Amy looked in the mirror as she smoothed down the front of her dark blue silk gown. No matter what anyway tried to tell her, there's was no way she was wearing white seven months pregnant.
"Amy, despite going against tradition, you look gorgeous," her mother confided in her. She turned around and smiled.
"Thanks, Mom" she said, nervous. She sat down after a sudden onset of back pain.
"Amy, we're ready for you," her father said, peeking his head in the room. She stood up, walked up to her father, and offered her arm.
The instrumental version of "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge began. Amy, with a nervous look towards her father slowly started her descent down the aisle. She immediately noticed Rob looking worse than she was and Amy was feeling nervous. She stopped next to him.
"Dearly Beloved: We are gathered here, in the presence of God and of this company, that Amy and Rob may be united in holy matrimony. We are here to celebrate and share in the glorious act that God is about to perform - the act by which He converts their love for one another into the holy and sacred estate of marriage." Father O'Leary said, pausing to take a breath. "This relationship is an honorable and sacred one, established by our Creator for the welfare and happiness of mankind, and approved by the Apostle Paul as honorable among all men. It is designed to unite two sympathies and hopes into one; and it rests upon the mutual confidence and devotion of husband and wife." He said, pausing briefly. "Being assured that your love and your choice of each other as lifelong companions are in God's will and that you have your families' blessings. I now ask. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" he asked, waiting for her father's reply. Amy looked at him worriedly.
"Her mother and I do" he replied, placing Amy's hand in Rob's hand.
"The apostle Paul compared the relationship between husband and wife to that between Christ and the church. Marriage is a decision of two individuals to share the same type of pure, Christian love described by Paul." Father O'Leary started again. "1 Cor 13:4-8, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...," he said. "This kind of love enriches each part of life and marriage enriches love. Two lives, shared with this kind of love, can hold more fulfillment and happiness than either life alone." He said. "Rob, are you ready to enter into this marriage with Amy, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things?"
"I am" he replied.
"Amy, are you ready to enter into this marriage with Rob, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things?" Father O' Leary asked.
"I am" she replied.
"Rob Szatkowski, do you take Amy to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love her, to honor and cherish her, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to her in all things a good and faithful husband as long as you both shall live?"
"I do" he replied softly.
"Amy Christine Dumas, do you take Rob to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love him, to honor and cherish him, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to him in all things a good and faithful wife as long as you both shall live?" Father O'Leary asked.
"I do" she replied.
"Rob, repeat after me" Father O'Leary told him. Rob nodded to signify that he understood. "I, Rob, take thee, Amy, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. According to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
"I, Rob, take thee, Amy, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. According to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith." He repeated.
"Amy, repeat after me," Father O' Leary told her. She nodded to signify that she understood. "I, Amy, take thee, Rob, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. According to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
"I, Amy, take thee, Rob, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. According to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge thee my faith." She repeated.
"Father in heaven, you ordained marriage for your children, and you gave us love. We present to You Amy and Rob, who come this day to be married. May the covenant of love they make be blessed with true devotion and spiritual commitment. We ask that You, God, will give them the ability to keep the covenant they have made. When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity; when mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength; when there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness; if suffering becomes a part of their lives, give them a strong faith and an abiding love. Amen." He said, pausing to take a breath.
"It is a Christian custom to exchange rings as a symbol of love. As the rings have no end so, your love should have no end. As the rings are made of gold symbolizing purity, so should your marriage have purity. As often as either of you see them, you will be reminded of this moment and the endless love you promised." He said, pausing for air. "Rob, what token to you give that you will perform your vows?" Rob handed him a gold wedding band.
"Amy, do you receive this ring in token of the same?"
"I do" Amy said as Rob slid it on.
"Rob, repeat after me" Father O'Leary told him. "Amy, this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love."
"Amy, this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love." He repeated.
"Amy, what token to you give that you will perform your vows?" Father O' Leary asked. She handed him the wedding band.
"Rob, do you receive this ring in token of the same?" he asked.
"I do," he said as Amy slid the ring on.
"Amy, repeat after me," he told her. "Rob, this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love."
"Rob, this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love." She told him.
"Amy and Rob will now perform a ceremony known as hands of the Bride and Groom," Father O'Leary informed them. "Amy, please face Rob and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you," he said. Amy turned towards him and took his hands. "These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life." He said, pausing for breath. "These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams." He told her. "These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you." He told her. "These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time," he told her. "These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family," he recited. "These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness." He recited. "These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy" he told her. "These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind." He said, "These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you." He told her. She looked up into his eyes and immediately noticed everything the minister had just described. Rob; please hold Amy's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life." Amy slipped her hands into his. "These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go" he said, pausing to take a breath. "These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you've both had a long hard day. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times." He said, pausing for another breath of air. "These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving. They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness." He said, pausing for another breath. "These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life." He said, taking another breath. "These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized." He said. "God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May Rob and Amy see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name, Amen."
"The couple has opted to do one more ceremony. It is simply called "The Rose Ceremony,"" Father O'Leary stated. Amy quietly sat down in the chair that had been provided. Her back was honestly killing her. "Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other." He stated. You now have what remains the most honorable title, which may exist between a man and a woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose. In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always-meant only one thing - it meant the words "I love you." Therefore, it is appropriate that for your first gift - as husband and wife - that gift would be a single rose." He stated. "Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife," he said. Amy handed him a white rose, bound with an apple red ribbon. He handed her a pale pink rose, bound with a pale blue ribbon. In someways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago, you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. However, in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage." He said. "Amy and Rob, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage - and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love." He stated. "In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words. That rose says the words: "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words, which cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today." He stated. "Amy and Rob, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure."
"Let us pray: O thou eternal God, who art our Father and our Friend, as you have heard these words of promise just spoken, may the Holy Spirit deepen in the mind of this man and this woman the sense of the sacred and binding power of their vows. And as in Thy Name these words were spoken to make these lives one, may your rich blessing be added. Give them your grace and guidance that they may loyally fulfill the vows they have taken. May your joy abide with them always, that thus they may be a blessing to each other, and to those about them, finding in the blessedness of the home life on earth a sample of the happiness of Thine eternal home. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen" he said. Amy quietly stood up and took his right hand. "What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as Amy and Rob have consented together in holy matrimony, and have witnessed the same before God and this company and have pledged their love and loyalty to each other, and have declared the same by the joining and the giving of rings, I, therefore, by the authority of the state, pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
"The Groom may now kiss the Bride." Father O'Leary said. Amy sighed as she felt him bend down to her. They kissed, sealing their marriage. "I now present to you, Mr. And Mrs. Rob Szatkowski," he said. An instrumental version of "A moment Like This" started playing.
Thirty minutes later… Amy walked into the hall with Rob. She looked lovingly at her new husband.
"For their first dance as Man and Wife, they have chosen "I Swear" by John Michael Montgomery." The DJ told the hall. Amy looked at him as they entered the dance floor. He pulled her as close, as her belly would allow and slowly waltzed to the slow, subtle music.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````Disclaimer: I own nothing. The songs "Come what May", "A Moment Like This" and "I Swear" Are owned by various artists. The characters are owned by the WWE