Carmen/Logs/Wedding
| IC Date: | Oct 24, 2528 |
|---|---|
| OOC Date: | May 23, 2011 |
| Location: | Newhall |
| Bride: | Carmen Moore |
| Groom: | Kallahan Shamaria |
| Best Man: | Braedyn Alexander |
| Maid of Honor: | Sarah Goodwin (NPC) |
| Bridesmaids: | Feria Alexander Sandra Church (NPC) |
| Groomsmen: | Matthew Fletcher (NPC) Jonathan Kerrington (NPC) |
The chapel is not a large venue, and seems perfectly suited to the size of the small gathering of family and close friends that have been invited to bear witness to Kallahan and Carmen's union. The wooden pews have soft cushions and are decorated with bows of white and tartan ribbons. The 'altar' at the front is draped with a snowy white cloth and decorated with more tartan and lavish arrangements of pale pink and white flowers... not just roses but a variety of different types selected for their beauty and texture when it comes to the overall shape and look of the arrangement. At the center of the altar are the items the officiate may need during the ceremony... or maybe they're just decorative: a wedding quaich, an ornamental dagger, and a length of golden silk cord. The first guests started to arrive an hour before the ceremony, permitted to mingle in the entry or be seated by an usher at their wish. The seating is free for all, with no separation between the bride's guests and the groom's. The only exception being the front pew, which is reserved for parents and siblings of the couple.
The trip to the chapel is uneventful. Not a glimpse of Carmen, her ladies, or her father is caught. Not one little glimpse at all. In due course, Kallahan and his two escorts make it there. Kallahan leads the two into the room, taking off his sunglasses and tucking them into an inner pocket of his jacket. Clancy breaks off first, to go check security measures. Then Marcus breaks off, moving off to chat with a little group near the door. Kallahan himself mingles. Stopping to chat first with this party, then with that one, then with the one over there. It's all very nice. He even gets his picture taken several times with different people. His family, very definitely. There are, thankfully, no flashes being used. In due course, Kallahan makes his way up to the front, to the waiting justice of the peace, when it's time for the ceremony to start. A silence falls over the church, slowly, as people notice Kallahan standing up front. The first rows first, then further back, until the whole chapel is filled with silence.
As the guests start to 'get the idea' and a few stragglers quickly take their seats, the mood within the chapel starts to shift from an idle holding pattern to one of anticipation. The old pews creak as guests twist to look toward the back of the room, waiting. Waiting. The pianist starts to tickle the ivories, playing a little prelude as the doors open and the rest of the bridal party starts to file in at intervals. First, the Maid of Honor on the arm of the Best Man, followed by two more bridesmaids and groomsmen. Each 'couple' walks serenely up the aisle, smiling for the cameras. The ladies are dressed in emerald green and carry small bouquets of pale pink and white roses. The men, resplendent in kilted tuxedos much like Kallahan's. Ladies and gents part ways at the front of the room, the men joining Kallahan while the women form a line down the other side. There is a pause while the third 'couple' finds their place at the front, during which the prelude plays on... then shifts into the familiar strains of the traditional wedding march. Here comes the bride, indeed. The pews creak as the guests all rise, looking expectantly to the door... and into the doorway steps the bride, the shorter portion of her veil drawn forward over her face. The veil can't hide her smile, though, nor the way her eyes lock on Kallahan as soon as he comes into view. She pauses there at the threshold on her father's arm, and he lifts his free hand to cover hers where it rests in the crook of his arm as he starts forward, bringing her along with him.
Kallahan is, at this point, a silent man. His eyes sparkle with anticipation, and he wears a small smile as he looks back toward the door where the ladies emerge. Those eyes move to watch the bridesmaids and groomsmen coming up the aisle. Then, when all is silent save for the music, Kallahan's eyes are on that door again. He watches as Carmen comes in, and his expression mirrors what can be seen of hers. Joyous is a good way to describe it. He looks, in that moment, like a man who's dreams are about to come true. Which they are. His eyes remain locked on Carmen as she is escorted up the aisle by her father. The guests are all silent. The click of cameras can be heard, though there are no flashes. Up on a balcony overlooking everything else, the ceremony is filmed.
Thomas Moore leads his radiant daughter down the aisle to where her groom awaits. Carmen doesn't walk so much as float along beside her father, her footsteps as light as her heart as each brings her that much closer to her heart's desire. It seems like a rather long walk to her, but only because the cadence of the march sets an unhurried pace. Repressing the urge to pick up her skirts and rush ahead, Carmen just beams a smile that is only for Kal until she finally reaches the front and turns to face her father. His calloused work-roughened hands lift to carefully lift Carmen's veil over her head. Her maid of honor steps over to help pull it down in back so that it drapes properly and isn't sticking out at any weird angles or anything. After this, Thomas leans down and kisses Carmen's forehead, then straightens, clearing his throat, and turns to offer Carmen's hand to Kallahan.
And Kallahan has eyes for nothing and nobody but Carmen as she approaches. He watches as the veil is draped back, while Thomas kisses Carmen's forehead, and then smiles as her hand is offered to him. He raises his hand and curls his fingers around Carmen's, his eyes locked on hers. Then they're turning toward the justice of the peace. A cheerful looking man of good nature who happens to be a longtime friend of Kallahan's. The justice begins his part of the ceremony, while all present watch on. "Carmen and Kallahan, it is our joy to witness and celebrate your wedding in a rich celebration, sustained as we are in the mysterious power of all creation and whose core is Love. You come here today as individuals. You come to become one -- of course not to lose yourselves, but instead to promise a new life of unity and love. And we, your family and friends, have gathered here to share in your joy and to ask the infinite power in creation to bless you. We hold that marriage is a gift, sealed by an achiest, lasting sacred covenant." Kallahan watches attentively, though his fingers squeeze around Carmen's from time to time. The justice speaks again after a moment of silence. "Who presents this couple to be married?" Kallahan's parents, and Carmen's parents, all stand up and speak as one, "We do."
As her hand is placed in Kallahan's, Carmen looks up at him once more and smiles rather brightly, her fingers curling around his. As she listens to the justice's words, she continues to smile.... really, she couldn't stop if she wanted to at this point... and as all four parents stand to answer she smiles that much more. The justice nods in response and waits for the parents to seat themselves again before he continues, "The binding of hands is an ancient practice dating back to Earth-That-Was. Carmen and Kallahan have asked that this be included in their ceremony, before they exchange more contemporary vows and rings. Kallahan, Carmen, if you would join hands please?" One might think it an odd request, considering that the couple is already holding hands, but Carmen passes off her bouquet to her Maid of Honor and turns to face Kallahan. Their hands part, and they both cross their wrists before joining hands again while the justice turns to fetch the golden cords from the altar. Turning back, he begins to drape the cords over the couple's joined hands as he speaks, "The binding is a symbol of unity, its knots formed not by these cords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the cords, for as always you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union." He pauses, letting this sink in for a moment before turning first to Carmen. "Carmen Charlotte Moore. Do you take Kallahan Michael Shamaria to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?" Carmen, who hasn't broken eye contact with Kallahan since the re-joining of their hands, answers firmly and without hesitation, "I do." Nodding, the justice repeats the question for Kallahan.
Kallahan is, once again, quiet, as he listens to the Justice. His eyes remaining on Carmen. When asked to join hands, he crosses his wrists and joins his with hers, staying that way for the time being. He listens to the words, smiles when the cords are draped, then smiles broader when Carmen says she does. The justice continues. "Kallahan Michael Shamaria. Do you take Carmen Charlotte Moore to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?" Kallahan doesn't hesitate any more than Carmen had. "I do," he says to the man. Once the 'I do's are out of the way, the Justice binds the cords. There is applause and sharp whistles from the crowd as the bound cords are lifted, displayed, and then returned to the altar. Kallahan grins from ear to ear, not even blushing or seeming shy in the slightest. "Who holds the rings?" In chorus, Sarah and Braedyn say, "We do." The Justice waits until the rings are given to Carmen and Kallahan before he continues. "Let us all bless these rings that are circles, symbols that remind us of the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. Symbols of holiness, of perfection and peace, that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, let us all bring our blessing to these rings so that they may remain symbols of unity and commitment. Grant that the love which Carmen and Kallahan have for each other now may always be as unending as these rings that they will wear for the rest of their lives, that express the love that they have for one another. Let us take a moment and send our prayers, our thoughts and our love to these rings, so that as they wear them, they will carry our love with them as well." The Justice pauses for a moment, then continues. "Exchange rings and repeat after me, each of you. With this ring, I thee wed, let it ever be a symbol of my love."
Only when the cords are bound and taken away does Carmen release Kallahan's hands, though she squeezes them briefly beforehand, still holding his gaze. Her eyes glitter moistly, so very happy is she. But it's not over yet! She finally has to break eye contact with Kallahan to receive the ring from Sarah, and she smiles at her dear old friend as she accepts the offering, holding it reverently in the palm of her hand as the Justice calls for a blessing. Smiling, she nods her head a little bit as the blessing is done and plucks the silvery band from her palm, reaching for Kallahan's left hand. "With this ring, I thee wed. Let it ever be a symbol of my love." she tells Kallahan, in a clear voice that carries all the way to the farthest back pew. Let there be no mistake. The statement is punctuated by the sliding of the ring onto his finger, and afterward she offers her hand to him so that he can repeat the process.
There are tears glittering in Kallahan's eyes as she speaks the words to him and slips the ring onto his finger, his hand held up so she could. Then he repeats the words, heartfelt and carrying, thanks to the acoustics of this place, to the back pews, for he's rather softly spoken at the best of times. "With this ring," he says, lifting the ring from his palm. "I thee wed. Let it ever be a symbol of my love." He slides the ring onto her finger, and smiles once more to her. Those tears are very definitely in his eyes, but they don't fall to his cheeks. The Justice speaks again, words catching the crowd's attention once more. "Only a couple can seal the promise of a marriage to each other, and only a couple can bind it. By the power vested in me by the state of Justice, by what these two hearts declare, by what only these two souls can make real, and by the truths that are already written in your hearts, I declare you husband and wife in the presence of these, your family and friends. You may kiss the bride." Kallahan doesn't hesitate, he leans forward and kisses Carmen quite thoroughly, though the kiss is more than likely a mutual one. In due course, when the kiss ends, the Justice speaks again. "I present to you, Missus Carmen and Mister Kallahan Shamaria."
The ring sildes easily onto Carmen's finger, and Carmen beams a smile at Kallahan bright enough to light up the room. She barely hears the closing words of the Justice, but 'husband and wife' and 'kiss the bride' do seem to penetrate... because she flings her arms around Kallahan even as he is leaning toward her and kisses him back, a few tears of joy finally escaping beneath closed eyelids to dribble down her cheeks. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara! The kiss endures for a long moment amidst the thunderous applause of the guests, and when finally it is sundered Carmen smiles into Kallahan's eyes and seems to say something but it must be for his ears alone. She releases him a little reluctantly as the Justice presents them to their family and friends, but retains his hand as she turns with him to face the crowd of well-wishers now standing from their seats. The pianist starts up the music signaling the end of the ceremony and Carmen glances over at Kallahan with a smile before starting down the aisle toward the exit with him, hand in hand to start their new life together as husband and wife.
Kallahan murmurs something back to Carmen, and then straightens. He smiles happily, hand still held around Carmen's, as that applause errupts. Among whistles and cat calls. Everybody is /happy/. Then they're walking down the aisle, hand in hand. Behind them, the Justice speaks again as they depart. "Would everyone please stand as the couple departs! Please remain in your places until the parents have left the room." Meanwhile, the groomsmen and bridesmaids follow behind Kallahan and Carmen, as they should be. Then the parents and grandparents. Then the Justice invites everyone else to begin exiting the building. Everybody already knows where the reception is being held. Once outside, Kallahan pauses just outside, ensuring that Carmen stops with him. He stops long enough for her to see just what is awaiting them. A beautifully bedecked carriage of black, crimson, and gold, pulled by a pair of shimmering white horses with huge, feathered feet. Standing beside the coach, the coachman. One of the horses tosses its head and snorts. The other stamps a hoof. They both swish their tails.
Once outside, Carmen's eyes widen and she blinks as she sees the carriage. This is not the transportation they had arranged! She's confused for a moment, until she takes in the horses and the familiar coachman. Laughing delightedly, she hugs Kallahan tightly and kisses him again, should he oblige her by leaning down. "How long have you had *this* up your sleeve, Mister Shamaria?" she asks, in a playfully accusatory fashion. Laughing again, she turns her head to look over at the carriage with a bright smile, and keeping one arm around Kallahan starts down the steps outside the chapel toward their awaiting ride. Her Maid of Honor trails along behind her, somehow managing to juggle both bouquets and keep Carmen's extremely long veil from being trod on. Carmen helps out by pausing long enough to let Sarah unpin the thing and remove it. Then she is helped up into the carriage by Kallahan, who follows her inside even as the guests begin to spill out of the chapel to see them off to the reception before heading that way themselves.
Gallery
Please be welcome to browse our gallery of visual aids for the wedding & reception:
http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/cainadai/Carmen/wedding/
