Weddingbee Blog

After taking pictures in the lobby with my family, everyone headed up to the terrace where Mr. N and his family were awaiting my arrival.

Sharon and I stayed behind to hop back on the Hummer golf cart and be chauffeured up there. It was fun passing people along the path because they all yelled, “congratulations!” when they saw me whiz by in my big white dress. But of course on our way, it started raining. It was a light drizzle, but it was just enough to give me flashbacks of the downpour from a few hours before. Luckily the heavens never fully opened up and we made it to the entrance of the terrace.

My dad was waiting for me with a big smile. Sharon headed in and dad and I stood behind the curtain trying to figure out which one of us goes on which side. With no rehearsal, we hadn’t even thought about it. In the meantime, Monica, our coordinator, wiped down the aisle with towels while the steel pan echoed in the skies. My heart was racing. I was getting that happy teary chokey feeling, and then the curtains opened and it was my moment to shine. My dad proudly walked me towards my love.

(Bill Payne Photography)

My dad is the cutest – he had asked me what to wear a few days before because he had brought a few different pairs of shorts and polos to choose from. We had agreed that khaki shorts and a white polo would be perfect, but at the last minute, he decided to dress up a little for me. I love my dad. I also love this next picture because I seriously didn’t realize the steel pan player was right there, even throughout the entire ceremony. I guess I had other things on my mind…

(Bill Payne Photography)

We reached the gazebo and my dad was caught off guard because the minister asked, “who gives this woman…?” Again, with no rehearsal, he didn’t realize he’d have to talk! But fulfilling his fatherly role perfectly, he responded with a proud, “I do.” We gave each other a kiss, and he gave Mr. N a hug and said to him, “welcome to the club!”

We were told later that Mr. N’s 5-year-old niece actually started crying and said, “she’s so beautiful!” when I was walking down. Her parents thought they were fake tears at first because she can be kind of a ham, but they surprisingly realized they were authentic tears of joy. I didn’t know little kids did that! And I love that we have a picture of it!

The minister began the ceremony and I tried to soak in all that he was saying.

He read one of my favorite passages from the Bible:

“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

He talked about how in marriage and love, there are two important things to never forget—commitment and truth, the most important being truth.

Then he asked us to turn to each other and take each other’s right hand and repeat the vows he was about to say. We actually started giggling at each other because we had a conversation not too far back about how we hoped we would simply have to say, “I do/will,” for fear of getting choked up while trying to recite vows. That wasn’t the case.

Then it was time for the rings. Mr. N was told to put it on my finger half-way, and then repeat the words, “With this ring, I thee wed. Today I marry you – my love, my heart, my best friend.” Then he slipped the ring on the rest of the way.

It was so funny: we both had that nervous inappropriate giggly thing going on throughout the entire ceremony even though we both had tears in our eyes. It was just so surreal that I was marrying the boy I had a crush on my entire life. I couldn’t believe it. It was then time for his ring—I had to put it on half-way, then repeat the same words he had just spoken to me.

We then turned back to the minister and he spoke some wonderful words about love and loyalty. And before I knew it, he happily said the words I had been waiting for: ”By the power vested in me by the laws of these United States Virgin Islands, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

(Bill Payne Photography)

And poof! We were married!

(all photos courtesy of Blair’s Eye View Photography unless otherwise noted)

Up next: a fun surprise at the end of the aisle!

And in case you missed it…

• I’m Back, Did Ya Miss Me?
• Nachos Nuptials: The Adventure Begins!
• Nachos Nuptials: Day 1 – We Made It!
• Nachos Nuptials: Day 2 – Pre-Wedding Prep
• Nachos Nuptials: Wedding Day – Getting Pretty!
• Nachos Nuptials: Wedding Day – Deep Breaths…