foreva, eva?

as some of you reading this blog know, i officiated a wedding for the first time this past weekend! my favorite auntie married her beau/best friend, and i was given the absolute privilege and honor to compose and preside over a wedding liturgy for them. i've known about this role for months, but it wasn't until the final days of preparation that the profundity of wedding vows and the wedding covenant really hit me. sure, i've attended plenty of weddings , watched them on TV, flipped thru bridal magazines and dreamed about dresses and flowers and shoes, oh my! but, none of that compared to the heartwarming and humbling experience it was for me to reflect, write, and MARRY two ppl who have chosen to become one.

i can honestly say that when i set out on this endeavor, i had no idea where to begin, so, as is my norm, i did some research. i picked up a book of wedding vows that spanned the spectrum from very traditional/religious to actual examples of personalized vows that other couples had written and agreed to submit to the publishers as 'prompts' for those of us who needed some ideas. every Christian denomination was represented, as well as non-denominational vows, readings from Shakespeare and other classics, and blessings from Eastern faiths. the book was all-inclusive and gave me a plethora of ideas to start with. along with the book, i also did some internet searches to piece together just the right elements for the ceremony.

the bride asked me to pick out some things that i thought would 'fit' them since i know them so well, and to bring them to the meeting that i scheduled with her and her fiance. i did just that, we had a great meeting and i walked away with the skeleton of the ceremony complete, and only the sermon--which would be a surprise for them--to write. my aunt is very spiritual and her beau is not-so-much, so my main concern was designing a ceremony that would be inclusive and comfortable for the both of them, reflective of their love story, their personalities, and their beliefs.

as i sat and put the final touches on the vows and sermon (aptly called "The Marathon of Marriage"--both my aunt and her new hubby are track-and-field athletes and their love story began as high school coaches), i had a 'smack-me-in-the-face' moment: this marriage stuff is SERIOUS business and NOT a punk sport! prior to me performing the ceremony, of course i knew that marriage was serious, etc...but, there's something decidedly different when you're typing out the vows and putting the puzzle together. as i burned the midnight oil and had my 'moment', i sent a message to a friend who is engaged and said, 'this marriage vow stuff is SERIOUS!" she agreed. i can't quite explain it judiciously on this blog, but, for me, as a single, unmarried woman (who, most days, hopes to get married one day, LOL), it was very profound.

the ceremony turned out beautifully! i prepared a very spiritual, inclusive, ecumenical liturgy that both the bride and groom were extremely happy with. i was tremendously humbled by the guests who came up after the wedding and told me how much the ceremony and the sermon touched them. most of all, i was honored that my aunt and [new] uncle thought enough of me and trusted me to play such a major role in their special day. we had beautiful weather, beautiful music, beautiful words, beautiful ppl--God was there, and love was washing over everyone!

i'd also like to give a special THANK YOU to all of you who knew about my impending role and sent me words of encouragement leading up to, and on the day of, the wedding. getting those FB messages, texts, BBMs, etc while i was running around getting hair/makeup together, putting last minute touches on PC's flower girl ensemble, and just trying to get my mind right, really helped to calm a sista's nerves! I felt each and every one of your prayers and kind words while i stood there, refusing to look at my aunt, lest i break down and cry (you know how I do, lol!).

love is now :)