Another year passed, and it was 1895. 19 year old, Mary Jane Gruber was on her bed, looking at pictures of different wedding dresses, as her wedding to Sam Zust was coming up in less than a month….Yes, Sam asked her to marry him that July 4th, right after the fireworks were finished, telling her it was she who really lit up his life! She of course accepted his proposal, and they were engaged and had been for about six months now…..
"Oh Ma….look at this one! The material is lovely! It's light as a feather with a color on color floral print. Oh, look at the bodice on the dress, Ma!...The bodice features a square neckline with ruching encircling the entire neckline. Wide, cream moiré ribbon ties on each shoulder. The ruching around the neckline creates some gathering through the bodice. The sleeves are short and very full. The lower edge of the sleeves are ruched just like the neckline. The bodice is fitted and fully lined. There are 12 bones in the bodice and it has a hook/eye closure at the center back. The matching skirt is a-lined; falling flat in the front, but gathered in the back, creating a slight bustle look. The skirt has a hook/eye closure and a very slight train. The gown has a wide material belt with a center back hook/eye closure. The back of the belt continues the ribbon theme, with long tails of cream moiré ribbon which matches the ribbon on the shoulders…What a dream to wear a dress like that! To look like a princess!" Mary Jane smiled, and fell back on the bed and sighed. "It's beautiful…"
"It really is a pretty dress, Mary Jane…." Her mother smiled.
"Look at this one, Ma! It think it's almost as pretty than the last one!" Mary Jane smiled. "Puffed sleeves…the ruching on the neckline like the other one….the wide white ribbon on the waistline….the long circular skirt with the small train…..it's so pretty! The fabric is heavy candlelight white silk. So delicate!...The bodice costs $17 and the skirt, $12….They're both so beautiful! What a dream!" She sighed happily. "I know….it's too expensive, but you know, it would've been nice."
"I really wish we could buy you a dress like that, Mary Jane." Melania said, the deep blue dress they were making for the wedding, laying on her lap. "I really do….I'm sorry, sweetheart." She started tearing up a little.
"Ma, don't cry…It's all right!" Mary Jane smiled, and went and hugged her mother. "The veil we bought, and the beautiful dress we're making will do just fine!"
"It seems silly….you wearing a veil…without the wedding dress."
"Ma…I'm fine with it. It's what we could do." Mary Jane smiled. "I know I'll still feel like a princess…."
"It's just….you deserve a white wedding dress." Melania smiled at her 19 year old daughter. "You've made it….You're pure. You've made your father and I so proud of you!" She smiled and had tears in her eyes. "I know you deserve it!…..I just wish we had the money to do that for you….but we don't."
"Ma, I understand what you're saying…." Mary Jane looked at her mother. "In Biblical times and even now….the wedding veil represents virginity and modesty….." She began.
"So does the white wedding dress…." Melania said, interrupting her daughter.
"I don't need a white dress to let people know that….because I know I'm pure." Mary Jane smiled. "That's the important thing, right? That I've made it this far…and that I plan on making it to my wedding night with Sam…."
"Are you scared about that night?" Her mother asked.
"A little…but excited!" Mary Jane grinned. "I'll be giving something so special to the one man I love…..and that is my purity." She smiled and began to chuckle a little. "It's almost…unreal. I've waited and waited and waited to have sex….and in a few weeks…I'll finally be able to. I know all what you…do….you know." Mary Jane blushed a little. "Like I said, it's just unreal that I can finally do this."
"Don't get too excited, now." Melania laughed. "It's not your wedding night just yet, sweetheart."
"All right, Ma." Mary Jane chuckled.
(
The special day had finally come one Wednesday morning in early February. Sam was standing at the front of the church next to the Reverend in a white waistcoat. The bridesmaids wearing white dresses, provided by the groom's parents, as they were so kind and generous to do so….the groomsmen wearing gray waistcoats. The small bridal party made its way down the center aisle. The bridesmaids being escorted by the groomsmen, and Sam's little niece and nephew being the flower girl and the ring-bearer. The Groom's grandmother was seated, as well as the Bride's. And Sam's parents were also seated.
"Are you ready, Mary Jane?" Her mother asked, standing in a little room where her daughter was making last minute preparations on her appearance.
"Yes Ma…..Excited and nervous….but I'm ready." Mary Jane smiled, wiping tears that were already welling up in her brown eyes.
Melania smiled at her daughter, and smoothed a few wrinkles from the deep blue dress. A high neckline, tight bodice, the sleeves reaching to her wrists, loose at the hips and the hem reaching to her ankles. She wore an old pinned brooch belonging to her mother's mother, who they had learned had passed away a few months ago. Mary Jane wore silver hairpins in her hair, borrowed from her Aunt Frances. And a new garter her family was able to buy, and of course that was hidden. Melania even slipped the little silver sixpence in her daughter's black boot, to continue the little poem and tradition. "You look beautiful…." She smiled. "Married in blue….love will be true." Melania said one part of the old poem, when you had to choose the color of your wedding dress, as some didn't always wear white. "I know he will…Sam's a good man. He'll make a wonderful husband….."
Mary Jane smiled from ear to ear after hearing that. Melania adjusted her daughter's veil, and went through the church doors, walked down the little aisle with her escort, and to the front pew of the church.
"Ready?" George Jr. smiled at his daughter, lending his arm to her.
"Ready, Pa…." She smiled and an arm linked with her father, while holding her bouquet with the other.
George Jr. pushed back the church doors, and as the congregation rose to their feet, they slowly walked down the small center aisle. Tears were welling up in both of their eyes. He was so proud of his only daughter, finally making it to this day….And of course Mary Jane was crying because this was the happiest and one of most important days of her life. There was no way that tears could not be shed, no matter how hard they tried. They made it to the front of the church, and George Jr. gave his daughter away, embracing her, kissing her cheek and softly whispering "I love you." into her ear.
"I love you, too, Pa." She smiled, and yet could barely see because of the unshed tears of joy in her brown eyes.
The Rev. Weirich smiled, and began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved: we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that exists between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.
Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
No one spoke a single word, and so the minister spoke to the young couple.
"I require and charge you both, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, you do now confess it; for be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God, neither is their Matrimony lawful."
Neither of them spoke, and so the Reverend turned to the Groom.
"Samuel Aaron Zust, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health: and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?"
"I will." He solemnly answered.
Reverend Weirich turned and spoke to the Bride.
"Mary Jane Gruber, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health: and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live?"
"I will." Mary Jane smiled.
"Now the Groom will take the Bride by her right hand, and repeat as I sayeth…."
"I, Samuel Aaron Zust…" The Reverend spoke.
"I, Samuel Aaron Zust…" Sam repeated.
"….take thee, Mary Jane Gruber to be my wedded wife, " The Reverend said.
"….take thee, Mary Jane Gruber to be my wedded wife, " He repeated, with a smile.
"….to have and to hold," The Reverend said, and Sam repeated.
"…from this day forward, " The Reverend said.
"…from this day forward, " He repeated.
"for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,"
"for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health," Sam solemnly repeated.
"… to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance: And thereto I plight thee my faith." The Reverend spoke, and Sam repeated each word.
"Then shall they loose their hands, and the Bride with her right hand taking the Groom by his right hand shall likewise say after me…" Rev. Weirich spoke.
"I, Mary Jane Gruber, take thee, Samuel Aaron Zust to be my wedded husband,"
"I, Mary Jane Gruber, take thee, Samuel Aaron Zust to be my wedded husband," Mary Jane smiled as she gazed into Sam's brown eyes, repeating each word after the Reverend.
"to have and to hold, from this day forward,"
"to have and to hold, from this day forward," She repeated.
"for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health," The Reverend spoke, and Mary Jane repeated him.
"to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance: and thereto I plight thee my faith."
"to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance: and thereto I plight thee my faith." Mary Jane smiled as she repeated the words.
Then, Rev. Weirich bowed his head and said a prayer….
"O eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
"And now the Bride's ring, please…" He said, and the Groom gave the ring to the minister….after dropping it accidentally….which rose a little laughter from the crowd, including the bride and groom. Rev. Weirich gave the ring back to Sam, who placed in on Mary Jane's third finger on her left hand and spoke to her, after repeating the minister….
"With this ring I thee wed, and with my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
"And now the Groom's ring…"
Mary Jane took her husband-to-be's ring in her hand, and placed the gold band on his ring finger on his left hand, repeating after the Reverend.
"With this ring I thee wed, and with my worldly goods I thee endow, " The Reverend spoke.
"With this ring I thee wed, and with my worldly goods I thee endow," She repeated.
" in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
" in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Mary Jane repeated.
The Reverend had the two join their right hands together and continued the ceremony with these words. "Forasmuch as Samuel Aaron Zust and Mary Jane Gruber have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have pledged their faith either to other, and have declared the same by joining of hands; I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Amen." The Reverend smiled as he spoke the next six words, "You may now kiss the bride…." One of the bridesmaids took the bouquet from the Bride and the Groom lifted her veil. The Reverend smiled as he saw this young man and young woman share their first kiss. It was Mary Jane's first kiss in her whole life…and she was glad that it was to this man.
Then the Minister added this blessing…
"God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord merciful with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen."
And Rev. Weirich finished with the following prayer….
"O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless this man and this woman, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts, that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may indeed fulfill the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully on them from heaven, and bless them: as thou didst send thy blessings upon Abraham and Sarah to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessings upon this man and this woman, that they, obeying thy will, and always being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty God, who at the beginning didst create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and didst sanctify and join them together in marriage, pour upon these persons the riches of thy grace, sanctify and bless them, that they may please thee both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto their lives' end. Amen."
At last the Reverend spoke. "Might I now present to you,…Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Zust."
A/N: This particular wedding ceremony was from the year 1899...and well, the wedding in this story takes place in 1895, so yeah, I was a little off...but how much could it have changed in a span of four years?
I made up Sam's full name. I like the sound of the name...To be honest, I'm not even sure if Sam was his name! It was either Paul, Bob, or Sam...I already had a Paul or two as a character, and Bob...its just weird. lol. (No offence to any Bob's out there. lol.)
