Her Magazine - Bridal 2021

BY DARIA BEDDARD met Eddie on May 13, 2016, in Florida the weekend before he moved back up to North Carolina. I thought for sure we’d never see each other again. Almost a year later, we had our first date and dated long distance for about a year. After Hurricane Irma hit in September of 2017, we made the decision that I would be making the move to be with him in Greenville. Two years later, almost to the date, I made the move.

On August 18, 2019, my life was forever changed when the love of my life, Eddie proposed to me. We were in Savannah, Georgia, and I had ruined all his plans as far as the details of how it was going to go down. He had never been there before and I, being a lover of all things Savannah, basically changed everything he wanted to do. It was late, and hot, and I could hear the dog barking in our rented-out apartment, but when he insisted that we kept on walking, I knew what was happening. He could barely get out the words before I burst into tears and said yes.

I wasted no time starting to plan. I mean, like most women, (I think), I had a Pinterest board saved with all the decorations, dresses, rings, and all the other stuff. I found a place that had my dream dress, and my best friend was coming into town to start all the festivities.

Labor Day weekend came, and, before it was all said and done, I knew almost all the details of the wedding, including where I was getting married, how I needed to order my dress, the menu options, drink options, and at least half the guest list.

I set up a website that was free to have people RSVP so that I didn’t have to track anything extra. It also allowed me to have all my details readily accessible to the family members including my registry, directions to the venue, surrounding hotels, and the closest airports. I had never in my life felt more prepared months in advance of something so major.

I should have known then it was too good to be true.

By February 2020, we started getting RSVPs in, and family mem-