June 12, 2022 (continued)
Once the last of the guests settled in their seats, Kurt cued the music and then nodded to Sam and Joe. The groom and the pastor walked up to the altar at a casual pace, the moment that Heatwave's "Always & Forever" came through the surrounding speakers. The distance from the back porch to the altar was a bit of a walk, but Kurt waited for them to reach the back row of guest chairs before he cued Stacey and Finn to go. The next to go were Santana and Artie; grateful for the ramp there, Artie easily kept pace beside Santana. He had a moment of being star-struck when he spotted Danny Elfman amongst the wedding attendees. The only other high-profile celebrities who had come were fellow R&B singer Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beats. The singer had mentored Mercedes greatly on her most recent album, and since then, she had been like a distant elder sister in her career.
Quinn and Mike walked arm-in-arm down the aisle next. Both of them spotted Alicia and clenched the other's arms, tighter than necessary, but came back down to Earth when Mike nearly tripped. After they made it past the back row of chairs, Stevie offered a bent arm to Tina and she looped her arm through so they could follow after the others.
While clutching a small bottle in his hand, Kurt bent down to the level of his freckle-nosed daughter and quietly told her and Little Mikey, "Okay you guys, just like we practiced."
Both children nodded, then stepped out onto the porch, and then to the white aisle runner. As expected, all of the guests "aww"ed at the adorable duo. Blaine bowed his head bashfully when Lizzie started blowing kisses at her audience. She caught her Uncle Sammy's mindful eye however and quickly proceeded to toss tulip petals down from her basket.
"There's no denying she's yours," an amused Mercedes murmured to her best friend.
"And I am one prouuud Papa." He beamed a closed-lipped smile and then asked, "Ready?"
Mercedes nodded anxiously. Revealing the bottle in his hand, Kurt gave the diva one full spritz of her favorite perfume. "You didn't think I'd forget, did you?" He smiled again and quickly adjusted a slight twist in one of her earrings. "Alright. Just remember, take deep breaths and look at Sam if you get nervous. Oh, and while you're holding your bouquet, keep your thumb to your belly button."
She rolled her eyes, smiling at his last reminder but instinctively gazed down at her large bouquet—purple calla lilies, and yellow and orange tulips all bound by a thick cerulean ribbon. Once she was certain she could, Mercedes stepped out onto the porch as the others did. She was faintly aware of the light adjustments being made to her train, but she kept her slow stride. For a moment, Mercedes looked up at the lemon trees she was approaching. It was the first time she was getting to see the entire yard since Kurt kept her from seeing it all day. The trees she loved had created a natural aisle of their own, and they now had large, heavy white fabric draped from tree-to-tree, further emphasizing the aisle for the ceremony. The wooden guest chairs she was slowly approaching were all as white as the runner she walked on. It led right to the wide arc that Sam, Joe and the bridal party now stood under. Parts of the arc were exposed to show that it too was white, but the vast majority of it had been covered from end-to-end in tulips, calla lilies, baby's breath and wild flowers of every color.
Exquisite as it all was, Mercedes she couldn't focus on them for very long. All of the guests had risen to their feet in near-unison with their eyes on her. She didn't think being watched would make her feel nervous; she'd performed in front of crowds of all sizes, dozens of times. She had gotten through accepting her Grammy in once piece. So why did her knees suddenly start feeling like JELL-O? Why was her heart beating in her ears? Before she could even think to start hyperventilating, Kurt's reminders echoed in her mind and she instantly locked gazes with Sam.
Mercedes had to hand it to Kurt—he knew just the remedy to keep her calm. And surely enough, she made it to the end of the aisle in one poised piece. The music faded to silence as she slipped her bouquet in her left hand and offered her right out to Sam.
He happily accepted his love's hand and took a deep breath, inhaling the sugary sweet vanilla perfume emanating from her. His lips formed a small "o" as he audibly released the breath, in hopes of calming his own nerves.
He felt his hand get gently squeezed. "Don't pass out on me, Evans," Mercedes quietly murmured with a sassy smirk.
As their guests sat back down, the youthful dreadlocked pastor looked out at the guests and started. "Dearly beloved, we're gathered here on this righteous June day to witness the union of Samuel Dwight Evans and Mercedes Charice Jones. If anyone objects to this matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
As expected, silence fell over the grassy grove.
"Before Sam and Mercedes exchange rings and vows, the couple has written some of their own words to each other." With that, the pastor looked to Sam to start. The groom pulled a folded index card from his jacket's inner pocket but he hardly referred to it while he spoke.
"Mercedes when I moved to Lima…what I learned right away about you was the same thing everyone else knew and now knows—that you have a voice like an angel. But I didn't really get to know you that well until prom rolled around." He momentarily pursed his lips into a crooked smile before going on. "And I know you already know this but that was one of the best nights of my life. Being around you made me feel real happiness, and that I was genuinely cared about. You were really understanding about all I was going through, and…you were just full of love and confidence. You always have been, and I will always cherish that about you. I know back then, I was pretty quiet and awkward, and sometimes I still am but… over the years that we've been together, I've felt like your confidence in life gave me a stronger sense of security for myself and the events that occur my life. I'll always be thankful to you for that and love that and a lot more about you. I promise to always be my best for you… and to do whatever I can to keep that contagious smile on your face. And I promise I will always, always fight for you, in all the ways I know how."
At the end, he whispered out of the side of his mouth for only Mercedes to hear, "I love you, Benz."
Mercedes blushed with a smile that couldn't be subdued. Folded around her bouquet with her handkerchief, she had a slip of paper with her own vows written on it. She tried to force her hands to stop trembling but was unsuccessful. With a rigid grip on the slip of paper, Mercedes said, "Sam, you've been more to me than I could have ever imagined. Where I've fallen short of confidence, you've always been there to lift me back up and support me. You're the sweetest man I have ever known and the only man I've ever loved." Her long, dark lashes were wet when she glanced down at the paper she no longer could read. Folding it back up, she took Sam's hand again and brought her eyes back up to him. "We've been through a lot together…and I'm sure there's more ahead for us. But no matter what's ahead, I promise I will always be right here to meet you with all the kindness… honesty… strength, faith, hope and love that I have."
Both were casting misty-eyed gazes to one another when Joe spoke again. "If I could now have the rings?"
Tina handed Sam's wedding band over while simultaneously taking hold of Mercedes' bouquet; Stevie pulled Mercedes' band out of his inner jacket pocket and gave it to Joe as well. The pastor then held the rings out for Sam and Mercedes to take.
"Do you, Samuel Dwight Evans take Mercedes Charice Jones to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold; to love, honor and cherish—in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?"
With his eyes fixated on Mercedes' rich brown hues, he positively replied, "I do." His gaze only left hers long enough to slip the thin, gold band above her engagement ring.
"And do you, Mercedes Charice Jones take Samuel Dwight Evans to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold; to love, honor and cherish—in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?"
Mercedes beamed another untamable smile to Sam, "Yes I do." She slipped the platinum band onto Sam's left ring finger and then took hold of both his hands.
"By the power vested in me and the state of Kentucky, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
He looked from Mercedes to Sam, smiled and then said, "Well…you know what to do!"
Sam grinned; his hands lowered to Mercedes hips as her hands came up around his neck for their first kiss as husband and wife. Multiple whoops, cheers and claps erupted around them as Sam bowed into her, and then rebounded to briefly lift her off her feet. When their lips finally parted from each other, the two turned to their guests in time to see their dads present a long, glamorously-decorated broom. Tina handed Mercedes her bouquet, and the bride and groom walked hand-in-hand up to the length of the broomstick.
"Ladies and gentleman!" called Joe. "I'm so proud to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Sam and Mercedes Evans!"
Louder claps and cheers filled the space as Sam and Mercedes bent their knees and launched themselves over the broom. Right away, the surrounding speakers played the timeless opening guitar riff to Prince's "Kiss". The newlyweds danced their way down the aisle with the bridal party following suit. Their guests watched with amused expressions—particularly when they were treated to a little of the bride and groom's synchronized and non-choreographed body roll. When they reached the end of the aisle, Sam surprised Mercedes by sweeping her back into his arms for a dip kiss.
What did you think? Did I (or rather, did Kurt) do our future Samcedes' wedding justice? Please leave reviews! I did the best I could and I'd love to know your thoughts! Posting the reception soon!