August 16th was one of the most wonderful days of my life.  Everything was perfect : )  If by some chance it wasn't, I never found out ; )  After 6 months of planning the wedding and dealing with the stresses brought on by all the changes in life and relationships, it was a day full of peace and sheer joy!

     Yes, I was super nervous, yes, my mom cried (as did many others during the ceremony), and, yes, we were on our feet all day, receiving guests, posing for the photographers, and maintaining perpetual smiles until we thought our faces were going to freeze that way (although, it's not an altogether unpleasant expression for your face to freeze in)!  To someone simply looking at pictures, it was a typical church wedding with all the flowers, candles, cake, and punch.  But to my groom and myself and to everyone involved and present, it was so much more.

     Robert and I arrived at the church early that morning so we could pray together before we went our separate ways (which "brilliant" person started the tradition that says the bride and groom can't see each other until they get to the marriage altar?).  We prayed for peace and that God would be glorified in the day's events.
 

     The auditorium was decorated and waiting like a child for Christmas morning.  Every tiny white light was lit and sparkling like a million shining stars on the green plants and tress that filled the stage.  Every white and purple rose nestled peacefully among the ivy and clouds of white tulle and lined the aisle.  Every waxy ivy leaf and every glistening white rose petal quivered with anticipation on the archway that guarded the entrance to the sanctuary.  And every guest waited with bated breath to the gentle strains of violin music.
 

    At 2:00 p.m. I was waiting nervously outside the auditorium, swaying impatiently and trying to stifle the tears that threatened to spill over.  I don’t know why I felt like crying; This was the happiest day of my life!  I think it was simply that all of the emotions welling up inside of me needed an outlet.  So I swayed and reminded myself to breathe deeply, slowly, and evenly while waiting for my turn to set foot in the aisle.
 

     Pachalbel’s Canon in D Minor slowly crescendoed, filling the auditorium as first my future mother-in-law, then my own mother were escorted down the aisle by our fathers to light the unity candles.  My bridesmaids began their procession down the aisle. 

     My dad appeared at my side, looking so handsome in his tux.   

 

     The ringbearer started down the aisle, bearing his box of wedding day treasure.

 

     Behind him, the Flowergirl tossed handfuls of pansies into the air and smiled as they fell around her and landed in the aisle.  They continued their steady procession up the aisle…
 

     I waited, growing more and more anxious as the seconds passed.
 

     My dad said, “I love you.” 
 

    I blinked back my tears. 
 

    The music stopped.
 

Four little girls, each carrying a crystal bell, danced down the aisle, ringing those bells and announcing to the guests, “The bride is coming!  The bride is coming!”



     My dad and I stepped to the doorway.  Just two seconds…
 

     The little girls sat down.  All was deathly still for the longest second I’ve ever lived through.  Then it came: the powerfully energizing shriek of bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace.”  My dad and I were under the arch. 

The song sent amazing chills up my spine and brought tears to my eyes as it always has.

Every person in the room rose to their feet like a wave of sand across a beach.

 
    
We began our slow walk. 


Why did we have to walk twice as slow as every other member of the wedding party?!  I wanted to run!  My groom was waiting for me at the other end of that long aisle.
 

     I looked around at a few people until I was close enough to see into Robert’s eyes.
 

     From that moment on, every ounce of nervousness fled, and every tear dried up.  Neither of us could do anything but smile and smile some more.  

My dad gave me away “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” and Robert led me up the steps to the altar.  We faced the audience and two of God’s greatest men: my uncle and another homeschooling father I’ve known since I was 8, who watched and encouraged us during our relationship.  They invited both of our dads up to the altar to pronounce a blessing on us.  Robert’s dad gave us a blessing from the book of Jude, and my own father blessed us from Psalm 128, then they laid their hands on us and prayed, asking God’s blessing on our lives and marriage.
 

    After a powerful charge from Ephesians 5, for the first time we read out loud the vows we’d written to each other, Robert vowing to love me as Christ loved and gave Himself for the church, and I vowing to respect and submit to Robert’s leadership as the church submits to Christ.

        

Then we exchanged rings.  Have you ever noticed that brides and grooms always have a struggle to get the rings on the other person?  This is NOT because the rings are sized too small; it is simply a matter of both parties being so nervous that their blood is pumping, making their fingers swell to half a size larger than normal!
 

    With our rings shining on our fingers, Robert led me to the table where the unity candle stood waiting.  The candles our mothers had lit were burning brightly, reminding us of the two lives that we had lived and of the lives our parents had lived while raising us.  It was time to light our own candle to burn brightly as a light to the world. We touched the candles together, and our own flame sprang to life.  I couldn’t help but smile. There were no longer only two flames, but three.

 


Two friends sang “Forever By Your Side” by Eric and Leslie Ludy, while Robert and I went down to our guests to carry red roses to our mothers, first mine, then his.  Once that was done, I realized that our song still had a ways to go.  At last! I was going to find out what brides and grooms talked about while they stood onstage and waited for the music to be over!  Well, I doubt other brides and grooms talked about what WE talked about…that will remain a secret for all time.   

 

    As the song drew to a close, Robert and I looked out at our guests.  There were so many faces, so many different backgrounds, so many walks of life.  Yet all of them shared the same expression of happiness and contentment.  We could sense God’s presence filling the room.
 

Then I remembered.
 

     The kiss was next!  I wasn’t ready!  I’d never kissed anyone before, and my deepest (yet unfounded) fear was that, when Robert drew close, I’d back up.  Yes, I know, what an odd thing to worry about on your wedding day!  You’re supposed to worry about what your dress looks like and where the ringbearer has run off to and how many pictures are taken and what your great aunt Nora thinks of everything.
 

     But none of that crossed my mind.  I was worried about The Kiss.
 

     I needn’t have been.
 

  
     Then a second, too soon after the first for anyone to capture it on film.
What can I say?  He asked for another one!

     So, there we stood, facing our guests and beaming.  Then my uncle presented us with a Bible and the words, “Robert, as you lead Crystal out with your right hand, you will be led by God’s word in your left.”
 

     Then he presented “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Patrick.”
 

     Robert stood onstage, holding my hand and grinning.  “We can walk out now.”  I whispered.  While a friend played “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” on a violin, we walked, SLOWLY, down the aisle.

     From there, the rest of the day was a blur of taking pictures, hugging family and friends, mingling with guests, and enjoying
our new status as husband and wife.