Ahhh! We’re married! So awesome. Could I have imagined this 499 articles ago?
This is the FIVE-HUNDREDTH article I have written on my Around the World “L” Travel Blog since its birth in 2009! The timing is fitting for three reasons. Read on to hear them…
Such beautiful Bridesmaids! My best friends for over a decade.
First, as you can see from these photos, I just got married!
What does that have to do with this site? Well, I started this blog when I left my job to voyage around the world for a year alone in 2009, and if you click here to the first article I ever wrote on this site, you’ll see that reason #3 for my trip was to get an “open heart for love.” In other words, before I left the country to see the world, I was in a romantic rut.
Wedding hair and makeup took hours, and you can see why!
So did it actually work for roaming five continents alone to open my heart to brilliant love? YES! If you click to the story of our romantic meeting and engagement, you’ll see that I met Colin at my “Welcome Back to America” party, the week I returned back to America after circumnavigating the globe. Yippee!
Colin and his father had much pre-wedding prep, too, including careful collar straightening.
This brings us to the second reason it is fitting that my 500th article on this site comes now: the national Meet, Plan, Go! Career-Break Travel conference is almost here! Since career-break travel completely transformed my life, in 2010 I volunteered to become the Boston coordinator for this amazing movement.
After the “First Look” we were ready to get married!
So if you know anyone who has been dreaming of traveling the world for months or more, send them to this link to register for the Meet, Plan, Go! Career-Break Travel Conference. We have an all-star panel lined up, and it is an event that changes lives.
Thanks for all these luscious photos, Krista Photography!
Okay, let’s just pause for a moment and take in the awesomeness of the next photo. It comes from the Bedeken ritual of our Jewish wedding, which I shall explain in a subsequent article, but for now, admire how beautifully our photographer Krista captured the love on everyone’s face.
The expressions in this photo are wonderful. We love our families!
And now for a totally hilarious photo…
“Now let’s take a crazy photo,” commanded Krista. Our wedding party obliged. Hah!
And what of our wedding ceremony itself? Our Cantor did a masterful job weaving together tradition, history, poetry, song, and personal details about us and our families (including our penchant for eating massive piles of vegetables, and our adoration of the reality TV show, “The Voice!”)
The ceremony was awesome! Colin’s childhood Cantor from Ohio officiated.
Speaking of reality TV, if you haven’t checked it out already, click here to read about then see our wedding on the TV show “I Found the Gown!” It was a surprisingly delightful experience.
After the reception we were announced to the main dining room! I made very clear to the DJ that I am keeping my name, so Colin and I have different last names.
Something we did that we highly recommend is that Colin and I were the MCs of our own wedding. As we are both teachers, we love commanding a crowd, and this was our big day! We meticulously planned out and introduced all 16 speeches from our loved ones during dinner, and relished every second of it. We also DID make sure to eat, despite everyone telling us we wouldn’t have time to.
Stunning speeches abounded throughout dinner… 16 to be exact, with not a single dud among them!
Though some people warned us we would be “too tired” to MC our wedding, we felt much more relaxed having full control of proceedings, and were actually energized by the experience. But speaking of energy… the most phenomenal moment of the whole night was when my father surprised us by leading a SING-AND-DANCE-ALONG with all 100 guests to the Bill Withers song, “I Wish You Well!”
The absolute highlight was when my father led a SING-ALONG to “I Wish You Well” by Bill Withers!
To anyone who is planning a wedding or making a toast at one, DO consider a sing-and-dance-along.
We were SO HAPPY! A sing-and-dance-along??? LOVE IT!!!!
As my father said, “Everyone here wants to wish you well, but we don’t have time for 100 speeches… so let’s all sing it and act it out with our dancing!”
AMAZING.
Look at the photo to the right to see how happy we all were after the song. Sing it, Bill:
“I wish you flowers, sunshine, and smiles…
I wish you children that grow to make you proud.
I wish you pretty things to wear…
Sweet things to smell.
I wish you good friends that always treat you fair…
Wanna wish you ribbons to tie around your hair.
I wish you truckloads of cheer,
and many happy years!
I wish you freedom to do the things you love…
Wanna wish you blessings and kindness from above.
Wanna wish you sunlight through the clouds…
I hope you laugh out loud!
I wish you well!
(Oh I wish you well)!
I wish you well (wellllllllllllllllll)!”
Giant thanks to everyone who made our marriage and these 500 articles possible!
So what is the third and final reason I’m so happy this 500th article came at this precise time? As you likely know, I’m a teacher, and the 2012-13 school year just started! Do you know how effective it is for a teacher to tell her students, “I will make you write a lot, but since I’ve already written FIVE HUNDRED articles on one of my websites, plus TWO HUNDRED on my other other one, I have no mercy for you saying six pages is too long!” Bwahahahah! 
It was a happy day! Here’s to continued and ever-growing love, and to hundreds more articles!
Thanks to all of you readers who have made these first five hundred articles so fun to share. I LOVE your comments, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you!
all the best hope u have a long and happy life together
Thank you!
Ms m! You looked beautiful!!!! Im so happy for you i dont think i seen a brode as beautiful as you ! U look sooo happy and ill say it again beautiful! God bless you and ur hubby always and forever!
Thanks, Ashley.
Lovely photos!! This is the perfect pick for a 500th pick. Wish you lots of hapiness!!
Thanks so much!
Why did you decided to keep your last name, than having your husbad’s ? Congrats ! <3 The pictures are amazing. I love it !
Thanks, Graciella! Here’s why I’m not changing my name after marriage: http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2012/06/27/why-i-am-not-changing-my-name-after-our-marriage/
Such a wonderful couple photography that i ever seen before… both are really happy and enjoying on that day and make more memorable each other.
The wedding photos are spectacular. Love the wedding dress, it’s simple and so modern. You both look amazingly happy and that’s what counts. Congratulations on the milestones x
Thanks so much!
Girl, you are so FLY! Been following you for a few months now and can tell you have such a dynamic personality. Wedding photos are fab!
Thanks!
Ms. Marshall, you look so beautiful. The pictures and amazing. You and your HUSBAND and you are adorable!!!!
Thanks, Lucy!! Click to the previous article for the reality TV clip!
I just did. You were so cute!
Merci!
Gorgeous shots… you guys look so happy. Congrats on all the milestones!
Thank youuuuuu!
Beautiful article about your lovely wedding my friend. I wish you and Colin the very best of the feature.
Thanks for your kind comment all the way from South Africa! I feel like you and I have grown up online together.
Thanks for reading all this time!
I am such a proud new mother-in-law. I still can’t stop looking at all the beautiful pictures. The song was one of the (many) highlights of the night!
These are such gorgeous photos Ms. Marshall. I sent you a text a few weeks ago. I know you must be extremely busy. I’d really like to see you when you’re free. I miss you lots and lots. :’(
Stace
Thanks Stacey! Responding now.
So much to celebrate! Congratulations, Lillie! You look absolutely stunning in the wedding pics! I actually came across an afternoon of “I found the Gown” and was hoping to catch your episode but it wasn’t on:( any idea when its replaying?
Thanks, Britany! Google the TV listings; it’s been playing a lot but I think is on a lull for a week… But never fear because you can see the whole episode online here: http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2012/09/08/our-wedding-was-on-a-reality-tv-show-details-here/ !
love, love, love this!
Woo hoo!
You are so gorgeous it’s ridiculous! I am utterly honored to even be included in your 500th post and I still remember that day so well when we first met in Boston Commons after you returned from your travels – slightly lost trying to figure out what to do next with your life. You should be so proud of everything you have accomplished in such a short time…you are a ball of energy and inspiration for so many!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Sherry. “Meet, Plan, Go!” has been such an important part of my life these three years and I’m so happy that you and I met!
Lillie, Congratulations on your new marriage. Beautiful photos by the way! You guys look like your both on cloud nine ” AWESOME “. I admire you for being a teacher for I travel and speak out against bullying. I to am getting married to my best friend Jeff Beal that travels with me as well. I have to be honest your photo’s has gotten me more excited about our wedding day.
I just had to send you a note to say congrats and I’m looking forward in reading your new journey throughout your marriage and travels. Have a blessed day! God Bless, Cindy Rodeo Steedle
Thanks, Cindy!
Congrats on the 500th article (and more importantly, getting married). Looks like a lot of fun. Here is to another 500 posts
Thanks so much, Cole!
Very cool article, Lillie! I enjoyed the photos, especially the crazy one!
Gracias, Lauralee!
The most beautiful 500th post I have ever seen! Just adore that last photo. Those gorgeous pictures are the perfect everlasting memory
Thanks, Annette!
Congratulations and Best Wishes to you and Colin. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I am beaming with teary eyes and I am so delighted to be a part of your celebration, even from a distant.
Congratulations on post # 500 and I wish you 5000 more.
What a kind note! Thanks so much, Valerie!
Great 500th article! Congrats! Your wedding photos are stunning. What a unique idea to MC your own wedding. Haven’t heard of that before. Very creative. And way to go for fitting in eating time too!
Thanks, Alexa! Another thing we did that I forgot to mention is in our program we had a paragraph-long biography of each of our 100 guests! That way people could have richer conversations with those they didn’t know, and we could weave our loved ones together better! A brilliant idea on my Mother’s part.
Whoa, super cool! Did they provide their own bios?
It was a mix. We did a bunch, but we got as many people as we could to do their own. It was a feat, but it was worth it!
Wonderful ! And indeed, couldn’t be better 500th article ! I already wrote 132 and it seems that you had taken the same path I am standing in. Can’t wait for my 500th article title and see how far I go. Hope I would be as lucky as you. Thank you so much
Thank you for your delightful note, and I will enjoy watching your journey unfold. If you’re hitting many of the same locations I did, I hope my previous articles are useful!