A Toast to the Brides

Last weekend my friend Ashley got married to the love of her life and we all celebrated in the only ways we know how: hogging the photo booth, dancing our asses off, crying our eyes out and laughing until some of the wrinkles by our eyes gained a new sense of permanence. 

I love my friends, and Ashley is a prime example of why. I was honored to give a toast at her wedding, and my shaky emotion filled voice probably didn't do the moment justice. Because she is a central supporter of this blog, I'll put the words I had planned to say here, and leave the many other memories I had to cut out out there for an anniversary party when we get to celebrate her all over again.

The Toast:
I’m Carly, and I first met Ashley when she was the new kid at Cal Young Middle school in Eugene, OR. I still remember her and her viola case making their way down the long locker-filled hallway. She was tall and confident and unapologetically herself, even from the first moments we met her. We think it’s pretty remarkable that at the ripe old age of 12, Ashley was one of the “later” friends to join our friend clique. And what a clique we are! We keep in touch across several cities and countries. We’ve made the first time visit to Lexington from California, Oregon, Washington state, and Amsterdam.
I feel so lucky to have Ashley as a friend. And here’s a few reasons:

• Ashley can talk to anyone about anything. This was evident when we got in a disgruntled uber driver’s car over the summer, and what started out as a silent ride ended with Ashley and the driver ranking their favorite episodes of the Great British Bake off. 
• It was seen again at our friend Katelyn’s wedding, when Ashley learned that one of the Groomsmen’s parents lived in the Lexington area. By the end of the night, she had not only chatted with them, but she had ensured an invitation to their house.  AND, what’s none the more surprising is that when those parents were leaving for the evening, we looked over and saw them doing this sweet group hug with their son and the groom to say goodbye, and who is in the middle of it, with her arms draped around the parents’ shoulders, but Ashley. 
• Ashley is adventurous. Our most famous memory, as a friend duo, is when Ashley and I studied abroad our junior year of college. She was headed to Italy, and I was going to France, and we decided to travel over together and spend New Year’s in Paris together. Like the good Catholic girls we were, we decided to go to a late evening mass at the beautiful Sacre Coeur cathedral. After the mass, this brother and sister we were sitting near must have thought we looked especially bored or especially fun, and invited us to their family friends’ old Parisian apartment for an all-night dinner party filled with representation from what felt like all of Europe. Yes, we had been told not to follow random strangers into random private homes, and no, we did not comply. Our good fortune turned into a memorable night of meeting new people, and learning about the world, and sprinting to have to catch the last Metro train that would take us back to our hotel. 

Ashley is the truest friend you could ask for. She’s the one to text to talk politics or social movements. She’ll kindly offer her constructive feedback on a dilemma you have in your life. She overflows with enthusiasm, and laughs until sometimes you wonder how can she still be laughing. She consoles you when you’re low, and celebrates with you when you’ve accomplished something, and she genuinely cares so much about the people in her life: for her friends, her colleagues, the survivors she volunteers with, her cats, her dear family, and most of all, for Rachel.

I got to meet Rachel several Christmas’s ago, and at a few Christmases since, and each time I’ve always been struck by what a nice pair Ashley and Rachel are. Rachel is like Ashley in being caring and thoughtful, and she adds this calming presence to their busy lives. Together they are hardworking, and ambitious and value what’s important in life, and I think that’s why we are all sitting here today.

Ashley and Rachel, I know your marriage will be filled with professional success, and a close-knit family, and more love for each other than you’ll know what to do with. I know it also will be filled with befriending uber drivers, and going to dinner at that groomsman’s parents’ house, and endless adventures and excitement because of your enthusiasm for each other and for our world. Ashley and Rachel, congratulations, and cheers to the brides!