~The Wedding ~
It was a beautiful, sunny day in London, it was the day of the wedding of Betty Suarez and Daniel Meade. They were to marry at the biggest church in London, it was a church of Betty's choosing and in Daniel's mind, she couldn't have chosen a better location, The church was beautifully was dimly lit by beautifully glowing pink lights, a beautiful variation of a bouquet of pink flowers adorned each pew row of the church. A beautiful pink colored carpet with roses on each end was laid on the floor leading up to the altar. At the altar was a beautiful, tall pink designed, flowered archway. The church pews were packed with both Daniel and Betty's family members, which included - Betty's father, Ignacio, Wilhelmina, Betty's brother Justin and Daniel's mother, Claire. There was soft music playing beautifully throughout the church as a big billboard that hung on both sides of the church played a photo slideshow of Daniel and Betty together during their relationship.
As Betty stood in the mirror and stared at her wedding dress, with Hilda and Amanda behind her, she smiled with tearful eyes. Hilda hugged Betty tightly and laughed.
"Oh Betty, you look SO beautiful!" Hilda said excitingly.
Betty nodded as tears streamed that she quickly wiped away.
"Oh thank you Hilda." Betty said softly.
Betty turned and looked at Hilda with a sigh and a smile.
"Wow, I can't believe this day is actually here." Betty said with a laugh.
Amanda shook her head with a smirk.
"Neither can I." Amanda said. "Who thought four years ago that Daniel would end up marrying his - ugly turned beautiful assistant?"
Hilda stared at Amanda with attitude, Betty looked at Amanda with an eyebrow raised.
"Gee thanks Amanda." Betty said almost coldly.
"Yeah, but it was the best decision Daniel ever made." Amanda said with a warm smile. "He's really lucky to have you Betty."
Betty smiled warmly.
"Oh thank you Amanda." Betty said before quickly hugging Amanda, who hugged her back.
At that moment, Christina quickly opened the door to the room.
"Ok, girls it's time." Christina said quickly. "Betty, everyone's ready."
Betty nodded before Christina closed the door back. Betty turned and looked at Hilda with an excited smile.
"Ok, this is it!" Hilda said with an excited smile before hugging Betty, who laughed with equal excitement.
Theme Song: "All Of Me" ~ John Legend
Daniel stood at the front of the altar with the older, Hispanic, male minister and Marc and Robby as his best men. Betty walked down the aisle as singer John Legend sat behind a piano and performed "All Of Me". It was a gift Daniel wanted to surprise Betty with. John Legend was one of Betty's favorite singers and she was in love with John's song, "All Of Me". Daniel could think of no one better to serenade Betty's walk down the aisle. As Betty walked with Ignacio in her beautiful, flowing white layered wedding dress and her beautiful, veil with pretty, white lace embroidered around the edges, those in the pews stood and looked back at her with awe - including Daniel. Never in his life had he seen a more beautiful bride. He stared at her with complete awe and exhaled silently as he felt his breath being taken away by her instant beauty. As Betty arrived at the altar with Daniel, with Ignacio kissing her on the cheek before going to his seat, she looked over at John with surprise. John winked, smiled and waved at her.
"Oh my God, John Legend?" Betty said in a low voice with a smile to Daniel.
Daniel scoffed and smirked.
"Yeah, I couldn't think of anyone greater than John for today, for you Betty." Daniel said.
Betty smiled at him warmly and lightly kissed his hand, before they turned to face the minister.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony," the minister said, "which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Everyone in the church remained silent still. Betty and Daniel glanced at each other briefly with warm smiles.
"Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart," the minister said, "body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy – and for the help and comfort given on another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly – it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained. Through marriage, Daniel and Betty make a commitment together to face their disappointments – embrace their dreams – realize their hopes – and accept each other's failures. Daniel and Betty will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together – through mutual understanding – openness – and sensitivity to each other. We are here today – before God – because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes – to witness the joining in marriage of Daniel Meade and Betty Suarez. This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now – through me – He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds. Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?"
Ignacio stood up and nodded.
"I do reverend." Ignacio said proudly.
Betty glanced back at Ignacio and smiled through lightly tearful eyes. The minister nodded.
"Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people." The minister continued. "Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between them. It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is amoral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage should be a life long consecration of the ideal of loving kindness – backed with the will to make it last. Now, Daniel and Betty have written their own vows, which they will now recite to each other. Daniel, you may begin first."
Daniel and Betty turn to face each other and Daniel takes her hands into his, staring at her directly.
"Betty, four years ago, I never thought I could or would meet a woman that would capture my heart in such a way that's unexplainable even beyond words." Daniel said softly. "Betty, you are my friend, my smile, my - everything, you are a breath-taking reflection of - God's heart for me."
Betty smiled at him warmly and frowned with emotion and with tearful eyes.
"Betty there were times when you loved me, when I didn't even love myself," Daniel continued, "you held my hand in the darkness and you pulled me out into the light. You ARE my light and it doesn't matter what happens in this life, as long as you're -"
Daniel stopped and looked down briefly with lightly tearful eyes.
"As long as you're with me Betty." Daniel said through a tearful voice.
Betty frowned more as tears streamed.
"When I look at you, I know that there's - SOMEONE - somewhere who loved me SO much," Daniel continued through a tearful voice, "that he took the time to create you just for me. I love you Betty past my mind, in the deep, inner parts of my heart and my soul - not only today but every day, for as long as I live."
Betty slightly shook her head with a faint smile as tears streamed. Daniel faintly smiled and gently wiped her tears away. The minister nodded to Betty.
"Betty, it's your turn." The minister said.
"Daniel, Your character and integrity have stood out to me from the beginning." Betty said warmly. "In the four years that I have known you, you have demonstrated amazing kindness, strength, and compassion towards me. I have never felt so treasured and safe with anyone. I am proud of everything you do and the talents you have, but mostly I am proud of who you are. With humility, and joy I choose you to be my husband. I am thankful that you were designed and created with me in mind. I promise to respect your ideas, to support your dreams. I promise to be your safe place. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. I promise to guard my heart from the affections of all others and to have you as my one and only from this day forward."
Daniel stared at her warmly with lightly tearful eyes.
"You are the one I want to laugh with" Betty continued with a lightly tearful voice, " to cry with, parent with, and be with all the days of my life. You are my most AMAZING gift and I am SO honored and SO excited to build a home and life with you, my Daniel, my love, my teammate, and my best friend."
Daniel warmly kissed her hand as the minister warmly smiled.
" May we have the rings please?" The minister asked.
Daniel got his ring from Robby and Betty got her ring from Hilda before turning back to face each other.
"Daniel, will you place your ring on Betty's left hand and repeat after me?" The minister asked.
Daniel placed the ring halfway on Betty's hand and stared at her with a warm smile.
"Daniel, do you take Beatriz Suarez to be your wife – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony?" The minister asked. "Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"
Daniel smiled warmly at Betty and nodded.
"I do." Daniel said with a warm smile from Betty.
The minister nodded at Daniel and Daniel pushed the ring completely on Betty's finger.
"Betty, will you place the ring on Daniel's right hand and repeat after me?" The minister asked.
Betty nodded and placed the ring halfway on Daniel's hand.
"Betty," the minister continued, "do you take Daniel Meade to be your husband – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?"
Betty nodded as tears streamed.
"I do." Betty said warmly.
Standing nearby, Hilda grabbed her napkin and wiped away streaming tears.
"By the powers vested in me as minister," the minister stated, "I now pronounce you as husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride."
Daniel and Betty smiled at each other warmly before Daniel grabbed Betty and pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately as those in the church applauded happily.
Theme song: "Beauty In The World" ~ Macy Gray
The wedding reception was filled with friends and family members of Daniel and Betty's. The majority of family and friends were on the dance floor dancing to music that was being played by the DJ - and in the middle of the dance floor was Daniel dancing with Betty. Happily in love, they shared a kiss and a smile while dancing. Betty couldn't believe it, for once everything was right in the world for her and for Daniel. Everything was beautiful and would remain beautiful for the both of them for many years to come...
THE END...