The Language of Love

A pervasive theme in my correspondence and communication with Ashley was linguistic.  Her intonation, the fact that she's bilingual, and that so much of her charisma was felt in the way she spoke.  I relished each and every e-mail and phone call from her.


The backstory: a few years ago, Ashley was sitting unobtrusively in her assigned seat on a flight to Paris.  Young man enters plane and catches her eye.  Young man has seat next to Ashley. Evidently he knew right away she was someone he wanted to get to know.  Transatlantic flight gave them time for that initial conversation.  Phone numbers were exchanged at the end of the flight.  The rest is history.


Ashley was one of my naturalista brides.  Everything about her is natural and genuine.  Her deep love of family; her infatuation with her new groom; her love of her native South Carolina helped sustain her while living abroad and planning a Charleston wedding from France.  There were so many things I loved about Ashley, but two things really stand out:  First, she's a Mama's Gurl. . . the love and deference she showed her mom was simply endearing.  The way she called her "momma" had a ring to it that I felt was filled with the utmost respect.  Not everyone can call their mothers "momma" and carry it.  The way Ashley spoke made me want my own children to refer to me only by that moniker.  Secondly, Ashley's respect of her groom's family was lovely.  This was their first trip to the U.S.  The way she translated and slipped easily in and out of their French was like silk; effortless and accommodating.


Beautiful backdrop courtesy of Charlestowne Landing and the Legare-Waring House.  Magnificent photography courtesy of Juliet Elizabeth Photography.  Hair by Stephanie Clyburn.  Makeup by Pamela Lesch.