Okay, here it is…the actual ceremony. It was a lot harder to write than I thought it would be (I'm pretty sure now I won't be writing my own vows if I ever get married), and I haven't been to a Catholic wedding in a while, but here goes nothing…
The organist began playing and "Pachabel's Cannon in D" filled the church. Krista and Tim stood off to one side while the sanctuary doors were opened and the bridal party headed slowly down the aisle, two by two. Rizzo and his older brother Nick, the best man, watched each pair anxiously. Krista's oldest sister Ana was last, being the matron-of-honor, and walked down the aisle alone. The sanctuary doors closed again and Tim and Krista took their places. The organist finished the Cannon and paused a moment before beginning the Wedding March.
"Want to chicken out?" Tim asked smiling.
The sanctuary doors were opened again, revealing rows and rows of family and friends standing in anticipation of the bride.
"Too late…" he laughed before Krista could respond.
She gripped her bouquet and Tim's arm tightly, suddenly becoming very nervous.
"Take a deep breath," Tim told her quietly as they started toward the altar. "Just relax…don't pay attention to anyone but Mike."
She followed her brother's advice and took a deep breath, looking over at Rizzo. He twisted his hands nervously, watching his bride. Their gazes met, and they shared a smile across the church.
When Tim and Krista finally made it to the altar steps, Rizzo came down to join them, still smiling.
"We are gathered here today in the sight of God to join Anthony Michael Eruzione and Kristina Teresa Collins in holy matrimony," Father O'Malley began.
Krista was still holding Tim's arm and her bouquet, and couldn't take Rizzo's hand, so she brushed her arm against his, still smiling. He, unable to take his eyes off her, brushed back with a grin.
"Who here gives this woman to be married to this man?" the priest continued.
"I do," Tim said. Her turned to Krista, lifted her veil, and kissed her cheek, sliding his arms around her in a warm embrace. Tim then turned to Rizzo and shook his hand, hugging him as well. "Take care of her," Tim told him softly.
Rizzo hugged him back. "I will."
Tim took a seat with his family and smiled at the pair as they joined hands and walked up the altar steps.
"Hi," Rizzo said, still grinning.
"Hi," Krista replied, smiling broadly and relaxing a little.
"You look amazing," he told her, squeezing her hand.
"So do you," she said squeezing back. "You really should wear a tux more often."
He laughed as they navigated the last step.
"I see we're relaxed and happy today," Father O'Malley said when they reached him.
"We are now," Krista said.
"Okay, then, here we go." He opened his book and continued with the service.
There were readings and quotes, and one of Rizzo's cousins sang "Ave Maria." Through the ceremony, the pair stood at the altar holding hands and smiling. Finally it was time for the vows. Krista handed off her bouquet to Ana and turned to Rizzo, taking his other hand in hers.
"Ready?" Father O'Malley whispered.
They both nodded.
"Michael, repeat after me," he continued louder. "I, Anthony Michael…"
Rizzo took a deep breath and looked into Krista's eyes. "I, Anthony Michael…"
"Take thee, Kristina Teresa…"
"Take thee, Kristina Teresa…" he repeated.
"To be my lawfully wedded wife."
"To be my lawfully wedded wife." His hands began to shake a little.
"To have and to hold…" the priest continued.
"To have and to hold…"
"For richer or for poorer…"
"For richer or for poorer…" Rizzo's voice wavered a tiny bit, and Krista squeezed his hands again.
"In sickness and in health…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"As long as we both shall live."
"As long as we both shall live." He rubbed his thumbs over her hands, smiling.
Father O'Malley smiled, too. "Kristina, repeat after me, I, Kristina Teresa…"
Krista also took a deep breath. "I, Kristina Teresa…"
"Take thee, Anthony Michael…"
She smiled softly at Rizzo. "Take thee, Anthony Michael…"
"To be my lawfully wedded husband."
"To be my lawfully wedded husband." Behind her Krista could here the bridesmaids sniffling.
"To have and to hold…" Father O'Malley went on.
"To have and to hold…"
"For richer or for poorer…"
"For richer or for poorer…" She could feel her heart pounding and tried to breathe slowly.
"In sickness and in health…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"As long as we both shall live."
"As long as we both shall live." She exhaled and saw Rizzo's mother wipe her eyes with a handkerchief.
"At this point of the ceremony," the priest said. "The bride and groom would like to add some words of their own." He nodded at Rizzo.
He took another deep breath and tried to steady himself. "I love you," he began. "I've loved you since the first day I met you, and I'll love you until the last breath leaves my body." His voice began to waver again, and he paused to collect himself. "You're beautiful, intelligent, kind, loving, and the strongest person I know. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such an incredible woman, but I thank God every day that He brought us together…" He stopped again, unable to continue for a moment. He looked down at his hands holding hers and a tear slid down his cheek. "And I am honored to be your husband."
Krista reached up and brushed the tear away, aching to hold him. He took her hand again and kissed it gently.
"I love you so much," Krista began in a voice barely above a whisper. "You have been my comfort, my strength, my joy, and my partner…" her eyes glistened with tears of her own, and she, too, had to stop and regain her composure. "You're my first thought when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep, and I thank God, too, every day for you, my teddy bear…" The tears were trickling down her cheeks now, and Rizzo ran a hand softly over her face, wiping them away. "And I am so proud to be your wife."
By this time there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Even some of the groomsmen were clearing their throats and looking at their shoes. Father O'Malley smiled and gave everyone a moment to breathe. He then called for and blessed the rings, which Krista and Rizzo exchanged smiling into each other's eyes.
Then, at last, came the words they had waited to hear. "By the power vested in me by the Catholic Church and the state of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you husband and wife," Father O'Malley told them. "Michael, you may now kiss your bride."
Rizzo released Krista's hands and slid his own around her waist, leaning in and kissing her gently. Her arms went around his shoulders and her fingers ran through his hair. As their lips drew apart, he rested his forehead against hers.
"My wife…" he said, smiling broadly, still sniffling.
"My husband…" she replied, sniffling a little herself and rubbing the back of his neck lightly.
"Congratulations," Father O'Malley grinned. "All that's left now is the introduction…"
Ana handed Krista back her bouquet and Rizzo offered her his arm as they turned to face their guests.
"It my great pleasure to introduce to you for the first time," the priest continued beaming, "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Eruzione."
The guests applauded wildly and the pair headed down the aisle, laughing now. When they made it out the sanctuary doors, they stopped and waited for the bridal party to catch up.
Rizzo slid his arms around Krista. "I thought you weren't going to cry…"
She laughed. "I was okay until you started," she told him, stroking his cheek.
"Just don't cry every time I try to kiss you now…" He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, looking both blissfully happy and very relieved.
She laughed again and pulled him more tightly against her. "I think I can handle that."
"Good," he grinned. "Then let's get out of here. I can't wait to dance with my wife at the reception."