Chapter 31

Damon

The day has finally come. Our wedding day. Everyone has been busy all morning preparing for this. I'm nervous as fuck. I'm dressed to the nines in mine tux. I look around and see all our guests starting to take their seats. Elena couldn't have chosen a more perfect venue for today. White chairs line the back of the house centered at Lowndes Grove here in Mystic Falls.

"It's a beautiful day for a wedding!" Mom exclaims walking over to me. "God look at you. All grown up."

"Mom, if you start crying, you'll ruin your makeup." I tell her leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek.

I get my first real look at her dress. It's a soft lilac knee length dress with a high boat neckline. It has a ruched center with a lace belt. A see-through soft lilac dress length overcoat tops it off.

"Oh hush," she chastises. "My only son is getting married today. I'm allowed to cry."

"Yes ma'am," I say with a teasing smile. I extend my arm to her; "ready?"

She places her arm in the crook of my elbow, "the real question is are you?"

"I've been waiting my entire life for this." I tell her as I start to walk down the aisle towards the front.

I gaze over at the crowd that has now formed. Just hoping I don't get too tongue tied and forget my vows. In less than half an hour I will be married. In less than half an hour Elena will forever be Elena Salvatore.

The minister walks over and takes his spot. He shakes my hand and straightens out his book and looks out to the crowd.

The music begins to play the first person down the aisle is Elena's mom. Untraditional of sorts, but since when have we followed tradition? Miranda is wearing a dark blue knee length dress and overcoat. The material is a small lace pattern. The sleeves are three-quarter length and a single button holds the coat shut.

Slowly Elena's bridesmaid's and my groomsmen start to walk down the aisle. Bonnie is first, followed by Caroline and Tyler then Matt and Rebekah. The guys' tuxes match mine aside from the jacket. They are wearing dark blue vests with matching slacks. Their white dress shirts are rolled up to their elbows. The ladies have on dark blue floor length gowns. Elena told me they're a mermaid style. Now I see why. Their necklines are sweetheart shaped. Matt and Tyler stand beside me and the girls stand over on the other side of the minister.

Then comes Emmaline. Emma is wearing a dark blue floor length dress. It has a double spaghetti strap that weaves into the dress. A large bow adorns the side of her dress. She gently tosses down white flower petals onto the grass as she comes down the aisle. Once she reaches the end, she takes a seat beside Miranda.

The music changes. Hallelujah by Pentatonix starts to play. This is what I've been waiting for. My girl is coming to me. Everyone stands waiting for Elena to walk down the aisle. The doors to the back of the house opens and out steps Elena and Grayson. Grayson is wearing his traditional military dress blues. My eyes lock with Elena's. She had chosen to not wear a veil. Her hair is down with just her side sections tide up. Her hair flows. Her dress is beautiful. It's an off-white lace gown with an attached train. Not a long train either. A sweetheart neckline with beaded shoulder straps. The dress pools slightly around her feet. She is stunning. And now my eyes are tearing up.

Elena

Damon is waiting for me as I walk down the aisle. All our guest's eyes are on me. As well as our entire wedding party. I'm staring at Damon and I start to cry. Just a few tears slide down my cheeks. My smile can't get any wider.

We reach the end of the aisle and my dad kisses me on my cheek. He places my hands in Damons and goes to take his seat.

The minister clears his throat; "please be seated."

He waits for all the guests to take their seats. He looks from me to Damons then back out to the crowd. "First, I'd like to begin by welcoming everyone and thanking each and every one of you for being here on this most happy of days. It's no accident that each of you are here today, and each of you were invited to be here because you represent someone important in the individual and collective lives of Elena and Damon. I truly can't think of a better venue than Lowndes Grove for an occasion that I know is not only monumental for the wedded-couple-to-be, but for all of us who are lucky to know and love them as individuals; but even more so as a perfect pairing."

The minister opens his book and continues, "The most remarkable moment in life is when you meet the person who makes you feel complete. The person who makes the world a beautiful and magical place. The person with whom you share a bond so special that it transcends normal relationships and becomes something so pure and so wonderful, that you can't imagine spending another day of your life without them. For Damon, that happened less than a year ago when he met Elena. I feel privileged to be here today among all of you as a witness of their commitment to a lifetime of love for one another. Now without further ado. Who here gives this woman to this man?"

Grayson stands; "her mother and I do." With that he takes his seat again.

The minister nods his head and continues. "Dearly beloved and honored guests. We are gathered together here to join Elena and Damon in the union of marriage. This contract is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. The bride and groom have each prepared vows that they will read now."

"And now," the minister says looking at Damon. "Damon, do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Elena, forsaking all others, and holding only unto her forevermore?"

Damon looks into my eyes, "I do."

The minister looks at me. "Elena, do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Damon, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him forevermore?"

A tear slips out of the corner of my eye. I choke out, "I do."

The minister nods his head. "Damon and Elena will now exchange rings as a symbol of love and commitment to each other. Rings are a precious metal; they are also made precious by you wearing them. Your wedding rings are special; they enhance who you are. They mark the beginning of your long journey together. Your wedding ring is a circle—a symbol of love never ending. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other without end."

Tyler takes the rings out of his pockets and holds his hand open for us. Damon picks up my ring as I pick up his. The minister says, "Elena please place the ring on Damon's hand and repeat after me."

I begin to push the ring onto his finger. Copying the minister, I say, "As a sign of my love, that I have chosen you. Above all else. With this ring I thee wed."

The minister smiles at me and faces Damon. "Damon please place the ring on Elena's hand and repeat after me."

Damon starts to push the ring onto my finger, trembling as he repeats after the minister. "As a sign of my love, that I have chosen you. Above all else. With this ring I thee wed."

The minister turns the page in his book and says, "as untraditional as this wedding may seem, the bride and groom have also prepared their own vows they would like to read."

Damon goes first. "I come here freely and without reservation to give myself to you and so that we may join your life and mine. I can't promise to love you perfectly, but I will love you messily, overwhelmingly, inexorably. I know I will not always be what you want me to be. I might forget to listen or forget to share. I might not always agree. I might be stubborn, and I might be wrongheaded, but I will always love you. I will always strive to be the man you believe I can be. You are the woman with whom I choose to spend the rest of my life. Every hour of every day, I pledge to be living for you and for the family we build together. You are the culmination of a dream come true. I can't believe I'm standing here about to start a wonderful life together with my best friend, my greatest miracle, and the person I love most in this world. I vow to make my life forever yours and build my dreams around you."

I smile at him when he kisses the ring he just placed onto my finger. Now it's my turn. "We are best friends, with unending happiness, always having the best time, let's solve life's mysteries together one embrace at a time. When I hold your face in my hands or lean into your shoulder to feel you hold me, I know this is the place I am meant to be for all time. This is the person with whom I am meant to share my life. I vow to be patient, humble, loving, and always a little mysterious, always giving you reason to believe that we have another miracle together around each corner. In the words of Maya Angelou, in all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine. All I ask of you is that you be your best self and I will challenge myself to do the same as your wife and with this as our connection we will never fail. I pledge to be your ever faithful, honest, and loving wife."

The minister nods his head and continues, "to make your relationship work will take love. Continue to date each other. Take time to show each other that your love and marriage grows stronger with time. It will take trust to know that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other. It will take dedication to stay open to one another—and to learn and grow together. It will take loyalty to go forward together, without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment to hold true to the journey you have both pledged today. Now by the power vested in me by the State of South Carolina, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. Go forth and live each day to the fullest. Damon, you may kiss your bride."

Damon places both hands on the sides of my cheeks and swoops down capturing my lips. The kiss is sweet and wonderful. He slowly pulls away and our guests applaud. He lowers his head and kisses my lips once more. I can't believe him, and I are married. This is it. This is what we had been waiting for. I am now Mrs. Elena Salvatore. Damon yanks me by the hand and we hurriedly head down the aisle back into the house for pictures and then reception.