Today — maybe right now, as you’re reading this — my big brother is getting married, and I’m gaining a sister, whom we’re so excited to have as a part of our family.

A little over a year ago, the two of them got engaged on a beach not far from their home in Florida. My parents and I knew the plan was in the works, but we were surprised to get a random Facetime call and see the ring on her finger.

The date of the wedding — today — had been picked out before the engagement even happened, as the bride said she wanted to get married on her golden birthday — meaning she turned 26 on the 26th.

From there, the wedding planning was full steam ahead, with just about a year to get everything done.

But, a month or so after their engagement, I got a job here at The News, so I picked up and moved and helped with wedding planning as best I could from afar.

Soon enough, I started writing these columns, and, each week, I shared them on Facebook for my friends and family to read and hopefully enjoy.

It was then that the bride approached me, asking if I would write something to read during the wedding ceremony. As her bridesmaid and soon-to-be sister-in-law, I couldn’t say no — not that I would’ve, anyway.

So, for nearly a year, I was tasked with putting something together to read for the ceremony. But procrastination took over and plenty of other wedding plans, bachelorette trips, wedding showers, etc., distracted me from what I needed to do.

A few weeks ago, I forced myself to sit down and write the passage.

With a little inspiration from TikTok videos of other people getting married, I began to write. I picked up a pen, imagined my brother and now-sister-in-law just being themselves together, and the words and ideas just kept flowing.

In my head, I could see them laughing and smiling with each other. I could see the way they bickered and my brother’s grin that would make her roll her eyes and they’d go back to smiling with each other again.

Their love has always been evident, but I’m excited to say that today it is vowed.

But, anyway, as I was brainstorming, writing, crossing things out, and trying again, I found parts of the message were quite broad, in the sense that they could be applied to any time in our lives.

I started by saying that there aren’t many days in your life that, while they’re happening, you can point at and say it will be one of the greatest days of your life. We get a handful of those days, and I think we need to be more aware of them to stay in that moment as long as we can.

I noted that times get tough and that marriages — and life in general — aren’t perfect. You’ll have bad days mixed in with the good. You’ll have days that feel a bit empty while others are overflowing with love.

Through the difficult days, it can often be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we have to remember that it’s there. Maybe we’ll even have someone to help guide us out.

I moved on by inviting them to look around, to look at each face in attendance. Not only do the people there love them unconditionally, but they are a witness to that greatest day. Yes, they’re seeing the bride and groom at their happiest, but each friend and family member is there for them and loves them at their lowest, as well.

I added a bit of sappiness by asking them to look back at one another to see that, though the people in the audience love them most, the person in front of them loves them more.

For each person in our lives that we love, we need to cherish our time with them and appreciate them while we can. I mentioned that those who couldn’t be in attendance were still there in spirit, watching over the ceremony, and keeping everyone safe.

I sprinkled in some sentences about love, vows, rings, and a kiss, but I like to think the synopsis of it can apply to all of us.

We need to take each day as it comes, face it with those who are willing to stand at our sides through thick and thin, and know that, even when we’re feeling alone, we never truly are. We need to appreciate what we have and remember to take in each moment for what it is.

Torianna Marasco can be reached at 989-358-5686 or tmarasco@thealpenanews.com.