Weddingbee Blog

While taking pre-wedding portraits, our two families had arrived at the courthouse. Mr. Mary Jane’s parents and mine had never before met, so this was kind of a tense moment (for me, at least). Would they like each other? Would they get along? When you’ve got such a small guest list, you really have to hope that no one will offend each other or anything right off the bat. There isn’t really anyone else for them to talk to. We’re glad that everyone got along really well, and enjoyed each others’ company throughout the afternoon and evening.

[All photos in this post are credited to Shawna Noel Photography unless otherwise noted. Cropping and/or blurring of faces was done by me.]

But where were we? OH YEAH, WEDDING TIME! Let me set the scene…

*Photo directly above by MIL Mary Jane*

The 11 of us were laughing, joking, and snapping various photos in the courtroom when the clerk came in. I handed her the $50 cash fee (which I had forgotten about until the last minute and subsequently had to beg from my mother… classy, Mary Jane. Very classy). She also told us we’d need 2 witnesses to stand with us. I had kind of figured that all of the non-minor guests would be witnesses, so I hadn’t counted on singling out two of them. “Ummmm,” I said, and looked at Mr. Mary Jane. He looked at me. I said, “dads.” And pointed at them. That was that.

We all kind of continued laughing and joking around, being rather oblivious and impolite to the fact that it was 4:30 and at the Traill County Courthouse, weddings take place at 4:30.

So the clerk did pretty much what I would have done in her shoes: She started reading the ceremony.

We are gathered here in the presence of these witnesses to –

“Shhhh! She’s starting - we’re getting married NOW - let’s pay attention!”

–to join together Mr. Mary Jane and Miss Mary Jane in marriage.

The marriage ceremony is one of the oldest social ceremonies that people celebrate. This civil ceremony, although brief is as binding and significant as the most solemn religious ceremony. Marriage is a serious matter and one that is not to be entered into lightly. I trust that both of you have given serious thought and consideration to the responsibilities you are about to assume.

As a guide to your marriage, consider these words:
Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

…Uh, was that — pretty much — 1st Corinthians 13? Isn’t this a secular ceremony? Eh, whatever. We’re in North Dakota. The definition of secular here in the Red River Valley is “I forgot to bring my bible to church today.” Carry on…

Mr. Mary Jane, will you take Miss Mary Jane for your lawful wedded wife? If so, answer “I will”.

Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad as long as you both shall live? If so, answer “I will”.

Miss Mary Jane, will you take Mr. Mary Jane for your lawful wedded husband? If so, answer “I will”.

Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad as long as you both shall live? If so, answer “I will”.

Please join hands.

We had not seen the ceremony or done any sort of rehearsal. So this point, Mr. Mary Jane thought it was time to exchange rings. He started whispering “Bob! Bob!” and gesturing to our friend (who had our rings in his pocket) to step forward.

Bob came forward to give us the rings. It was not time for the rings. Meanwhile, the clerk was still talking, and Mr. Mary Jane had missed this little bit:

Mr. Mary Jane, speaking to Miss Mary Jane, please repeat after me:
“I, Mr. MJ take you, Miss MJ to be my wife. I will be faithful to you. I will love you and honor you as long as we both shall live.”

He asked her to repeat it, which she did. Then he said the words. Awwwwwww! *Sniffle.* And it was my turn.

Miss Mary Jane, speaking to Mr. Mary Jane, please repeat after me:
“I, Miss MJ take you, Mr. MJ to be my husband. I will be faithful to you. I will love you and honor you as long as we both shall live.”

I said it! *Sniffle!*

Mr. Mary Jane, do you have your ring?

No, actually… because it wasn’t time for the rings before! Bob was close by though, and ready to do the hand off. I had planned to have some sort of stylish and elegant way to carry those all-important rings. My antique ring box, for example. But it wouldn’t hold Mr. MJ’s band - too thick. So I was going to buy or make something else. At least a little taffeta sack. Something cute! Well, I didn’t. And the two ring boxes we’d brought them in were too cumbersome for Bob to haul around all afternoon. So our rings chilled, bare, in Bob’s pocket until this moment, when he whipped them out and handed them over.

Please place it on Miss Mary Jane’s finger and repeat after me: “I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

We hadn’t practiced this either, and we couldn’t get it on properly. I had my e-ring on that finger, and had just planned to easily slip the band on, sliding it under the notch in my e-ring. It wouldn’t go.

After fussing with it for a few seconds, we ended up leaving it all crooked and weird until the end of the ceremony. The show must go on!

Miss Mary Jane, do you have your ring?

Please place it on Mr. Mary Jane’s finger and repeat after me: “I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.”

HIS went on. When I put on a ring, ladies, I put on a ring.

The ring is a symbol of marriage and a sign that today you have pledged yourselves in marriage. By your exchange of rings and vows here today, you have announced your consent to the marriage.

I looked at my mom. She had the tears. That gave me the tears.

And now, because Mr. MJ and Miss MJ have announced their consent to their marriage to each other and declared the same before witnesses, it is my pleasure to use the authority vested in me by the state of North Dakota to pronounce you husband and wife.

Congratulations. You may kiss the bride.

And that, my friends, was that. About 5 minutes. It was over in an instant, and it also took forever. I was thoroughly pleased.

And there were congrats to be had and hugs to be given…

And dads did their legal duty…

Notice anything about that pic above? Tan lines, perhaps? I was outside this summer. I got unevenly tan. No shame in that!

After we were done with the legal stuff, it was time for… more pictures!

Previously…
1. Leading up to the Big Day
2. Cake, and DIYing the Bouquet
3. Getting Bridal
4. A Surprise for the Bride
5. Portraiture