This last Saturday, my husband and I attended a wedding together. With most of my husband's friends already married by the time we met, and most of my friends either eloping or eschewing marriage entirely, we've only watched as a handful of our friends and family have exchanged vows.

I love weddings. I love the pomp and circumstance, the fancy clothes and the happy tears. Saturday, I pulled on a strapless sundress for the first time in years and held my husband's hand as my dear friend married her beau. The ceremony was outdoors at a lovely hilltop vineyard, and while the couple shared smiles and the minister cracked the assembled crowd up with pithy observations, birds sang in the trees. I get a little happy-weepy just thinking about it.

As much as I enjoyed the wedding, it was the time with my husband that was really wonderful. We don't get out much, he and I. With three busy kids and a full plate of outside responsibilities, we are rarely out without the kids, let alone dressed up and well-fed.

We didn't know many people at the wedding, so when we arrived, we lingered on the edge of the crowd and sipped champagne. If you are planning a wedding? Serving drinks and appetizers before the ceremony rocks. When my sister arrived, we visited for a few minutes, and then I noticed that my husband had started schmoozing away with other guests. He was smiling and chatting away, and when he saw me looking at him, he grinned and waved me over to his side.

I've always considered myself the social butterfly of the family, so it was with great surprise that I watched as my husband smoothed our way from the baked brie to the bar and back with effortless conversational skills. I was really proud to be on his arm, and loved watching him in action.

By the time we sat down at dinner, and he took pains to keep my wine glass full and offer me choice tastes from his entree, I was literally eating out of his hand. I must have been glowing. Or gloating. I don't know. I am a lucky woman.

And later that night - with the kids spending the night at my parents' house... he was also lucky. Quite lucky.

You gotta love those hot date nights.