The walk down the aisle

Edited
Sarah Seuell

The day was not at all how she had planned it to be. She had hoped that the clouds that had gathered early that morning would clear up by the time the event began. She had hoped the sun would beam down, raising the temperature. But her hopes of a sunny evening were crushed as 7 p.m. crept up only to bring more clouds and rain. Though the damp weather had moved her venue inside, it didn't waver her excitement. She knew that it was the perfect day to walk down the aisle.

Her nerves spiked, butterflies dancing in her stomach, as she watched friends and family gather in the event space. Her sister, who was her maid of honor, and her mother had just helped her slip on her wedding dress. The ivory, lace dress was something she had looked forward to wearing for some time now. It had been months since she had last worn the dress. Now the moment was here, she was in her dress, ready to walk down the aisle and change her last name.

The music began playing, and the voices of her family and friends were hushed, as they watched attentively for the coveted bride and her ivory gown. Her bridesmaids each gave her a quick hug and whispered encouraging words into her ear, but all she could think of was her fiancé, the man of her dreams, standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for her patiently. She wondered if he would cry when he saw her and if he was as nervous as she was.

"You ready?" her mother whispered to her. She quickly responded with a nod and a grin. Her father cupped her arm and stared at his daughter with eyes full of love, happiness and tears. The time had come.

Her worries of tripping on the way down the aisle or fainting right at the pew vanished as she made eye-contact with him, her soon to be husband, standing on the other end of the aisle. A smile broke across his face and tears made their way down his cheeks. As she began the walk toward him, her mom and dad at her side, those in the audience stood and watched her. Their smiles, all comforting and encouraging, helping her overcome her nerves. She smiled back at her family and friends who had gathered to celebrate this day with them, one eye proudly fixed on her fiancé.

As they reached where the preacher stood, waiting to read their vows, her father took her hand and placed it in her fiancé's. She could not hold back the tears as she gave her father one last hug before becoming a married woman. She was ready. She looked into the eyes of her fiance and mouthed, "I love you." He paused and mouthed back, "You look beautiful."