Ceremony
I had to wait with my dad around the corner while the mothers were seated,
because Tom was doing it and he couldn't take the chance of seeing me. My dad started to say something that sounded sentimental and I bluntly told him to be quiet. Then he started again and I "shhh"ed him again. This went on for a good minute. I kept telling him he couldn't say anything that would make me cry since that would ruin my makeup and give me red eyes!! He ended up getting out
one sentence which wasn't TOO bad! Then we got our cue, so as we walked toward the garden, I looked over and saw Tom standing there in his uniform. WOW!!!!! He looked absolutely amazing! So we stopped at the back of the garden and waited for the trumpeter to start. It was VERY surreal looking around and seeing everyone who was there, all looking at me--and Tom waiting for me! Then the trumpeter started and we walked up the aisle. I alternated between looking at all the guests, looking up at Tom, and looking at the ground (for dips and bumps) to make sure I didn't trip and fall. The aisle wasn't very long, so that part was over quickly. Tom came down
to us, my dad handed me off to Tom and shook his hand, then I gave him a kiss and Tom and I walked up to our places. Julie welcomed everyone and started the ceremony. This was the weirdest part, because we were both just standing there looking at everyone. I wanted to at least hold hands (wondering if brides and grooms normally did that--I couldn't remember!) but I had my bouquet and he was being Mr. Strict Military Man (as he was technically supposed to be) with his arms at his sides, his hands in little fists. This part seemed to go on FOREVER. However, it was neat to have time to be able to see everyone who was there!
I think it was about halfway through the ceremony when we were finally able to turn to one another
(for the "Symbol of Unity"/Ringing of the Bell). Then, during the Hands of the Bride and Groom, we were able to sort of talk to each other
under our breaths. We said how great the other looked and other little stuff like that. Then Tom told me that Morgan and Don had gone out
drinking the night before, and apparently Morgan was REALLY sick and had thrown up like three times on the way to the library. I didn't think
much else of it, until we got to our vows (which everyone loved, by the way--we had people laughing!) when suddenly I hear and sort of see this
little commotion behind Tom...where Morgan was throwing up into the bushes! Now, you would think I would be pissed about this, but I really
wasn't (well, okay, maybe for an instant). Why wasn't I upset? Well, it wasn't anything huge or loud--and he made a quick deal of it.
And then... he did it like two more times!! Good grief! By this time, Tom and I were trying hard NOT to laugh out loud (we were still doing our
vows). We looked up to the upper library windows (where people were watching the ceremony), and you could see people just laughing up a
storm! Come to find out later, most of the guests TOTALLY missed the whole thing!! After thinking about it, we're sure it was because they were
really watching us and listening to our vows! Of course, Morgan felt totally bad about the whole thing and apologized over and over. We assured
him it was okay--it definitely made the wedding even more memorable! And the guests that did see it (including our parents) just laughed about it,
too. My dad said he noticed Morgan turning green and wondered what was wrong!! So we finished the vows and the rest of the ceremony and
that was it!
