In the U.S., at least in all the states I’ve ever lived in, it’s possible to get married anywhere: in a church, at city hall, in a house, or out-of-doors. However, that’s not necessarily the case in other countries.  It wasn’t (and maybe still isn’t) possible to be married outside in Italy, for example. I have a friend who worked in an office years ago and she told me how she had to explain this prohibition to unsuspecting American tourists whose idea of a romantic wedding was to tie the knot in a park somewhere in Italy.

But Italy isn’t alone with that restriction. I read last week that there’s currently a proposal to legalize marriages that are conducted outside in England and Wales.

At present, marriages are only legal if they are conducted by authorised religious or civic officials. Although the ceremonies can be held outdoors, the register must be signed inside.  —The Independent, May 14, 2013

It’s a good thing that Chris and I didn’t live in England 19 years ago today, or else we would have had to change our plans. You see, on May 20, 1994, Chris and I tied the knot while standing outside on a bright, sunny afternoon day in a park outside of Iowa City, Iowa.

Chris and I at our wedding, May 20th, 1994

Happy Anniversary, Chris!

How do I love thee, let me count the ways. — Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Come my love, grow old with me, the best is yet to be. — Robert Browning

Those two famous Romantic poets were, of course, also famously romantic. If you’ve been following their courtship through their letters you may have noted that on May 17th, 1845 Elizabeth closed her letter by saying:

Well! but we are friends till Tuesday — and after perhaps.

What’s she talking about? What’s so special about Tuesday?

Well, you see, while they started corresponding back with each other back in January, for one reason and another things have not worked out for them to meet face-to-face.

But the date is set for the Tuesday after that May 17th letter. And when that Tuesday comes, they do indeed finally meet. I encourage you to continue to read the letters,  since happens next may surprise you …

I will reveal, though, that ultimately their original “love at first write” is confirmed by a mutual “love at first sight” in that meeting on that Tuesday … May 20th, 1845.

Today is a special date for not one but two sets of romantics, as it turns out. 🙂