Wedding Blog

My last recap post did not end on a favorable note. If you can recall, the charter bus carrying over 50 of our guests was running an hour and a half late. I was hyperventilating in the bridal suite, and the boys were taking whiskey shots in their suite.

All my fears and anxiety were quelled when the bus arrived. It took less than 5 minutes for our DOC Christine Viola and the staff at The Fountainhead to shuffle all 50+ guests upstairs to the chapel and have them properly seated.

It was time to get married.

(All photos by Danny Weiss.)

Everyone was finally seated and ready to bear witness to our wedding.

Mr. Peony and his best man took their places at the altar while the bridal party lined up outside the chapel.

Our mothers then lit the unity candles…

And the rest of the bridal party began their walk down the aisle to the sweet strains of Bach’s Air in G.

My Maid of Honor bravely made the walk by herself.

I still remember standing behind those double doors, completely unaware of what was awaiting me. I heard Air in G slowly coming to a conclusion, then a pause. I held my breath as the string quartet began Wagner’s Bridal March powerfully and joyfully. The doors swung open.

There was a collective gasp as I entered the room with my father by my side. Suddenly, all my fears and worries were gone. All my loved ones were in this room to support my marriage to the man of my dreams. I was all smiles from then on.

I will never forget the look on Mr. Peony’s face as he saw me walking towards him.

As I got closer, I discovered that he had tears streaming down his face!

I gave him a reassuring smile and continued my trek down the aisle.

When I finally joined my groom, I whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You look so beautiful and I’m just so happy.”

The ceremony began.

Our pastor is a dear friend of ours. He had gotten ordained just a few months before our wedding, so our wedding was the first he performed! We were so incredibly lucky and grateful to have such a great friend and keeper of the faith officiate our wedding.

Then came the exchange of the rings.

I had a bit of trouble with Mr. Peony’s ring… it took quite some time and energy to get it on!

Then we lit the center unity candle.

And the head pastor at our church stepped in to give the benediction.

Then we were proclaimed husband and wife!

Celebrations. Doves flying. Fireworks. Well, not really, but it certainly felt like it!