Every wedding is filled with sweet, precious memories, right? What stands out? The wedding gown, the flowers, the cake, the decorations....whatever it is, you want to remember all the wonderful plans made for that day that went exactly as planned. But we all know, there's always something unexpected that happens. Those are some of the things that you look back on and remember so well and yet....no one or very few in the audience of attendees knew anything about! You're successful at hiding it. Sorta. Most of it.
But seriously, you've heard of people passing out at weddings, formal attire being duck taped to hold together, people missing or being late and last minute trips to Hobby Lobby. Well, as much as I planned and allowed for every single detail of my wedding, it wasn't without it's own mishaps. But to the success of many people behind the scenes, hardly anyone knew of the mishaps of that day.
And when I look back on that day and week, they're memories. Some I wish I could change, others I just have to think back and smile. And others, I've wondered why I didn't google that to find out that info BEFORE my wedding day! In one of my chats with Erinn, she said, "You need to write all this stuff down. And blog about it." I may not tell you every single detail, but there's a few I can't help but share with you...
Today, it's my voice, or rather, lack of...
Friday night, during rehearsal, I could tell that I was losing my voice. I had been fighting a cold and it had been a busy week. I start whispering, but much to my dismay, Saturday morning rolled around and my voice still crackled. Just great! How am I going to say my vows so everyone can hear and understand?! But I kept telling myself, "God, you're in control. Please help my voice to at least stay strong enough through my vows. After that, it doesn't matter."
Getting my hair done. Whispering. Talking with my photographers. Whispering. Seeing my flowers for the first time. Whispering with glee to my florist. Asking my wedding coordinators about something. Whispering. Did you know that whispering gets kinda old after a few hours?!
I was flying high! I was running on an excited high all afternoon and still going as the ceremony is getting ready to start. Pastor Kirk comes into pray with my bridesmaids and myself. One of the things I tell him is that I'm losing my voice.
He reassures me, "I'll just step closer to you so that my mic picks up your voice and you won't be putting so much strain on it to speak."
That should work. I should be ok. The ceremony is starting. My flower girls walk down the aisle. Next are the bridesmaids. The doors close and I'm waiting on the foyer, listening for the certain part of the music to start down the aisle. There it is. The doors open. Dad is walking me down the aisle. I'm smiling. It's perfect! Just as I pictured!
Everything is right on schedule. Just as I planned. The ceremony continues. Luke voices his vows in his strong, voice that sounds so familiar to me. Still going according to plan. No one knows about my voice. Even me. I've forgotten about it! I'm just rejoicing in the moment. Then, my turn. And reality hits as I start to speak...
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pastor Kirk edging closer to me. I'm reminding myself to smile and speak slowly and carefully. It takes work getting out every sentence. And Pastor Kirk gets closer and closer so I'm just barely above a whisper and yet everyone can still hear! Praise the Lord! I made it! Through the repeated vows. Through the ring exchange. Through my personal vows. Whew!
The ceremony is over and we're taking a few quick photos before heading into the reception. My voice is no longer, but at this point I didn't care. I'm talking and visiting with guests and using up what little itty bit of my voice I have left. At this point, to me, it didn't matter. I got through my vows and they still were heard. And of course, Luke heard them, which is the most important of all. And God knew what I was saying before I even spoke it. That's what truly counts!
At the reception, I had to laugh! I had so many people tell me that they saw Pastor Kirk inching closer and closer to me and through I was going to faint or fall over! No, really, I was ok. It was only a voice issue. And so many of my friends thought I was crying and emotional. No, not in that sense. I was emotional excited, joyful! But, it was only my voice. Or rather, lack of it. I can still think back on that, remembering as I told myself to speak slow and deliberate. And when I watched my wedding video a couple months later? Yes, my words sound slow and deliberate. But it's a memory of that day. While I would rather have been able to speak more clearly, that's not what God allowed for that day. But He gave my voice enough strength to get through it.
And after the reception and for part of our honeymoon? I had NO voice at all. That's ok. Luke just did all the talking. At that point, I didn't care whether I had a voice or not. I was married. The wedding was beautiful. What could be better than that?!
Photo credit to Heartland Photography
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