ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟛𝟘 #2
The closer we walked toward the ceremony lawn, the prettier everything became.
Rows of perfectly arranged white chairs overlooked the Pacific Ocean, waves rolling lazily against the cliffs below.
White flower arrangements sat at the end of every aisle, swaying gently in the breeze.
The aisle itself was covered in ivory fabric instead of flower petals. Probably because California winds would send petals into another state.
Smart.
A string quartet played softly beneath a large wooden pergola draped in white fabric and greenery.
I glanced around slowly.
"Okay, I'll admit it. This is nice." She looked around.
"Just nice?'"
She smiled. "It's gorgeous."
A woman carrying a clipboard approached us. "Mr. and Mrs. West?"
"That's us." Dixie said.
"Right this way." She smiled brightly.
Paying for half the wedding came with assigned seating. Who knew?
She led us almost all the way to the front. We were reserved. Little ivory cards rested against the chairs.
I looked down. "Wow."
Dixie smiled.
I helped her sit before taking the seat beside her. From here we could see almost everything. The altar, ocean, musicians.
The guests started to slowly fill in every row. I was still looking around when somebody slapped the back of my shoulder.
"There he is."
Ryan!
I stood immediately, smiling like crazy.
"Hey!"
We hugged briefly before pulling apart. He looked sharp in his green suit.
"You clean up alright." I said, dapping him up.
"So, do you."
He nodded toward Dixie. "Hey, Dix."
She smiled warmly. "Hi, Ryan."
"Listen, I know I'm not Cam but you look as pretty as a picture. Seriously, you look great."
I gave Ryan a smack on the shoulder, laughing.
"Thank you, I appreciate that."
A few feet away, Hunter stood near the altar adjusting his tie for what had to be the eighth time.
He was the best man, but still somehow looked nervous.
I called out, "Hunter!."
He looked over, smiling. "It's Cam Wam, you made it!"
"You look expensive, man!" I told him, trying to lighten his anxiety.
Hunter nodded, "Thanks, dude."
Ryan leaned closer. "Have you seen Brody yet?"
"No."
"He's convinced Belle's going to leave."
I blinked, a bit taken aback.
"Bit late for that."
Ryan snorted. "That's what I told him."
I sat back down as Ryan left to go give his greeting to other guests.
The ceremony lawn continued filling. Parents, grandparents, children chasing each other before being quickly collected.
"Are you excited?" I asked Dixie. She glanced at me before nodding.
"Yeah, I love weddings."
Said Dixie in the most monotone voice ever.
She reached over absentmindedly and straightened my tie again. It hadn't moved.
I smiled. "You already fixed it."
"I know, it bothered me."
I couldn't help smiling wider.
The quartet gradually faded as another song quietly began playing through hidden speakers. The soft conversations surrounding us slowly disappeared.
The wedding coordinator stepped quietly toward the aisle before giving someone near the sound system a small nod.
The music swelled as a warm voice echoed gently across the lawn. I glanced sideways at Dixie. She was already smiling. Despite everything we'd been through, she still loved weddings.
Watching her watch them, made me love them too.
Was that a silly thing to say?
~
The music swelled softly through the speakers, the string quartet blending into the warm ocean breeze as guests settled into their seats. Conversations gradually faded into whispers, then into silence.
Beside me, Dixie folded the wedding program neatly in her lap.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the wedding coordinator announced warmly, "thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the marriage of Brody Mitchell and Belle Lawson."
A few people clapped softly.
"We ask that you please silence your phones, remain seated during the ceremony, and most importantly, enjoy this beautiful afternoon with us."
He glanced toward the back of the aisle. "The ceremony will begin now."
The processional music changed.
Hunter appeared first.
He walked with the determined expression of someone trying very hard not to trip in dress shoes. I caught his eye as he passed our row.
"Breathe," I mouthed.
He rolled his eyes but grinned anyway. Then came the groomsmen, and then, Brody. The second he appeared, I had to fight a smile.
Of course he wasn't walking normally.
He pointed at one of his cousins in the third row. Finger guns, and all. As he passed us, he reached over and slapped my shoulder in a quick high five.
"Made it," he whispered.
"Proud of you," I whispered back.
Then he kept walking. Dixie watched him take his place at the altar before leaning slightly toward me.
"He's treating this like a football game." She said,
"He's nervous."
"He just high-fived you- how's that nervous?"
"Nervous people do strange things."
She gave me a look that clearly said that is not helping his case. I couldn't really argue with her.
At the altar, Brody adjusted his jacket twice, then his tie, then his watch..
I leaned back in my chair. I remembered Ryan taking my vows away because I kept rewriting them.
I remembered thinking I was going to forget every word, I remembered hearing the music start. And then, I remembered seeing Dixie. Every ounce of panic had disappeared.
The music shifted again as everyone turned. Even the ocean seemed quieter.
Belle appeared at the end of the aisle. Brody stopped moving. I watched as his hands fell to his sides. His mouth parted just slightly.
"Whoa," he breathed.
Belle looked stunning.
Her gown flowed behind her in soft ivory layers, elegant without being overwhelming.
A long veil drifted lightly in the breeze, and the bouquet of white roses and greenery in her hands matched the arch behind the altar perfectly.
She was looking straight at Brody.
And she looked emotional.
Dixie leaned closer to me. "Okay, she looks beautiful."
"Mhm."
"And he looks..actually, he looks serious for once." I watched Brody swallow hard as Belle reached the altar.
I laughed, turning to Dixie. "Told you he was nervous."
"I still don't approve of the high-fives."
Wedding coordinator stepped back, giving the officiant the slightest nod. The ceremony had officially begun.
The officiant stepped forward, waiting until the last whispers settled into silence.
The ocean behind him rolled lazily against the cliffs.
He smiled warmly at everyone gathered. "Family, friends, thank you all for being here today."
His voice carried easily across the lawn. "We've gathered to witness something extraordinary."
He paused, looking between Brody and Belle. "Not because weddings themselves are extraordinary."
A few people smiled.
"But because two people have decided that, for the rest of their lives, they'd like to wake up beside the same person."
I glanced toward Dixie. She was already listening intently; hands folded neatly over the wedding program in her lap.
The officiant continued. "Marriage is often mistaken for grand romantic gestures, but it's ordinary."
"It's choosing the same person on ordinary Thrusdays; it's making coffee for them before they ask."
"It's apologizing when you're wrong."