Did they live Happily Ever After? (Part III)
It was a rough start for one of them…
I had dreamed and played and imagined being the bride long before I was old enough to date.
My bride doll barbie had a dress that played “Here Comes the Bride” and there were many weddings enacted with Ken dressed in his best.
But the groom? Well, the only wedding he’d ever given a single thought about was his own — following his proposal. He may have thought that he cared about the myriad of details and plans but he would just never really get it. He could just never catch up. It’s just not on the same playing field as the bride in regard to her anticipation of this day.
THE MARRIAGE is a whole different animal. Both the groom and the bride had an identical anticipatory set for the marriage. Living together under the vows of holy matrimony was equally held in high esteem for both of them.
The experience of being held captive with the very real possibility of missing his own wedding was highly stressful and uncomfortable and panic-ridden for this unfortunate groom.
However, his bottom-line concern was for this event to NOT interfere with the marriage of the woman he loved — while also acknowledging that he wanted his bride to have her special day.
And so far, the bride’s day had gone swimmingly.
She was totally happy and clueless about his crazy, caged-in-an-elevator day.
She was in full regalia, and she was thrilled with every little detail that was playing out.
To their incredible credit, the wedding party had not leaked any of the stories to her and she not only had a no-issues-day, but she also had a day from a storybook — just the way she’d always dreamed. Just the way she’d always played “wedding” as a kid. No — even better.
So, with the elevator fiasco behind him, and no time to spare, the groom was whisked to the church with no preamble. Stories could be told later, they agreed, as they focused their entire attention on saving the HOOPLA (groom’s words) part of the wedding.
With literally no time to spare, the entire crew of groomsmen swooped in like superheroes to save the day. It wasn’t pretty but they all pitched in to throw him into the tiny shower (swiping at cobwebs due to its unused, filthy state).
With no soap or shampoo handy, a cup was ingeniously filled with hand soap from the bathroom dispenser. And soon the groom was clean — and dripping wet. A forward-thinking groomsman had collected tea towels from the kitchen — and fifteen towels and an absolute frenzy later, he was dry (ish).
No time to shave.
A handful of mints held off his hunger to a tiny degree while cleaning his breath the best they could.
The church was filling up fast, with the prelude of music playing.
So here he was! So close, but not yet there. What should he do about his naked state?
A moment of panic blinked — but then the best man was stripping out of his tuxedo and literally throwing it at the groom. Luckily, they were similar in size and there was no time whatsoever to argue. The rest of the groomsmen were practically dressing the groom as they un-wadded socks and untied/retied shoes as they were tossed in his direction.
And there went the dressed groom, sprinting while finger-combing his hair, with his bow tie dangling in his hand.
He collected himself briefly at the entrance to the stage. Taking a deep breath in, he then exhaled with a prayer of thanks and walked with controlled dignity, and a genuine beaming smile, to the waiting preacher.
A subtle, quizzical look was offered as the groom handed over the bow tie to the priest — leaning in to allow its knot to be tied.
The congregation sighed, wondering at this sweet, new tradition that they were witnessing.
The wedding proceeded, as practiced at the rehearsal — all but one detail. The maid of honor entered unescorted.
— And the groom was predictably bowled over by his bride’s beaming beauty.
It was the most perfect day of my life. It all played out like the most organized, most beautifully choreographed dream.
Not one blip appeared on the radar of our wedding.
Happy doesn’t begin to explain how I felt…
And so, the first of many sacrificial offerings was given from the groom to the bride that day. As he leaned into understanding her heart and what this moment in time really meant to her — she was allowed to side-step the worry and panic that he had endured.
— and she would eventually return the favor to him as their life together played out through the years ahead.
A wedding is beautiful and ordained of God — but means nothing without the marriage of give and take that follows.
The photo album was exquisite.
Hardly anyone knew the whole story…
P.S. The best man secured then donned the groom’s tuxedo. All loose ends were successfully tied up, all neat and pretty — and happily ever after.
Would anyone like an epilogue?
Do you want to know more? For your convenience…
