Walking Towards Forever

Finally, after months of planning and a full day of anticipation, it was time to start the ceremony.  Jeff gave me one last hug and went to line up with his guys.

My bridesmaids, parents, and I gathered in the bridal suite and watched through the windows as the last of the guests found their seats. Jeff's sisters took their places in the front row.  His parents walked down the aisle arm-in-arm

Then my uncle escorted my mom to her seat.

The guys made their way to the gazebo:

Then the processional music started and before I knew it my bridesmaids were walking down the aisle.  First went Danielle with our adorable little flower girl, her daughter Elisa

Next came my beautiful sister, Jaymi

I was left standing in the bridal suite with just my dad.  I hugged him an told him thank you for everything.  He told me I looked beautiful.  Then I took his arm and walked out onto the porch to the head of the aisle.  The bridal chorus on guitar began to play.  I squeezed my dad's arm and we stepped down together.

I was so nervous as we walked down the aisle--everyone was staring at us, smiling, wiping tears from their eyes.  I hardly knew where to look.  I couldn't see my mom or grandparents yet, and I looked out at our guests, smiling extra-wide at faces that were so familiar to me.  I blushed and looked down at the ground, and when I looked up again I saw Jeff, smiling at me.

I couldn't control the smile that spread across my face and it was all I could do not to run to him: there was my boy, my love, my buddy, my Jeff.  There was my future, standing up there waiting for me.  All I remember of the rest of the walk down the aisle was the tractor beam pull towards him, his sheer gravitational force.  All I remember is walking toward my husband.

When we got to the front row of chairs, I turned to my mom and grandparents and smiled my biggest, cheesiest smile.  I turned back to my dad and squeezed his arm.  The officiant, Reverend Bruce, asked "Who presents this woman in marriage?" and my dad answered in his confident, proud voice: "Her mother and I do."  Then I hugged him, and when I turned again I saw Jeff walking toward us.  He shook my dad's hand, smiled, and then turned to me.  I linked my arm in his.

Together we walked to the gazebo, took our place, inside, and I turned to face Jeff, taking both of his hands in mine and trying to soak up as much of this perfect moment as I could.