I don’t like to brag or anything, but I had the most beautiful flower girl in the history of ever in my wedding.

The lovely Miss Vivi Jacomini could not have been anymore perfect for the part. Or anymore excited.

But, it didn’t go off without a hitch!

Just as she was about to walk, she tripped on her gorgeous dress and fell on the hard, dirty ground. Sobbing uncontrollably, her amazing father took her hand in his and walked with her.

Once she reached the front and had calmed down, she realized that she had not thrown one single petal during her journey down the aisle. This did not fly with her, as she had been looking forward to her big role for months.

She was not about to let the moment pass without finishing what she came to do.

So, rather than sitting down during the ceremony, she stood behind me and picked handfuls of petals off the ground, gently placing them on the train of my dress.

I heard a quiet whisper behind me. It was Vivi’s mom, my cousin Susie, pleading with her to sit down. It was then that I turned around, in the middle of our vows, and told Sue to “Leave her alone! She can do whatever she wants!”

And so she continued placing petals on my dress until the end.

And when they announced us as husband and wife? She stood up and did the best twirl I’ve ever seen. I was so in love with her at the moment, that I failed to notice my wedding planner, Susie’s sister, jumping up and down at the end of the aisle motioning for me to “Come on! WALK!”

This picture means so much to me.

Two and a half years later, we lost our sweet flower girl forever.

I am so grateful to have this special moment frozen in time.

Does it break my heart into a million pieces every time I look at it?

Yes.

But, it also makes my heart smile. Knowing that I had her there with me on my special day, and knowing that it was her special day, too.

Oh, how she shined.

And this is exactly how we should all remember her.

Because this picture isn’t simply of Vivi, it is Vivi.

I’ve been saying I am going to frame it for a couple of years now, but, along with way too many other images, it’s been trapped inside my computer.

So, in honor of Kodak free print week, I am going to set it free, along with 19 others I’ve been hoarding in my hard drive and on Facebook.

Are you ready to set free those pictures you’ve been holding hostage, for free?

Well, then, you’re in luck, because October 17–23 is Free Kodak Prints week!

“What the what”, you ask?

Here are the deets:

Kodak Free Prints Week is an opportunity for customers to print photos from their Facebook Account for free directly from a KODAK Picture Kiosk, anytime from October 17 through October 23. To get your 20 free 4×6 prints, all you have to do is “like” Kodak’s Facebook page.

Easy Peasy.

In addition, to help celebrate Free Prints Week, Kodak has partnered with the Tumblr blog, My Parents Were Awesome, as a way to encourage people to print and share recent and past photos.

So, what are you waiting for?

Go unleash those memories!

(This post has been sponsored by Kodak, and I’ve been compensated for my time. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.)

(all images by Leslie Gaworecki)