Episode 2 1/2, since I can't finish this tonight
So when we got to the church, first thing I did was search for my parents. I knew they had to be there, because Claudia had her shawl. When I found them, of course, it was one at a time, and then they went missing trying to find the other one. That was the first time Mom and I were able to see each other all day, and thus the first time we could see each other dressed up (Dad had dropped my dress off at my uncle's because her nails were still wet). She had to tell me about her hair, which was not what she had wanted at all (she was very glad the photographer didn't take any pictures of her) as none of her clip tries worked. She should've put it up like she did for my other cousin's wedding last year, but she thought she looked too matronly. I disagree of course. I don't know what's this obsession she had about hiding her age, usually she doesn't care. She had actually embarked on a search for sexy shoes, which made me all, "What? Sexy Shoes? You're my MOTHER." She actually wanted the same pair of shoes I'd had for above mentioned wedding, although she couldn't find them. But anyway...
So she and Dad took pictures and then I went with the other girls in the back to keep Noelle company. We were exploring the behind the scenes of church, trying to figure out whether the robes we saw were for a seminarian, a priest, or what and also telling Noelle that there is a bathroom with a garbage pail, so she really didn't need to swallow her gum. The ceremony, surprisingly enough, started promptly at 5:30 (and the groom was in fact there, and not late at all). Somehow I made it down the aisle without tripping, although I kept hearing the shift of the white carpet whenever my partner accidentally stepped on it (no one but the bride was supposed to really, except maybe the flower girl). The three ring bearers looked adorable, with Thomas, the two year old , sandwiched between his brother and cousin, as did the flower girl Maria, and then came Noelle and my uncle Michael. She looked beautiful, of course, but I think my uncle was nervous or something, because he barely smiled, then, when he gave her away, kissed her through the veil, before taking it off. Even then, it was only partially, down, Claudia had to fix it. Then the mass started, which included two readings, one from my aunt and one from my mother. I kept trying to telepathically tell her to look up at the audience, but she didn't much, cause she was afraid to loose her place. That was the only time the photographers actually got a picture of her and her hairdo. Then after the homily, in which the priest was talking about their first date (which was to a movie I don't think I've ever heard of), he did the vows. Those could've been improved with body mikes, I could barely hear them, and it didn't help that (although he and his friends will never admit it) that the groom could barely get the words out because he started crying. That made Noelle nervous that she was going to start to cry too, so if she sounds goofy on the video, it was because she was trying to make herself laugh. After that, the mass continued as seemingly usual, except that since a lot of the people present don't go to church, they didn't know when to sit or stand and very few people were singing. Noelle's cousin Annie read the prayer of the faithful, which was my turn to get a little teary eyed because that's where the dead are mentioned, including, but not limited to my grandparents, and my great grandmother Philomena, aka Nannie. That got me laughing, cause I wasn't sure who they were talking about. Mom, Annie, Noelle's mother and one of Chris's sisters-in-law brought up the gifts. This was full of confusion, because originally, it was supposed to be Annie and her sister, Jenny, and Chris's two sisters in law, but first Jenny didn't come (she lives in Arizona and her husband was working), then Mom who was supposed to do that prayer instead of Annie, switched with her, but the priest called Annie up, not knowing of the switch, so his poor sister-in-law Teresa was left there, confused. Then there was communion, which posed another problem, as Sarah is Jewish, and so wouldn't be receiving. Originally, she was supposed to go up and just not take anything, step to the side, or whatever, but instead she stayed in the pew and I had to step over her. I was so confused, I accidentally brought my bouquet up and so had to receive kinda one handed. Fortunately, it was from the priest, who will never see me again (it was in my aunt's church, not mine), rather than my mother, who was giving communion next to him. But the mass ended soon after that, and thankfully, I didn't trip as we left the church. To be continued...
So she and Dad took pictures and then I went with the other girls in the back to keep Noelle company. We were exploring the behind the scenes of church, trying to figure out whether the robes we saw were for a seminarian, a priest, or what and also telling Noelle that there is a bathroom with a garbage pail, so she really didn't need to swallow her gum. The ceremony, surprisingly enough, started promptly at 5:30 (and the groom was in fact there, and not late at all). Somehow I made it down the aisle without tripping, although I kept hearing the shift of the white carpet whenever my partner accidentally stepped on it (no one but the bride was supposed to really, except maybe the flower girl). The three ring bearers looked adorable, with Thomas, the two year old , sandwiched between his brother and cousin, as did the flower girl Maria, and then came Noelle and my uncle Michael. She looked beautiful, of course, but I think my uncle was nervous or something, because he barely smiled, then, when he gave her away, kissed her through the veil, before taking it off. Even then, it was only partially, down, Claudia had to fix it. Then the mass started, which included two readings, one from my aunt and one from my mother. I kept trying to telepathically tell her to look up at the audience, but she didn't much, cause she was afraid to loose her place. That was the only time the photographers actually got a picture of her and her hairdo. Then after the homily, in which the priest was talking about their first date (which was to a movie I don't think I've ever heard of), he did the vows. Those could've been improved with body mikes, I could barely hear them, and it didn't help that (although he and his friends will never admit it) that the groom could barely get the words out because he started crying. That made Noelle nervous that she was going to start to cry too, so if she sounds goofy on the video, it was because she was trying to make herself laugh. After that, the mass continued as seemingly usual, except that since a lot of the people present don't go to church, they didn't know when to sit or stand and very few people were singing. Noelle's cousin Annie read the prayer of the faithful, which was my turn to get a little teary eyed because that's where the dead are mentioned, including, but not limited to my grandparents, and my great grandmother Philomena, aka Nannie. That got me laughing, cause I wasn't sure who they were talking about. Mom, Annie, Noelle's mother and one of Chris's sisters-in-law brought up the gifts. This was full of confusion, because originally, it was supposed to be Annie and her sister, Jenny, and Chris's two sisters in law, but first Jenny didn't come (she lives in Arizona and her husband was working), then Mom who was supposed to do that prayer instead of Annie, switched with her, but the priest called Annie up, not knowing of the switch, so his poor sister-in-law Teresa was left there, confused. Then there was communion, which posed another problem, as Sarah is Jewish, and so wouldn't be receiving. Originally, she was supposed to go up and just not take anything, step to the side, or whatever, but instead she stayed in the pew and I had to step over her. I was so confused, I accidentally brought my bouquet up and so had to receive kinda one handed. Fortunately, it was from the priest, who will never see me again (it was in my aunt's church, not mine), rather than my mother, who was giving communion next to him. But the mass ended soon after that, and thankfully, I didn't trip as we left the church. To be continued...