#494 The Prayer

One of the many sad byproducts of Covid-19 is that a lot of weddings have been canceled.  Weddings are a tricky events.  [I know this not by planning my own (YET!), but by being in and attending many, as well as being an event planner.]  In most instances you must reserve the venue at least a year in advance.  You plunk down deposits on food, flowers, the photographer.  It’s big business.  If you have to cancel, it’s my understanding it’s rare to get all your money back.  So you lose money and then have to pay more money to do it on another date.  No wonder brides get stressed out. 

I’m thankful that one wedding went off without a hitch this past summer.  My oldest brother, David, got married June 6.  It was going to be a small affair anyway, and luckily, small gatherings were allowed by that time. 

Despite being happy about the occasion, I was still a little nervous about being inside in somewhat close proximity to people I didn’t know.  Where have these people been?  Were they taking the pandemic seriously?  Masks weren’t mandatory.  How many would wear them?  Would my parents be safe? 

I was a bridesmaid, but didn’t know any of the other bridesmaids, so I kept my distance from them.  I wasn’t trying to be unfriendly.  Just safe.  When one of the bridesmaids got close to me, I’d back up to keep the space between us.  A constant game of cat and mouse. 

I was the first one to walk down the aisle.  I had planned to wear a mask, but didn’t, as I was spaced apart from the other bridesmaids and the attendees.  I began my walk when the music started.  The song, which I was not aware of ahead of time, was The Prayer, written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, and performed by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.  Music can affect me very deeply, and once I heard Celine singing, I started to tear up.  I’ve been listening to a lot of Bocelli lately, and this song in particular is just so beautiful.  I held it together, didn’t go into an ugly cry and made it down the aisle to my spot.  Deep breath.  The ceremony went wonderfully.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Godby! 

I was more uncomfortable during the after-ceremony photos.  The photographer kept telling us, “I know you don’t want to, but get closer together.”  I still wasn’t wearing a mask.  No one in the photos was.  Except for the last photo, when they thought it would be funny for us all to wear masks.  Gah! 

David and Nora didn’t plan to have a reception anyway, so they had individually-boxed cupcakes and little bags of Hershey kisses for attendees to take home.  After photos, they changed, packed their car up, and left pretty much immediately for their honeymoon (they drove to Branson, Missouri). 

I would like to give special props to my cousin, Diane.  She is the ultimate event planner and transformed the church and narthex into something really special. 

I’m so happy for David and Nora, and pray that God guides them with His grace in their marriage.