Fantasy Friday, pre-empted for THE WEDDING!

Since I didn’t have a new story for Fantasy Friday I thought I’d pre-empty it just this once. If I only do that when one of my children marries we shouldn’t miss too many stories.

The wedding was New York casual chic. Not to be mistaken for southern country casual – where we sit around barefoot, drinking ice tea and gossiping about the neighbors, no this had a different feel to it all together. All these beautiful people seemed right at home in the West Village.

While I never had any qualms about LJ and Colin marrying, I had great fears of them planning a wedding. I mean, come on – two boys, they hadn’t been planning pretend wedding since they were five. Some things just need a woman’s touch. Thank heavens for Franny and Erin! LJ, Franny and Erin all met at seventeen while attending Governor’s school. These lovely ladies did the planning and kept the guys on track for what needed to be done. With them at the helm everything flowed smoothly while nothing felt staged or regimented.

Colin had worked for nine months on the playlist and I over heard one of them say, two more songs and then we’ll get married. We headed to one end of the bar where they had decided to hold the ceremony only to realize that only a small few would be able to see. We all heading to the stairs at the other end of the room.

Franny also officiated the wedding – something they had spoken of in jest years ago, but worked out perfectly in real life. The evening felt almost magical as the three of them took their places on the stairs. Franny began by telling a bit of their history, mentioning that many in the room had never know LJ or Colin when they were not together and pointing out that for many attending, the near decade the boys have been together, was the longest relationship any of them had witnessed.

She carried off the ceremony beautifully, with just the right amount of emotion, humor and love. She spoke to the crowd saying, “If anyone here has reason why this couple should not be married – keep it to yourself. You’ve had over nine years to say something, this is not the time.” to the laughing approval of the crowd.

Each of the boys wrote their own vows and they did a beautiful job. Colin won the toss of who would go first and as he pulled out his vows his mother (who may be more southern than I am) said to those around her, “That boy always did love to make a speech.”

His vows were beautiful and he concluded with, “Almost a decade ago I walked out onto a stage in North Carolina and saw your face for the first time. You smiled at me and completely changed my life. And I’m more than honored to still be sharing a stage with you. I love you.”

LJ’s vows said in part, “When I hear people talk about the person they love, they often say they need each other. While I understand what they mean, I never want you to feel that I’m with you because I need you. I need things like food and shelter and medicine. I choose things like art, education and ambitions. I want, and I choose to have you in my life, not because I can’t live without you, but because a life with you is so beautiful I couldn’t pass it up.”

Although I didn’t cry (I was simply too happy), many around me were weeping openly. The whole evening was just perfect. The party continued amidst much laughter, hugging, and story telling. I loved hearing Colin’s mother telling a group, “I finally had to tell Colin he was gay, he wouldn’t ever tell me. I finally just told him, son I know you’re gay, but what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t love you anyway. Now let’s go.” She’s just great.

We all huddled around as they signed the marriage license, many cheering saying, “It’s official.” Others saying, “You’re legal in thirteen states, or is it fifteen.” Yet others saying, “No you’re legal in all fifty states since you married here.” Finally LJ raised his arms in victory asserting, “It’s ambiguous!” and we all cheered.

I’ve never been to a wedding like this, I doubt I’ll ever attend another like it – it was too perfectly suited to LJ and Colin. I’m honored to be the mother and mother-in-law of these two fine men. I have shared their past and am grateful that they are willing to share their future with us. I look forward to the adventure.