Our Wedding: Ceremony

14 Jun 2012

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Our wedding ceremony was so important to me and to Eric, and we spent months choosing the music and readings, and preparing not just for a wedding but a sacrament. As the hour drew closer, we got more and more excited! We spent the morning taking pictures and scarfing down a quick sandwich before heading upstairs, and these photos of those moments are so precious to me. My Besfrinn put on my veil and blusher for me, and I was ready to go!

This is the face I made when someone said to me, “Cameron, in just a few minutes, you’ll be walking down the aisle!” I couldn’t wait!

I made it up (many!) stairs in my dress, and then we were all waiting in a little room off to the side of the church. I couldn’t really believe it would be happening so soon. My sweet bridesmaids were all smiles.

Eric had been cracking me up all day, which really helped my nerves, but the truly hilarious thing about this is that I didn’t even know he had done it until we saw our wedding pictures! The sign says “Please no children without adults,” but he modified it slightly. I love his wonderful smile here.

I had one more moment with him, and then it was time for him to head down the aisle. I love this picture so much.

Finally, it was just me and my dad left in the room, and I lost it. I hadn’t cried all day, but when I heard the processional, I just fell apart. I had chosen Pachelbel’s Canon in D because it was really special for me and my dad. When I was little, my dad used to teach me all kinds of things. Sometimes it was algebra and sometimes it was classical music. He had a lot of records from when he was in college, and he would play them for me and tell me about them. When he played Pachelbel’s Canon in D for me when I was about 10, I loved it so much that I suggested we lie on the floor and close our eyes and just listen and feel the music. Dad and I spent a Saturday at the music store listening to all the different recordings, trying to find the right one on cd. I so clearly remember lying on the purple rug in my bedroom, summer breeze coming through the windows, Pachelbel’s violins soaring inside me. I couldn’t have chosen anything else for such a joyful day, and for the incredible man who held my hand as I learned to walk and was now going to walk me down the aisle. I cried because I was overwhelmed with happiness, I cried because I didn’t know what on earth I had done to deserve such blessings, I cried because I didn’t know how else to express my gratitude.

I cried all the way down the aisle, with a tissue hidden in my bouquet. I was so, so happy to see Eric waiting for me, and so, so happy to be sharing that moment with my sweet dad.

And I was so happy to be in the cathedral, where my grandparents were married over 50 years ago, and my parents more than 30 years ago. And even more happy to see all these people we love and who love us, who had come to celebrate with us.

We were so lucky that not only did we know the priest who married us, but he was a dear friend to us. He knew Eric before we met, and he knew us as a couple from our first dates.  He was one of the first people we called when we got engaged, and we just couldn’t imagine not having him preside over our wedding. We were touched and honored that he made the trip to marry us, and he made our ceremony so beautiful and so personal. During his homily, he took us up to a spot on the altar which, before the recent renovations, had been the beginning of the aisle. As we stood there, he explained that we were standing in the spot where my grandparents stood and where my parents stood when they gave their lives to each other. It was so moving, and I’m so grateful to him for it, especially since my grandparents have passed away and could not be there. This made me feel like they were, even if we couldn’t see them.

When it came time for rings and vows, I surprised myself by not crying at all. I was too happy for tears, somehow, and all I could do was smile until my face hurt. I loved saying those words, and I loved hearing Eric say them to me.

And, of course, there was laughter. I am pretty sure Fr. Charlie must have cracked us up, and I love him for it.

I love the pictures of us kneeling during the Eucharistic prayer. They represent to me that we are part of something that is so much bigger than us.

After the Eucharist and a nuptial blessing, we were ready to walk back down the aisle, this time as husband and wife! I don’t know if I have ever smiled so much in my life, and that is saying a lot! We were so, so blissfully happy.

This time down the aisle, we could see all the wonderful people who came from near and (very!) far to share in our joy. It was so special.

After we all processed out, there was lots of hugging in the little room where we were hidden away. So many wonderful people, so much joy.

We had to wait a little while for everyone to exit the church before we could head out to the reception, but this was like a little pre-reception, and it was so sweet. It’s hard for me to believe it has been almost a whole year since this day, and yet I am happy to say that we are both still smiling, still overjoyed to be married.

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