On to one of the most special parts of our evening - the Ceremony. Anthony and I knew that we wanted something very special, and sentimental. You see, my wonderful Grandfather (Pawpaw), was a minister all his life. Sadly, he passed away when I was in college, so I never had the chance to have him perform my marriage ceremony. We did, however, have the next best thing. We took his little "Pastor's Manual" and pieced together parts of our ceremony from ones he had done for my cousins and other close friends. I love having that little book, where I could still see his handwriting in certain places, and cute little notes he would leave in the ceremony to remind him what to do and when.
(My groom coming down the aisle)
(Me and my Daddy)
(Our beautiful Altar)
Although he couldn't perform our ceremony that day, I know he was there with us, and would have been proud. Wonderfully, my Grandmother (Granny, and his wife), read a beautiful scripture for the two of us, that had me crying rivers (You may remember that I am a big crybaby...yep).
(Granny and her Prayer Book...and my bouquet with PawPaw's tie and handkerchief)
The room was gorgeous thanks again to my stepmom who made all of the arrangements and painstakingly hung all of the beautiful lanterns we used to highlight our "altar," since we held the ceremony in one of the smaller ballrooms at the hotel. I walked down the aisle to a string version of Etta James' "At Last," and Anthony walked down the aisle to "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke (you should read the lyrics...they are a wonderful representation of Anthony's life). I loved having the string trio there, and felt like they really added to the romantic feel of the night!We also decided, that instead of doing the traditional candle ceremony or sand ceremony (to signify the joining of our two families into one), we did the Cord of Three Strands. There was a ring that held three cords - one purple, one gold, and one white. The purple strand represents the Groom, the white represents the Bride, and the gold represents God. It's a beautiful symbol to braid the strands together during the ceremony to signify how God is woven into our lives, making a cord of three strands. Here is a better description, since I think I am rambling...
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Finally, after exchanging rings and lots of tears (of happiness), we were prounounced Man and Wife! It was almost a surreal experience...something that I dreamed/thought about for so many years, and then it was happening to ME! Sometimes, you just can't put those types of feelings into words...
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