‘This is my second wedding dress. My second bouquet. I’m not ashamed. Truth is, divorce gave me my life back.’: Woman gets ‘second chance at love,’ admits second wedding is ‘more of a marriage than the first’

This was my second wedding bouquet.

This was my second wedding.

I don’t talk about the first one often. Never actually. If people ask me, I don’t lie but it’s just not something that comes up.

The truth is that was a lifetime ago. The truth is everything has changed. The truth is divorce gave me my life back. And I’m grateful for that.

A second marriage is no less of a marriage. In fact, for me it was even more of one.

For me it was a second chance at life. A second chance at love.

I’m not ashamed. I honor my past because it got me here. It led to where I am right here right now. With a marriage and family I’ve always dreamed of. With gratitude and wisdom. With hindsight.

Were there deep valleys in my journey? Absolutely. There were months I struggled to get out of bed. There was pain and suffering. Rage. So much rage.

But time heals. And slowly, steadily, I got back on my feet. Redemption. The chance to start over.

This was my second wedding dress but this heart? It’s renewed. It’s metamorphosized like a butterfly from its cocoon.

I got a second chance at love, and thank God for second chances.

My second wedding dress? It represents redemption.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Celeste Yvonne of The Ultimate Mom Challenge. You can follow her journey on Instagram. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories.

Read more from Celeste:

‘I knew a nightly glass of wine was nothing to be ashamed of. But a whole bottle? That gets people talking.’: Former wine mom now ‘alcohol free,’ says she ‘found life leaving the glass behind’

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