I told her that I was perfectly happy to be surprised. I trusted her deeply, and honestly, I was excited to walk into the venue on our wedding day and see her vision fully realized. I told her the only things we knew for sure. We wanted books, florals, and an English-garden-meets-storybook feeling. Something romantic, cozy, and a little whimsical.
She didn’t just take that idea and run with it. She soared.
She came up with the idea to use books for our seating chart, and when I say she created an incredible display, I mean the kind of display people stopped and stared at. The kind where guests were taking photos before they even found their names. You might even see her recreate it inside The View soon, and trust me, it’s worth seeing twice.
Another idea that came straight from her heart was having me write letters to each of our guests. At first, I thought it was sweet. But once I started writing them, one by one, thinking of each person who has shaped our lives, it became one of my favorite parts of the entire planning process. It gave me a moment to pause, reflect, and connect with every single person who showed up for us.
And that’s who my mom is. She makes things meaningful. She sees beyond the decoration and into the feeling behind it. She creates beauty with purpose.
Because of her, I got to be the least stressed bride on the planet. Truly. While everyone kept asking me if I was nervous or overwhelmed, I honestly wasn’t. I had my mom. The most creative, detail-oriented, soothing presence I know. Designing our day with so much love.
She thought of things I never would have. She tied everything back to our story. She made it beautiful, but more importantly, she made it feel like us.
Walking into our venue for the first time on our wedding day took my breath away. It felt like stepping into a world she had imagined just for us. An aisle lined with lanterns, touches of vintage books, soft colors, and little sentimental details woven everywhere.
And in that moment, I realized something. I’ve always known she was talented, but seeing what she created for her daughter’s wedding showed me the depth of her gift. This isn’t just talent. It’s love expressed through design. It’s her soul poured into beauty.
I will cherish that forever.
So this week, my heart is full of gratitude for our wedding, for our people, and especially for my mom. My talented, creative, thoughtful mom who somehow made the most important day of our lives feel effortless, personal, and stunning all at once.
I hope you all have someone in your life who brings that kind of magic into your world. And if you ever want to see that magic for yourself, just walk through the doors of The View. She’s there, quietly creating beauty every single day.
Until next time,
Sammi
