Anniversary

12 years ago today, I got married in the northwest corner of my parent’s one-acre pasture, which had been arduously coaxed into a bower of birch and catalpa trees, bedecked with climbing roses and honeysuckle and lilies.

Ours was a medieval-themed geek wedding. Both our fathers used the occasion as an excuse to grow scruffy beards, and they both looked fairly rustic. All the men wore white satin poet shirts and black pants with black suede knee-high boots. Lil was gowned in forest green and crowned with willow and strewed hundreds of rose petals.

The retired judge who officiated was one of my father’s old friends. Much to my dismay, he pronounced marriage as “Mae-widge…” (Princess Bride, anyone?) It was hard to keep a straight face during the ceremony. . . particularly when Brian got the hiccups.  My brother Steve and his wife Sheryl acted as videographers. . . and yes, the microphone picked up the hiccups.

It was the hottest day of the year. The frosting on the wedding cake started to melt. I felt wilted.  Still — everyone was there, and alive. So alive. What was once a huge family has dwindled so much in the last decade.

Brian and I were both hard-core Star Wars geeks and had toyed with the idea of having a Star Wars themed wedding. My dress was based on Leia’s from SW: A New Hope, and we thought about a Han Solo-esque outfit for Brian. Lil could have worn something based on Leia’s Cloud City gown . . . but then my mom and I got stuck trying to figure out how to appropriately attire my dad and Brian’s. My dad probably would have wanted to go stomping around as Vader, and wouldn’t that have made a good impression.

We ultimately chose a medieval theme as more acceptable to our extended families. Still, Brian and I greeted the guests as husband and wife while the strains of Throne Room and Finale from Star Wars (Instrumental) played.

I still get all teary-eyed when I listen to that song.