You and Me: We Wed

We always knew we would have a traditional Catholic ceremony. We opted to have ours without a full mass/Eucharist and focused on keeping the wedding as much about love and about 'us' as we could, all the while remembering that in the eyes of the church, marriage is a holy sacrament.

I'll admit, there was many a time over the course of our wedding planning where I longed for the freedom of writing our own vows or expressing our love in a less scripted way. On the day though, I was so filled with love and warm fuzzies that it wouldn't have mattered what reading was shared or what psalms were sang - we were getting married.

Father Christopher began with an introduction and welcome, as well as an opening prayer over us as a couple.

This was followed by our chosen readings.

We opted to have our bridal party also act as our readers, which worked out beautifully. If you're curious, we chose a reading from the Songs of Songs for our first reading and the ever-popular letter from St Paul to the Corinthians for our second reading. Our psalm was 'The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.'

Jason and I were seated on the opposite side of the altar as our readings were shared with our guests. I remember trying my hardest to stare straight ahead and not ogle Jase during the ceremony, though this shot seems to capture him doing the same thing to me! Also note the awkwardly bunched veil: I was too scared to sit down normally in case it fell out, so tucked it over my shoulder for the majority of the time.

I believe this was about the time that my super awesome Maid of Honour got nervous and fumbled her lines in her reading. Instead of saying 'love is patient, love is kind, it is not pompous...' poor Miss K read out 'love is never patient...' - oops! (Though it's kind of fitting: I am the least patient person I know.)

Father Christopher then read from the Gospel before beginning his Homily. It was a lovely one, too - focusing on the commitment we'd made to each other, and about staying strong as a couple through the summers and winters of our lives. He made it very personal and appropriate for us - I suppose that's the perk of having a cousin for a priest!

Our priest made a comment about us being really nervous, something neither of us usually are!

After this, we began the Rite of Marriage.

Aly & Jason, the promises you make to each other today are serious, because they will bind you together for life. You take each other through the best and worst of what lies ahead, and commit yourselves to each other forever.

I, Jason, take you, Aly, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

I, Aly, take you, Jason, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

Rings were exchanged and we were pronounced as husband and wife.

And oh, THE KISS!

I remember wondering how we were going to do it - should we practice? Who would lean in to who? Which way would my head tilt/your head tilt? Would there be lovey-dovey head grabbing in a fit of passion?

Well, there was just a blur - and we instinctively clutched at each other and smooch/laughed our way through our first kiss as a married couple!

Guest Photograph

After the clapping died down, we stood squeezing each other's hands as the Prayers of the Faithful were read by two of our groomsmen and as our Priest gave our final solemn blessing.

Just like that, in what felt like a blink of an eye, we were married!

Our string trio started playing more beautiful music as we made our way up behind the altar to sign our marriage certificate.

The final details were completed. The announcements had been made. We were given a last message from our priest, and then it was time to leave! Our strings began playing our recessional music - an instrumental of 'Bittersweet Symphony' - and we made our way out of the church.