"Angel, do it!"
"But I'm not Jewish…"
"Every other male here is wearing one of the hats, so for god's sake just put one on!"
Angel sighed and picked up a yarmulke from the small table set up on the green of The Public Gardens and affixed it on his head. Buffy patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
"Thank you."
"Hey, Buffy!"
Buffy turned around at the sound of her name being called and smiled when she saw Becky waving and coming towards her. When she arrived they embraced warmly.
"How you feeling today?" Becky asked with a grin.
"As long as nobody shouts, I'll be okay," Buffy replied, holding a hand to her head dramatically, "This is my boyfriend Angel, by the way."
Becky shook Angel's hand and smiled at him before gesturing towards the area surrounding them, white chairs set up in a half-circle design, facing the canopy so that everyone had a front-row seat of the wedding. Off to the side there was a small marquee set up and most of the other guests had already arrived and were sitting or standing, talking to each other.
"It looks pretty good doesn't it?" Becky asked excitedly, "And the weather really held up. Sunshine, only a few clouds."
"It looks great," Buffy replied with a smile and elbowed Angel when he didn't say anything.
"Very nice," Angel said, trying to think of something to say, "I, uh, like the white against the green."
"You mean the furniture and the grass?" Becky asked with a small laugh before shrugging, "Yea, it's a nice combination."
Buffy looked around for a moment, moving back and forth on the balls of her feet excitedly.
"So when's the ceremony starting?"
"Well me and Alice are going in there," Becky replied, pointing at the marquee, "In a few minutes. We're the witnesses for the marriage contract thing. Except Willow wanted them to not see each other until the actual ceremony so they had to put up these drapes either side that each of them stay in while the other's signing it."
"Trust Willow to make something as complicated as possible," Buffy laughed and Becky snickered along with her, "Are they here yet?"
Becky nodded and smiled.
"Oh yea, they arrived before everyone else. Been hiding out in the marquee ever since. Alice is in with Tara and I'm supposed to be in there with Willow but her pacing was making me dizzy so I came out for a little break, see how things were going out here. Actually, you guys are the last to arrive so we can probably start soon."
"Oh god, are we late? We're late aren't we?" Buffy exclaimed before turning and hitting her boyfriend on the arm, "Dammit, Angel, I told you to stop messing with your tie!"
"Whoa, chill," Becky said, a small grin on her face, "You're not late. And please don't murder your boy. Willow and Tara would not appreciate their wedding being turned into a crime scene."
"It's her first wedding," Angel interjected, having been subjected to his girlfriend's worry all morning that she'd somehow do the wrong thing.
"Oh," Becky nodded in understanding, "Well, don't worry, all you have to do is sit down and clap at the end. Try to avoid crying. Same goes for you, Angel."
"Oh," Buffy shook her head, "Angel's not one for emotional displays. Trying to get him to say 'I love you' is like taking blood from a stone."
Angel blushed, putting some colour into his often-pale face and Becky just bit her lip, trying not to laugh before putting her hand on Buffy's shoulder.
"I better get back to Will before she paces right through her shoes. You guys can sit wherever you want."
Becky departed with a smile and scurried off back to the marquee, walking over to Rabbi Goldstein who was standing in the middle behind a small table, looking over a decorated piece of paper in his hand. He looked up when the brunette approached.
"Hello. Rebecca, isn't it?"
"Yea," Becky smiled, then cleared her throat, thinking she should be more respectful, "I mean yes. I just thought I'd let you know all the guests had arrived, if you wanted to start things. Or you know, whatever you thought was best."
The rabbi smiled at Becky's nervous behaviour and nodded his head.
"I think you're quite right, it's about time we get started. If you and Alice would come out here, I believe Willow is signing first."
"Okay, so I'll just get Al…then we can bring Willow out."
Becky spun on her heels and walked over to the far left of the marquee, poking her head behind the sheet where Tara was sitting, still fixing her hair in a small hand mirror. The brunette walked fully inside the little sub-room and put her hand to her heart when she saw Tara.
"Oh my god. You look beautiful."
Tara turned in her seat at the sound of Becky's voice and smiled at her friend.
"Thank you. How's Willow?"
"Very, very eager," Becky laughed, then nodded at Alice, "We're about to get started."
Alice stood up and gave Tara a kiss on the cheek as she passed.
"We'll be back in a few minutes for your bit. Don't be nervous."
"I'll try," Tara smiled weakly, "Tell Will I love her."
The other two walked back out and to the other side, going into Willow's little area where the redhead was sitting with her eyes closed, taking deep breaths in some sort of calming technique.
"You ready?"
Willow jumped up at the sound of Becky's voice and her eyes widened as she registered the words.
"Really? We're starting?"
Becky nodded excitedly.
"Uh huh. And Tara said to say she loves you."
Willow visibly relaxed and smiled a small smile, straightening out her just-below-the knee-length white dress, adorned with simple diamond studs around the neckline and held up by thin inch-thick straps over her shoulders.
"Well then, let's do this."
All three girls walked into the main area and Willow sat down behind the table, nervously tapping her fingers against it. She stopped when she was realised what she was doing and looked at the paper laid out in front of her, listening as the rabbi explained what the Ketubah was and its significance in the marriage ceremony.
Finally it was time for her to sign and she picked up the pen, taking a second to let her hand stop shaking before signing her name with a flourish, grinning when she finished. She was still smiling happily as Becky walked her back to her area.
"Your Dad'll be in to walk you, well, not so much down the aisle really, more around the curve of chairs, but, um, anyway...You okay in here?"
Willow nodded quietly, the excitement bubbling inside her. On the other side, Tara walked out and repeated the same procedure, signing the paper with the same grin on her face that the redhead had, before Becky and Alice signed as witnesses and Tara went back to wait for the ceremony to begin.
"I'm so glad that's over," Alice whispered to Becky as they found their seats, "I was terrified I'd sign it wrong or something. This wedding business is so much responsibility."
Becky giggled, watching as the rabbi set himself up under the canopy, and leant over to where there was a small portable CD player - with a set of extra speakers so the sound would carry - was sitting. She looked behind her and saw Willow waiting just outside the marquee with her father by her side and pressed play, as she had been instructed to do so earlier by the brides.
"You ready, darling?" Ira whispered as the opening bars of Peter Gabriel's 'Book of Love' began to play.
"Definitely," Willow smiled, linking arms with her father, "I'm glad you're here."
"I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
Willow and Ira started walking slowly, the redhead smiling at all the guests as they passed until they turned towards the canopy. Once under it, Ira took a moment to just look at his daughter before giving her a warm kiss on the forehead and mouthing 'I love you' and departing back to his own seat.
The redhead waited for what was an anxious few moments before Tara appeared out from the marquee, her breath catching when she saw the blonde striding towards her, the music still playing in time with her step. It seemed like Tara took hours to get to her, but when she did, joining Willow under the canopy just as the song ended, the redhead took her hands and gazed into her eyes.
"You look stunning," she whispered, loud enough only for Tara to hear, "Absolutely stunning."
"So do you," Tara whispered back, looking at the smaller girl in awe, "So beautiful."
The couple just stared at each other until the rabbi stepped forward and began speaking, breaking them both from their reverie.
"Welcome," he began, clearing his throat, "On this beautiful day where Willow and Tara are here to share their love with the people they love. Marriage is a gift shared by two people, but it touches the hearts of friends and family as well. Some of you have known Willow and Tara for years, others for less time but all of you are special to them and that is why you were asked to witness this special event. Today, we have a ceremony of different traditions that have come together to learn the best of what each has to offer, appreciating their differences, and confirming that being together is far better than being apart from each other. We bless this marriage under a Chuppah, the Jewish symbol of the new home being consummated here. We start today's proceedings with a poem that is close to both girls' hearts, by the name of A Special World by Sheelagh Lennon:
A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb.
Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
Gently nestling us to the fold
Like silken thread it holds us fast
Bonds like this are meant to last.
And though at times a thread may break
A new one forms in its wake
To bind us closer and keep us strong
In a special world, where we belong.
I hope today that as Willow and Tara start their lives together, may it be filled with happiness, good health, many friends, much love and all of the wonderful things that life can offer. They truly belong to each other in this world."
Willow blushed as the poem was read aloud, remembering the first instance that she'd heard it when they'd been basking in the afterglow of their first time making love and felt Tara squeeze her hands in return, before the rabbi continued the ceremony.
"I am now going to read the Ketubah, a marriage contract signed by the brides."
Rabbi Goldstein paused and looked up, smiling at all of the guests before he began reading.
"This certificate celebrates before all those present that on this day, November 24th at The Boston Public Gardens, a loving and binding commitment was entered between Willow Rosenberg and Tara Maclay. We pledge to each other to be loving friends and partners; to talk and listen, to trust and appreciate one another, to respect and cherish each other's uniqueness, and to support, comfort and strengthen each other through life's sorrows and joys."
The girls' smiles got wider as their promises to each other were read aloud, Tara nodding along with everything being said without even realizing she was doing it.
"We further promise to share hopes, thoughts and dreams as we build our lives together. May we grow our lives ever entwined, our love bringing us closer. We shall endeavour to establish a home that is compassionate to all wherein the flow of the seasons and the passages of life are revered and honoured. May our home be forever filled with peace, happiness and love."
Rabbi Goldstein smiled as he finished reading the Ketubah and closed his hands together in front of the couple.
"Now, Willow and Tara have their own personal vows they would like to share with each other and with the world. Tara, if you'd like to start."
Tara nodded her head, collecting her thoughts for a moment, before bringing on of Willow's hands up to her mouth and kissing her open palm.
"Willow. I promise to love you always and to cherish you forever. I promise to respect you, to be honest with you. To support any and all of your goals and to be with you always. I promise to confide in you and to listen when you want to confide in me and to grow with you throughout our marriage. I give you my mind, body and soul on this and every other day for the rest of our lives."
Willow felt her heart swell at the words coming from the blonde's mouth and continued to just stare at her even after she finished, almost missing the nod she got from the rabbi to speak her vows. When she did realise it was her moment, she went to speak but found her mind went blank.
"Um…uh…"
Tara looked at her concerned, almost afraid and the redhead kicked herself internally, quickly trying to think of something.
"I, um, had a whole speech and I can't remember a word of it," she chuckled nervously and the blonde just gave her a reassuring smile, "I guess it'll just have to come from the heart. So…I promise to, to be your lover and your friend. I promise to hold your hand in mine and to be everything I can be for you…I promise…I just…I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, Tara. I promise to be yours forever."
The blonde mouthed 'I love you' and Willow mouthed it back, before the rabbi picked up the rings from the table.
"These rings in their unbroken wholeness are tokens of the continuity of your love. May their shining substance be a symbol of the enduring trust and affection that you bring to one another. Willow, as you place this ring on Tara's finger, repeat after me: 'With this ring, I join my life with yours. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine'."
Tara held her hand out and Willow slowly put the ring on her finger as she spoke.
"With this ring, I join my life with yours. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
Tara bit her lip to stop a squeal of excitement escaping her lips and took the other ring offered to her by the rabbi, slipping in onto Willow's finger, repeating the same oath as the redhead had.
"With this ring, I join my life with yours. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
Both girls grinned wildly at each other before the rabbi's voice piped up again.
"At this time, I'm going to recite another poem chosen by the couple which they feel represents them," Rabbi Goldstein said, assorting his papers again, "It's called True Love by Helen Steiner Rice…
True love is a sacred flame
That burns eternally,
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny.
True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart
And true love conquers fear.
True love makes no harsh demands
It neither rules nor binds,
And true love holds with gentle hands
The hearts that it entwines
Today we have witnessed the true love of Tara and Willow. Everyone present can rejoice in your happiness and we hope that this is only one of many wonderful days you will have in all the coming years you spend together. You have spoken the words and performed the rites that unite your lives and now, by the power of your love and the commitment you have made, I declare your marriage to be valid and binding. I pronounce you wives."
Everyone stood and cheered as Tara pulled Willow to her and they both kissed, slowly and lovingly, sealing all their promises to each other. They stopped kissing when the cheering died down but kept a hold on each other's waists as the rabbi finished the ceremony.
"We conclude this ceremony with the breaking of the glass, a joyous celebration. There are many different explanations for the breaking of the glass. Today, the fragility of the glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. May your bond of love be as difficult to break as it would be to put together the pieces of this glass."
Willow grinned and stepped back from Tara's embrace to step on the piece of glass wrapped in a cloth that was placed near them. There was a loud cry of 'Mazal Tov' from the guests except for one distinctly female voice that shouted 'Shalom' followed by a loud 'dammit!'
Everyone looked towards Buffy, who blushed and sank down low in her seat, but Willow caught her eye and gave her a reassuring wink, which seemed to restore confidence in the petite blonde and she sat back up in her seat.
"If everyone would like to make their way to the Four Seasons hotel, reception room C," Rabbi Goldstein spoke to everyone, "The newlyweds will meet you there in a little while. Mazal Tov."
Everyone repeated 'Mazal Tov' and Willow and Tara quickly made their way back to the marquee, to spend the traditional few minutes alone. As soon as they got in there, Willow started jumping and down and twirling Tara around.
"We're married! We're really married!"
"Yes we are," Tara replied before pulling the redhead close, "I love you."
"Mmhh, I love you too," Willow murmured before their lips came together passionately and lovingly, "Hey, guess what?"
"What?" Tara asked, resting their forehead's together.
"I'm gonna kiss you like that every day for the rest of our lives."
"Oh yea? Well guess what?"
"What?"
"I'm gonna kiss you right back."
Willow smiled goofily and squeezed the blonde's waist.
"You wanna head to the reception soon?"
"Yea," Tara nodded, "Do we need to worry about…?"
She gestured around her and Willow understood.
"Nope. Same guys who set it all out are collecting it. We don't have to worry about anything but our faces hurting from smiling and the possibility of falling from the chairs in the dancing later."
Tara smiled, relieved they didn't have to stay behind to manage a clean-up operation and excited about the reception. She suddenly remembered their wedding gift.
"Hey, do you know where we're staying tonight?"
"Um, our apartment…"
"Uh uh," Tara shook her head, grinning, "Our wonderful friends got us The Honeymoon Suite."
"As in…as in The Four Seasons Honeymoon Suite?" Willow asked, getting excited, "Really?"
"Uh huh…that big room…all for us."
"I bet it has a big bed, too," Willow grinned, her eyes twinkling, "You're gonna be underneath me all night."
"Hey," Tara replied, bumping her hips against the redhead's playfully, "I like being on top, too."
Willow giggled and pulled the blonde into another kiss, enjoying the sensation of her wife's –
She's my wife!
- lips on her own for a few minutes before pulling back and nodding towards the exit.
"Come on. Let's go party."