CHAPTER EIGHT
As Al held her arm, Iris walked down the aisle toward her intended. Though her heart was pounding and she had butterflies in her stomach, nothing could match her radiant smile. She saw Annie and inclined her head slightly to acknowledge her. Annie nodded back, smiling with tear-bright eyes; there was no animosity between them.
After arriving at the end of the aisle, Doc stepped away and then behind Iris. Pastor Olle then asked Jim, "Do you, James Brass, come here of your own free will to take Iris King as your wedded wife?"
Jim said, "I do."
Pastor Olle then asked Iris, "Do you, Iris King, come here of your own free will to take James Brass as your wedded husband?"
Iris replied, "I do."
Pastor Mel then said, "If either of you or anyone in this assembly knows any just cause why this marriage should not be performed, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace."
The chapel remained silent, except for few dry coughs.
Pastor Olle continued, "Who then does give this woman to wed?"
Al said in a clear voice, "I do give this woman to wed." He shook Jim's hand, as Brass then extended his arm to his bride. Jim took Iris and led her to stand with him before Pastor Olle. He lifted her veil back and stared down into her mocha-colored eyes. She never looked more beautiful to him than she did right now. Her thoughts of him were the same as she gazed up, her face saying all that need be said. If this was a dream, she never wanted to awaken.
Jim then repeated after Pastor Olle, "I, James, take thee Iris to be my bedded…er, my wedded then bedded 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 plight thee my troth." Jim's slip of the tongue had caused a ripple of laughter to run through the wedding party as Iris's eyes widened in disbelief as she quickly recovered and just gazed at Jim with an amused look.
Iris also repeated after the pastor, "I, Iris, take thee James to be my wedded then bedded husband, 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 plight thee my troth." This brought out-and-out laughter throughout the chapel at Iris's counter to Jim's previous putting the cart-before-the-horse.
"At this time, I ask that you place the marriage rings in my hand," said Pastor Olle after clearing her throat and looking candidly at the couple. Grissom found himself fumbling in his pockets to finally locate the rings, Jim giving him an exasperated look, after which he gave them to the minister.
"May the Lord bless these rings which you give as your sign of love and devotion," Pastor Olle continued. "James, as you place Iris's ring on her finger I ask that you repeat these words, "With this ring I thee wed."
Jim, smiling broadly, said, "With this ring I thee wed." He placed the wedding band onto Iris's left third finger and gave her a wink.
"Iris, as you place James' ring on his finger I ask that you repeat the words, "With this ring I thee wed." Pastor Olle finished.
As she slipped the band onto Jim's ring finger, she looked up at him with a glowing smile as well, saying, "With this ring I thee wed."
The couple then moved to light a unity candle as Pastor Olle stated: "We will now ask the bride and groom to light a candle symbolic of their relationship and their individual selves. James and Iris, these two candles represent the light of your individual spirits. The center candle represents the light of your relationship. In allowing the flame of only the large candle to remain lit, you accept each other's individuality as a means to fulfilling your oneness. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you."
The minister then joined the right hands of the couple together and said, "Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. For as much as James and Iris have consented together in Holy Wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Pastor Olle then said, "You may kiss your bride."
Jim drew Iris close as she tilted her head toward him as their lips met, Iris's eyes widening as Jim's tongue danced with her own just a little. She could see the glint in his eye and giggled softly against his lips.
They were then asked by Pastor Mel to turn and face their guests.
"May I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. James Brass," said the minister, as they were greeted with applause and shouts.
Jim took his wife by the arm and walked her up the aisle, two souls now one, followed by Grissom with Sara, the groomsmen and the bridesmaids.