Should I tell my friend how I feel – before her wedding?

Dear Meredith,

I'm a 30-year-old man who has a female friend who used to be a fling. She's getting married in a year, and I'd like some advice about whether I should share my feelings with her before then.

Backstory: we met through mutual friends years ago and immediately clicked. Talked the whole night, went on an actual date (which is still the best date I've ever been on), went on a few more dates, hung out with our mutual friends, etc. We both had busy schedules and work travel so the relationship developed much slower than it should have; looking back, I probably didn't express my interest well enough, and I think that caused her to keep her guard up. After a few months, she moved across the country, and without speaking about it, we had one final date and both kind of assumed our fling was over. I think we were both scared to bring it up and face rejection from the other.

A few months after that, I was in her city for work and texted her to catch up. We had an incredible time. At the end of the night, she finally revealed to me that she'd started seeing someone else – her current fiancé. I was crushed, more than I expected to be. We've stayed in close touch in the years since, with the same electric chemistry but also a really positive, caring friendship that's developed. There have been a number of times I thought things had a chance to start up again, but didn't want to be the homewrecker, and instead let her relationship status do the talking. I've read enough of your letters to know that a "friend" you're pining after and want more from isn't just a "friend" – you need to tell them the truth and/or move on. But I think this has developed into something different.

Yes, if she dropped everything and wanted to start a relationship with me, I'd strongly consider it. But after years of processing this and going on dates with great women I wished were more like her, I'm also finally at peace with the fact that she won't, that she's getting married to an awesome guy, and that I will (God willing) someday marry an awesome woman who isn't her. It took me a long time to get to this point, partially because I’ve heard from mutual friends that my feelings are reciprocated. But I do mean it very genuinely. So why say anything at all? I’m not planning some sort of dramatic speech – I just want to tell my friend how I feel about her. How hard it was to hear that she was seeing someone else, how strongly I felt about her back then, how grateful I am that we stayed in each other's lives, how my feelings for her will always be difficult to explain, and most importantly, how happy I am for her and where our friendship is today. Also – I'm fully aware this is for my benefit, not hers. So: do I owe it to myself to say something? And if yes, when and how? She and I also still live across the country from each other, so I don’t get to see her too often these days (though I am invited to the wedding).

- At Peace in Portland (I've always wanted to write one of those names)