The Williams Wedding

In June of 2020, in the height of the pandemic, I was laid off and looking for work while Dalton was employed with Recovery Blvd. I was offered a few different positions in the recovery field, but was invited back to Blvd for a second interview with the clinical director. I walked in and met this person, who happened to be Dalton. This was the first time we had ever met and we both shared essentially the exact same values and ideals in connection to addiction and recovery. I chose to start working at Blvd as a counselor and Dalton continued as my direct supervisor. (…we know, this sounds like the beginning of a Hallmark movie…but we kept it professional) After months and months of a work-centered relationship, to becoming best friends, we knew there was something between us. I learned about his love of creating music, the beginning of his sea shanty TikTok mania, how much he loved his cats, his heart for all that struggle with addiction, his brilliant mind, and his dorky songs created on the spot and sung to the team in the office. He learned that I was working on rediscovering the person that I am, that my passion to wear all back all year was insane but possible, that I’m obsessed with coloring my hair, my desire to reenter school, my love for my kiddos, and the absolute insane and strange movie genres that I like completely matched his. We both learned of our love of horror movies, how the cheesier and campier the better, how we could both be sensitive and hurt while keeping a smile on our faces, and how we both struggle with self-deprecation and seeing our strengths. After months of helping me through a huge change and constant concern in my life as my best friend, and after we both realized we are essentially the same person stuck in the same position…we finally took that leap and chose to provide the love we were missing for ourselves, into each other. We have been inseparable from the first day we met and have never once felt a desire to be away from each other. For the first time in both of our lives, we had the mutual love and respect that neither of us realized we could have. Dalton tells me every single day, without fail, that I am the person he’s been searching for his entire life and reminds me of how beautiful he thinks I am. Every. Single. Day. Though we know it’s inevitably coming, we have never fought because our communication is rock solid. We love one another more than anything and it shows each and every day.

On February 11th, 2023 Dalton had planned a ‘special surprise activity’ for Valentines Day weekend. To be honest, Chelsea knew in the days leading up that this was a possibility. Dalton drove to the place we used to hike everyday after work. This is where we really got to know each other and became the best of friends. As soon as we arrived, Chelsea knew this was it. We took a wet, drizzly walk down the Upper Macleay trail. At the bottom of the steep decline, there is a short bridge with a small waterfall behind it. Dalton got down on one knee halfway through the bridge and proposed to Chelsea. She said yes and the best part is when a very good excited woman walked up and asked to take our picture for us. It couldn’t have been more perfect (and neither could the ring…) The rest is history and here we are planning the wedding of our dreams!