tw + ac: 10.17.08.09: The Ceremony, Part Two

MUSIC

Picking the music for our wedding was a bit of a struggle. The English Major in me focuses on the lyrics, whereas Andy might have wanted to walk down the aisle to a song about a breakup because he liked the drum solo in it. I finally decided that I wanted some surprises at the wedding, so I asked Andy to pick out the song that I would walk down the aisle to and our first dance. This caused the only argument that we had throughout the entire wedding planning process. Our argument isn't significant enough to document, so here's a word of advice to other brides-to-be:

Silent Treatment = Getting the Good TV for the Night and Offers to Help Fold Things

Interlude

In My Life

The Beatles

Processional

Northern Sky

Nick Drake

Bride's Processional
Andy's Surprise Pick

Maybe I'm Amazed

Paul McCartney and the Wings

Hearing the introduction to this song was the only time the teared up that evening. I remember someone "whispering" loudly, "Look! She's already crying." I kind of remembered hearing the room take a collective breathe when we turned the corner, but thought that I had made it up, as I'm not normally one to turn heads. But Andy's sister and my friend trix both said the same thing. It was such a great moment. I kept trying to make eye contact with Andy, but he wouldn't look at me because he was afraid he'd cry.


I don't know why brides get crap about being all emotional. The dudes were the saps at our wedding. Andy was worried about crying and was shaking like a leaf when I got to the top of the aisle. And my dad was crying and trying to have a moment about "trying to be a good parent." I just wanted to listen to our music and wave to people! I swear, someone slipped me a valium when I wasn't looking.

Recessional

For Once In My Life

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! - Stevie Wonder - Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

WORDS: READINGS, LAUGHTER, AND VOWS

My Catholic family members weren’t too pleased with our decision to not marry in a church. The church that I wanted doesn’t do Friday weddings and I didn’t feel it very moral to join another church just to get married there. I tried securing the priest from the church that I grew up in, but he couldn’t perform our ceremony because it wasn’t in a church. (Fourteen years of Catholic school tuition and they can’t loan me a priest for 30 minutes?) Also, Andy’s Lutheran (pity that he won’t be joining me in Heaven. Ha. Ha.), so we'd have to have an Interfaith ceremony. We agreed that it was easiest to get married at A New Leaf and work with an officiant to include God.

For our readings, I had given my good friend carte blanche to do a reading of her writing or selection. She ended up selecting the lyrics from the song, What Are You Doing the Rest Of Your Life?, by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman. Here’s an excerpt:

I want to see your face in every kind of light

In fields of dawn and forests of the night

And when you stand before the candles on a cake

Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make

What are you doing the rest of your life?

North and South and East and West of your life

I have only one request of your life

That you spend it all with me

We followed it up with a modern interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13 performed by my brother. It was odd standing so close to people as they read.

Then, our officiant read our responses to several questions that he sent us before the wedding. Oh my God. I might have chosen my words more carefully if I had known about this. But it was so funny. Both Andy and I and our guests were cracking up the entire time. It feels odd to put something so personal up on the Interweb, so here’s a peek at our words:

My Words for Andy

Andy's Word for Me

Then, we began our vows. I didn't want to stress Andy out about writing our own vows, so we used traditional vows. They were sweet.

And then we kissed! (If you look closely, you can see that I'm on my tip-toes - and I still can't reach!)

And then we walked down the aisle to Stevie Wonder! Yeah, Stevie! I actually "forgot" that Stevie was about to play. I was reaching back for my flowers when I heard the first few beats. I became happy all over again. My friend from work said that they cried when she heard the Steve start to play.

When we walked out, we were greeted with hamburgers (a total hit with the guests) and had an impromptu receiving line before going back to the Apartment for some photos with our officiant and wedding party and heading downstairs to join the fun.

Images: Sarah Alair Photography