figtree restaurant byron bay wedding

mark & tika

Love isn’t always a straight line.

Sometimes it curves and bends and flexes and doubles back on itself. Sometimes it’s thick and unwavering and easy to nurture. It might, for a season, become faint and thin and hard to believe in even when you know it’s there. 

Over a long enough time scale almost all relationships will see ups and downs and waxes and wanes as time and the vagaries of life do as they will. Its not about avoiding the downturns, its about what you do when they arrive. Believing in this thing you’ve created together enough to fight for it, to know deep within yourself that this, that they, are meant to be.

This one was personal. Mark and Tika met over 10 years ago, when I brought Tika along to a halloween party at the last minute. Mark, dressed as the Tinder flame in a head to toe skin-tight red unitard and clearly doing his best to embody the ideals of the then burgeoning “dating” platform took a shine to Tika and informed her that his friend would hook up with me if only Tika would hook up with him. Tika, the incredible friend and wingwoman she is, acquiesced, not aware that not only was Mark’s friend completely unaware of this apparent pact, but that she had in fact kissed me at least half an hour before. 

They then did the dance so many do in their early 20s. Will they, wont they, its time, its not time. They grew, they changed, they became both more and less like their younger selves. Unlike so many of that age, however, even when it was tough they still believed. Still fought. Still knew.

These are two incredibly strong and strong willed people. Two big personalities. Tika’s still a schemer and a dreamer, Mark still wants to travel to places far off the map (..or marked upon the map with a skull and crossbones) and be a voice for the voiceless. They’ve stayed who they are, but over the years the edges have softened, and ironically it has been their strength which has allowed them to meld and change and grow into one another. To create a life full of adventure and spontaneity. To start a family. To up and move their lives for a seachange and start intentionally creating, continuing, this one joyful life together.

Enjoy

Dane

 

INSTAGRAM @THESALTYSHUTTER

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