Wedding Day (Saturday, September 17)

Can I keep everything straight from this day? I'll try.

We slept in a bit, everyone finally getting up by 9:15 or so. The first plan of the day was breakfast at The Cracker Barrel, across the freeway from the Days Inn. Mike met us, picked me up and the family followed in their rental car. I was a bit scatter-brained. The words on the menu weren't making sense to me... I know I wanted eggs & pancakes... the waiter helped me figure it out. :)

We parted ways after a long breakfast. Mike had some things to get done, and Meg wanted to work on my hair after Mom finished ironing the dress she had made and brought with her. The bouquet mom made was at Mike's house... she had shipped it there earlier. I played Backgammon with Dad, and we watched a bit of college football on TV together after my hair had finally cooperated. The Washington Huskies game had just come on before it was time to go. They were losing to Nebraska in the first quarter when we turned on the channel, but they came stomping down the field to tie it while we watched. :)

Mike came by to pick me up around 2:30 - 3ish... memory is fuzzy. The family went to McFarlin Church, but Mike and I went to his house. I met his neighbors when he handed over his house key... very friendly! And very nice! They were going to look after things while we were away on the honeymoon. And then I helped him gather everything we needed for the ceremony. Judy, Dickie and Tracy (Mike's sister, brother-in-law & niece) drove up when we got back from the neighbors, but they went on to the church after saying hello.

Everything went very nicely from my point of view. Everyone took care of everything for me. :) I dressed in the sitting room of the women's restroom just around the corner from the chapel. Mom sat with me for a while, and that was very nice. Meg and Jason ran around helping and letting me know what was going on.

Since the ceremony was in his hometown, Mike had arranged everything. Tracy, his niece, is a Methodist minister, and through her we got use of this Methodist chapel at no charge. She performed the ceremony too... and took care of sending in the certificate after all was done.

Here's the transcript of the wedding that Mike wrote (mostly from a copy of Methodist wedding ceremonies):

ENTRANCE

Processional music: “O God Beyond All Praising” (Perry-Holst) [a hymn using the middle theme from Holst's Jupiter] Jen and Michael enter together as the processional plays.

GREETING

Tracy to guests:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman, Jennifer and Michael in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, and signifying unto us the mystical union that exists between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence in Cana of Galilee. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined.

READING AND MUSIC

Reading: In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote of two kinds of love that enable and support a Christian marriage:

“What we call ‘being in love’ is a glorious state and, in several ways, good for us. It helps to make us generous and courageous; it opens our eyes not only to the beauty of the beloved but to all beauty. . . . Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go. And in fact, whatever people say, the state called ‘being in love’ usually does not last. If the old fairy-tale ending ‘They lived happily ever after’ is taken to mean ‘They felt for the next fifty years exactly as they did the day before they were married,’ then it says what probably never was nor ever could be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? . . . But of course, ceasing to be ‘in love’ need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense – love as distinct from ‘being in love’ – is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace with which both partners ask, and receive, from God. . . . ‘Being in love’ first moved them to promise fidelity; this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run; being in love was the explosion that started it.”

As Jennifer and Michael unite in marriage, we honor those two loves. And we celebrate a third and greater love – the redeeming love of God, manifested through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is this love that provides the most stable foundation for a shared life. The first two loves join a man and a woman for as long as a lifetime. But we are promised this third love is unbounded and never-ending. Today we remember the words of the psalmist: “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.”

Music: “Love Never Fails” [live performance by a university guitar student]

DECLARATION BY THE MAN AND THE WOMAN

Tracy gives the following charge to Jen and Michael:

I charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that love and loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a happy home. If the solemn vows you are about to make are kept faithfully, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, your life will be full of joy, and the home you are establishing will abide in peace. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.

Tracy to Michael:

Michael, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only to her so long as you both shall live?

Michael: I will.

Tracy to Jen:

Jennifer, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only to him so long as you both shall live?

Jen: I will.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS

Tracy prompts them, line by line.

Michael to Jen:

I, Michael, take you, Jennifer, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge you my faith.

Jen to Michael:

I, Jennifer, take you, Michael, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold,
from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge you my faith.

BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS

Tracy, taking the rings:

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and woman in holy matrimony, through the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide in thy peace, and continue in thy favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(prompted, line by line, by Tracy):

In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

Tracy to guests:

Forasmuch as Jennifer and Michael have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands and by giving and receiving rings; I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. Amen.

Jen and Michael kiss, then turn and face the guests.

Tracy to guests:

May I present Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Jennifer Waters.

(Applause) (At least I hope so)

...there was. :)
It was a beautiful ceremony. From there, after a little milling around, and the witnesses signing the certificate and pictures being taken, we all headed to an elegant local restaurant called "Legends" were a dozen or so of us dined wonderfully, thanks to my Mom and Dad's generosity. I had a delicious chicken dinner... can't remember exactly... and then we tasted their famous cakes for dessert. A few presents and cards were opened... and then our magical day was almost done. My family came over to the house to say goodbye, and I loved that very much. We tried to sort out my stuff from theirs as best we could, and we did pretty well. A sewing kit and my wedding shoes got left with us. :)

When all had left, Mike and I sat on his porch, having a lovely little chat as husband and wife for the first time. Jupiter rose, and we kissed.