Dear Priscilla,

Congratulations on getting married to the love of your life! I am so incredibly happy that you have found the one who makes your heart feel complete. I pray that he will be your spiritual complement, your best friend, your personal cheerleader, and your shoulder to cry on when life becomes more than you can handle (and, of course, that you will be the same for him). I pray that the two of you will love each other more every day and that your marriage will bring honor and glory to God. I pray that your love will strengthen during the hard times and that you two will take on the world together as an unstoppable team. May your joy never dim and your love burn as brightly as Song of Solomon describes. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Song of Solomon 8:6

Although marriage is typically a time of excitement and celebration (as it should be when God is bringing two people together for His glory), your decision to get married before your wedding date has caused a lot of commotion. Everyone has an opinion regarding your choice, and those opinions aren't all positive. I will admit that I was initially confused by your early marriage, but I was happy for you nonetheless. It saddens me that those who you consider to be closest to you, those who claim to love you and support you unconditionally, would hurt you by judging your decision and/or by making inaccurate, unfounded assumptions about you and your marriage. While I understand that people are entitled to their opinions, I do not believe that such negative opinions need to be shared or paid attention to. Your marriage is a sacred vow made before God. Please don't let the negativity you're facing take away from your lifetime of happiness.

I know that you chose to get married for several reasons, both financial and otherwise. I also know that you didn't take this decision lightly. You weighed your options and gave this careful prayer and consideration before choosing that getting married early was the best option for you. I want you to know that I fully support you. While I comprehend the confusion some of your guests may be feeling, I don't think you need to explain yourself or justify your actions to anyone. God has brought the two of you together, and because He has, nothing else matters. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. - Mark 10:9

There will be people who are upset that they weren't with you on your special day, and while that's an understandable feeling, at the end of the day your marriage wasn't about them. There will also be those who don't understand how God is working in your life, and that's okay. Let God lead you and know that the haters are completely missing the point: your marriage is a commitment to love and honor your spouse forever and to publicly center your relationship around God. You two are, quite literally, God's gift to each other, and I can't think of anything more beautiful. He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. -Proverbs 18:22

God has great things in store for the both of you, and I personally can't wait to see what they are. I want to celebrate the ways in which He uses you and blesses you. Marriage is just the first step on the rest of your journey, and I want to hear about all the ups and downs. Please know that I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I love and miss you.

Your cousin (and, arguably, one of the most awkward-yet-adorable people you will ever meet),

Bethany

P.S. If the haters start to get you down, take a page from the Taylor Swift handbook and shake it off. Thank you, Taylor.