The bride stood in the hallway, out of sight of the congregation. She took Tom's arm. He winked at her. "There are only two things you need to remember," he said as they watched the children process into the church. Thomas and Jimmy stood at the doors to the sanctuary, sending them in. "Keep breathing, and don't look anywhere but right in front of you. The only person that matters now is your groom."
"Thank you, Tom." She walked forward with him until they stood behind the closed doors.
In a moment, I will see him.
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Elsie bit her lip, nervously shuffling her feet. Her stomach flipped over. Why haven't they opened the doors yet? She couldn't hear the pipe organ, or any other sound.
Suddenly, the distinctive sound of the church bell rang over their heads. She and Tom looked up, then to their left, where a smiling deacon was ringing the bell.
"It'll just be a moment now," whispered Thomas to her left. She and Tom backed away a few feet as the two men stood waiting, tense at the doors. The organ came to life. She caught a flash of Jimmy smiling before the doors opened.
A wall of people rose en masse and turned to look at her, but she saw none of them. Her eyes were trained on the tall, silver-haired man at the end of the aisle.
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As the prelude music continued, Charles smiled and nodded as the guests filed in. He gave a warm smile to Becky, blowing a kiss to her as she sat in the front pew. She blew one back to him. Then the music changed slightly, and he faced the front. Robert gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. John couldn't resist, and looked back, but the children had already come in and were sitting quietly. The bell rang.
He concentrated on the cross on the altar, appreciating the late afternoon sun coming through the stained glass windows, bathing everything in a warm glow. Isn't it time yet? He felt as though he'd been standing there for hours already. He glanced at Reverend Travis. The kind woman gave him a reassuring smile before her attention was caught by the music. Charles stiffened his back into a ramrod position.
The familiar strain of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" floated through the room. Brandon Lee, Gwen's husband, accompanied the organist on the trumpet. The entire congregation moved, and Charles could hear both the sounds of people standing, as well as more than one gasp in awe. His fingers twitched. Finally, he turned.
His bride seemed to float down the aisle. Her hand was firmly placed in the crook of Tom's elbow, but her bright blue eyes rested on him alone. He felt his chin quivering, and fought to keep from weeping. He wanted to remember what she looked like.
Her champagne-colored dress was covered with delicate designs. The half-sleeves were sheer, but held more patterns. The view of her décolletage was narrow, ending at a point just above her cleavage. It provided enough space for her borrowed necklace to shine. Her earrings reflected the afternoon sun, and her flowing auburn hair was accentuated by it.
He felt his breath hitch when she and Tom stepped beside him. The back of her dress was sheer as well, tapering in a V shape. Like the front, it was covered in the floral designs. The material clung to her body, showing off the curve of her hips. An endless parade of buttons dotted down her back.
He was grateful at that moment that Tom Branson was standing in between them.
Elsie gripped Tom's arm, trying to contain her emotion. She closed her eyes, listening to the rest of the music. The sight of Charles struggling not to cry was almost enough to finish her. We are finally here. Thank you, God.
At the conclusion of the processional, Reverend Travis motioned for the congregation to sit. This being done, she opened the book in her hands and began to speak.
"Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony…"
Elsie felt overwhelmed with joy. Her entire body trembled, not with nerves, but with all the emotion that could not be expressed. She concentrated, listening to the celebrant's words.
"…The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity-"
She exchanged glances with her groom, who gave her a knowing smile in return.
"…Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God. Into this holy union Elspeth May and Charles Ernest now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace."
Elsie bit her lip in amusement as she heard someone cough behind Charles. It sounded suspiciously like Violet, daring anyone to speak. Reverend Travis continued, speaking to Elsie directly.
"Elsie, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," she said clearly.
"Charles, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
"I will," he said, his voice tender. Rev. Travis looked up, addressing the assembled crowd.
"Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?"
"We will," echoed everyone else in the room.
"Who presents this woman to be married to this man?"
Tom took Elsie's hand and placed it into Charles's.
"We all do." He said. He kissed Elsie softly on the cheek and smiled at Charles before sitting down. Reverend Travis gestured to two chairs placed next to the wall in the nave. The couple sat down, still holding hands, as Brandon stood up in the balcony. Jimmy began to play the guitar.
Charles had managed so far not to break down. He squeezed Elsie's hand as they listened to the song.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is love, there is love…
Well, a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end
Woman draws her life from man, and gives it back again…
He kissed her hand softly, feeling dampness against her hand. She has given me my life back again. She reached over and wiped his face, her fingers catching his tears. Her own gleamed in her eyes, and she laughed at their mutual emotion. During the prayers, they composed themselves again. Then John got up and recited the first reading, which was from the Song of Solomon.
"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely…Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it…"
Elsie twined her fingers in Charles's, sneaking a peek at the congregation. Anna was beaming, as was Daisy, but Tom was brushing away tears as Edith handed him a handkerchief. He wasn't the only one in need of help. Phyllis and Joe both had tissues, as did, to the bride's surprise, Mary. Violet wore the softest expression Elsie had ever seen.
She felt a lump in her throat seeing the joy in Bill's eyes as he put an arm around Beryl. It was no surprise that her friend's eyes were red. She was also smiling.
After John finished speaking, Robert recited the second reading, from 1 John.
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love…"
When the readings were over, Reverend Travis gestured for them to stand. They did so, Charles helping Elsie to her feet. They moved until they stood facing each other in front of the altar, their right hands clasped. Charles repeated the words spoken. His voice was thick with emotion.
"In the Name of God, I, Charles, take you, Elsie, 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 let go of each other's hands before Elsie took Charles's right hand in hers. She swallowed, focusing on his gaze.
"In the Name of God, I, Elsie, take you, Charles, 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." She took a deep breath. "This is my solemn vow."
Robert then stepped forward and placed two white-gold rings on Reverend Travis's book. She blessed the rings, then motioned for Charles to take one. He did so.
"Elsie, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," he said, moving the ring from her left index finger, to her middle one, then finally to her ring finger. He squeezed her hands lightly, unable to keep the smile from his face. Elsie took the other ring from Reverend Travis.
"Charles, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," she repeated, moving the ring until it rested on his ring finger. Her breath hitched when she was done, her smile lightening her face. Reverend Travis joined their right hands again.
"Now that Charles and Elsie have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder."
"YAY!" Becky yelled, breaking into applause. There was a split-second pause before the entire congregation erupted in laughter and joined her, the clapping rising in a crescendo. The bride and groom laughed as well, blushing slightly. Eventually, the noise ended and Reverend Travis, smiling broadly herself, continued with the prayers. She then had Charles and Elsie kneel for the blessing.
"Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us…By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman…Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death…"
The ring around his finger felt cold against his skin, yet nothing had ever warmed his heart more. They rose to their feet again while the Reverend spoke the Peace. She then had them face each other once more.
"It is my great joy to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Carson," she announced, before turning to Charles. "You may kiss your bride. Congratulations!"
Charles took Elsie's face gently in his hands, tilting it up. He pressed his lips gently to hers. Applause rained around them once more as the organist began to play the recessional, David Johnson's "Trumpet Tune in D Major".
She held him at the waist, not wanting to let him go. When they did break apart, she whispered in his ear as they walked down the aisle arm in arm. "I love you, a ghraidh."
He pulled her into his arms when they exited the sanctuary. The doors closed behind them and they were alone for the moment. "Tha gaol agam ort-fhein," he murmured, kissing her deeply, as his mouth worshiped hers.
"Charlie!" she gasped in shock, her eyes shining with tears again. "You never told me you knew that!"
He kissed her forehead, then her hand bearing her wedding ring. "My wife is Scottish, I thought I had better learn a little of her mother tongue," he said, his lips curving into a smile. They embraced, content to feel their arms around each other.
"Are there any other surprises you have planned, husband?" she teased quietly.
"Of course," she heard him smile. "You'll just have to wait and see what they are."
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A/N: The vows and order of service are taken from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, 1979. It's not exactly like what the Internet said (I left a couple of things out), but that's what I used for the ceremony. The song is "The Wedding Song" (There is Love), by Paul Stookey. The song was sung at my parents' wedding, and I've sung it myself before. Batwings made a lovely Chelsie video with this song. If you haven't seen it yet, go to Tumblr and watch it!
The readings are from the King James Version of the Bible, from Song of Solomon 2:10-14, 8:6,7 and 1 John 4: 7-16.
The Scottish Gaelic is entirely from the Internet; a ghraidh is "my love or my dear". Tha gaol agam ort-fhein is "I love you, too." Or so I was told.
Her dress, if you want to look at it, is described as "Romantic Half-sleeved Lace Applique Wedding Dress". I love the back.
If anyone is still alive out there, I'd love a review. Thanks!