So when we left off, my dad was escorting me down the aisle, Don was waiting at the end and the guests were taking pictures. I didn’t notice at the time, but Don was a little choked up (either that or the wind was getting to him which is entirely possibly).
Photo by Jaimie Reese Peterson
My father gave me a hug and Don asked the officiant if he could kiss me yet. Jeffrey had a good sense of humor and the crowd all laughed, but Jeffrey did protect my honor by telling Don he had to wait until after our vows.
Photo by Jaimie Reese Peterson
Jeffrey began the ceremony with a welcome and then asked our friend Suzanne to read a poem. That’s when we realized everyone was still standing. In fact, I think I may have said, “Oh, they’re still standing.” Very bridal. At any rate, everyone chuckled again when Jeff told them they could be seated.
Here’s a picture of Suzanne reading Beyond What, by Alice Walker. She barely even got squeaky (her major concern!).
Photo by Jaimie Reese Peterson
After the first reading we began our vows. We both said, “I do.” Don was first, and then me. After I agreed, Don breathed an audible sigh of relief and feigned wiping the sweat off his brow. I know this was feigned because it was freezing! In fact, it was around this time that my teeth started to chatter.
Photo by Erin Bonilla
Then we exchanged vows. Don recited his beautifully, but I, of course, got emotional. The first line was, “Don, I choose you to be my husband.” I started to cry. That’s when the next round of hilarity started.
The second line was, “To respect you, to care for you and to grow with you.”
I was trying to compose myself to go on but I couldn’t find my voice through the tears. This is when Don laughed. And that’s when Jeffrey laughed. Because, as it turned out, the line that I couldn’t quite choke out was, “To respect you.” Don said, “I know I make that tough for you most days.” And that’s when everyone else laughed, including me.
Later people told me they thought I was laughing about respecting him the whole time, but really I was crying from having spoken the previous line and knowing that Don would be beside me, sharing my life, forever and ever. I was so glad that Don made the joke, though. Even though I was more or less crying during the rest of my vows, I was able to get through them effortlessly after he made me laugh.
And then, mercifully, we had a break while my oldest friend (the friend I have known the longest that is - not actually my OLDEST friend), Dawn, read an Appache wedding blessing. Here she is doing so:
Photo by Jaimie Reese Peterson
One of the lines in the blessing is “Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.” I was really hoping that Don would start sharing his warmth at that moment because I was freezing. So when Jeffrey told us to take hands, Don leaned over to blow on my hands and warm them up. It must have looked like he wanted to kiss them, though, because Jeff said, “Not yet!”
Finally, we exchanged rings. Don had a small moment of panic when he glanced at my hand and realized that I had forgotten to remove my engagement ring. But, I slipped it off quickly and we proceeded. I don’t even think anyone noticed.
Photo by Genie Gratto
At last! We were married. You know what came next …
Photo by Linda Bouchillon
Up next: Choosing the readings
May 12th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Just beautiful. I can almost see it all happening.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Not only a picture-perfect ceremony, but a lovely telling of the story of how it all unfolded. Thanks for sharing it with us.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:08 am
[...] about the readings we chose for the wedding ceremony. Since I just finished telling you about the actual ceremony, this seems like a good time to [...]