Have you ever had anyone tell you how quickly your wedding day goes by? That you should stop to really enjoy the moments, the main highlights of the day? Those people that told you that weren't lying.
Our wedding was one of the best days of my life, looking back. But it did go by quickly, and I'm glad to have captured many memories of that day and freeze-framed them into my mind.
Our wedding went off without a hitch, and we couldn't have been happier with the site, wedding package, or the staff. Bella had said she and the girls were pampered all morning, in the private room where they got ready, eating croissants and drinking mimosas and coffee. We guys arrived early to the site for the photographer to take some candid pictures.
Shortly before noon, Glenda came and found me and asked if we were ready to begin. I sent mom back to the girl's room, and she confirmed they were ready. Our guests took their seats and my best men and I assumed our positions next to the wedding officiant. Shortly thereafter, the soft music began, and I could see three very lovely women standing in the back.
Alice and Rosalie stood in front of Bella, blocking my view and seeming to shield her. I became somewhat emotional at that moment, knowing that Bella was surrounded by these women, and looked at it as a symbolic gesture that they were supporting her. Bella didn't have many close friends and almost no family – all she had left was Charlie, Renee, and Phil. But together, our friends were welcoming her, treating her as their own, and really – loving her. Giving her the support she needed for her new life.
Alice walked up the aisle first, giddy with excitement. Rosalie came second, just as excited as Alice, but appearing more composed, with an almost sensual air about her. Finally, I could barely make out Bella in the back, but I could see her form. I smiled as Glenda helped Bella fluff out her dress in the back, and Charlie took her arm. The wedding march began playing, and my bride walked down the aisle.
My eyes were only for Bella, and I couldn't take them off of her as she gracefully walked up the aisle to me. Charlie patted my shoulder, and put out his hand to shake mine. I shook his and whispered 'thank you' softly. He smiled and nodded, then took his seat in the front row.
I spun and reached my hands out to find Bella's. We grasped each other tightly and as I stared into her eyes, I knew that I had found the woman I was meant to be with.
She was softly crying, and at that moment, I realized that I was too.
The officiant cleared his throat, and with that we slightly turned towards him, but still focused on each other. I remembered to breathe, and I said all of the right things when it was time to, but for the most part, I was focused on her.
When we were pronounced husband and wife, I leaned into her slowly, and placed one hand on each side of her face, and kissed her, with all of the love that I felt.
We smiled, and Bella turned towards our guests, pumped her bouquet in the air, and yelled "YEAH!!! I'M MARRIED!!"
We made our way back into the banquet room, where it had been elegantly decorated. There were ivory linens on the tables and chairs, fine china and stemware on the table, and a huge buffet set up for our reception. We began with a cocktail hour and the most delicious hors d'oeuvres imaginable, then moved into the banquet room and took our seats.
There were champagne toasts, all of the traditional dances, and more fun that I had imagined. Everyone let loose on the dance floor, and our guests kept telling us what a wonderful time they had.
Our wedding cake had several flavors in the different layers, such as chocolate, strawberry, and lemon, and there wasn't any left at the end of the afternoon.
When the sun began to set, our guests started to leave, one by one, until they were gone. Charlie was getting a ride home from Alice and Jasper, and Bella had already changed out of her wedding gown so that Alice could keep it safe.
We had nothing further we 'had' to do – all of the wedding clean up was taken care of by the site, and we didn't need to go home for anything. We were all packed and ready to leave tomorrow morning for our honeymoon in Maui.
So, we looked around one last time, at the men and women cleaning up after our small but wonderful wedding, and captured a few more moments into our mind. Then, Bella took my hand, and we walked outside, to our car, and sped to the hotel.