fox | our wedding, and other diversions

Himself's college roommate played the music. The prelude was Mozart's variations on ~~Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star~~ Ah!, vous dirai-je, maman. Once everyone had more or less arrived and it was just a matter of getting everyone seated before we began, he played the theme from The Muppet Show. ("It's time to get things started!") Our processional music was "Promenade" from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, which is in 5/4, so that's awesome. We didn't have a whole chorus line of attendants; he went in with his mom, and then I went in with my mom (and I feel like I kind of heard or felt the room go "ohh ..." when I appeared; I've certainly had that reaction myself at other weddings before, because brides are ~by definition~ gorgeous) - and we handled the timing a bit wrong so we were both standing up there for a while before the thing could actually get going.

Our friend K had agreed to (get herself ordained in the Church of the Internet and) perform our ceremony. We had asked her to assure everyone that despite what they may have been led to believe by this children's music and Muppet Show stuff, we didn't want anyone to think that we weren't taking our wedding or the idea of marriage seriously - only we were so happy, and we had looked for every available opportunity to express our happiness. She went on to make a really fantastic homily-type address about Serious Joy, and it was lovely. We were so smart to ask her to preside over this thing.

Then we opened the floor to the guests' contributions, Quaker-meeting-style. We had "seeded" the remarks with three individuals, who did indeed speak first.

Another friend K, whose father is a minister, spoke (if I recall correctly) about the intentionality of relationships and how she thinks we're doing it right.
datlowen noted that people have always wondered if he and I were dating, and other people have always said "No, no, they're just like that", and said how delighted he was that I'd found someone to be Like That with whom I am actually with.
My brother began with my seeking advice on how to tell my folks I was seeing someone seriously; took a brief startling detour through my father's diagnosis and, a year later, his death; and turned it into a really solid statement about the demonstrated strength of Himself and our relationship and - I've forgotten the rest of the exact details, but I know he said he was very happy to be there now, so.
My college friend M said she's known me to travel all over the world, and was glad I'd found someone to make a home with.
An uncle recalled how, as a child at Disneyland, Himself had said "It's a Small World" was his favorite ride, but he didn't want to go on it - and somehow turned that into something very nice about going on the best ride ever, that wasn't about me being a "ride" of any kind. :-P
Another uncle of his said something I cannot recall at all.
His aunt noted that she'd been haranguing him for years about when she'd be able to buy a new hat for his wedding - and how delighted she is that he waited until he'd met the right person for that occasion.
One of the dads from my parents' 41-year bridge group said lovely things about all four families wishing us well.
Another of the bridge dads said "Short and sweet: your dad would be really proud."
A high school friend of Himself's looked me in the eye and said he knew I must have learned that when Himself does something, he does it thoroughly and deliberately and even obsessively and so on. And some things about joining him? Keeping up? I've sort of forgotten the details of this as well.
Another high school friend of Himself's, who is actually Quaker, spoke - and I don't remember a word he said. :-/
A friend and former neighbor of mine told about the time he told her he was dating someone who lived in her building. "Is it the person with the Doctor Who license plate?", she said, and he said it was, and she said "Well, that's settled, then." And she said she doesn't know which of us is the doctor and which is the companion but she knows our love is even bigger on the inside and wishes us the best. :-)
sanj recalled how when Himself and I first met, I came home and said our first date didn't suck - and neither did the second, or the third, and oh my goodness I might have found someone I really like. :-D
I think that was everyone? I really barely remember a thing.

We said our vows, and included the bit from the Book of Common Prayer where, the couple having promised to be faithful and so on, the officiant also asks the assembly to support the couple in their marriage, because I've always liked that bit. And in the actual ring exchange, where K was giving us one phrase at a time, we got to a point where she gave me the phrase and I was too choked up to speak immediately after her, and I kind of looked at her scared, and she ... gave me the next phrase. So I had the time to gather enough of my voice that I could speak, and did two phrases in a row. Saved me. ♥

And then she pronounced us husband and wife, and the room went bananas so she couldn't even give her line about how it was okay to kiss the bride. (Her line was "You may commemorate this in the usual way.") Seriously: I think I'm accustomed to applause and cheering, but this was whooping and hollering. It was kind of awesome. Someone shouted "mazel tov" and I think it might have been my goyisch uncle.

The college roommate played us out to "Linus and Lucy", the Peanuts theme, and we were married and off to the reception!