Dear friends,

On July 19th, 2024, we woke up in a tiny hotel in Santa Cruz, California after a night of scrambling to find Dish a dress shirt he had forgotten to pack. The next morning, while Cami got ready, Dish went out to pick up pastries, and even in that simple routine, the day felt anything but ordinary.

We drove to the Santa Cruz courthouse, and under a tree, in front of Jack Zajac's Large Split Almond sculpture, a very kind red-haired woman read the civil ceremony script for the State of California. Simple as the words were, they carried weight the moment they were spoken.

We then read vows to each other, the same vows we now keep in our safe, and with a witness provided by the state, we were pronounced husband and wife.

Later that afternoon, we drove back to San Francisco and had dinner at our favorite restaurant, State Bird Provisions. It has always been our go-to spot for birthdays, anniversaries, new jobs, and new beginnings, so it felt right to celebrate there. As dim-sum-style carts wound past our table, we read the messages that our parents, Dish's grandmothers, and Cami's sister had written for us: words of love, wisdom, and advice. And in that quiet, intimate way, we began our marriage.

One ritual that we did not do that day was exchange rings. We always imagined saving that moment for something rooted in family and friends. A few months ago, we celebrated with Dish's family during a Hindu ceremony where we heard seven vows in Sanskrit and had our rings blessed by his family. And now this December in South Africa, we will finally exchange those rings with Cami's family beside us.

But what will be missing is you.

We have always carried the people we love through their words: the stories, the conversations, the texts, the voice notes, the moments that stay with us. So we wanted to ask if you would share a few words of your own. Share whatever feels true to you, whether it is a wish, a memory, a piece of wisdom, or a hope for the future. We will read your words before we exchange our rings so that your voice and presence are with us in that moment.

With love,
Cami and Dish