Ally's dress link: . /th?id=H.4928433194337188&pid=15.1
Bridesmaids dress link: . /th?id=H.4666255514208975&pid=15.1&H=204&W=160
Oh, my god. Today is the day. I'm getting married. I woke up on my couch. Trish was on the floor with a granola bar stuck in her hair and Rosie was on the couch with her sunglasses and her shirt opened revealing her bra.
"Guys," I moaned. "Guys, wake up!"
Rosie woke up and fell on the floor. "Wha—Ugh! My head!"
"What the hell is going on?" yawned Trish. "What time is it?"
"8:26!" shrieked Rosie. "We are late for our hair appointment at Stefan's!"
"Oh, shit!" yelled Trish. We quickly got up and grabbed our girls. We headed to Stefan's Salon just in time for our scheduled appointment.
Luckily, Stefan does hair, nail, and makeup for all of us. I felt like a dress up doll. It's uncomfortable and scary though I looked like a million dollars.
"I feel great," I said.
"Ally, don't you worry," said Stefan. "You are going to be the only girl Austin is looking at."
"Thank you, Stefan."
After that, we got to the church. Everybody was arriving. We were in one of the rooms.
"I am so nervous," I said.
"Just breathe," said Rosie.
Breathe in, breathe out. I did it multiple times until I threw up, which helped a bit.
Trish looking at her phone, said, "Uhh…guys? Looks like I took pictures from last night. Check that out."
I looked at the photos. One of them was Rosie riding the mechanical bull. Another picture was me…with a male stripper.
"Oh, my god," I gasped.
"Mom, what are you doing?" asked Leighton as she and Jean looked at the phone behind us.
I quickly turned the phone off and said, "Girls, get ready."
"Austin and the boys are here," said Rosie. "It's time. Go, go, go!"
We got outside. Dad arrived. "Hey, sweetie."
"Hey, Dad."
"You nervous?"
"Of course I am."
"Don't worry, baby. I always imagined you'd be over thirty and about to get married."
"Dad!"
"Just kidding, pumpkin."
The music started playing. First was Krishna and Mason. Next was Leighton and Gavin, Jase and Jean, Rae and Trish, and Dez and Rosie. Finally, everybody stood up.
My heart accelerated as I took numerous steps toward Austin. I have never been so nervous in my life. Sweat was dripping down my forehead and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up.
During the nervousness, I continued to gaze at Austin. He looked so handsome in his black suit though he hates dressing fancy. That man over there is fixing to be my husband.
At last, we were there. Dad murmured to Austin. "Well…here you go."
"Here you go?" I asked. "I'm not a baseball."
Dad gave me to Austin. The priest said, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of this company, to unite Austin Matthew Moon and Allyson Delilah Dawson in holy matrimony. Marriage was ordained by God in Eden and confirmed in Cana of Galilee by the presence of the Lord Himself, and is declared by the inspired Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men. It is therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, soberly and in the fear of God. It is fitting, therefore, that we should on this occasion, begin by asking God's blessing on this marriage service. Let us pray.
"Marriage is a joyous occasion. It is connected in our thoughts with the magic charm of home, and with all that is pleasant and attractive as being one of the most important events of our lives. It its sacredness and unity it is like the mystical relation between Christ and His Church and is therefore the most significant and binding covenant known in human relations.
From the Story of Creation in the book of Genesis: For God created man in His own image . . . then the Lord formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being . . then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him" . . . So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs, and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Again, let us hear the Word of God from the New Testament, the writings of Paul: "Live life then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don't be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of our Lord. Thank God at all times for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And 'fit in with' each other, because of your common reverence for Christ."
"You wives must remember to adapt yourselves to your husbands, as you submit yourselves to the Lord, for the husband is the 'head' of the wife in the same way that Christ is the Head of the Church and Savior of His body . . . but remember, this means that the husband must give his wife the same sort of love that Christ gave to the Church when He sacrificed Himself for her . . .
In practice what I have said amounts to this: Let every one of you who is a husband, love his wife as he loves himself, and let the wife honor and love her husband."
It is your duty, Austin, to be to Allyson a considerate, tender, faithful, loving husband: to support, guide and cherish her in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge the place she holds in your life; to constantly show to her the tokens of your affection, to shelter her from danger, and to cherish for her a manly and unalterable affection, it being the command of God's Word, that husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave His own life for her.
"It is your duty, Allyson, to be to Austin, a considerate, tender, faithful, loving wife; to counsel, comfort and cherish him in prosperity and trouble; to give to him the unfailing evidences of your affection; to study, as time passes to make the place he holds in your heart, broader and deeper; to reverence and obey him, and to put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in God's sight, an ornament of great price. His Word commanding that wives be subject unto their own husbands even as the church is subject unto Christ, and forsaking all others to cling to him with a love which fails not as long as you both shall live.
"Let me charge you both to remember, that your future happiness is to be found in mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence, and affection. It is the duty of each to find the greatest joy in the company of the other; to remember that in interest as in affection you are to be henceforth one and undivided."
Austin and I turned to each other. First I get to say my vow from my heart.
"Austin…you are my life," I said. "My everything. Everything about you overwhelms me. You are charming, strong, immature, funny, and charismatic. You are my entire world and no one could ever replace you. You've kept me waiting too long. You have no idea how long I wanted to be Mrs. Allyson Moon. No matter what happens…through sickness, bad times, terrible situations, and financial crisis…you are always my Austin."
"Ally, I never thought that I would find someone like you," said Austin. "You are my best friend, my soul mate, the mother of my children, and my life partner. I can't think of any other woman who would get used to my dirtiness, jokes, inability to cook or do laundry, and my immaturity. You are the greatest person in the world to me. I promise to love you, take care of you, and protect you with my life because your life and our kids are my top priority."
As the ceremony continued, it kept me thinking that…I will be marrying the love of my life. Austin is my everything.
"Austin, will you take Allyson to be your wife? Will you love and respect her? Will you be honest with her always? Will you stand by her through whatever may come? Will you make whatever adjustments are necessary so that you can genuinely share your life with her?"
"I do," said Austin.
"Allyson, will you take Austin to be your husband? Will you be honest with him always? Will you stand by him through whatever may come? Will you make whatever adjustments are necessary so that you can genuinely share your life with him?"
"I do." I almost wanted to cry.
"By the power vested in me and by the state of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Austin and I leaned in and victoriously kissed as everybody proudly applauded for us. No longer am I, Ally Dawson. Now I am legally and officially Allyson Moon.