Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A Rather Unique Start to Married Life
What makes a wedding possible?
This is the description of my first wedding - including Toronto’s finest, mayhem, jokes, and politics...and culture. Or, rather, avoiding it.
Some of us have one fabulous wedding day. Me? Guess I’m greedy. I’ve had three ...and all to the same man.
Do I have some crazy wedding fetish or pressing need to recite wedding vows on a regular basis?
Nope. In fact, we never set out to walk down the aisle three times. But like our love and life together, the rationale for our multiple nuptials simply evolved...and the cultural aspect grew each time.
Eighteen years ago September, we took the plunge at city hall in the presence of twenty guests - the maximum number allowed for the venue.
Originally we’d planned a long engagement but once engaged, the mushrooming wedding preparations and the constant helpful advice received from our parents forced a choice. We could either endure the ‘joy’ and ‘help’ for another year, or marry fast.
We hastily arranged for a quickie (marriage that is).
On our sunny day, I was a punctual bride. Fate had other plans for my groom.
En route, my beloved found himself stuck behind a traffic accident. Not one to let that stop him, he reversed the car and pulled onto another major thoroughfare.
And promptly came to a standstill, stymied by a large passing student parade.
With the clock ticking and about to miss his wedding, my flustered groom ran to one of Toronto’s boys in blue for help. Without missing a beat, this gallant police officer directed him back to his car, stopped the parade and waved my dearest through so he could make his wedding. Toronto’s Police Force saved the day. Thank you!
But this blog is about our wedding - an event best described as kosher style chaos.
With an absent groom, one friend began a stand-up routine for the guests, ... ‘Poor Gail, stood up at the altar.’
The rabbi, also late, walked in with my dear hubby and best man. Hooray! We’d finally have our wedding day!
After everyone entered the little room at city hall, bedlam dictated the day. Commencing with difficulties raising the chupah (the canopy under which we should stand), family members taking charge and instructing everyone else where and who should stand under the chupah, topped off by the rabbi’s commentary on the previous day’s landslide election results. This apparently his idea of a wedding must to fit our peculiar day.
And still our ceremony hadn’t begun.
My hubby and I watched the surrounding confusion and naturally turned to each other.
My love always makes me smile and this moment was classic. Raising both palms, he quipped, “Notice the incredible calm with which this is all happening.” I laughed. Yes, this was another typical family occasion.
Although this kosher style wedding included certain Jewish trimmings – a chupah, blessings, breaking of the glass, - we later determined it lacked a few essentials.
Standby for wedding number two, complete with a blushing pregnant bride, a kosher pig-out and more!
2007 Golden Heart Finalist Gail Fuller
17 Comments:
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Wow Gail an amazing tale....and it's just the first of 3! I really love the family "quiet" - it reminds me so much of my family. Chaos OR Us. LOL!
- September 2, 2008 at 12:32 AM
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Gail, that's a fabulous story! I laughed and smiled all the way through. Looking forward to hearing about wedding #2.
- September 2, 2008 at 4:38 AM
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What a great story! And three weddings! LOL. Can't wait to hear about number two!
Shirley
- September 2, 2008 at 10:43 AM
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Thanks, Eleni and Rachel! :) 'Chaos or us.' LOL! Eleni, I love it! We have a saying in our house - 'Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?' Of course, the answer depends on the day. :) Rachel, I'm so glad I could give you a laugh. It's great fun revisiting wedding memories. Everyone should try it. Special thanks to Melissa for inviting me to blog. :)
- September 2, 2008 at 10:43 AM
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Ooh, a simultaneous post. :) Thanks so much, Shirley!
- September 2, 2008 at 10:47 AM
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Oh, Gail!
I laughed and laughed. Especially about your description of get married quickly...or endure all the "help" you were getting.
susan
- September 2, 2008 at 11:11 AM
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Too Funny Gail!
I had two weddings to the same man! The second one was so much easier since there weren't any nerves. Been there, done that!
- September 2, 2008 at 12:10 PM
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Susan, the 'quickie' was my hubby's idea. Odd, considering he was originally Mr. Commitment Phobic. :) He called me at work and asked, 'What do you think about getting married in September?'
'September next year? Sure, I'm free.' :)
'No, this September. I can't take this for another year.'
Poor guy. He sounded so stressed. LOL!
So, Melissa, you've been there, done that, eh? WTG! Yes, second time around definitely has less tension. :)
- September 2, 2008 at 12:32 PM
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Can't wait to hear of wedding #2! Hope the second time was a little less chaotic! *g*
- September 2, 2008 at 1:49 PM
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Thanks, Brandy! Yes, it was less chaotic. Uh, what I remember of it. :) Oops, that's next week's story. *eg*
- September 2, 2008 at 2:59 PM
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What a great story. Isn't the Internet an amazing vehicle for getting out the word?
My word is a website where I have an Ebook on writing wedding vows, THE SECRET LIFE OF WEDDING VOWS www.WeddingVowsandCeremonies.com and a blog where I essentially write articles on 'keeping the dream alive.' www.WeddingVowsandCeremonies.com/blog
Rev. Linda, The Wedding Vow Coach
Helping couples 'Live the Dream.'
- September 2, 2008 at 4:18 PM
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What a fun wedding post, Gail. I love the part about the policeman who stopped the parade. What a hero!
Looking forward to the next installment.
Linda Goodnight
- September 2, 2008 at 4:49 PM
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This is why I tell folks that it is the mishaps, almost mishaps, and things that make for great memories. can't wait for story number two!
Peace, Julie
- September 2, 2008 at 6:13 PM
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Thanks, Linda, Linda and Julie! I agree. That policeman was definitely a hero. :)
You're right about mishaps, Julie. It's amazing how many mis--, er great memories we have. *g*
Well, it's bedtime in my part of the world. Thanks for stopping by.
Until the next time! :)
- September 2, 2008 at 7:46 PM
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Loved your post, Gail!! Looking forward to reading about weddings #2 and #3 as well. And, btw, Happy Anniversary :)!
- September 2, 2008 at 8:23 PM
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Thanks, Marilyn! Our anniversary is on the seventh but we're busy that day so we celebrated this past weekend with dinner and a movie (Death Race). Wow, that Jason Statham is yummy to watch. *sigh* :) Good news - Wedding Number Two will be posted tomorrow. :)
- September 3, 2008 at 9:59 AM
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Three weddongs to the same man! Such an intriguing story. Can't wait for the next installment.
- September 3, 2008 at 11:08 AM
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