Wedding
Maria heard the Angelus from the bell tones ringing at dawn reminding her of the call to prayer at the Abbey. Those days seemed so far away now; so much had happened to her. "God, I know that the love of a man and a woman is holy in your sight; you have opened many windows for me and Georg. I give you all the thanks and praise."
A knock at her door and Lily's voice, "Maria, it's your wedding day;" brought her back to the present. Hurriedly, she ran to the door. "Lily, I can't believe this day has finally arrived."
"And it looks like it will a beautiful one. Go take a look on the balcony."
"Lily, there's not a cloud in the sky. It's going to be a glorious day."
"I know, let's have some breakfast, Joseph and Oscar left a few minutes ago."
In German City, Georg was sitting on the porch enjoying a cup of coffee. He had been awake since before the sunrise. Finally, this is the day I can fulfill my promise to Agathe. I know you are watching. When suddenly a breeze blew in and touched his cheek; "thank you Agathe."
better wake the children and fix them some breakfast before Joseph and Oscar arrive.
He and the children were finishing breakfast when Joseph came to the door.
"Is everyone ready, your mother-to-be told me to waste no time; the beauty shop is waiting for you." The girls had nothing to bring; their dresses, slips, stocking/tights and shoes were already at the apartment. They hurried to the car. "See you at the church girls."
Oscar stayed with Georg and the boys to lend him a hand with tying ties. He joined them for a trip to the barbershop; all of them had their hair trimmed and the barber gave Georg a good shave. They stopped to get a quick lunch before getting dressed.
"Boys, I have a gift for you from your Fräulein, open them." Maria had bought each a sterling silver tie bar. She had them engraved with today's date. The boys had never worn ties before, Oscar and Georg helped them attach them to their shirt and tie. "Father, these are so grown up."
"Yes, they are, your Fräulein wanted to get you something special."
"We must remember to thank her Kurt."
"Yes, please do."
The girls had arrived. "Are you excited Fräulein?"
"Very much girls, I have something for you." In their box each found a sterling silver hair clip with the same engraving, today's date.
"Fräulein, these are beautiful." Maria heard a thank you from each of them.
"Come on everyone, the beauty shop is waiting for us."
The girl's long hair took a long time to dry. Their new hairclips glittered brightly in the sunlight as they walked back to the apartment. Lunch was waiting for them; Maria was so excited she hardly ate a thing.
"Maria, you need to get dressed, I can help the girls; go."
"Fräulein Maria, you are beautiful. Your dress is lovely."
Liesl and Louisa looked closely at the satin smocking at the shoulders, on the dropped waist and the cuffs of the sleeves.
"This is so different Fräulein."
"Do you like it Liesl?"
"Oh yes, especially the satin ribbon embroidery, I've never seen that before."
"Father's going to like it too."
"You think so Louisa?"
All the girls smiled in approval.
Lily kept them on schedule. "It's time to go. Joseph is waiting for us."
They made it to the church in German City with plenty of time to spare. They waited in the Bridal Room.
Lily had given Oscar specific instructions as to when to leave the apartment. She knew it was only about a ten minute walk. His timing was perfect; they arrived only fifteen minutes before two. Oscar left Georg and the boys in the Groom's Room and went to find Maria.
"Maria, you are simply dazzling. How do you feel?"
"Happy, Oscar very happy."
Music was playing softly in the background as Georg and the boys entered the church to take their places at the bottom of the altar stairs. Their guests were filling the small church.
Lily was waiting with Maria and the girls outside at the foot of the stairs leading to the sanctuary. The music suddenly changed, grew louder and the trumpet notes of the organ announced the wedding was about to begin. The doors opened and Oscar helped Maria climb the few steps.
There she stood in Georg's full sight. "Father, she's beautiful."
"Yes, boys she is." He never took his eyes off of her.
His tux took Maria's mind back to their dance; "I thought you were handsome then, now you are like an Adonis."
She and Oscar waited. The music signaled to the girls to begin their walk; Lily started them; Marta and Gretl together, then Brigitta, Louisa and last Liesl.
Once again the music changed. "Are you ready Maria?"
"Yes, Oscar." Maria's hand rested on his arm; he patted it in reassurance. It wasn't a long aisle; Maria and Georg's eyes met and remained fixed.
"Georg, I give you your betrothed." Oscar took her hand and gave it to Georg; together they climbed the few steps to the altar. He turned and lifted her veil over her head.
Father Stephan began the ceremony. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of this man, Georg von Trapp and this woman, Maria Kutschera in Holy Matrimony….." Georg and Maria responded to the questions of a life-long commitment; and then took their seats for the readings.
Father Stephan concluded the Gospel reading and then turned to the congregation. "Liesl has asked to give the homily." This took Georg and Maria totally by surprise. Father Stephan had told them they couldn't hold hands; so they smiled at each other in anticipation.
"I speak for all of us. Both the Epistle and the Gospel spoke about love; and so will I. It was the love of a mother that we children most desired after our Mama died; we knew that Father loved us; but his heart was so filled with grief he couldn't tell us.
We also knew he was angry with us when we chased away every teacher or governess he hired. We even tried to chase Fräulein Maria away." Liesl smiled at her.
"You were different." Liesl continued. "You were younger than all the others; we didn't know that you came from the Abbey. We learned that later.
"Right from that very first day you loved us. You weren't angry with us for putting the frog in your pocket or the pinecone on the dining room chair." Georg was smiling and shaking his head. Maria lowered hers as she remembered.
"Instead you thanked us in a most creative way; making us all feel bad and had most of us in tears. By the time you comforted us during the thunderstorm that night, we knew you loved us as a mother.
"'God so loved the world that he sent his Son to give us eternal life.' He also sent you, Fräulein Maria. It was His plan for us to meet again and for you and Father to confess your love. And so today, the day of your marriage we are blessed to soon be able to call you Mother. Amen"
There was a great silence in the church. Father Stephan broke the silence with a simple "Amen." The organist played a simple interlude before Father Stephan continued.
The church was very quiet; neither Georg nor Maria realized. They were only focused on each other. There was no quiver or hesitation in their voices as they spoke their vows.
"Georg, please take Maria's right hand and repeat after me:
In the name of God, I, Georg, take you Maria to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."
They dropped hands and then Father Stephan said, "Maria, please take Georg's right hand and repeat after me:
In the name of God, I, Maria, take you Georg to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."
"These rings I now ask God to bless; that they will be a sign that you are bound one to the other."
"Maria, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow; always to remember how much I love and honor you."
"Georg, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow; always to remember how much I love and honor you."
The service concluded with the communion prayers. Now wrapping their hands in his stole; and the children forming a circle, Liesl holding her father's hand and Friedrich holding Maria's, he said. "And now I pronounce that they are husband and wife; sons and daughters. May they so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace." Then he turned to the congregation:
"Please welcome this newly created family; Georg and Maria von Trapp and children."
The congregation applauded loudly and then the trumpet blast from the organ and the couple recessed to Beethoven's Ode to Joy; the children followed behind.
Oscar spoke to the guests. "Please wait with us while they take a few pictures and we will all walk to the reception together."