The Wedding ~ Part One

As my best friend Fannie's wedding day approached I was filled with nervous anticipation. I found myself looking forward to being a bridesmaid and getting escorted by LV ever since we had that pleasant buggy ride.

When the morning of the wedding came John hitched our horse, Fern, to the buggy and took me to the church house where the rest of the bridal party was meeting for several hours before services began. As I walked into the coat room I felt a little overwhelmed that everyone was already there and waiting on me to start rehearsing.

After practicing how to hold hands, and walk with careful even steps and making sure we could all see Vernon's signal when to stand up or sit down we were all confident we knew what to do. After that we, along with the  six table waiters and the two boys that took care of the transportation for the bridal party gathered back inside the coatroom and shut the doors.  There was now nothing left to do except wait for everyone to arrive and church to start.

It was fun watching the buggies arrive and knowing that everyone else was wondering who the bride and groom had chosen to have part in their special day. After what seemed like a long time the ministers started to make their way to the church house and a little bit later the first song was announced. Fannie quickly went to the adjoining coat room and closed the door that opened into the main church house, and we all went over while Vernon and Fannie stayed to have a premarital session with the ministers.

After what seemed like a long time they came back, the expression on their faces made me wonder what all the session had entailed. There wasn't a lot of time to spend wondering as the third song was announced and as they started to sing it we stood ready to enter the church house once they started singing the third line.

The short distance between the door to the bench that had been reserved for us right in front of the ministers seemed long, but everything went just like we had rehearsed. As we sat down it seemed strange to not help sing as the rest of the church's voices rose and fell in the hauntingly beautiful wedding melody.

The service was much like any other church service and promptly at noon the Bishop announced that if they are both still willing to get married they can rise and come stand before him. After asking them a series of questions to which they answered with  a yes he asked the rest of the church to stand while he prayed a special wedding prayer from the little black prayer book. After the prayer everyone sat down while the bishop joined their hands and pronounced a blessing over them.

As they returned to their seat the rest of the ministers added their thoughts on the sermon. I was glad once the last song was announced and it was finally time to go to the reception.