My hands are shaking as I sit in the small tent designated as my dressing room. "Sunny, chill," Kie says as she picks at the large curls hanging down my back.

"I'm chill," I lie terribly. I hear her laugh behind me.

"Right, chill as I've ever seen you," she says sarcastically. "Now hold still, I'm going to spray your hair again." I hear the hiss of hairspray and I put my hands over my nose and mouth so I don't breathe it in.

The flap door on the small tent opens. "Sunny, you almost ready?" my mom asks as she comes into view. She leans against the vanity in front of me.

"Almost. Kie is making sure my hair will never move again," I joke.

"I need to check your makeup one last time!" Sarah says as she reaches around my mom to grab the makeup bag from the vanity.

"Okay, I'm going to go take my seat. I'll send your father in," mom says as she moves towards the opening of the tent. "See you out there."

Kie sets the hairspray down and gives me a once over. "I think you're good, babe," she says with a smile.

Sarah steps up and puts her hand under my chin, tilting my face up to examine it. She dusts a bit more blush and blotting powder on my cheeks and nose, then zips everything back up on the makeup bag. "Close your eyes, I'm going to put on setting spray for your makeup."

She releases my chin and I close my eyes. "I've never worn this much makeup or hairspray in my life," I say.

"Close your mouth, this stuff tastes like shit," Sarah says.

"Okay." I feel the spray hit my face. It dries quickly.

"You're all done. Are you ready for this?" Sarah asks as I open my eyes.

"I'm ready," I say with a nod.

"Then let's get this bitch married!" Kie says loudly.

Dad comes in a moment later, looking dapper in his black suit. "It's now or never, Sunny," he says. "Girls, they're lining up out there. Go ahead and go. I've got her from here," he says, giving them both a warm smile.

He gives them a little wave as they leave. He lets out a sigh. "I can't believe my little Sunflower is getting married," he says wistfully.

"Hey, you agreed to this," I joke.

He chuckles. "I know I did," he says. "You know, I've thought about this day many times over the years. I've thought about how old you might be, what you'd be doing, who it would be that was waiting for you at the end of the aisle. When JJ came to us and asked for our blessing, it all came together. All the chips fell into place. I should've known when you two got together in high school that it would end up this way."

I smile at my dad. "You weren't surprised when he asked if he could marry me?"

"No more surprised than when you told us you were dating all those years ago. Honestly, I was surprised it took this long," he says with a laugh. "But I'm happy for you, Sunny. And I love JJ as if he was my own. I couldn't think of a better match for you."

"Dad you're gonna make me cry," I say.

"Oh! Well save the tears for now. Why don't we head out and get you down that aisle, Mrs. Maybank?"

***************************************
By the time I calm my nerves and we head outside, John B and Kie are halfway down the makeshift, seashell-lined aisle that had laid been out to lead the way to the flowered archway by the ocean. I'm struck for a moment at how funny it looks to have them walking arm and arm, but since they had been chosen as our best man and maid of honor, they had to walk together, and Sarah and Pope had walked together.

Chairs upon chairs stood in neat rows in the sand, all facing the archway where the ordained minister, Sarah, Kie, Pope, John B, and JJ stand waiting for me. I only catch a glimpse of them before I have to hide behind one of the large tents as I wait for the music to change for my entrance. Tears well up in my eyes, threatening to spill over, but somehow I keep them in. As the string quartet's music flows into the wedding march, everyone stands and turns to watch me. With a death grip on his arm and a death grip on my bouquet, I walk out from behind the tent with my dad. I look down at the back of my dress and make sure it's laid flat as we begin to walk.

As my eyes come up from the ground and look ahead, I lock eyes with JJ. He looks absolutely breathtaking in his black tux. His hair is slightly tamed, although still messy, just like I like it. His grin is so wide it looks like his face might split in half. I'm sure mine mirrors his. John B leans over and whispers something in his ear as I continue towards him.

As my dad and I get closer, I see that tears are streaming down JJ's face unabashedly. The tears in my eyes that have been threatening to fall come tumbling down my cheeks like rain.

Dad and I come to a stop short of the archway. The minister asks, "Who gives this woman to be wed?"

"Her mother and I do," Dad answers clearly. He brushes away my tears gently, then leans down and gives me a swift kiss on the cheek. JJ reaches out to me and brings me to stand with him. He clutches my hands in his tightly, as if I'll run away if he doesn't.

"You're sure you want me forever?" he whispers to me as the minister begins with the introduction to the ceremony.

"Never been more sure of anything," I reply.

The minister continues through his scripted performance; I barely pay attention to it because all I see is JJ and the fact that we're becoming husband and wife.

"JJ and Sunny, are you ready to exchange vows?" the minister asks.

Shit, we're already at this part?

"Yes," we both answer in unison.

"The bride and groom have prepared their own vows to share with one another. The groom will start," the minister says as he steps back and folds his hands in front of him.

"Fuck, I'm nervous," he mumbles as he digs into his pocket. I let out a giggle. He removes a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket and straightens it out, his hands shaking ever so slightly. He looks up at me for a moment before looking back down at his paper. He reaches a hand between us and clasps one of mine as the other holds the words he has written. He clears his throat. "Sunny. You are my favorite person and my best friend, so that means I would only do something, like talk about my feelings in front of a giant fucking group of people, for you." The guests laugh. "You've been my best friend since we were five, and I've loved you since I was sixteen, although, if I'm being honest with myself, probably a lot longer than that. You have always been there for me, through the good, fun times and the really fucking dark times, and for that, I am eternally grateful. You taught me to believe in myself, you built up my confidence, and you made me see that even someone like me can do anything as long as I put my mind to it. You are my rock, my soulmate, my other half, and, after all this time, I still can't believe you chose me over everyone else. I promise to keep showing you every day how thankful I am that it's me you have chosen to share life with. I love you with every piece of my heart, and I always will." He pauses and lets out a shaky breath. "Your turn."

I let out a sound that's somewhere between a laugh and a sob. I reach into my cleavage to pull out the words I've prepared, and he laughs. I take a deep breath as I unfold the piece of paper.

"JJ. Eight years ago, on this beach, you told me you loved me for the first time, and I said it back. I should've known then that we would end up here today, doing the exact same thing in front of everyone we know. You are the first and only person I have ever been in love with. I never expected it, and at the same time, deep down, I always expected it. Since day one, you have owned my heart. I know what love is because of you. You've always said you didn't understand why I chose you, but it was you that chose me. You chose me to be the one who knows you better than anyone else. You chose me to be the one who could pick up the pieces when you were falling apart. You chose me when it was easy, and you chose me when it was fucking hard. You chose me when I thought I didn't deserve it. You chose me every time, through everything. And so today, I choose you to be the one I share everything with, for the rest of my life, because I love you with all my heart and soul. I choose you, JJ, and I would choose you over and over and over again, every time, without fail, no matter what."

He chews at his bottom lip, trying to suppress his blinding smile as I reach a hand to my face to brush away my tears. I want so badly to kiss him already, but we still have one more thing to do before we're allowed.

"And now, for the exchanging of rings," the minister says. JJ drops my hands and turns to John B, who fishes into his jacket pocket for a small velvet bag, which he places in JJ's palm. He loosens the fastening at the top, dumping the two wedding bands into his hand. He looks at the minister and nods as he shoves the velvet bag into his pocket.

"Do you, JJ, take Sunny to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" the minister prompts.

"I do," JJ says as he slides the ring on my finger.

"And do you, Sunny, take JJ to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," I say, loud and clear, as I slide his wedding band on his ring finger.

The minister nods. "By the power invested in me by the great state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

JJ yanks me towards him, capturing my face in his hands as he presses his lips to mine. Our guests erupt in cheers all around us. When we pull apart, he rests his forehead against mine. "I love you, Mrs. Maybank."

"I love you, too, Mr. Maybank."