I Do

I had the joy and privilege to join friends and family thi past Saturday in celebrating the union of two friends, as they became husband and wife before man and God.

The event was unique and special to the couple - with a black bridal dress, Nightmare Before Christmas cake topper, tattoo sleeves for the bridesmaids, and musical impersonators (Elvis, and the Rat Pack) - but I think every couple's wedding is unique and certainly special. There are elements that are traditional, but because the thumbprint of the bride and groom, and their respective families, is on the wedding is is special and unique no matter what.

For me it was my first wedding to attend as part of a couple, which considering the say ten plus weddings I've attended, was a welcome change.

I think anytime there's a wedding it stirs thoughts of colors, styles, food, dresses, people, cakes, music, words, emotions, dancing -- essentially weddings!! For those marreid it brings to mind that special day of their own unique blend, and for those that have yet to claim those two words of "I do" it is a time to imagine and dream.

Whether the prospective bride is dating or not (every woman is a prospective bride), I'm willing to lay stake that at least some ideas of her wedding flitter through her mind. Now she may be one of those Friend's Monica Bridezilla types, and have a whole binder put together resplendent with pictures, and contact information; or merely be a simple dreamer with fuzzy ideas of what the day would look like.

Essentially though what makes a wedding a true gateway to marriage is the guest list (besides the obvious love and commitment of the bride and groom), because when it comes down to it those gathered to celebrate the promise of love are people who have stood with the couple - either as they've grown individually or as they've grown as a couple, and when those people gather for a wedding they are pledging to stand with the couple as the journey takes on new heights (and lows).

So for all the foo foo and finery, for all the details and schedules, for all the planning and execution it is the people who make the wedding the joyous occassion of love, commitment, and blend of two lives. With that being said, my prayers go to my two friends of recent marital bliss and may those that gathered to celebrate Saturday night continue to be the ones that gather around the couple as this new phase of life unfolds.