They planned their wedding for August 2019 but life got in the way. So it was rescheduled for August 2020 before COVID was a world phenomenon. She was so excited, he wanted it to be her special day; both of them put personal preference aside to accommodate the other. As the pandemic gained momentum and uncertainty mounted about what would be allowed, wedding plans took a hit and were scaled back, and back and back. The big day arrived, many of the original guests were sent a zoom link rather than an escort down the aisle. Now it didn’t matter if you were a guest of the bride or groom. It also wasn’t important if you were wearing night attire or yard clothes. It actually didn’t feel like a real wedding anyway.
Much to my surprise, I found the close-up pictures of the families and chosen guests arriving in their Sunday best most exciting. The mother-of-the-groom lit a candle for the groom in the rotunda of the church a few minutes before the mother-of-the-bride did the same. I think originally they were meant to do this together in the sanctuary, but physical distancing put a stop to that. The groom arrived and took his place beside the best man and anxiously started counting down the minutes wondering what could possibly be keeping the bride. Little did he know that any self-respecting bride had to be politely late to raise the temperature of the occasion.
She arrived stunningly beautiful on the arm of her father carrying white and pink roses. The wait was well worth it. The groom visibly relaxed and the ceremony began. What was a pure gift to us zoomers was the close-ups of each and every detail of the wedding. So in the end, although disappointed at not being present I have to say thank you to technology or I wouldn’t have had such a great front-row seat.
-Sister Ann Marshall, csj
