The Wedding Part I-The Ceremony
"This whole set up is lovely." Phyllis remarks as she and Nate take their seats outside at Fen and Ana's wedding. Ana and Fen were having their wedding at a luxury resort in Wisconsin that was located on a lake. They were having the wedding outside and the reception would be held later inside a ballroom at the resort.
"Yes, your daughter and everyone involved did a wonderful job getting this thing together." Nate says looking around and admiring the set up. He touches some of the pretty flowers that were arranged near some of the seats. He looks across the way and smiles at the pond. "Very nice scenery here."
"And you look sharp." Phyllis says complimenting him.
"So, do you." He says looking at her green dress.
"Thank You." Phyllis replies. "It looks like we are a bit early."
"Better to be early than late." Nate responds. They chat for a bit more and then the rest of the guests start to arrive at the wedding.
They see Gloria arrive along with Chloe and Bella.
"This whole venue is just lovely." Gloria gushes as she enters the area. "Such a beautiful place for my grandson and his bride to be getting married."
"This is beautiful." Chloe agrees holding Bella's hand.
"It's very pretty mommy." Bella states. They walk past Phyllis and Nate and greet them. Bella waves at them and smiles. They wave back. They go and take some seats on the other side of the area.
More guests continue to arrive including some friends of Ana from her bridal shower including Rochelle and Anastasia. They take their seats. Devon shows up next holding Kenny in his arms.
He goes over to Nate and Phyllis and greets them.
"Hey Nate, Phyllis." He says greeting them.
"Hey Devon." Nate says greeting him.
"Hi." Phyllis says.
"Hey little man." Nate reaches up and gently touches Kenny's arm. Kenny smiles at Nate.
"You guys look sharp." Nate compliments them.
"Thanks." Devon replies smiling.
"And this resort is beautiful, Devon." Phyllis tells him. "This is such a great place to have a wedding."
"I wanted to give my baby sister the best. She said she wanted to be married a bit closer to home, and this was the best resort here in the state." Devon states smiling. He looks around and sighs. "Though, I wish my wife could be here."
"She's still trying to deal with that situation with her family?" Nate asks giving Devon a knowing look.
Devon nods and frowns. "Yeah, she's still trying to help them deal with that stuff." He sighs. "I've been helping and supporting her as much as I can. Flying out trying to help…."
Nate nods understanding. "I know."
"But I had to get back for Ana's wedding today. I didn't want to miss my baby sister's wedding."
"And I'm sure your wife understands." Nate replies.
Devon nods. "She does, she wishes she could be here, but…" The two men look at each other in understanding.
"But hey at least you and Kenny are here. I know that Ana is happy that you're both here. You know she's crazy about Kenny."
"Yeah." Devon and Nate talk for a bit more and then Devon goes off to find Kenny's nanny. Phyllis and Nate chat as more guests arrive for the wedding, including Abby.
"Hello Nate." Abby walks up to them and stops to talk with him.
"Hey Abby." He replies giving her a smile.
"How are you?" She asks.
"Fine, I am just ready to enjoy this wedding. Watching my cousin getting married on this fabulous occasion."
"And it's such a beautiful day." Abby adds smiling. "I'm just in a really good mood today for some reason. Weddings do that to me." She confesses.
"Yeah, weddings definitely can put a person in a joyful mood." Nate says looking at her and smiling. They smile at each other again and Phyllis makes a face.
"Well, I guess I will go say hello to some people, including Devon and then I will take my seat." Abby states. "Maybe save a dance for me later?" She asks.
Nate nods. "Yeah that would be nice." Abby walks off to go mingle with some more guests.
Phyllis nudges Nate. "I thought you were moving forward in trying to find you a new lady."
Nate laughs. "I can still dance with an ex." He remarks amused. "Like Abby says today is a beautiful day and there is nothing wrong with taking a spin on the dance floor with her."
"If that's the only spin you take with her." Phyllis cautions.
Nate rolls his eyes and touches his chest. "I just want to have fun today, Phyllis that's all. I want to celebrate this wonderful union of love between my cousin and her husband. And have fun." He gestures with his hands.
"And take a break from work, and things going on with the board and even finding Ms. Right." He looks at Phyllis and smiles. "I just want to relax and kick it today. Do you know what I mean?" He asks looking at her.
She nods. "I know what you mean." She then leans against him and gives him a gentle bump. "And I hope you save a dance for me today as well." She says. He nods.
"Of course. You know I am going to dance with the one who came with me." He says laughing. They talk for a bit more and more guests arrive including Nick, who was there as Lily's date.
Nick comes over to greet them.
"This is a really nice place." Nick says looking around. "Our daughter did a terrific job of helping Ana and Fen put this together." He remarks proudly.
"Yes, she did." Phyllis agrees. "We know what beautiful things she can accomplish when she puts her mind to it." She looks at him. "You're here with Lily, right?" She asks.
Nick nods. "I am." He confirms to her. "She's off with the bridal party but we'll be hanging out later today."
"Un-huh." Phyllis says and they talk some more. Nick then goes and takes his seat. More people continue to show including some friends of Fen and friends/co-workers of Ana from Hamilton Winters. Including a few musicians. Nate and Phyllis continue to chat while the guests arrive.
While all of this is going on Ana is in her bridal ready room at the resort getting ready for the wedding. Her makeup and hair had been done. Her bridesmaids and her mother Harmony are with her assisting her. The bridesmaids were dressed in pretty wine colored dresses and Harmony looked lovely as well.
"You look amazing." Lily comments as she is helping her.
"Just beautiful girl." Sophia adds.
"Stunning." Summer says as the ladies continue to help her. Ana looks at herself in the mirror and smiles. She was wearing a beautiful white lace and tulle wedding dress. The top of the dress was long sleeved and had lace and v neck and the bottom was a lovely ballgown skirt. She looked beautiful. She chats with the bridesmaids and her mother some more and after they are finished helping her, everyone turns to leave. Except her mother, who is left alone with her. Ana turns around and looks at her mother.
"Are you ready, baby?" Harmony asks.
"Yes. I feel like I am." Ana confirms to her. She smiles and stands up and looks at her mother.
"You look beautiful." Harmony tells her. Tears then well up in her eyes. "I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished in your life." She tells her.
"I know that I haven't always been there for you…" She begins.
Ana reaches out and grabs her mother's hands. "It's okay, Mom." She assures her. "You're here now. And I'm glad that you are." Ana says gratefully. "I'm glad you are here to share this special day with me."
"I am too sweetheart." She sighs. "I think that I am more nervous about this than you are." She states and laughs.
"Don't be." Ana assures her. "It's going to be fine. I am marrying the man that I love, and Devon is giving us this bomb wedding, that we can share with all of our family and friends."
"Yeah, I guess I just have mother of the bride jitters." Harmony says. Her and Ana hug each other. They talk for a little more and then Harmony leaves. Ana then checks herself out again and gathers herself and prepares to meet up with her father who would be walking her down the aisle.
While she is doing that, Fen is waiting at the alter for her along with his groomsmen. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and looked very handsome. His groomsmen were in suits and were also well dressed for the occasion.
"Are you nervous little brother?" Scott asks, putting his hands on Fen's shoulder as they are standing at the altar together. He was Fen's best man.
"No, I'm not nervous." Fen says. "I just want to marry the woman that I love. And celebrate with our loved ones and then jet off to our honeymoon together." He says bluntly.
"Okay…." Scott says. "You are ready to get things rolling." He laughs.
Fen looks at his brother and smiles. "I am." He says. "Ana and I we've been working hard to get this wedding planned and now we just want to get married & start our new life together."
"I get you." Scott says. He pats his brother's shoulder again and they smile at each other. Fen also looks back at Xavier who smiles at him. They stand at the alter talking a little more. Ana's bridesmaids have also assembled at the altar and were buzzing with excitement. Things settle down a bit as the music starts to play. Everyone turns and looks down the aisle as Jett and Ana appears. They smile at each other and she takes his arm. Fen smiles at the sight of her. She was beautiful and the sight of her took his breath away.
Everyone stands and looks at Ana and smiles at her as she walks with Jett down the aisle. She smiles at and looks at some of them including Devon and Nate. Jett delivers her to the alter and she turns and hugs him and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Jett reaches out and shake Fen's hand. She then goes up and stands beside Fen and smiles at him, ready to begin the ceremony.
The minister looks at them and smiles and then addresses the crowd.
"Welcome everyone". He begins. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the love and union of Fenmore Baldwin and Ana Hamilton. We are here to witness the love that these two people have for each other and the lifelong commitment that they want to make to one another."
Harmony's eyes tear up as the minister is speaking. Devon looks at her and smiles, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Marriage expresses the highest form of love between two people in a committed relationship. And today our bride and groom will be joined together by their love in a loving, legal and public way. In a way that unites their hearts, and spirits and is witnessed by their loved ones."
The minister talks a little bit more about the significance of marriage and important ways that a couple can stand together and constantly show each other that they love and support one another. He also talks about how important faith is and how that can have a positive impact on marriage. It is then time for Ana and Fen to recite their vows.
"It is time for our bride and groom to recite their vows." Ana and Fen then face each other and take each other's hands. They look at each other excited and happy that they were about to pledge their love to each other.
"Starting with the groom, I want you to repeat after me." The minister says looking at Fen.
"I Fen, take you Ana."
Fen looks at Ana and smiles.
"I Fen take you Ana…" He repeats.
"To be my lawfully wedded wife." The minister continues.
"To be my lawfully wedded wife." Fen repeats. He repeats the vows after the minister.
"To have and to hold, In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, from this day forward, to death do us part."
Ana looks up at Fen feeling her heart skip a beat after he recites his vows, to her.
"Now it is your turn Ana." The minster says looking at her. "Repeat after me". He instructs her. Ana then recites her vows.
"I Ana take you Fen."
"To be my lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, from this day forward to death do us part."
Ana squeezes Fen's hands after she says her vows.
"The bride and groom will now exchange rings to symbolize their commitment to each other." Fen gets his ring from Scott and Ana's gets hers from Summer.
"Fen please take Ana's hand and repeat after me." The minister instructs.
"Ana, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment and promise to be faithful to you." Fen repeats what the minister instructs.
"Today, Tomorrow and all of the days to come together. And a reminder of what we have promised each other on this day."
Ana then takes the ring in her hand and makes the same vows to Fen.
Once they are done the minister comes to the conclusion of the ceremony.
"Fen and Ana, you two have said your vows to each other today, you have exchanged rings as a symbol of your love and commitment. And you have done this all in front of you loved ones and God."
"I just have one more question for you two." The minister says.
"Fen do you reaffirm you love for Ana, with the commitment you pledged today, and do you promise to love, honor and cherish her as your wife, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?" He asks.
"I do." Fen says grinning at her.
"And Ana, do you reaffirm your love for Fen with the commitment that you pledged today and do you promise to love, honor, and cherish him, forsaking all others as your husband as long as you both shall live."
"I do." Ana says beaming at Fen.
"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He looks at Fen and smiles.
"You may kiss the bride."
Fen smiles and leans in and kisses Ana. She puts her hand on his face while they kiss. They stop kissing and smile at each other. Then then turn and face their loves ones with their hands held.
The minister smiles. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Mr. Fen Baldwin and Mrs. Ana Baldwin." He says.
Everyone claps and Fen and Ana look at each other, happy that they are now husband and wife.