So many thoughts and emotions come to us as we prepare to change our lives and marry our mate. Eyewitness News reporter Tran Smith shares her dreams and hopes with us with these excerpts from her wedding diary.

Dear Diary
The man I marry must be smart, handsome, thoughtful, witty and of course helpful around the house.

Nearly every girl has shared a similar “wish list” with her girl-friends. That was my public list, but there was a private one that I only discussed in my prayers.

My “Mr. Right” had to accept my demanding job as a television news reporter and anchor. He had to put up with my volunteer work and embrace my heritage.

It was definitely “breaking news” when I met the person I had prayed about for so long. His name is Scott Smith and there’s nothing ordinary about him.

Dear Diary
Scott and I welcomed in 2003 on the beach during a storm. Just three minutes after midnight, I heard him say “I’ve never met anyone like you.” The next thing I know I’m in tears. Scott got down on one knee, put the most unbelievable ring on my finger and said, “just like you, this ring is one of a kind.” He had it custom made so there’s no other ring like it in the world. Are we nuts? We’ve only known each other for 10 months.

Scott and I want to elope, but my dad wants a Catholic Church wedding. The plan is to have an intimate ceremony with family only. There will be a reception for family friends afterwards in the garden at his parents’ house in Huntsville, Alabama. Later we’ll celebrate with our friends in Memphis and in Tallahassee, Florida. Scott’s rule for all wed-ding events: if we don’t know them, we don’t invite them.

Dear Diary
I found out my best friends from Tallahassee are planning to crash the wedding. I feel so bad about leaving them out, but we had agreed family only. Scott sees how much I’m hurting. He understands some friends are like family—so they’re in!

I want to celebrate my four bridesmaids’ individual styles so they get to choose their own dresses. The only requirements: the dresses must be ivory, no jewelry and no tan lines. Scott’s father Wilson will be his best man.

Dear Diary
We only have three months to plan a wedding. I am stressed out! I’ve been trying to do everything on my own, but Scott keeps reminding me we’re a team now.

The team didn’t just include me and Scott. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family. They offered to take care of nearly everything.

We hired Jay Adkins to be our photographer because he was the only one I talked to who didn’t give me the brush-off when I told him I didn’t want the big wedding package. We decided to use the Ivy Restaurant for our Memphis party because of its unique style and the owner made us feel special.

Dear Diary
The wedding is almost here. I can’t sleep. I can’t concentrate at work and I’m always emotional. Is Scott going to change his mind? Will people think my non-traditional wed-ding is weird? Will our families get along?

On the surface our families appear very different. My family escaped Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon in 1975. Scott’s mom left Ger-many after World War II. His father is from Alabama. We are more alike than you might think.

I’ve heard horror stories about “the in-laws,” but I would never get to experience that for myself. I can’t get enough of my future in-laws. My parents fell in love with Scott when he called and asked them for their permission to marry me.

Dear Diary
My family ran into delays at the airport making them miss part of the rehearsal events. I cried through my entire speech at the rehearsal dinner. My friend from Illinois for-got his dress pants. Someone spilled red wine on our cream colored wed-ding cake. Two of the people hired to help at the reception didn’t show up. What else could go wrong?

Absolutely nothing. On the day of our wedding the weather was perfect, the ceremony was magical. We had a lot of memorable moments.

Dear Diary
I didn’t think anything was missing in my life, until I got everything. Scott’s everything I prayed for on that “private list.” He tells the most amusing, funny stories. He does nice things for no reason and he really does care how I feel. The other day my new husband walked into the kitchen as I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor, but instead of stepping over me, he grabbed a sponge and joined me. Now that’s team coverage.

Appeared in:

• Life Design Magazine