Christine stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bride's room at the church and silently studied her reflection as Meg and Madame Giry looked on. She looked every inch the radiant bride, from the shimmering veil capped with tiny flowers to the bead-covered bodice to the lacy train and bustle that completed the ensemble. She carried a bouquet of small white roses gathered with pink ribbons which matched the color in her flushed cheeks. Her hair was worn loose around her face the way Erik liked it best. Would he think she was beautiful in his exquisitely-designed dress?

There was a knock at the door, and it opened to admit the groom, who was dressed not in his habitual black but in a gray morning coat with white silk shirt and cravat, a white rosebud in his buttonhole to match the ones in Christine's bouquet. Erik had chosen to wear a new flesh-colored porcelain mask which was almost unnoticeable and allowed more of his expression to be seen, and it was obvious to all three women that he was overwhelmed by the sight of Christine in her wedding finery. He crossed the room, knelt at her feet, and kissed her hand.

"My dear, I pay homage to your beauty," he declared with sincerity. "Today you outshine the very sun with your radiance, and I do not deserve such a prize." He looked up at her then with a roguish smile, "But I WILL make you mine, nonetheless!"

"Get up, Erik, you are embarrassing me in front of our friends," Christine appealed, though she was delighted at his demonstration of devotion. "You look very handsome, dear," she praised her husband-to-be. "And I'm so happy!" He leaned over and kissed her lips in spite of the presence of their friends.

Father Butler knocked and was welcomed. "Are you ready to begin?" he asked, looking around at the smiling faces of the small group. "You have a few guests waiting in the vestibule to witness the ceremony."

Madame Giry answered tensely, "It must be Messieurs Andre and Firmin; they were determined to come, despite the fact that I told them it was a private ceremony. I hope they didn't bring the entire cast with them!"

"Well, let us go and greet them; I refuse to let anything spoil our joy today," said Christine merrily. They trooped out together to greet the managers of the opera house and several of the performers, who had the grace to look ashamed at their intrusion all the while casting curious glances at Erik. They clustered around Christine, congratulating her and exclaiming over how pretty she looked, until Erik appealed to Father Butler with a helpless look.

"Take your places, please, so that we may begin," the clergyman announced, and the uninvited guests filed into the church. Erik left Christine with a short kiss, looking deeply into her eyes as he whispered, "I love you," and made his way up the aisle to the front of the church. Madame Giry and Meg followed, finding a place in the front pew. Christine remained behind with Father Butler, who had agreed to escort Christine to her groom since she had no male relative to carry out that duty.

The organ had been playing softly, and now pealed out the trumpet call of the Wedding March, and Christine stepped out surely on the clergyman's arm. The spectators stood in honor of the bride, who walked slowly with calm assurance that she was about to marry the man God intended to be her husband. She smiled as she heard the whispers such as "Oh, she is beautiful!" from all sides as she approached the altar, pausing only to hand her bouquet to Meg, who helped to put back her veil and expose her face. Erik stepped forward to meet her, eyes sparkling with tears of joy, and Father Butler placed Christine's hand on her groom's arm, picked up his Holy Bible, and turned to face the elated couple.

"Dearly beloved," he began the ceremony, "we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to join Erik and Christine in holy marriage. Marriage is one of the oldest and most sacred institutions of God. It was established in the Garden of Eden, graced by the personal presence of Christ at Cana of Galilee, likened by the Apostle Paul to the mystical union which exists between Christ and the Church, and is declared in Holy Scripture to be honorable before all men. It is not to be entered into lightly or inadvisably, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.

Listen to the words of Holy Scripture as recorded in Ephesians chapter five: Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

Forasmuch as these two persons have come hither to be made one in this holy estate, if there be any here present who knows any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined in marriage, I require him now to make it known or ever after hold his peace."

Erik held his breath for a moment, suddenly afraid that someone might declare him unfit to marry Christine, but the customary moment passed silently, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Christine reached for his hand and squeezed it in reassurance, and they exchanged a loving glance before looking again to the minister.

Father Butler went on, "Erik, will you have Christine to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"

"I will," Erik replied in a trembling but sincere voice.

"Christine, will you have Erik to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony; will you submit to him, serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

"I will," was Christine's reply, in a confident tone that carried throughout the church.

"Erik, what token do you give in pledge that you will faithfully perform these vows?"

Erik took Christine's wedding ring from his vest pocket and handed it silently to the clergyman.

Father Butler went on, "May this circlet of pure gold which has no end be henceforth the chaste and changeless symbol of your pure and everlasting affection."

He handed the ring back to Erik, who turned to face his bride, putting the ring on her finger as he affirmed, "With this ring I thee wed and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

Father Butler then asked, "Christine, what token do you give in pledge that you will faithfully perform these vows?"

She took Erik's gold band off of her thumb, where she had worn it for safekeeping, and placed it on his finger now, with the words," This ring I give you in token and pledge of my constant faithfulness and abiding love."

The minister continued, "And may these rings given be the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites your two hearts in love that has no end." He turned to the spectators and announced, "Forasmuch as Erik and Christine have consented in holy wedlock, and have thereto confirmed the same by the giving and receiving of rings; by the authority vested in me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I now declare them husband and wife. Whom therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Erik, you may now kiss your bride!"

Erik was close to tears again as he leaned forward to kiss Christine lightly and look into her joyful face. "I love you," he said in a low voice, and she responded, "I love you, too." Conscious of the many eyes on them, they faced the minister again.

Father Butler prayed a short prayer dedicating the new marriage to God, and asking His blessings for a happy and fruitful marriage, and then proclaimed to the audience, "And now it is my happy privilege to introduce to you Monsieur and Madame Erik Landry!"

The organist struck up a thrilling march as Erik and Christine turned and made their way down the aisle to the back of the church, where the delighted viewers thronged about them, some hugging Christine and all wanting to shake Erik's hand. "So they can tell all their friends they touched the famous Opera Ghost" he whispered in an aside to his new wife, who laughed and nodded. "How long do we have to stay here?"

Just then, M. Firmin and M. Andre pushed forward to announce that they were hosting "just a small gathering" in the offices at the opera house to "toast the bride and groom", and Erik nearly groaned aloud, stopping only because Christine elbowed him in the side and accepted graciously. They had planned to celebrate at a nearby café with just Meg and her mother, but these men were not only her employers but also Erik's now, and it would not hurt them to be polite for a short while.

"This will be to your benefit, dearest one," she whispered to her husband. "If you can bear it for a little while, this will change your reputation entirely, as we show the opera group what a cultured gentleman you really are." He nodded abruptly, disgruntled but seeing no option but to acquiesce as gracefully as possible.

They made quite a spectacle as they processed back to the Opera Populaire, acquiring more of the theater group as they entered the house itself, since Christine had been well-liked by everyone; everyone but Carlotta, that is, who was conspicuously absent today. They thronged upstairs to the offices, where the managers toasted their marriage with punch instead of champagne, so that tonight's performance of Don Juan Triumphant would not include tipsy singers and dancers.

"To the bride and groom," offered M. Firm, holding his glass aloft as the room fell silent and followed his lead. "To one of the brightest stars to ever grace our stage," toasted M. Andre, not to be outdone. The group drank their punch in honor of Christine and of the marriage, and then M. Andre added, "And to M. Erik Landry, the composer of one of the most successful operas ever performed at this theater" and there was immediate applause; it seemed that the "Opera Ghost" was perceived as a favorite rather than fearsome, now that he had written them an opera and married its former star.

Tasty canapés and hors d'oeuvres were offered, and there was even a lovely tiered cake decorated with icing roses and a miniature bride and groom on the top. Erik found himself relaxing as the group's stares turned to smiles, and he almost enjoyed the unexpectedly friendly attention, since Christine stayed by his side to help him through any awkward moments.

Around 5:00 p.m., M. Firmin noticed the time and began to shoo his cast off to prepare for the evening show. Christine and Erik made their adieus, and slipped away without much fuss, kissing Antoinette and Meg and thanking them for all they had done to make the day a happy event. When the two were finally alone in a hallway, Erik put his arms around his new bride and placed his lips firmly on hers, claiming the kiss he had denied himself on the altar. She was breathing heavily as he pulled back slightly to look in her eyes, and he smiled in earnest now, satisfied at the result of his kiss. "Come, let us go where we can have some privacy," he directed, and she was willingly led once more to his stronghold below the opera house.