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| The Wedding Site |
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| Omen of things to come. |
Ashley was a beautiful bride on the verge of a miserable
experience. Her wedding day will be memorable, a day to be talked about for
decades. Taking real care in her walk up to San Sophia overlook where she will
make the brides grand entrance, her first clue she is nearing the wedding site
is the Woodwind Trio’s canopy cover rolling by, end over end, with her brother,
who is to be her escort chasing it.
Meanwhile, the groom and I are standing on the wedding
platform our backs to a very cold wind that is right in the face of the
gathered congregation. The wedding must go on, full steam ahead.
The Trio, who haven’t missed a beat, even as their canopy
went flying off of them switches to the brides song and she and her escort,
heads bowed into the fierce wind, come down the grassy aisle. As they arrive,
and we are all on the platform I look into three very cold faces. It is not my
nature to watch a lady freezing when I have a coat on and I have to fight the
urge to put my suit coat over the brides bare arms and shoulders. Looking into
the grooms eyes I ask, “Josh, do you want me to condense this ceremony?”
“Please, as short as possible!” was his reply.
“Ashley, are you ok with a shortened ceremony?” Through
bluing lips and chattering teeth she said, “Please, please, do!”
And then, if the cold wind wasn’t enough, it began to sleet,
little pellets of ice, driven by the wind. The grooms father, my good friend
David McConkey, jumped up from his seat and brought an umbrella and for the
rest of the service stood behind the bride keeping the sleet, well, attempting
to keep the sleet off Ashley.
I am going through my, “I am going to give her my coat
thoughts” again, when out of the audience someone braves the cold and places a
nice warm shawl over her shoulders.
We prayed, a very short prayer, I asked, ‘Who gives this
woman to be married to this man?” whereupon her brother shouts into the wind,
“I DO!”
How short did I condense it? I said, “I have some biblical
advice regarding keeping your love strong, I will send you an e-mail.”
“Oh thank you,!” Ashley said.
We rapidly went through the vows. I asked for the rings. The
bride beat me to the ring bearer to get them.
“Josh put the ring on Ashley’s finger and repeat after me.”
I condensed the ring ceremony and he repeated. I looked at Ashley, she was
shivering, sleet was on her face where most brides have tears of joy. David was
struggling to keep the umbrella from collapsing in the wind, incidentally just
like the trio’s tent had totally collapsed.
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| Misery pushing Joy aside |
The large vases holding the flowers suddenly blow off the
platform onto the ground. Looking past the couple into the congregation all I
could see was row after row of clear plastic umbrella tops pointed at us. “They
can’t hear a word that I am saying,” I thought.
“Ashley,” I hurried, “just say “ditto.”
“Ditto!” she replied.
Prayer. Again very short. “Lord please bless this message.
Amen.”
“I pronounce you husband and wife.” Ashley immediately turned
and was ready to head out! Josh reached over and took her arm, if nothing else,
he didn’t intend to be denied this wedding kiss. She responded, but without
much enthusiasm.
NOTE to Groom: “Josh, Just the first of many times you will
have to chase her for a kiss.”
The crowd erupts into applause; everybody jumps up and runs
for cover, so much for our carefully planned exits.
The thunder began to explode around us and although I never
saw lightening, I was ready for all of these folks to be off the mountain top. I
couldn’t keep them there if I wanted. They were dashing for the gondola.
Mountain top weddings are beautiful. The views from the
marriage site were awesome in every direction. If you choose such a site for
your wedding, just know that no one, not even a fantastic wedding director can
control the afternoon thunderstorms.
In the evening at the reception, Bride and Groom, and the
wedding party were all laughing and happy about the way things turned out. I
only hope their lasting memories are good ones.
