Kamali was 13 when she first fell in love with Derek. She was so smitten that her mom got tired of hearing about it, so she asked Derek herself, “So you’re the boy my daughter has a crush on?” (Really, Mom?) Kamali recovered from her embarrassment, the two started dating, and they even began wedding planning back in 1997. But as things go, the two drifted apart. Kamali went away to college, and they lost touch. Then very randomly, 12 years later at a parade out of town, Kamali happened to look up and spot Derek. She immediately looked him up on Facebook and reached out. They reconnected and realized they were living just two stoplights away from each other. They’ve been inseparable ever since. How’s that for a 20-year love story?
Give us the details! When? Where? How?
We were doing a maternity photo shoot in preparation of our wonderful rainbow baby. During the shoot, one of the photographers said, “You don’t have enough jewelry on.” (Funny enough she didn’t know what Derek had planned!) So I was being my sarcastic self and said, “I know, I need more jewelry…like an engagement ring.”
He grabbed my hands and said, “You know I have loved you since I was a kid. I want to give you the rest of my life.” I was sure he was going to end with “You know I’m going to give you an engagement ring eventually.” But he didn’t! He started to kneel and I realized it was happening!
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
I took him with me to try on wedding dresses. I am having my dress made, but I have never put on a wedding dress. So I needed to see what type looked best on me. I expected us to have some fun trying on dresses and spending the day together. But he saw me in a dress and started to cry. It was just another moment that made me appreciate the way he looks at me. Other than that, I have honestly loved flushing out decisions with him. I know he doesn’t really care about things, but he fully participates when I want to sit down and discuss the smallest moments!
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
I refuse to allow this to stress me. If we can’t afford it, we don’t need it. If they don’t like that they aren’t in the wedding, they just won’t come to the wedding. This day will only be about him and I celebrating 20 years of love and anticipating forever.
What was your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
Being able to do profiles for our bridal party. I am so excited to send them their “Will you be my bridesmaid” gifts, and include the Joy site so they can see what I wrote about them and our relationship.
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Add pages! All that you can. Sit together and answer the Tidbits. It is so much fun!
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
All this planning is great. The dress, the décor, all of it. But after the I do’s…that when joy really begins!
