A Napa Fairytale: Ceremony, Part 2 of 2

As dusk fell on Napa, Dr. Houtz finished his sermon and it was time to exchange our vows. I love the traditional Christian wedding vows and neither Mr. Barrettes or I felt a strong urge to write our own. I would have most certainly blubbered though mine and my groom would have simply said, "I love you, you're beautiful." We were much better off exchanging the following:

I ____, take you, ____ to be my wife/husband;

and I promise,

before God and these witnesses,

to be your loving and faithful husband/wife;

in plenty and in want;

in joy and in sorrow;

in sickness and in health;

as long as we both shall live.

When I opened my mouth to speak, I heard a strange voice. It wasn't the me that was loud and outgoing. Suddenly, speaking those words, I could barely raise my voice above a whisper. I was afraid I would burst out in tears if I found my outside voice. This low voice was calm, sure, and steady. Mr. Barrettes flashed me a sweet smile when I was finished.

Next we exchanged our rings. The best man handed them to Dr. Houtz and he opened his palm to reveal one tiny purple circle and one big blue circle. Mr. Barrettes slipped mine on first and then I followed, saying:

_______, I give you this ring,

as a sign of our constant faith

and abiding love,

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

The string trio began to play Air in G, as the flowered curtain was pulled aside and we stepped back to light our unity candle.

We joined hands again as Dr. Houtz said a Pastoral Prayer and led the congregation in the Lord's Prayer.  I remember our hands being really sweaty. Actually, they were sweaty throughout the entire ceremony. We kept squeezing eachother's hands throughout the sermon during messages we liked, like it was a secret code that only we shared while everyone was looking at us.

The Announcement of Marriage was made as the reverend said:

Before God

and in the presence of this congregation,

B and R have made their solemn vows to each other.

They have confirmed their promises by the joining of hands

and by the giving and receiving of rings.

Therefore, I proclaim that they are now husband and wife.

Blessed be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever.

The congregation joined him in saying:

Those whom God has joined together let no one separate.

All that remained was the Charge and Blessing. Dr. Houtz reminded us that forgiveness was one of the most powerful tools of a strong marriage and charged each of us, and those who watched, with showing forgiveness to each other, often and gracefully. 

We bowed our heads for a final prayer, the reverend placed his hands on ours, said something lovely I'm sure, but then all I heard was "B and R, you may now kiss eachother.

Hooray! We were married! John handed me my bouquet and we walked back down the aisle as husband and wife.

We had a quick moment together by the fountain and then all I remember is lots of people hugging me. After being joined by our wedding party, we had a quickie photo-op on the bike, I kissed my husband goodbye, and I headed back to the bridal nook with John and Amy in tow to help with my costume change.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

I was happy to be wed in my mother's wedding dress, but I looked forward to re-joining our party in a little sumethin'-sumethin' more my style! It was time to let loose and thanks to my killer man of honor, I had the perfect dress for the occasion!

A Napa Fairytale: Ceremony, Part 1 of 2

It's hard to remember how the ceremony began. The moments happen so quickly-- I'm walking down the aisle, kissing my dad, then I'm holding Mr. Barrettes' hands and standing in front of Dr. Houtz. The guests gathered to witness us tie the knot fade into a beautiful background and I'm absorbed into the moment. My eyes dart back and forth between my groom's and the reverend's and I'm just trying to remember to breathe. The thrill is beyond.

I could see the excitement in my grooms eyes and I just loved standing there, holding hands, staring at eachother in front of our friends and family. I could have stood there all night. 3 1/2 inch heels? Forget about it! I couldn't feel anything but our hands touching and my heart racing.

Dr. Houtz welcomed everyone and began with a Statement on the Gift of Marriage, as outlined in the Presbyterian wedding ceremony. He followed with the Declarations of Intent of me and my groom:

B and R, understanding that God has created, ordered, and blessed the covenant of marriage, do you affirm your desire and intention to enter this covenant? We did.

Then he asked our parents and my grandparents to stand, and followed with the Affirmation of the Families:

Bride parents, Groom parents, and Bride grandparents, do you give your blessing to B and R, and promise to do everything in your power to uphold them in their marriage? They did.

Finally, he asked our audience, with the Affirmation of the Guests:

Will all of you witnessing these vows do everything in your power to uphold B and R in their marriage? They did.

 

My new sister-in-law then stepped forward and delivered two readings. I was so pleasantly surprised at how well she read them, considering her nerves-- nice and slow, clear and with strength. She paused in all the right spots, letting the words sink into the moment. She read an excerpt from Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, and from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13.

We returned to face each other and Dr. Houtz began his sermon. He started with a reference to the time I lost (and miraculously found) my engagement ring in Union Square and then continued with the loving and heartfelt words only he could deliver.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

It was around this time that the lapel microphone gave out and the best man had to step in with a handheld. He quickly realized that Dr. Houtz was not a man to need a mic as he delivered the rest of his sermon with the familiar and booming voice from my childhood.

As his words washed over me, I could feel the giant glow of love around us as everyone's attention was absorbed into his message. I breathed deep and enjoyed the moment.

A Napa Fairytale: Here Comes the Bride

Everyone was gone, the attention was elsewhere, and I was by myself looking over the scene. My vision was blurred by the veil and I could feel my breath quicken. The string music was easy on my ears and the murmur of the crowd made my pulse race. I whispered to no one, "This is so fun."

I waited until I saw Darlene give me the nod, my dad stepping into place. The strings began to play that familiar refrain-- this time for me.

I started walking, no, not walking, rushing. I had a lot of ground to cover before I reached the arm of my dad. My train was catching on the wood, I could hear it rip. I didn't care, I didn't stop to pick it up. Crap, my heel is falling between the wood planks. Omigod I'm taking too long! The strings have to start over! I reached the end of the mezzanine, Darlene told me to breathe.

Air rushed into my lungs as I met my dad's gaze. There were no tears. I thought there would be tears. In their place was an ache in my cheeks. A big, toothy, gummy smile. I took his arm. He said, "slow down, slow down, let's take it easy." I felt like I went from 60-0. Everything came into focus. My breathing slowed and I made a conscious effort to take everything in. Oh wait, we have to walk down steps. Shit, I can't see. I lifted my veil just enough to see past my feet. Where are the flower petals? Forget about the flower petals, girl, look, here are all the people you love, in one beautiful space!

We stop walking, the veil is lifted, my dad is kissing me and Mr. Barrettes is taking my hand. Then the tears-- cue the tears.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

Although we had our first look an hour earlier, seeing eachother at the end of the aisle was still a remarkable moment. My dad joined our hands and we faced eachother as Rev. Houtz began his welcome.

First look ladies, how was your "aisle moment" with your beloved? Different than the first look?

A Napa Fairytale: The Processional

The groom, best man, and reverend had the best view in the house as they watched the party make their processional down the aisle. From my bird's eye view, I could just see each couple walk down the top set of stairs before they disappeared into the courtyard below me.

So happy we decided on the string trio for the ceremony. I felt like their presence added so much to the moment.

Once our moms walked down the aisle, they stepped behind the flowered curtain to light our individual candles. They shared a proud mom moment with a sweet hug.

I love Amy and John's faces towards Mr. Barrettes as they approach their positions.

Each flowergirl gave Mr. Barrettes a high five when they reached the end of the aisle-- too cute!

Our ringbearer was too cool for a high five and he and Mr. Barrettes did a fist bump.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

I decided not to wait in the room any longer. Was it a rule I had to be inside? Forget that-- I wanted to see what was going on! 

I had a moment with 2 of my performer friends, who were making a late entrance into the courtyard behind the ringbearer. They traveled from Maine and I loved spotting them arrive at the last second. There was time for a quick breath as the strings changed their tune and I received the nod from our coordinator as my dad stepped into place...

Where did you wait for your big entrance? Did you see your processional?