November has a funny way of making us reflect on the things we're thankful for. Between the holidays, family gatherings, and another year quickly coming to an end, it's a good opportunity to slow down and appreciate just how fortunate we really are.
And when I think about the things I'm thankful for, I've got quite a list.
First and foremost, I get to be a husband and a father. Those are, without question, the two greatest roles I'll ever have in my life. Nothing I do professionally, no matter how successful or fulfilling, will ever come close to the joy of being a husband to Rachel and a dad to our boys.
I'm also fortunate enough to be a firefighter. And if you've ever heard me talk about that part of my life, you already know I firmly believe it's the greatest job in the world. I don't think there's much room for debate there, either.
But eight years ago, I found myself stepping into another role. One that I never imagined would become such an important part of my life.
I became a wedding officiant.
At the time, I was simply the family member or friend who was asked to perform a ceremony. I certainly wasn't thinking about building a business, developing a brand, traveling to weddings, or spending my evenings reading through the love stories of complete strangers.
Fast-forward eight years, and here I am. Booking weddings two and three years in advance, occasionally having to turn couples away because I'm already committed elsewhere, and even having couples consider my availability when choosing their wedding date.
If you had told me that eight years ago, I probably would have laughed. And then asked why anyone would plan their wedding around me.
Yet here we are.
And while I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunities, the growth of Hitched! By Harper, and the chance to use a skill I never knew would take me this far, there's something I'm far more grateful for.
Every single couple who has trusted me with their wedding day.
Think about that for a second. Of all the people a couple could choose to stand beside them on one of the most important days of their lives, they choose me.
They invite me into their story. They share how they met, what made them fall in love, the quirks that drive each other crazy, the challenges they've faced, the people they've lost, and the future they're dreaming about. Sometimes they tell me things that even their closest friends and family don't know.
And then they trust me to take all of that and turn it into something meaningful. Something that makes their guests laugh, occasionally cry, and hopefully walk away knowing a little more about the two people they came to celebrate.
That's a pretty incredible responsibility. And one I'll never take lightly.
But here's something I've come to appreciate even more over these eight years: My relationship with these couples doesn't necessarily end when I pronounce them married.
One of my favorite things about this business is getting to watch their lives unfold afterward. Through social media posts, shared photos, holiday updates, and the occasional announcement, I get to see couples buy their first homes, become parents, celebrate promotions, travel the world, and build the lives they once told me they were dreaming about.
There's something pretty special about remembering a couple talking about the family they hoped to have someday, and then, a few years later, seeing a picture of them holding their newborn.
I got to be there for the beginning of that chapter. And now, from a distance, I get to watch the rest of their story unfold.
Every once in a while, I'll run into a couple at another wedding, out at dinner, or somewhere completely unexpected. We'll catch up, laugh about something that happened during their ceremony, and talk about everything that's changed since that day. Those conversations are some of my favorite reminders of why I love doing this.
I'm equally thankful for the family members who come up to me after a ceremony. The parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends who take a moment to introduce themselves, share a story, or tell me how much the ceremony meant to them. Those conversations often last only a minute or two, but I carry many of them with me long after the wedding is over.
I'm thankful for every recommendation, every referral, and every couple who has told someone else about Hitched! By Harper. Word of mouth has been an incredible part of growing this business, and knowing someone enjoyed their experience enough to recommend me to somebody they care about is a compliment I never take for granted.
I'm thankful for the reviews. The kind words, the messages afterward, and the couples who take time out of their lives to share their experiences with future couples.
And I'm thankful for the critiques, too. The feedback that occasionally forces me to look at something differently, reconsider an approach, or recognize where I could have done better. Those lessons aren't always the easiest to receive, but they've helped me become a better officiant, a better storyteller, and a better business owner.
I'm thankful for the wedding professionals I've met along the way. The photographers, videographers, DJs, coordinators, venue staff, and countless others who have welcomed me into an industry I originally entered as somebody's friend or family member who happened to be performing their ceremony.
The warmth, encouragement, friendships, and professional relationships I've developed have been remarkable. Some of these people have become familiar faces I genuinely look forward to seeing at every wedding.
And through it all, I've learned a lot about myself.
I still get excited when a new consultation gets scheduled. I still find myself telling Rachel about an idea I have for Hitched! By Harper, some new way to improve the experience, or something I want to try at an upcoming ceremony. I'm sure she's heard more about wedding officiating than she ever imagined she would when she married me.
I even get excited talking to friends about their wedding plans when I'm not the one officiating. I love hearing about their ideas, their venues, the little details they're incorporating, and the decisions they're making to create a day that feels like them.
I guess when you love what you do, it's difficult to completely turn it off.
But perhaps one of the most important lessons I've learned is what I want Hitched! By Harper to become.
We're living in a world where businesses are constantly encouraged to grow. Get bigger. Hire more people. Take on more clients. Find ways to do more with less.
And while I certainly understand the appeal of growth, I've realized that the thing I value most about this business is the very thing that could be lost if I let it grow beyond what I can personally give.
The intimacy.
The opportunity to sit down with a couple, genuinely get to know them, and build something entirely around their relationship. To personally write every ceremony, deliver every story, and stand there knowing that the words I'm speaking were written with those two people specifically in mind.
I want couples to feel like the person standing beside them genuinely cares about the moment they're about to experience. Because I do.
And if protecting that means keeping Hitched! By Harper a one-person operation, limiting how many weddings I perform, or occasionally turning down an opportunity, I'm thankful to be in a position where I can make those decisions.
Eight years into this, I still have so much to learn. There are things I want to improve, ideas I want to explore, and probably plenty of stories I haven't even imagined telling yet.
But I hope I never lose the excitement I feel when I'm standing in front of a couple, moments before their ceremony begins.
Because for that little bit of time, everything else gets quiet.
The emails, the schedules, the business decisions, the social media, and all the other noise that comes with everyday life can wait.
There are two people standing in front of me, preparing to make one of the biggest commitments of their lives. They've spent months, sometimes years, planning for this moment. They've invited the people they love most to witness it. And for reasons I'll always be grateful for, they've asked me to be the one to guide them through it.
I get to slow down, take it all in, tell their story, and help them begin the next chapter of their lives together.
That's a pretty incredible thing to get to do.
So this Thanksgiving, to every couple I've had the privilege of marrying, every family who's welcomed me, every wedding professional who's supported me, and everyone who has helped make Hitched! By Harper what it is today:
Thank you.
Thank you for the trust, the laughter, the stories, the opportunities, and the memories.
Thank you for continuing to remind me why I love what I do.
And most importantly, thank you for allowing me to play a very small part in something that means so much.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
