Wedding in the Fall (Rory's POV)
A/N: I do not own anything. Copyrights remain with their respective owners.
It was a typical New England autumn day as brown leaves lined the green lawns at the Dragonfly Inn. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky, but being autumn the weather was cool. In fact, a light breeze blew through the trees in the garden.
Looking into the garden, the rows of white chairs were set up and an arch framed the entryway from the inn building to the garden. A lone red carpet lay on the grass leading up towards an elaborate stage, all paid for by Hartford money.
The reverend stood already at the end ready to perform the marriage ceremony as the guests filed into the seats. The groom, with his groomsmen stood at the front waiting for the bride to arrive.
Rory Gilmore was sitting in the limousine taking the short ride from her family home in Stars Hollow to the Dragonfly Inn, where the wedding, her wedding to the man of her dreams was to take place. In the car with her sat, her mother, Lorelai Gilmore-Danes, her bridesmaids and bridesmatrons, including her matron-of-honour, Lane. The wedding dress, picked out from the boutique in New York had been a choice of her and her grandmother Emily, who now waited at the Inn for her.
Given that Lorelai was the constant in her life, in many ways, her only parent throughout her life, she had chosen her mother to walk her down the aisle. Yes, it was unconventional, but it also avoided the choice between her stepfather Luke, and her biological father Christopher who were both in attendance at the wedding.
As the limo pulled up to the front entrance of the Inn, the women inside looked one last time to each other before the ceremony would begin. The limo stopped and the door was opened by the driver. The bridesmaids hopped out, followed by the mother of the bride, and then, the bride herself. They entered into the inn and entered into the room reserved for the bride to get ready. Entering, the bridesmaids and bride checked their hair, make-up and dresses.
The wedding in the fall had called for a simple natural theme, the bridesmaids in deep blue, a contrast to the browns and greens of fall, and the white wedding dress. As Paris and Lane both exited the room, ready to walk down the aisle, Rory was left with alone with her mother.
"So," her mother said, "This is it, you're getting married to the love of your life."
Rory turned towards her mother, "yes, I am," she continued, "I thought I'd be nervous, but truthfully, I can't wait. And I couldn't think of a better person to give me away."
Lorelai smiled at her, "shall we, then, get ready to take that step." It had been Rory and herself for many years, yes Chris came here and then, and Luke had been around for a long time before she had married him, but a lot of the time it had just been the two of them, the Gilmore girls, and now, her daughter was getting married.
It was every mother's dream that their daughter would find love and be married to the perfect son-in-law, but it was also her fear, that Rory's first priority would have to be someone else, her husband and eventually their children.
Lorelai quickly pushed that thought aside, as she helped Rory rise, for the last time as Rory Gilmore, single woman. As she and Rory left the room, the wooden door closed behind them, a chapter of life over, but a new one beginning, with a son-in-law.
Rory watched as Paris walked down the aisle, her old room-mate at Yale, now medical school student, soon to be doctor. Rory saw her friend turn her head slightly, smiling at her husband, Doyle, as she made her way to the end of the aisle. She saw more than a few cameras flash as photos of the small intimate wedding ceremony were taken.
She then saw Lane, her matron-of-honour, walk down the aisle as the music continued to play slowly, filling the air with a beautiful sweet melody. It was soon to be her turn to make the final walk, with her mum at her side, down the aisle.
Lorelai and Rory made their way down the aisle, as the music reached its peak. Rory made her way, walking slowly, step by step, her face hidden by the veil of the wedding dress. The train of her dress followed her as she made her way down the aisle. She saw the people of Stars Hollow, her neighbour Babette, Lane's husband and children, Maury and many others. She saw her step-father Luke, as she made her way down the aisle. Emily and Richard, her grandparents and her father Chris Hayden, her half-sister Gigi, and his mother Francine were also in the wedding ceremony. Luke and his daughter April were both there as well. It was one of the rare times that she saw Luke out of his trademark backwards baseball cap and flannel shirt. She saw the groom's family, looking resplendent in their formal wear.
As she reached the end of the aisle, she saw her husband-to-be, his groomsmen and made her way to stand beside him. The reverend began to speak. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today," he said, "to join this man and this woman, in holy matrimony. If anyone here has a legitimate reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." The reverend allowed a small window of silence before continuing.
"Right," he stated, "the couple before us today have written their own vows. They will now recite the vows." Rory's eyes began to mist up as she heard her husband-to-be talk about how they first met, his undying love and devotion to her, and how he wanted nothing more than to make her happy. She saw the ring, the simple gold wedding band, now slipped onto her ring finger. She looked up into his eyes, and began to recite her own vows.
"When I first met you, I knew there was something about you that made me want to know you more," she continued, "in getting to know you, I found someone who I can share the rest of my life with, someone I love, more than anyone else in the world. We make each other whole." Lorelai's eyes teared up, as she heard Rory's vows. Her baby was really getting married.
As Rory finished, the Reverend began to speak, "then by the power vested in me, by the State of Connecticut, and before God, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Rory felt her husband lift her veil and as she stared into his loving eyes, his hands bought her head up towards his own. She saw love, reflected in his eyes, and he bought his lips down towards her own, capturing hers in a swift kiss. Even though the cheers resonated around her, it was like she and her husband were alone, in a world just for two.
And, as the kiss ended, the Reverend announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, Mr and Mrs..." the end of the Reverend's words were lost in the loud applause and cheering, as the newly-weds began to call family up to the front for photos.
A/N: Please read and reviews are very much appreciated. I'm new to this fandom so any help on characterization and facts and tidbits is very much appreciated. There are going to be about ten one-shots in this series, and then a special vignette.
A/N2: It is deliberate that the groom's identity still remains unknown. His identity will be revealed in the second one-shot. This series will end with the Wedding from his POV.