Julia says "I do"

#jnjwed14

Julia & her dad having a Father of the Bride moment.

I've known the Novotny family for 20 years. I followed Maria around in second grade when I was new at school and thought she seemed nice — and that was enough for me. We played Little Women with her sister Kate and argued over who should be Beth because nobody wanted to be the dead one. We traveled the Oregon Trail and set up our own wedding coordinating business in the play-set out back. I'd go over to the Novotny house like part of the family. Their fridge always had 2% milk — my favorite. I remember coming through the back door one time and being greeted by a garbage-bag-laiden Mr. Novotny with a "Oh Kelsey! Can you put this in the trash?" 

Maria and I called boys from the phone in her basement in 8th grade. We didn't go to the same high school, but we passed notes to each other through our siblings, Kevin and Martha, who were in the same grade at St. Mary's Elm Grove. And we'd get together and take long walks around Underwood Parkway; there's so much to talk about when you're 15 — like that cute boy from Marquette High School, Kevin Jordan, who Maria would eventually marry. Our senior year, we welcomed her baby brother, Joe, into the world. Finally, a boy.

When we hit college, Maria wasn't so sure about Marquette. But she said that if I agreed to be her roommate, she would go there. Four years later, Maria was engaged to Kevin, then married. I was a bridesmaid along with all four of her sisters. Of all the girls, I was probably least close to Julia. After all, Kate was just a grade younger, Martha and my brother were the same age (so naturally we hoped they'd fall in love someday), and Meg came along in the glory days of our friendship. She was just a baby when Maria and I colored all over her arms and legs with washable markers. 

But Julia — Julia and I didn't really have as much of a history. At Maria's wedding, however, I feel that changed. Maria was busy getting married. Kate was busy being the maid of honor. The younger sisters were busy being, well, the younger sisters. And Julia and I bonded over champagne on the party bus. While we're still not super close, I wouldn't miss her wedding for the world. All of these girls are like the sisters I never had — and they certainly look beautiful when they're all lined up in fancy dress. 

To Julia's now-husband, John: What a blessing to join the Novotny family! If only Maria had an older brother... But I guess I could always wait for Joe. What's another 20 years?