Navigating Adulthood: The Importance of the Right Alliance

An old proverb says “it takes a village to raise a child.” While we acknowledge this old proverb to carry great meaning and weigh, I have concluded that it also takes a tribe to successfully navigate through adulthood. A dream that I have had since I was thirteen years old manifested on August 7, 2020. I married my soulmate on that day.  And while this highlight-reel was a dream come true, I would be remised to say that I got here all by myself.  I was able to reach this goal solely due to some very key players in my tribe—Nicole Ponder, Brittney Lee, Marcee Campbell and Richard Key.

Over the past weeks, the outpour of love from my parents, cousin and friends to make my special day come true has brought tears to my eyes.  With everything going on I told my now-husband that we were just going make an appointment to see a judge and just get married.  After sending out my, “Hey guys I am getting married” next four weeks ago, I had it in my heart that I was not going to inconvenience anyone. More importantly, I was not going to spend any money on anything, especially in this economic depression.  That was that in my mind. It was final.

Well boy was I wrong. First, my 73-year-old father booked his flight from New York.  Then, of course, Brittney said, “are you sure you don’t want to get a dress or photographer?” I was sure. Fast forward to the week of our scheduled appointment to get married.

Fiancé: “Are you sure you don’t want a photographer?”

Me: “Okay let me see what I can pull together…”

I then booked a photographer. 

Tuesday: Mom—“So, what have you decided on wearing?”

After showing her my dress, she said: “Oh no that won’t do, we are going to find you a dress today!” Now I have a wedding gown. 

Wednesday: chatting with Brittney on my way home, I pulled up to my garage only to see her pull up behind me and drop off a large box. She told me to wait on further directions.  I then received a call at 7pm for a surprise bridal shower.  A special thank you to Ashontay, Shayla, Amber, Cassandra, Mariel (sis), Martina (sis), and of course Marcee, Brittney and Richard.  You guys truly touched my heart, because I didn’t expect this and it was so thoughtful, I am beyond grateful!!!

Now it is Friday, the day of our appointment. I am scheduled to get married…hair, nails, feet and makeup all done.  I get home and in the midst of relaxing a little bit, Brittney called and reminded me to open my card. I opened my card and a packaged fell out. Now I have something BLUE (Yeah, I cried.)  I quickly gathered myself, Richard style, and got dressed. My mom zips me up, I sprayed on my Jimmy Choo from Ms. Janice, and we rushed over to the courthouse to get married. My mom was literally doing 85 on 285. We all arrive, me little late, everyone else on time. We get inside to the counter, obtain our license, then the clerk asks us where are we getting married?

Me – “Here Ma’am.”

Clerk, “Oh well you would have had to make an appointment with the Magistrate court for us to marry you.”

I walk off angrily, while the husband tries to see what they can do.

Here is where we see the need for a SOLID tribe. 

Marcee: “let me make a phone call to my judge.”

I then gather everyone, and we head over to meet my photographer and begin taking pictures.  Marcee, then steps over and informs us that her judge will marry us right now. Took the wind right out of me!  You see the way we had it set up before was the photographer was not allowed in the courthouse. Even if we were allowed to see a judge, we wouldn’t have been able to capture the ceremony. Now, my best friend gets to marry us in a gazebo at the Marietta Square.  Nothing less than divine intervention.  We wed, were photographed, feasted, cut the cake and we popped a bottle of Ace of Spades, sipping it into the wee hours of midnight, because we are older now and need ample enough sleep to function the next day. 

I am in a deep state of gratitude and it is due to all of the love that was bestowed upon me during this highlighted moment in my life. Life happens all the time. It is so easy to get caught up in many nuances of our lives.  I know that sometimes we look over and think that many of the things that happen are only happening to us and lose touch, especially since COVID-19 began.  It is so refreshing when it is time to enter into one of life’s highlighted moments, everyone can come together a rejoice for a moment.  I am thankful, grateful and ready to move forward with my life’s journey as Mrs. Williams.  I’s Married Now!

Photo Credits: https://www.hiencreative.com