Getting Married Today
Life is ten percent what happens to us and ninety percent how we react to it
09:00 – Breakfast & Shower
"What the hell" Mercy jumped out of her sleep at the noise she could hear in the corridor "Please" she rolled her eyes jumping out of bed to go see what was going on
It was her wedding day, it had finally arrived, all their family and friends were in the hotel, and had been since Friday afternoon. It wasn't supposed to have been such a lavish event, they personally didn't have the money for it, but Sam's father had decided nothing was too much for his only son and gone all out. The planned wedding breakfast was supposed to be at the local eatery, but it had turned into this lavish three day event at this expensive hotel in the sticks, it was more than nice enough but so far removed from their lives in their one bed apartment it felt ridiculous.
It didn't help that her dad in his battle of one upmanship had decided to book their honeymoon in India, they'd planned a week in the mountains about eight miles south of their apartment in a tent, with their best friends, Mercy's chief bridesmaid Rachel and Sam's best man: her husband Jessie, for company. Her mother had jumped on board with the wedding dress that felt like it was being made in hell for all the drama that was around it, but when she had the final fit a week ago she couldn't deny, it was perfect.
Yesterday
Last night had been one of those nights everyone dreads at events like these, the two families had finally met, face to face, gloves on, fangs out, and venom spraying. There had been the awkward culture thing from the off, Sam's parents weren't happy, Mercy's parents were furious, but Sam and Mercy had shown a united front, and their parents knew they didn't have to be there for their day if they didn't want to. Them deciding to pay for everything was their way of saying they'd put up with things for their children, while Sam and Mercy keeping their mouths shut about everything was their way of telling their parents, they appreciated them trying.
But the roof had flown off at the first hurdle last night, a simple thing like passing the salad had turned into a colonial revolution type situation which ended with Mercy picking the salad bowl up, passing it to Sam, who then passed it on to his mother. The rest of the guests sat in eery silence watching how the conversation, or was that confrontation, was going to pan out. Later in the evening they'd tried to mix things up a bit with some party games, but it ended up with Sam's family, cousin's included, playing a very civilised game of chess, while Mercy's family got stuck into a rowdy game of dominos.
The music started quite late in the evening due to all the snapping that was going on, Sam and Mercy should have known even that was going to cause some sort of contention as Rhythm and Blues blasted out and his family sat cross legged with folded arms showing their disapproval. Of course, when the tables turned Mercy's family sat making horse noises and making loud comments about his folks and how their country music had been born out of colonialism. when dancing reached a bearable peak, Mercy had opted for bed
"Sam" she called him from across the room, the evening had been causing tension for them too "I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore, I'm off to bed"
"You're leaving me to deal with this mess?" his eyes widened at her information
"I can't do this anymore, it's either I go to bed now, or I say something that stops the wedding tomorrow and I'm guessing that's just what they'd like to hear"
"Okay" he smiled kissing her lips "I'll take the wedding tomorrow" he pulled her close "Imagine, when all this is over we'll be Mr & Mrs Sam Evans"
"You will be, I'll be Mrs Jones-Evans" she giggled
"You weren't serious about that were you?"
"I haven't made my mind up yet" she touched his nose with hers "But whatever I decide, I'll be one hundred percent yours"
"The end of our two week drought" he laughed "Can't wait" he kissed her again "Goodnight" he looked into her eyes totally in love with the woman he saw looking back at him "Wish me luck" he looked at the families and friends still deep in ambush the party mood
"Goodnight" she smiled, kissing him again before he let her go
She'd followed the cardinal rules of preparation to the tee; the dress had been checked, it went perfect with her shoes, Sam's cousin Ryder was in charge of making sure everything ran to order on the day, and he was at the hotel already, so that was checked. Their mothers had confirmed all the prep work had been done, so she was good. She went to her room to check her emergency kit, make up, face mask, spot removal cream, everything was there, it was time for her to look after Mercy.
She numbed out all the party noise, ran a bath and sunk into it, tomorrow was one of the biggest days of her life, Sam needed distraction, she knew that much, but she needed time to relax into this life changing role. There was going to be stress, everyone had told her that, but she'd had the full spar treatment, which had almost faded away with the meeting of the clans, now she was going to get back there, preparing herself for their amazing day. She'd fell asleep easily the soft white sheets had not just called her, they'd wrapped her in comfort enough for sleep to come and she was set to wake up fully relaxed
Today
"What the hell" she opened her door to see two of who must have been Sam's guests going at each other in the corridor "What's happened?"
"She's a bitch" the shorter blond screamed at Mercy
"You're the bitch" the other bond shouted back at her
"Girls" Sam's mother came down the corridor in no particular hurry calling as if she were calling two five year olds
"What's happened?" Mercy asked again now they were both looking at Anne
"What's it to you?" the taller woman looked at Mercy as if she'd been rude to her
"This is Mercy, the bride" Anne told her
"Oh" they both looked at Mercy, trying to hide the shock "You said she was.."
"Mercy these are Sam's cousins on his dad's side, Brittany and Quinn" Anne pointed at them as she said their names "Now please tell me what the hell is going on?" she turned to them asking
"She slept with my girlfriend" the one Mercy now knew to be Brittany snapped at her cousin
"She's my girlfriend" Quinn snapped back
"She's…"
"Okay" Anne stopped them "I think we've established the girl belongs to the two of you" she held her hands up to stop the conversation "However, this is Sam's wedding day, so can we put that aside and do what we came here to do please?"
"Sorry" Quinn offered looking at Mercy apologetically
"Yeah sorry" Brittany purred "This isn't over" she snapped at Quinn before walking away
"Everything is under control" Anne assured Mercy before walking away, Mercy couldn't help but look up to the heavens, the day had already started with drama, which meant there was only more to come "The photographer is due in an hour" she turned to remind her
"I'll be ready" Mercy smiled going back into her room, she needed to shower, eat something for breakfast, and then look halfway presentable for her pre-wedding photos
10:00 – Photographer
"Ready?" her mother's head popped round the door asking
"As I'm going to be" Mercy smiled at the excitement on her mother's face
They'd finally opted for having the photographers until the first dance, after Sam and Mercy had gone in heavy handed with the rejection of having someone walking around the dancefloor taking random pictures of people as they tried to have a good time at the reception. In the end his parents had agreed to putting disposable camera on tables for people to take pictures if they wanted which would be developed as a separate package.
"You look radiant" Tina, the photographer, walked in smiling
"I feel a bit nervous" Mercy giggled
"That's normal" Tina started to set up her equipment, smiling at Gwen patting down her daughter's bed "We're not going to take pictures of the bed Mrs Jones"
"You just never know what you'll catch in the background" Gwen giggled "I just want everything perfect"
"Have you done the groom yet?" Mercy asked
"No, we'll do the bridesmaids next, they should be doing hair and makeup right now, then the groom and his party, we'll come back to do you for some pics in your dress, then the parents and then the ceremony" Tina told her
"You're going to the first dance yes?"
"Yes" Tina confirmed
"Mercy" Kurt walked in with a nasty stain on the breast of his wedding suit "Look what your little mutt did to my suit"
"Nerves" she smiled grabbing for Mindy
"No" Kurt pulled Mindy back "She's been at it all morning the last thing we need is a stained bride" he looked at Mercy smiling "I mean that in the loosest sense" he giggled "Oh photos" he made a pose as Tina took a cheeky picture
"What are you going to do about your suit?" Mercy asked
"Pray it can be dry cleaned in less than three hours"
"That's doable" Mercy smiled "Crisis over"
"Note to friend" Kurt waved his hand in the air "Dogs at weddings not advisable"
"She's a family member" she cooed at her four legged friend "Go" she shooed them off "I have a shoot to do" she smiled at Kurt "And now I'm stressed about Mindy being ill"
"I've got Mindy" he assure her backing out of the room "You get our boy Sam"
"Got that" she called after him settling into photos, hair, makeup, and champaign
12:00 – The Dressing of the Bride
"Come on" Rachel giggled walking over to the dress, having had a glass too many of the champaign "Let's get you into this dress" she grabbed the hanger to make her way back to Mercy
"Hello deary" a rather distinguished blond haired woman walked into the room like she was familiar, smiling at Rachel
"Hello" Rachel smiled, looking back at Mercy
"You don't look like his type" the woman carried on her conversation
"That's because…" Rachel looked at the woman confused
"Never mind, let's have a look at this dress then"
"Sorry" Mercy finally butted in "Who exactly are you?"
"None of your business" the woman snapped "Is that how the help talks to guests?" she asked Rachel
"Well," Rachel snapped back "Seeing as your actually at her wedding, I think it just might be her business"
"You're the bride?" the woman glared at Mercy
"And you are?" Rachel asked
"I'm Sam's aunt Terri married to his uncle Will" she fake smiled at Mercy "I didn't realise you were… the bride"
"I guess you didn't" Mercy spat
"Terri" Anne walked into the room with Gwen following closely "Are you lost?"
"Lost?" Terri snapped at her "I guess I am, you told me about the wedding, even mentioned the venue, but you failed to tell me about Mercy"
"What about Mercy?" Gwen asked
"You didn't prepare me" Terri ignored Gwen to speak to Anne
"For what?" Gwen asked
"Terri" Anne gasped, grabbing hold of her sister-in -law's arm to lead her out the room
"Yet another one of Sam's relatives concerned with colour" Rachel shook her head
"Are you sure you know what you're getting into?" Gwen asked her daughter
"Sam and I are getting into something we really want, and to be honest we're so over our families not getting on, it's not a thing anymore, after today you won't have to see each other again" she glanced at Rachel "And Sam and I can get our happy ever after" she turned to the mirror smiling "We're getting married today and nothing and no one is going to change that"
"Hear, here" Rachel giggled holding Mercy's dress out for her "Let's get you ready"
"Yeah" Mercy grinned "Let's get me ready" her blue and white garter being something old and blue, a gold bracelet she'd borrowed from Rachel, she prepared to climb into her brand new dress, with all the luck a bride needed
She looked a picture, even if she'd have said so herself, but Rachel actually made the comment, the photographer came back for more photos, the mother's came in to give their opinion on the dress, and finally her dad was stood in the doorway wiping his wet face.
"Dad" she smiled "Don't, you'll start me off" she walked towards him "It's officially a no crying day today"
"These are proud tears sweet" he grabbed her hand "You look like a princess"
"Thank you" she let his hand go and done a twirl for him
They'd gone for an off the shoulder ball gown type dress with a layer of intricately patterned lace over the satin bodice, affording a longer than average chapel train with pleats in the body of the lace that fell to the floor, just showing the toes of her white satin sling back shoes. The veil she'd chosen, from the two presented, was the stunning unique little number that covered the bun at the back of her head and flowed down to just above her dress line, simple but elegant.
"Ready?" he smiled at the camera taking a picture of their moment
"Yes" she grabbed his arm again "He's a good man you know daddy?" she turned to tell him
"I know he is sweetheart, but don't tell your mother I said that" he picked up her green and blue bouquet and handed it to her for another picture "That's enough" he waved at Tina "Let's get you to that man you love so much"
13:00 – The Ceremony
Sam stood in the small room at the back of the ceremonial hall sucking in air as deeply as he could determined not to let anything spoil the day.
He'd done everything Mercy had advised in their self-care regime, gone for his usual walk around the grounds, met some of the workers and felt grounded on his return. Had a hearty breakfast, that was a given anyway he always ate like a king for breakfast met some of the straggling guest that turned up that morning, to be honest he didn't even know half of them, but to appease his parents he went with it.
Ryder was on the case he'd read his intended speech to him, which Ryder approved, double checked he'd got everything he needed to wear, caught up with Jessie and some of the other lads for some blow out time, had a few drinks, than sat for a while sweating and reflecting on the huge responsibility he was about to take up.
"Sam" his dad walked onto the patio smiling "Look who's here" he put his arm around Penny, one of Sam's exes from way back when, he hadn't seen her since the day she rode off into the distance with some biker guy, and to be honest he was happy she'd flew before he'd kicked her out of his life. She was like the girl of his parents dreams, they took to her from day one, now he was standing there regretting the day he'd ever brought her home to meet them
"Penny" he looked around nervously "What are you doing here?"
"Your parents invited me" she walked up to him obviously to kiss him, luckily he turned his face just in time for her to miss his lips
"I'm getting married"
"I know that Sam" she giggled "That's why I'm here" she looked at his dad "And I think it's bad form that you didn't invite me yourself"
"Why would I want to invite an ex to my wedding?" he looked at his dad "Why would you want to invite one of my exes to my wedding?"
"Penny's not just an ex" his dad tapped his back "She's more of a family friend"
"No, she's not" he looked back at Penny "Sorry Penny, but you're going to have to leave"
"Dwight" Penny looked at Sam's dad puzzled
"I don't want you here, will you please leave"
"Calm down son" Dwight held his hand up at his son "She'll leave after the ceremony"
"I don't want her at any of it" Sam snapped
"Sam" Dwight snapped back "Come on Penny" he grabbed the girls arm and walked back into the hotel
He'd confided in Jessie and Ryder after the event and the consensus was that he come clean to Mercy before the wedding so there were no surprises, he had no idea why his dad would have done this, but he knew Mercy wouldn't take lightly to being blindsided.
So, he was stood waiting for Ryder to bring Mercy through as soon as she arrived "Dude, she's here" Jessie's head popped round the ajar door to tell him "Ryder's just diverting her now"
"Okay"
"She looks beautiful by the way"
"Always does" Sam smiled "Just make sure all the doors are blocked, she's not leaving here without us being married"
"Got that in hand" Jessie laughed closing the door behind him seconds before the outside door opened
"Turn around dude" Ryder's head popped through the door telling him, Sam didn't ask questions he turned and covered his eyes
"Sam" Mercy came rushing in "What's happened?" a tremble in her voice "We're still getting married aren't we?"
"That's going to be up to you"
"What have you done?"
"Nothing, well no…"
"Have you kissed someone?"
"No"
"Have you slept with someone else?"
"No" he made to turn around at her ridiculous "Who do you think I am?"
"Your scaring me now, what's happened?"
"My parents have invited one of my exes to our wedding, I just found out this afternoon and I don't know why they've invited her, what she's going to do…"
"Is there anything I need to know about this ex?"
"She's friends with my parents"
"So, nothing that changes your love for me?"
"No"
"Nor mine for you" she smiled "So, are we getting married today?"
"Hell yes" he smiled, turning around to look at her "God you look… amazing"
"Looking hot yourself Mr Evans" she giggled
"Lets do this" he grinned, watching her walk back out the door she came through, before he went back into the main room, smiling at everyone mumbling their take on what was happening. The music started and everyone's attention turned to the back doors waiting for the bridal party to enter. Mercy didn't disappoint, she got the wow's she expected making her feel even more important on her day
"Shit" she gasped as she looked to the left of her, quickly remembering to smile for the pictures
"What's up?" Sam asked when she got to him
"Another ex in the congregation" she looked across at Azimio, glaring at them, he smiled at them, which made her uncomfortable for a few seconds until the woman sat next to him passed him a baby, they watched as he smiled and kissed the baby before kissing the woman sat next to him "Talk about guest coming out the woodwork"
"Breathe" Sam grabbed her hand and squeezed it, smiling at her before they both looked at the priest, the next twenty minutes went by in the blink of an eye, one minute they were boyfriend and girlfriend, the next they were finance and fiancée and now they were man and wife
"You may now kiss your bride" the priest announced, and they didn't need telling twice
"We did it" Mercy gasped, maybe with the shock of having got through it
"Finally, you're Mrs…"
"Evans" she giggled "I'm Mrs Sam Evans"
14:00 – The Reception
They'd gone off into the grounds with the wedding party to take more pictures after taking a few of the entire group, they needed more intimate pictures for their album. Leaving the guest to walk across the hallway to the reception room for drinks and canapes before they were seated in waiting for the happy couple. Ryder introduced the party as they came in before he asked for everyone to stand as he announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, please officially welcome the new "Mr & Mrs" he laughed "Sam and Mercy Evans" everyone whistled and clapped
The wedding breakfast was served, it had only been hours, but it seemed like the day was fast slipping away, the seafood starter went down a treat, followed by the chicken, beef, vegetarian, or lamb dinner option, with lots of champagne, wine and the like to wash it all down
Just as the speeches were about to start, Brittany and Quinn made their grand entrance, nobody had actually realised they'd been missing half the day
"Who's that with them?" Sam asked Mercy
"They're your cousins" she carried on eating her meal "It must be the girl they were fighting over this morning"
"Fighting?" he asked shocked
"Yeah apparently she's dating both of them"
"OMG" Sam laughed "I can't wait for the reaction from her mother"
"Who's?"
"Quinn's" he laughed louder "Here it comes"
"Oh" Mercy laughed "Bigoted Aunt Terri"
"How is it you know more about my family than I do?"
"She thought Rachel was the bride when she burst into my room this morning, she couldn't work it out when Rachel put her straight, your mother had to remove her before she actually said what was in her head"
"Sorry about that" he kissed her neck "What with ex partners, cat fighting, bigoted relatives was there anything else that tried to stop our day?"
"Mindy vomited all over Kurt's suit"
"Shoot" he laughed
"But there is good news" she smiled
"I know, our drought it finally over"
"I can't believe we got through this day" she turned to kiss him back "I love you Mr Evans"
"Love you right back Mrs Evans"
They sat through the speeches some warming, sincere even, and some not so sincere but they'd expected those too, finally they were at the end of them, and Sam stood up to give his closing speech
"Doesn't Mercy look absolutely stunning today?" he asked their guests, "Not to say she doesn't look stunning every day, because she does" he smiled as he looked at his family delivering their muffled response "And that's all I have to say to you guys" he shocked her telling everyone "Mercy" he grabbed her hand to pull her up "There are no words enough to describe who you are to me, we've come through a lot together and no doubt, there'll be more, just know that I'll be right there with you, through it all, thank you for letting me, after all our families crazy, finally be your husband"
"There wasn't another option" she whispered in his ear
"What kind of other option?" he asked
"A brother" she giggled
"So, it's the name you want?"
"The one called Sam will do me just fine" she reached in and kissed him
"Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would, please raise your glass to Mrs Mercy Evans"
17:30 – The Frist Dance
The speeches were done everyone was scraping up the last of their chosen desserts, Sam and Mercy went over to take some pictures of cutting the cake, and some evening pictures. More guests arrived, people from work, and other social events they'd attended, the room was getting packed, it wasn't long before Ryder was announcing the first dance
"Can we get out of here after this?" his lips hungrily touching her ear as he spoke
"Long enough for me to take this dress off"
"Maybe a bit longer" he kissed her lips "It's been two weeks"
"Is this the song we chose?" she asked making their way to the dancefloor
"This will have something to do with our parents" Sam rolled his eyes
"It's a good song"
I think I want you more than want, I know I need you more than need
I want to hold you more than hold, when you stood in front of me
I think you know me more than know, and you see me more than see
I could die now more than die, every time you look at me
Well, I've seen you in jeans with no make-up on, and I've stood there in awe as your date for the prom
I'm blessed as a man to have seen you in white, but I've never seen anything quite like you tonight,
No, I've never seen anything quite like you… 'Never Seen Anything Quite Like You' by The Script
They stood in shock for a second when Gwen grabbed hold of Sam and Dwight grabbed hold of Mercy for a dance, they went with it until they ended up with their other parent "We've been stupid" Gwen told them as the six of them stood in the middle of the room "I mean we'll have grandchildren soon and who wants to miss out on that?"
"Not me" Anne replied "We're a family now, I guess we need to start acting like one"
"I guess we do" Sam smiled at everyone
"That doesn't mean you guys are coming on the honeymoon with us" Mercy told them
"Not at all" Dwight laughed
"I guess we were all getting married today" all six nodding in agreement
"New start" Sam confirmed
"Grandchildren?" Mercy looked at her mother frowning