Wedding: The Ceremony

Our wedding was held at a large Catholic parish in Las Vegas.  This church is particularly special to us because it is the church that we have attended since we moved to Nevada.  It really has become our home over the last 4 years.  We particularly love Fr. Mike and immediately after getting engaged, we set a date with the church and requested that he be the priest to marry us.

Fr. Mike

After a year of marriage preparation, meetings with Fr. Mike, completing the FOCUS exam and Engaged Encounter, it was time to get married!!

Our Flower Girl and Ring Bearer got the party started with a tantrum about 1/4 of the way down the aisle (which was hilarious).  I think my sister was horrified!

Jonathon waited patiently as everyone processed into the church

I was a nervous wreck at the rehearsal, worrying about the long walk down the aisle in 3 1/2 inch heels.  As I walked with my Dad into the church on the day of our wedding, all I could think of was seeing Jonathon looking so happy at the end of the aisle.  It really was such a special moment.

Our Best Man, Hal, said the first reading.  Coincidentally, he is also a priest, which is always a good trait to have in a Best Man!

Tobit 8:4b-8

On their wedding night Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife,
“Sister, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord
to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance.”
Sarah got up, and they started to pray
and beg that deliverance might be theirs.
They began with these words:
“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers;
praised be your name forever and ever.
Let the heavens and all your creation
praise you forever.
You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve
to be his help and support;
and from these two the human race descended.
You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone;
let us make him a partner like himself.’
Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine
not because of lust,
but for a noble purpose.
Call down your mercy on me and on her,
and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
They said together, “Amen, amen.”

My sister and Matron of Honor, did the second reading.

Hebrews 13:1-4a, 5-6b

Brothers and sisters:
Let mutual love continue.
Do not neglect hospitality,
for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.
Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment,
and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body. Let marriage be honored among all
and the marriage bed be kept undefiled,
Let your life be free from love of money
but be content with what you have,
for he has said, "I will never forsake you or abandon you."
Thus we may say with confidence:
"The Lord is my helper,
(and) I will not be afraid."

Next came the gospel

John 15:9-12

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.¹⁰ 

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.¹¹

I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.'

And then he put a ring on it :)

...And I cried my way through my vows

The priest then said something to the effect of "well that's it, you're married" and Jonathon took this to mean "you may now kiss your bride".  There was a little confusion as we both started to lean in and then I realized it wasn't time yet so I hissed "NO!!  NOT YET!!" 

And then we laughed and were announced husband and wife and were given the cue to kiss :)

And then it was over just as quickly as it had started!