I’m going to admit it. I’ve already set my DVR for tomorrow’s royal wedding. I’m going to pull out my own tiara from my wedding and pop the Disney Princess tiara on the kiddo. I have plans to brew a cup of tea from Harrod’s and I’m still toying with the idea of making scones. (Although I did already make banana nut bread this week…that may be my baking maximum for the week.)
I have a strict policy of only having actual real-life friends on my Facebook page, so most of the people on there know I’m a little goofy. So, I have been talking about this for the last week or so–and thankfully, I have a lot of friends who share my goofiness and we’ve had some lovely discussions about tiaras and tea. But I also have several friends who think I’m a few crumpets short of a tea tray. One mentioned today that there were probably medications I could take for my obsession.
I know he meant it all in fun, but I’ve gotta set the record straight. I love happily-ever-afters. Now, obviously, Prince Charles and Princess Diana proved that merely walking down the aisle with a fancy dress and a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace is not the answer to happiness or a successful marriage. But there are worse places to start.
In truth, it doesn’t take a fancy wedding to start a marriage. Some people simply walk down to the local courthouse. Others have more elaborate plans. And some people have miniature donkeys serving drinks at the reception (ok, that was me…) But another thing it shouldn’t take is an expectation that the warm fuzzies are going to hang around forever.
I love happily ever afters. It’s probably why I love to watch chick flicks and why I think it’s a privilege to write Christian romance novels. But I also know that happy is an emotion, just like love. And to truly get to the “ever-after” part, we have to build our relationships on something that will stand the test of time.
And that’s where the idea of commitment comes in. Being in it for the long haul. Recognizing that while you may be more in love at sometimes than others, you still have to be in commitment at all times. In my own life, I’m blessed to have found someone who makes the ongoing exercise of being both in love and being in commitment worthwhile.
I hope that after all their time together, William and Kate will be able to echo that same sentiment. They will have the added glare of the spotlight that none of us have as a party in our own personal relationships. But at the end of the day, royal or commoner, we all have to navigate life’s ups-and-downs, emotions, and milestones with respect and concern for the ones in it with us. And that’s the key to commitment…and love.
But…if I could give them any advice for tomorrow’s big day, I’d tell William and Kate to be sure and have some miniature donkeys on hand for the reception soiree at Buckingham Palace. They make great servers and look fantastic in photographs.
Question for you: Are you planning to watch the Royal Wedding? What do you think is the key to a successful marriage?


