Friday, October 29, 2010

Our Wedding Story

Saturday was almost a complete blur for us, everything seemed to move so fast. I woke up at Jo's apartment and had to leave pretty quickly. I would see him later at the wedding, but I had to go back to my mom's house to change into the tux. Tim came by to pick me up and we hurried off to the wedding in his Volkswagen Go. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this would turn out to be an important part of the story.


Tim and I arrived at the wedding to find Alison's brother Devon welcoming guests. There was much panic as everyone tried to figure out where Alison was (so I didn't see her). I said a few quick hellos to the guests as I tried to make my way upstairs. I had to copy my vows from my ipad to a notecard. After meeting the photographer, I finished and went back downstairs to mingle quickly before things had to get going. I had promised Alison that the ceremony wouldn't start late, but she would end up right about that one..

I waited with the mayor, talking lightly and listening to the music from the string quartet. It was unfortunate that the guests in the chairs were looking towards the sun. Jo, I saw you sneak in late! I think we were still missing a guest, but it was getting late so we decided to start. The music started playing the lovely "Pachelbel's Canon" and Alison's 2nd cousin Kate came down the aisle with the flowers. My heart was beating so fast... this was the moment... four months...six years in the making!

Everyone stood and the fatal flaw in our ceremony became apparent as I couldn't see her! I dodged and tried to glance between the backs of people's heads, and finally saw her, looking so beautiful! Wearing the most beautiful dress! In retrospect, I should have stood in the middle of the aisle until she reached me, but I was just excited to finally see her and be doing all this. I didn't even hear the mayor say anything during the first half of the ceremony, I was too excited and amazed and just looked into Alison's eyes and felt her smile.

Mayor: Family and friends, we are here to witness a celebration of love. Mike and Alison are grateful for your presence here today because each of you contributes something to their lives. They invite you to feel and share their love as they begin their journey. In the years that they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to take. Both of you come to this day with the deep realization that the contract of marriage is sacred as are all of its obligations and responsibilities Love is a friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad. It settles for less than perfection and allows for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present. It hopes for the future and doesn't brood over the past. It's the day-in and day-out chronicle of compromises, problems, victories, and working together toward common goals. For when one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world - no matter how imperfect - becomes rich and beautiful; it consists solely of opportunities for that love. True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding. Now Mike and Alison would like to exchange the vows they have prepared for each other.

Alison: Mike- from the moment we first met, I knew that you were the one I wanted to share my life with. You make me laugh when I'm down. You're always respectful, yet you make me see things in a completely different way. You're everything that I'll ever want or need, because you're you! Today I make these vows to you: I promise to be your best friend and love for life. I promise to laugh and to cry with you, when times are easy and when they're hard. I promise to be there for you- body and soul, and to always be faithful to you. I promise to listen with my heart and to speak to you with encouragement. I promise to be your co-pilot through life. I give myself to you completely, and I promise to love you for the rest of my life.

Mike: Alison- When I think of you I feel my heart beat wildly with excitement. When I close my eyes I can see you, looking back at me with the most beautiful smile I'll ever know. When I'm with you I feel like I've finally become complete. You make me laugh. You make me think. You make me believe, but most of all you make me love. I will always hold you deepest in my heart, feel close to you even when we are far apart, and be there with you to share all your dreams. Your happiness has become essential to my own, and I promise to spend every day making sure you feel the same way.

Mayor: The wedding ring is a complete and perfect circle with no end and no beginning. It is the symbol of your love and commitment to each other. The giving and receiving of these rings will bind you both to the vows you have made. Mike and Alison will now exchange rings. Alison: I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you. Mike: I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you. Mayor: For now each of you will be warmth to the other. There is no more loneliness for you. For each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness, and may your days be good, and long upon the earth. Now, by the power vested in me by the state of Ohio, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mike, you may kiss your bride.

We never wanted the ceremony to be particularly long, but it was over so quickly!

After the ceremony, we were stolen from our own party to take pictures. This lasted for an hour or so, and I hope that people who attended weren't too bored. I'm sure with all the family and friends around that they weren't. Although everyone was probably looking forward to the dinner! We had appettizers and tables for mingling. We got to take some pictures with the colorful leaves and pumpkins and I think overall we are very happy with most of them.


Finally, it was dinnertime! We started with a small salad and then both Alison's and my brother each made a nice toast. Devon's was really funny and Tim's was very sincere and meaningful. Perfect compliments. Finally I stood up and thanked everyone for coming, especially so many people from so far away. I thanked Alison's parents for hosting the wedding and doing so much work for us while we were in Texas. Now let's chow down!


Dinner was great! It was all family recipies but unfortunately we all couldn't eat as much as we wanted! Although there was certainly enough food. The only downside was that Alison and I were kind of off on our own at our own table. I think we both imagined we would be up and walking around more, and while I tried to do that later on, it was up to little Benjamin to come and entertain us. Before I knew it, it was time to cut the cake and I barely had time to sample the pies and cheesecake before it was time for a group photo. Some people managed to leave the party without getting their wedding favors, a little jar of jam or apple butter made by Alison herself. We only got a quick glance at our wedding gifts, and certainly couldn't take any home with us since we were heading straight to the honeymoon. We are trying to get back to Ohio in November to get them. (Some thank yous are delayed until we can get the gift!) We had to change and then it was off by limo-hummer to the Shereton hotel at the airport for an early flight the next morning.

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