In retrospect, I think I would have had the photographer come a little earlier. Not that she missed much, other than my clumsily pinning boutonnieres on Dad and Joe, and everyone milling around wondering what to do. A few people were already there when we arrived, mostly family members, and my good friend Sarah and her mom. Leave it to Sarah to have struck up a conversation with Christine, the other bride who'd gotten married at noon that day. Sarah told me that Christine apologized for the flowers on the altar. We'd split cost for the arrangements and they were supposed to be white with a blue ribbon; they turned out to be pink. I'm not certain I would have even noticed if it hadn't been mentioned, but again in retrospect I would have bought arrangements from our florist instead (she was quite awesome!).
As it got closer to 2, more guests began to trickle in, and Joe and I stood by the door and greeted everyone. They all seemed pleasantly surprised to see both of us, and I found it much more relaxing to stand with Joe saying hellos than I would have felt hiding somewhere. I had many compliments on my dress and hugged a lot of people. :-)
Our piano player, Dave, started the prelude music with "Stones", a melody from the Ultima games. Joe's brother recognized it, not sure if anyone else did. ;-) (Another advantage to not hiding beforehand: we got to hear the prelude music! If I'd realized that I would have spent more time choosing those songs. ;-)) The wedding coordinator lady started lining everyone up then, in spite of there being 3 prelude songs before the processional -- I guess we didn't communicate our vision very well. Before I knew it, Dave was halfway through the second song and the wedding coordinator had sent our parents down the aisle.
My parents looked pretty happy.
Joe's parents were happier than they looked. ;-)
Meanwhile, I am embarrassed to say, I panicked. I had a plan for the whole day, so far the entire day had gone according to that plan and I'd been relaxed. The next step in the plan was that we were all, parents, bridal party, Joe and I, supposed to walk down the aisle to "Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee". Sending all the parents down 2 songs early was not in the plan, and I had a small meltdown. But I think that was Bridezilla's one and only appearance. :-) Luckily Father Sean knew what was going on, and he stayed in the sacristy until the prelude ended. Our sweet old wedding coordinator kept wondering where the priest was because she couldn't send everyone else down the aisle until he came out. So our parents must have felt pretty silly standing at the end of the aisle for 5 minutes or so by themselves, but everything worked out. Dave finished the third song at the stroke of 2 (I loved how he timed it out exactly!), Fr Sean and the altar servers appeared, and everyone stood up. They were supposed to sing too but I have no idea if they did. ;-)
Sean and Angela were the first ones down the aisle...
...followed by Tim and Molly.
Then came John and Kristie, both of whom look stoic in most of the pics. I speculate that Kristie got a glimpse of Hamilton here. :-)
And then at long last, the bride and groom!
From the time we headed down the aisle, I don't think the smile left my face. This next picture amuses me because Joe and I are grinning like fools, while John and Kristie appear to be sternly disapproving. (The church also looks really empty in all the pictures from that angle, because of course nobody wants to sit in the front rows!)
Kristie read our Old Testament reading, Genesis 2:18-24:
The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.
Our responsorial Psalm, sung by awesome pianist Dave, was Psalm 103:
The LORD is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God.
The LORD is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on the faithful.
The LORD is kind and merciful.
But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age. He favors the children's children of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.
The LORD is kind and merciful.
Jana read the New Testament reading, Ephesians 5:2, 21-33 (one of my favorites!):
Live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us. Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.
It sounded like she cracked up a little at the "wives should be subordinate" part, but then she looked at us and got choked up.
The Gospel reading was John 15:12-16
Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."
Father Sean said this is his favorite Gospel passage, and he was excited that we chose it. Then he sat down on the steps in front of the altar, face to face with us, and delivered a beautiful homily on love. (Which, unfortunately, I don't remember now. :-/ Maybe I should ask him for a copy!)
Then it was time for the best part... the vows!
We went with the traditional "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." Classic.
Joe actually made a face at me while Fr Sean was talking, and this was my reaction.
But mostly he just looked as happy as I felt! :)
Exchanging rings... Fr Sean was giddy too!
"You may kiss your bride." Aww.
And now... husband and wife!
But the beauty of a Catholic wedding is, it's not over yet. ;-) My new sister-in-law Sandy read the Prayer of the Faithful.
Groomsman Tim, his wife Cathy, and daughters Caitlyn and Cindy brought up the gifts for Communion. Mischievous Cindy (age 2) was curious and started to sneak away to explore the altar while her mom and unborn sibling received a blessing from the priest. Daddy had an eye on her though. :-)
I love that our first act as a married couple was to receive the Eucharist together with the other members of the Church. I remember waxing poetic on this subject a few years ago (after my first time going to a Catholic wedding)... I still think it is so beautiful how the whole community celebrates with the new family, by sharing in Communion with them. In our case the symbolism was imperfect since over half of those present were not Catholic... but everyone did share in offering us a blessing afterward. :) (Fr Sean: "Everyone raise your right hand, repeat after me. 'I solemnly swear...'" *laugh* "I get them every time, don't I!") This is pretty much everyone from my dad's side that came, jammed into one pew!
Just a couple of other funny little details I want to remember... first was that Fr Sean used his own chalice when he celebrated the Mass, and since Joe and I received under both kinds, we received the Precious Blood from it. This is actually a big deal because Fr Sean never lets anyone else drink out of his chalice. Even on Sundays, he will use two chalices, his own just for him, and a different one for the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. So silly as it may seem, I was feeling pretty important that we got to share it.
Second was at the very end when Fr Sean was getting ready to introduce us before sending us down the aisle. He kept asking how to pronounce our last name, and then getting it wrong. Finally, laughing, he looked at the best man and said, "You're not going to hit me, are you?" And John replied by cracking his knuckles. (I actually missed this, Joe explained to me later -- all I heard was the three of them laughing hysterically!)
But now, to thunderous applause and the music of Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring", here come the new Mr. and Mrs.
There are several awesome pictures from the receiving line (yes, we greeted everyone when they came into the church, and then we greeted them all again as they were leaving!)... I'll try to keep it to a few favorites. :-)
First, my beautiful grandmother.
Joe's parents, looking much happier than in the earlier picture!
So many people have asked, "Aw, was this your flower girl?" Nope (we didn't have one), but this is Caitlyn who helped to bring up the Communion gifts. :-)
For some reason, my sister happened to have bubbles with her. Really though, everyone should carry bubbles with them at all times. We should all look to her as an example. ;-)
Jana and Charlie (notice how his tie matches her dress!) got engaged a couple of weeks later. :-)
We caught Father Sean for another photo before we left for the reception.
This is my favorite picture of just the two of us... in spite of being all sweaty and shiny. ;-)
And now... we head off to the reception for excellent music, delicious food, lots of fun, and everyone's favorite part... group photos.