The Wedding Of A Lifetime

We've had so many friends ask about the wedding. Was it wonderful? Was it raining? Did you go on a Rosie Cruise? Did you have any strange looks / reactions on the "straight" cruise? Do you wish you had done it at church? And the most requested item of the day is to see our vows. So here goes, for anyone who's interested.

We left for Florida on Saturday, April 5th and headed toward Cocoa Beach where Lisa's "second parents" reside. We spent a couple of days with them – ALWAYS MUCH FUN – before we hit Miami on Monday to board our Carnival (not Rosie) Cruise. (Which was wonderful by the way!) The weather in Florida (as you may know) is unpredictable at best. It can be raining one minute and the sun can be brightly shining the next. Well, the first two days we were in Cocoa Beach, there was little to no sun shining which prompted Lisa, Allyssa and two of the unnamed parties attending to doubt my theory that at MY wedding, (outdoors, on the beach) there could be NO RAIN and I begged them to stop use of the word immediately as not to throw the negative energy out into the universe.

We got on the ship on Monday and met with most of our party, my best friend Kelly, her husband Stan, my brother Jeremy and his fiancée, Elizabeth. I was surprised the Friday before we left by one of my dearest friends Race and his partner DJ by letting me know that they too would be at the wedding in Key West, so we looked forward to seeing them there. Monday night we hung out, had some drinks and enjoyed each other's company. Tuesday morning we docked in Key West. We all got ready in our cabins and had agreed to meet at 8:00 AM. I instructed my brother the night before NOT to be drinking and told my best friend that while I have learned to tolerate her CONSTANT tardiness over the last 15 years – today would be an exception and I would be seriously pissed if she were late. My hair and makeup looked great! Allyssa and Lisa looked great! We walked out of the ship for our big day… and it was raining.

I bit my lip to keep from crying, knowing that my naturally curly hair would be a mess in about 30 seconds and waited for the trolley to take us into town. We called the amazing woman who was performing the ceremony for a plan B and she instructed us to go to a different beach where there was a small pavilion in case it didn't stop raining. I teared up at the mention of rain and told anyone within earshot to stop saying the "R" Word! There would be NO rain at my wedding!! I had imagined my day much like the scene in Snow White, where she enters the forest and there are birds singing, sun shining, and butterflies greeting her with a visible happiness in the air. I was NOT HAVING RAIN, DAMMIT!!

We got off the trolley and waited for the rest of our party to arrive and just like I told it to, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

Everyone arrived sober and on time and we went to the beach. The ceremony was beautiful and couldn't have been more perfect. (Even though my hair and make up was a wreck – pictures to be posted soon) We wouldn't have done it any other way. Surrounded by some of the most important people in my life and knowing that the ones that couldn't be there were thinking of us, Lisa and I said our vows and promised to love one another until the end of time. Here they are… A reminder of why I love her, and why I can't wait to spend the rest of my life doing just that!

(Note… Lisa and I had not shared our vows with each other prior to the ceremony. I was supposed to read my vows first – BUT alas… I was crying before I could get a word out so I managed to peep out, "You go" and she read hers first.)

Lisa:
Angel, first and foremost I want to remind you of how incredibly lucky I feel to be standing here before you, vowing to spend the rest of my life with you. You are a remarkable woman, who has put me on a plateau of happiness that I never dreamed of. You move me, and have brought me to such a better place in my life – my dreams are now reality and I owe it all to you. In your eyes I see a beautiful and exciting future filled with love, laughter and complete happiness. In you I see the half of my soul that makes me complete. I choose you, Angel, as my partner, my lover, and my best friend. In front of friends and family I promise to cherish you through every obstacle that may be put in our path.

I promise to love you, even when you insist on listening to 80's soundtracks. I vow to be your faithful partner in good times and bad and even when the Steelers are having a losing season. I will trust and respect you, laugh with you when you throw me off the bed and cry with you during a Publix Commercial. I promise to make you laugh as often as possible by poking fun at myself and promise to sing Tim McGraw's part in "It's Your Love." I vow to care for and protect you, to comfort and encourage you and to support your decisions if you ever decide to make any. Lastly, but most importantly, I swear to spoil you and to treat you like the princess we all know you are.

From this day forward, I give you my hand, my heart and my love, for as long as we both shall live.

Those of you who know Lisa – know that the vows wouldn't have been hers had there not been some humor involved.

Angel:
On November 13th, 2005 I sat across the table from a very good friend and enjoyed a very long lunch. In hindsight, I know I fell in love that day. Just two and a half short years after that six-hour "lunch", I have the honor and privilege of marrying my very best friend, my biggest supporter (and challenge) and my greatest love.

In your soul I have found my mate, in your eyes I have found my happiness and in your heart I have found my home and even though a lifetime will never be long enough, I can't imagine living one day of my life without you by my side.

Thank you for taking me as I am; loving both Allyssa and I, and welcoming us both into your heart. You fill my world with meaning, inspiration, joy, laughter and love. Thank you for being all I could have ever dreamed of and so much more.

Today I promise to be your partner in all things, standing beside you through both challenges and successes. I promise to encourage and nurture your hopes and dreams, always respecting you as an individual. I promise to be faithful to you today and always, understanding that through this perfect love has been born a perfect trust and I promise to love you with everything I have, knowing that you have loved me more than I have ever been loved before.

Lisa, today I choose you to be my partner, and commit to you my whole heart for my whole life.

Following the ceremony, we spent time with our friends at brunch and headed back to the ship. I waited my whole life for her and this relationship, and the day we said our vows was absolutely perfect and well worth the wait!

The rest of the trip was full of birds singing, sun shining and a visible happiness in the air. I think I may have even seen a butterfly or two.