Wedding Ceremony - Part Two

I decided that my father was not going to officially give me away. Mainly because I told him I was not a chattel, to be given away. Well at least, not so easily. He agreed. However, it would still mean a lot to the both of us, if he still walked me down the aisle for support.

After walking down the aisle together, instead of the formal "Do you give away your daughter away?" question, he gave both Grumpy and myself a big smile and a hug, and then I was ready to be married to the love of my life.

I must say it was pretty daunting, standing in front of my closest family and friends, declaring our love for one another. Hours before the ceremony, one of the thoughts that was in my head was that we should have just done a Spring Street Registry office wedding. Hehehe...

Some friends asked if I cried, well the answer is no. I did not cry when he proposed, so I was not going to cry on our wedding day, one and a half years later. But it was still very emotional and the good thing was that my make up was still intact. The last thing I want is to rub off those fake lashes and wipe off my foundation :)

We started off the ceremony with a reading by Dopey, my brother. I personally picked the three (very lucky) readers and the readings myself. I spent too much time reading poems, doing my bit of research. I am very happy with the top three readings chosen for the wedding.

Dopey wanted a short poem, and so I gave him 'The Magic of Love' by Helen Steiner Rice.

Love is like magic, and it always will be,
For love still remains life's sweet mystery.
Love works in ways that are wondrous and strange,
And there's nothing in life that love cannot change!
Love can transform the most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace.
Love is unselfish, understanding and kind,
For it sees with its heart, and not with its mind.
Love is the answer that everyone seeks;
Love is the language that every heart speaks.
Love can't be bought, it is priceless and free.
Love, like pure magic, is life's sweet mystery

After the reading, we presented both our mothers with a single pink rose to thank them for all their love and support.

The second reader was my cousin. She was not too fussy about the reading as she has done a few. Mainly the Corinthians, I would think. And so I gave her the longest one of all, but with a bit of humour. She read 'I'll Be There For You' by Louise Cuddon.

I'll be there my darling, through thick and through thin

When your mind's in a mess and your head's in a spin
When your plane's been delayed, and you've missed the last train.
When life is just threatening to drive you insane
When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page
When somebody tells you, you're looking your age
When your coffee's too cool, and your wine is too warm
When the forecast said "Fine", but you're out in a storm
When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum
And your holiday photos show only your thumb
When you park for five minutes in a resident's bay
And return to discover you've been towed away
When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste
Just stick on your hips and don't reach round your waist
When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes
When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes
So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear...
When you break a rule, when you act the fool
When you've got the flu, when you're in a stew
When you're last in the queue, don't feel blue
'cause I'm telling you, I'll be there

The last reader, was the most nervous one of them all.

A very dear (and hot) friend of mine, Little Miss Somersault, who flew in all the way from Singapore to attend our wedding. As she was extremely worried about speaking out in front of all these strangers, I gave her the shortest and most simple poem. It was the most touching one for me. She read 'I Carry Your Heart' by E. E. Cummings.

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)

I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and

whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

And whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and

the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

We did not write our own vows. However we did put some thought into the vows that we picked. The vows started off with "I have lived with you and I love you", which is true as we have been living together (in sin, like how a close friend of mine always reminds me) for seven and a half years.

And now the first kiss as husband and wife, a topic we discussed together on numerous occasions. We saw many wedding photos and noted how some first kisses were 'epic fail'. LOL. It is mean of me to say that, I know, but sometimes I am a hopeless romantic, the first kiss has to be sweet, and with feeling! However, I am not going to pride myself on our first kiss. As long as it feels right, that is the most important thing.

Finally the celebrant pronounced us husband and wife, the ceremony was over and phewww, we both felt so happy and relieved!

All images by Adrian Tuazon Photography