A Gluten-Free Wedding And Anniversary

So the wedding wasn't mine, but the anniversary is. Today marks the one year birthday of my blog "A Gluten-Free Guide" and the three year anniversary of my diagnosis. I started this blog primarily as a place to keep my favorite links, recipes and resources. After putting in a lot of work into learning how to best manage a gluten-free diet without it hindering my lifestyle, I wanted to share any tips or information I had with others. Celiac Disease is unique in the sense that the people who have the disease are frequently the ones with the most information. While my doctor was great and went through the right steps for diagnosis, I know many aren't so lucky. Even with a great doctor, the pamphlet of diet information I was given to guide me through living gluten-free was sparse, outdated and incorrect. As a result, people with Celiac Disease must look to each other for products, recipes, help and advice.

I can’t imagine where I would be without the support of family, friends, the Delphi Forums, other gluten-free bloggers, and thousands of google searches. Thank you! Information is power and we need to share it. If my knowledge and what I learned from my mistakes make it easier for even just a few other people struggling with the same frustrations, it makes it all worthwhile. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. As much as I have struggled and cried when things didn’t turn out the way I hoped, living gluten-free has brought me more joy and unexpected connections that I ever dreamed possible. I’ve met incredibly strong and vibrant people in person (and on-line), eaten more deliciously than ever before, developed new cooking skills, rediscovered a love for writing and started toying with photography. I can only imagine what the upcoming year has in store - equally amazing opportunities and challenges await.

I would like to share with you a letter I received from a beautiful new bride who used my recipe for gluten-free cupcakes at her wedding.

"Hiya, it's Gabrielle who posted on your blog with many questions about your cupcake recipe. I wasn't sure you got these and with all the help you gave me I wanted to make sure you were able to see that I used that recipe.


I was home for almost a month before the wedding with my mom who can't eat gluten either. She hasn't had a cupcake in 15 years, and when she had these she actually started crying, no joke.


I was able to give the lady who was making my cupcakes the recipe I got from your blog, she loved them herself. We had half gluten-free and half regular, we ended up having about 4-5 people who couldn't or chose to eat gluten-free there so it worked out pretty well. Nobody could tell the difference anyway.


Thanks again so much for your recipe! I've been a baking fool lately,trying all sorts of gluten-free recipes, and buying tons at Wild Oats to see if any of them are good or not. I just bought 'Gluten-Free Quick & Easy' by Carol Fenster, Ph.D and have been making all sorts of stuff for myself and new husband.


Anyway, thanks again!
- Gabrielle"

I feel honored that Gabrielle took the time to email me and share the photos from her special day. Congratulations to the happy couple - Gabby and Dan! No one would invite Celiac into their life, but I must admit that it daily enriches my life in ways that I never would have imagined.

Happy gluten-free eating to all!