She led the way with the four chuppah bearers carrying the tent-like structure. Apparently it represented the Garden of Eden—and I’d gone through 35 years of life and never known that Adam and Eve had invented camping.
We were next in the procession with Rick’s parents and Cady’s mum behind us. Because it was an interfaith marriage, Rick and Cady had taken pieces from both Jewish and Christian wedding services. It was a good thing we’d had the rehearsal yesterday, because the British contingent were all over the place. None of us had a clue where we were supposed to be, and Sandy and Rachel had to keep prodding us into the right positions.
Rick stood at the front of the room under the chuppah, his face unmoving and I wasn’t entirely sure he was breathing either. I poked him in the ribs.
“What?” he hissed out of the side of his mouth.
“Smile, you twat!”
He grimaced, but then the doors to the Rainbow Room opened again with the wedding march music, and Cady entered on her father’s arm—then Rick couldn’t stop grinning. She looked really nice, but not as hot as my Gracie walking behind her holding a small bouquet of white roses.
She looked like a goddess and way out of my league. But then she saw me and smiled. I was so proud, I felt like the first Martian to walk on the moon.
Rabbi Lisa raised her hands and everyone behind us sat down.
Sandy handed Cady over to Rick, and they smiled at each other like there was no one else in the room. I was really happy for them, the soppy pair.
“Dear friends and family, on behalf of Cady and Rick, welcome and thank you for being here,” said Rabbi Lisa. “They are thrilled that you can share their joy during this wonderful moment in their lives. The greatest happiness of life is knowing that we are loved, loved for who we are.”
My mouth dropped open. That was fookin’ awesome! And true—to be loved for who we are. I felt those words in every part of me. I was definitely going to hire Rabbi Lisa for my wedding.
The rest of the ceremony, I was in a daze, wishing that it was me and Gracie standing in front of our friends and making that commitment. I drifted off in a fookin’ awesome daydream, then woke up when Rick started speaking.
“I, Rick, take you, Cady, to be my wife through all the years. I will honor you, protect you, help and support you, and I will never let the cookie jar be empty. I promise to always love you. This is my solemn vow.”
I sniggered softly, but Rick was staring into Cady’s eyes, both of them wearing the daftest matching smiles.
“I, Cady, take you, Rick, to be my husband. I will honor you, protect you, help and support you, I will train with you, make you laugh every day, and always share my lemon-glazed donuts with you. I promise to always love you. This is my solemn vow.”
Rabbi Lisa smiled at them both. “You have declared your consent before this gathering. May the Lord strengthen this consent and fill you both with his blessings. Do you have the rings?”
We all stood there silently until Rick turned around and glared at me.
“Rings! Right! Sorry, got completely caught up in the moment. Nice vows, mate!”
And I placed the rings onto the velvet cushion.
Rabbi Lisa blessed the rings, then Rick and Cady did their thing, and we were at the candle-lighting part.
The two mums stepped up and each lit a candle, and Rick and Cady lit the third together. I liked these Jewish traditions—they were well cool.
Rabbi Lisa stepped forward and said the magic words, “I now pronounce you man and wife, and you may seal your vows with a kiss.”
Rick scooped Cady into a real, old fashioned Hollywood smoocheroo. It was epic! I didn’t know