THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM: Mary Margaret Frith & Trey Register

BY OLIVIA CROSBY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLE BURR

It is a very emotional feeling when your best friend meets the love of her life. Mary Margaret has been my best friend since middle school. I remember her excited phone call after meeting Trey for the first time.

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]oth felt on their first date on October 6, 2012, they wanted to become more than just friends. “I knew something was special and different about Mary Margaret from the moment I picked her up from her father’s house,” Trey remembers. Mary Margaret, 19 at the time, attended college and time spent with Trey was quality time. That October day in 2012, they did not know that almost exactly six years later, on October 6, 2018, she would say “I do,” with Trey happily smiling at her while their family and friends could hardly stop their happy tears.

Mary Margaret realized very quickly that Trey was the one. “He is a very outgoing person who will do anything to put a smile on your face. He is the most hardworking person I have ever met and enjoys a challenge and would give anyone the shirt off his back,” she says. During our time in college, I remember Trey’s genuine interest in everything Mary Margaret tried to accomplish. He always offered his help and support and was someone my best friend could count on. This was mutual, as Mary Margaret is one of the most loving people and always looks out for her friends and now Trey. I think I knew they were going to get married before they did—thinking back about all the happy moments in the past years makes me smile. There is so much happiness to come.

Both started planning the wedding shortly after Mary Margaret graduated with a master’s degree from FSU PC. Trey asked her for her hand in marriage in August of 2017. I had the honor of helping him plan the proposal. I remember how anxious he was and how everything had to be perfect. We conspired that I would take her to a nail salon for a round of new manicures. To my utter shock, initially, she turned my offer down. I thought to myself that there was no way I could let Trey put a diamond ring on her un-manicured finger. But she was just not that interested in going to the nail studio with me that day. I began to panic and after a few attempts to convince her, she finally agreed. That night, no one’s hands looked better than hers, especially her left ring finger. It was just the start to months of eager planning of their dream wedding. Engagement parties, planning, and bridal showers passed, and suddenly, it was the weekend of their vows; the Saturday they were going to become one in Christ, Love, life, and marriage.

October 6th, 2018, was here! Mary Margaret woke up and was instantly surrounded by her bridesmaids. We laughed, cried, and anxiously awaited the afternoon for a sunset ceremony. She looked amazing in an ivory-tone fitted gown, escorted down the aisle by her loving father. Trey, surrounded by his groomsmen, had never looked happier.

It was the night they both had been waiting for. Trey states his favorite part of their wedding day was kissing his bride. Mary Margret remembers thinking how thankful she was to spend the evening celebrating their love surrounded by people who meant the most to them. The tone for the evening was set at the reception with several speeches from people who love the couple very much. The father of the bride expressed how excited he was to be gaining a son-in-law. Trey’s younger brother, Travis, spoke very highly about gaining Mary Margaret as a sister, genuinely thrilled that Trey had found and married his dream girl. The bride’s older sister, Amanda, with a few sweet and simple words, brought the crowd and couple to tears with her speech. It was an emotional night. I loved every minute of sharing my best wishes and insights on us growing up together, and how wonderful it is that my best friend had found happiness. Marriage isn’t about what you expect to get, but what you expect to give, I reminded the couple during my speech. But deep down, I know that they do not need a reminder. It was a magical night that both families will remember forever.

Looking back, they are thankful they chose their wedding day in October. Just four days later, the venue suffered severe damage from Hurricane Michael. What once was breathtaking views of the water, amazing sunsets and beautiful boats, was almost completely destroyed and washed up on the shore where the couple said their vows just four days prior.

When asked how their life has changed as newlyweds, it was certainly not quite what they had expected. Mary Margaret explains that the hurricane changed their outlook and perspective on things indefinitely. “We never imagined that our home town would go through such a catastrophic event or that our first week of marriage would consist of bathing in the Deer Point Lake and managing to make it through the Florida weather with no A/C or running water.” The couple laughs, “If we can make it through that, I think we are set!”

There Is not much Trey and Mary Margaret have not gone through together or things that they have not experienced. They have reached many milestones together; graduating college, seeking higher education, first jobs, and many more. Not to mention, me third-wheeling with them for many years.

For their honeymoon, again, their timing was perfect. They had planned to travel to Jamaica two weeks after the wedding. It was a great way to have a break from post-storm power outage, stressful situations, and destroyed landscape. They took off on a plane and enjoyed one week of relaxation. The countless photos of paradise from my best friend made the hurricane gloom almost disappear.

Returning home, freshly sun-kissed, the couple quickly got to work. They came home to their power turned on. They couldn’t have been more excited. Both rolled up their sleeves at their home and at their demanding jobs. Trey, a maintenance technician at Berg Steel Pipe company, and Mary Margaret, a guidance counselor at Oakland Terrace, have not quite caught their breath since their wedding and, like most residents of Panama City, are counting their blessings on their quest to the “new normal.”

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PARENTS OF THE BRIDE
Greg and Sherry Frith
Sharon & Steve Hysinger
PARENTS OF THE GROOM
Missy & Rick Lytle
GRANDPARENTS OF THE GROOM
Jerry & Annita Register
Theresa & Jim Justice
MAID OF HONOR
Olivia Crosby Sanchez
BRIDESMAIDS
Amanda Frith
Kristy Frith Ruppel
Emily Bosler
Emilee Demoss
Brianna Southerland
Taylor Register
BEST MAN
Travis Register
GROOMSMEN
Chad Helms
Mark Christensen
Stephen Medlock
Logan Dykes
Mitch Barfield
FLOWER GIRLS
Allie Grace Turner
Avery Obert
RING BEARER
Wyatt and Dakota Weber
OFFICIANT
Doug Crosby

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