More on that Wedding: A Rainy Ceremony

The skies have opened

The skies opened and it began to rain.  It wasn't pouring, but it wasn't just a drizzle either.  I started freaking out a little (no, a lot), thinking I had jinxed myself for being so arrogant toward nature and weather.  Multiple times in the planning process I had said, "The wedding is in August, it's not going to rain."  We waited about 5 minutes in case the rain decided to let up, but it didn't, so we started out wet procession down the aisle.

Guests question how waterproof their shelter is

The wedding party was hidden behind shrubbery, so I couldn't see what was going on, but as each bridesmaid walked down the aisle, there were eruptions of applause and (dare I say it) "woo"ing.  I hate when ceremonies are messy or too informal, and I had no idea how I had ended up with a guest list of "woo"-ers.

Bridesmaids tread carefully

Soon it was my turn to walk down the aisle.  The aisle included wooden stairs and a grassy slope, and my dress clung to the wet terrain.  My dad kept telling me to slow down, and I wanted to somewhat jokingly tell him, "I'm getting married, you can't tell me what to do anymore!" but of course I was crying and couldn't say anything.  Not to mention, focusing on getting down the aisle without falling or getting stuck in the grass was enough of a challenge.  I could here people laughing at me, which I thought was a little unfair, but I also got the applause and "woo"s.  Caitlin later told me that they were laughing because I looked so cute crying, and I also later learned that the applause was directed toward each bridesmaid for successfully making it down the slip-and-slide hill.

Father walks a tearful bride down the aisle

  Ken's all like, "Dang, that's my girl!"

The ceremony was a blur, but here is what I did notice: I couldn't look at Ken at all or I would completely lose it.  I am a big crier.  The audience was covered by plant matter under a pergola, but it did drip through a little and picked up throughout the service as the water kept coming down.  In the end, everyone was wet.  Elyse Gellert played a piece ("Be Thou My Vision", my favorite hymn) on violin, Ken's father read a bit of Song of Solomon, and the audience erupted with laughter after the line "For, lo, the winter is past; The rain is over and gone."  My grandmother read a poem, which had made my cry during the rehearsal, and then Pastor Tim (from my home church in Northport) got down to business.

"I can do this!"

Pastor Tim made some clever jokes about the rain, and then asked me if I wanted him to skip the homily due to the weather.  I didn't answer.  I didn't want him to skip it--I wasn't going to wear this dress again anyway, so what did it matter if I  was getting ruined--but I couldn't answer for this wet audience.  Tim then turned to the guests and asked the same questions.  "No, do the homily!" they said, and then chanted "Homily! Homily!"

The young ladies are given colorful umbrellas

I don't remember much of the homily, because the more I listened to anything, the more I cried.  We finally got to the vows and blessing of the rings, and I kicked myself for opting for so much "repeat after me" in the service.  Why did I think I could say so many words out loud in what was sure to be a heightened emotional state?

Ashley chokes back tears during vows

When all was said and done, and sealed with a kiss, we marched our way to the reception area that was technically outside but covered.

Happily Ever After starts NOW!