My eyes fill up. His words mean so much. I lean over and kiss his cheek quickly. He clears his throat and continues.
“As a symbol of marriage, your wedding ring will represent your commitment to each other for life. It’s a symbol of your love for one another. Corinna, can you bring up the rings?” My sister quickly steps forward with the box. Charlie opens up the glass box and removes two rings, handing my ring to Caleb and his to me.
“Caleb, take Cassidy’s ring. Place it on the third finger of her left hand and repeat after me. I, Caleb.”
“I, Caleb…”
“Give you, Cassidy…”
“Give you, Cassidy…”
“This ring as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment to you.”
“This ring as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment to you.”
Once the ring is slid on, Caleb lifts my hand and kisses it, his eyes never leaving mine.
Charlie clears his throat. “Cassidy, it’s your turn, honey. Take Caleb’s left hand. Place his ring on the third finger of his left hand and repeat after me. I, Cassidy.”
I look at Caleb with every bit of love in my heart. “I, Cassidy…”
“Give you, Caleb…”
“Give you, Caleb…”
“This ring as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment to you.”
“This ring as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment to you.”
I capture his hand next to my cheek and nuzzle it through the veil. I am so ready for this thing to be off.
Charlie adds, “I could go on about these two.”
Caleb interrupts. “Please don’t.”
Charlie, as if Caleb hadn’t spoken, says, “But I think there’s been enough happening today and we all want to celebrate. All I’ll say is this. Beauty may fade, money may be won or lost, but the love you feel right now will grow stronger with every day that passes. Hold onto that, and you’ll live a life that most people will envy.”
I smile up at Caleb. Truer words…by the poet Charlie Henderson.
“And since the State of Connecticut is such sticks in the mud that a real justice of the peace has to redo all this again tomorrow, by the power invested in me by nobody but the love of the two people in front of me, I am proud to present to you Mr. And Mrs. Caleb Lockwood…and baby!”
Caleb lifts my veil before laying one a hell of a kiss on me as he dips me back.
It ends up being my favorite wedding photo, because everyone I love in the world, including my husband, our child, and our family is framed perfectly in it with a hovering red balloon that manages to escape the others, trying to make its way toward the heavens.
The End
