A Season of Gratitude
As the wedding season slows and the air grows crisp, I’m finally coming up for air — finding myself reflecting on the countless moments that made this season both incredibly beautiful and unforgettable, even as I quietly mourn a year that felt more challenging than the last two.
When I started Unveiled in 2021, it was born from a longing for something deeply personal — something that felt like mine while still celebrating others. It was a time when the pandemic had ransacked our lives and left us all yearning to live out loud, because the devastating losses and realizations of 2020 had become so vivid and true. But in Unveiled, I found purpose. I found joy, curiosity, and passion in the little moments.
Last night, as I unwound from Susan and Josh’s wedding, I was reminded of that very beginning — of why I started this journey in the first place. It was one of three times this season where I felt fully connected to the heart of my “why,” and in that reflection, I remembered just how beautiful moments like these make every challenge worth it.
This year, I had the honor of planning nineteen beautiful weddings for the most incredible couples. I planned a two-day wedding weekend for Sruthi and Curt — my first Indian Sangeet — and a quiet elopement ceremony in Hilton Head for Stephanie and Matt. I also had the privilege of planning four multicultural weddings (Ivonne and Victor, Dasola and Bradley, Sruthi and Curt, and Sam and Mercy), celebrating traditions from Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, and Latin America. I planned a beautiful proposal and engagement for my brother Jimmy, and his now fiancé Sarah and that was something I would do 1000 times over if I had the opportunity.
This season reminded me that even when I feel disconnected in other areas, my couples’ love stories bring balance — through authenticity, cultural beauty, and boundless romance.
As I look back on it all, my heart is filled with gratitude.
Gratitude for the couples who trusted me with one of the most sacred chapters of their story. For the families who welcomed me in like one of their own. For the vendor partners who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring beauty, creativity, and calm to every wedding day. And for the quiet moments in between — the tearful first looks, the deep breaths before walking down the aisle, the laughter shared during planning meetings. Each of these moments, big and small, reminded me that gratitude is not just a feeling; it’s a practice. It’s what anchors me when the pace is fast, the expectations are high, and the days are long.
And for my team
My team shows up to every wedding with joy for the unknown, hope in how the day will unfold, and an unwavering loyalty to love. They have been my strength in the early morning hours when I’m trying to figure out how to fit one more table of nine into a small venue, the loudest cheers in the crowd when our couples experience a beautiful design meeting, and the laughter in the room when we’re racing against time to meet a deliverable. Without a shadow of a doubt, they embody everything Unveiled by Debra stands for — heart, dedication, and the belief that love always finds a way.
As this season comes to an end and I finally take a breath, I’m sitting in deep gratitude. Gratitude for the couples who’ve trusted me, the families who’ve welcomed me in, the vendors who’ve walked alongside me, and the team who’s held me up on the hardest days. This year stretched me in ways I didn’t expect, but it also reminded me that God’s hand has been steady through it all — guiding, restoring, and reminding me that purpose often shows up in the quiet moments between the chaos. As I rest and reset for what’s next, my heart is full of thankfulness for every lesson, every wedding, and every person who’s been part of this journey with me.
