To have and to hold
Jun. 3rd, 2008 12:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jack_babalonSunday: The union of the Lamb's was consecrated in the Dekalb Solarium. The Solarium resembles an origami temple, one folded from pages of walls and glass by a cubist minimalist who has been meditating over architectural zen koans all day. There was a deceptive simplicity to the place. The walls that used light instead of paintings for its gallery, the white Japanese lanterns that floated down from the wooden rafters and the discovery that upon walking through its doors you were transported into a space much too large to be possibly contained by the building you had just walked into. Vee and I arrived ten minutes to show time. We took a seat in the back row. The pews were fold out chairs. Paul Mercer of the Ghost Project was performing a beautiful piece on a violin(?) that gave the room a cinematic atmosphere, the climate of being in a scene rather than in a setting. We took in the crowd. I waved, winked and nodded conspiratorially at the long-time-no-see's and the dude-where-you-been's, those I had met in the wildest of times now playing dress up in dapper jackets and purses picked to match the shoes. There was the air of a game about our appearance that lent the occasion the playful innocence of a childhood birthday party along with the gentle solemnity that the coming ritual demanded. Then Vee and I took in the zen spartan decor. We giggled and whispered how we would have our wedding, if we were, of course to do so: Vegas maybe, a buddhist priest who was also an Elvis impersonator, the best man decided by a ritual of hand to hand combat to take place at the opening of the ceremony, how I the groom would descend from the ceiling from a grappling hook connected to my back, how she would appear from the cloud of a smoke bomb and it was then that I had to promise her, that no matter what, the wedding would have monkeys... monkeys dressed as pirates at that. Sure Baby, why not? So long as the father of the bride foots the bill, we can have a troupe of chimpanzee's perform Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance if it makes you happy.
Then the ceremony began. Silence except for the clicking and whirring of the photographers cameras. The groom takes his station, flanked by best man and priestess (not sure what her denomination was, being a Solarium I was hopping for something involving Ra or Helios, but I distinctly heard her mention that other son god... what's his name, with the beard and the cross?). The flower girl steps down the aisle casting petals in her wake. The maid of honor follows. Then they shut the doors before reopening them a moment later to admit the bride escorted by her father.
Their vows, their promises, their tears and their kiss, should of course be left to be told by the lips of those betrothed rather than by my poor attempt at recollection, so I will spare you that save to say that I will always cherish the warmth of its memory.
Later, there were samurai swords at the wedding, one hung from the front of the bar and the rest had been confiscated by little boys in three piece suits who brazenly challenged any adult who'd listen to their demands for a duel. Being both a coward and a gentleman, I politely declined the chance to display my Wu-Tang skills upon a small child in favor of sampling the rich red wine that was somewhere between a port and a blush (or so I was told). I catch a glance of the lucky couple over the dueling children, arm in arm in the adjacent dining room, glowing in the grace of their vows made flesh, surrounded by friends, family and well wishers. The look on their faces - joy and relief and exhaustion and jubilation all mixed into that unique 'we made it' stare of newlyweds. It occured to me that though I've been to quite a few marriages in the last few years... none of them had the air of humble regalty that this one offered. The sense that you were watching the coming together of not just two families but of two peaceful kingdoms that had merged under the treaty of their love - I imagined that cartographers would soon need redraw their maps in the aftermath and that we guests were in fact nothing but diplomats dispatched from far away lands to bear witness to their union.
After more wine, seconds on the Thai Food buffet, cake, conversation and cigarettes we made our way home to the Witch House to shut down the final hours of the weekend.
Oh and apparently when I dress up in my suit I look like I belong in an 80's era Ska-Band... not bad for an old man.
Then the ceremony began. Silence except for the clicking and whirring of the photographers cameras. The groom takes his station, flanked by best man and priestess (not sure what her denomination was, being a Solarium I was hopping for something involving Ra or Helios, but I distinctly heard her mention that other son god... what's his name, with the beard and the cross?). The flower girl steps down the aisle casting petals in her wake. The maid of honor follows. Then they shut the doors before reopening them a moment later to admit the bride escorted by her father.
Their vows, their promises, their tears and their kiss, should of course be left to be told by the lips of those betrothed rather than by my poor attempt at recollection, so I will spare you that save to say that I will always cherish the warmth of its memory.
Later, there were samurai swords at the wedding, one hung from the front of the bar and the rest had been confiscated by little boys in three piece suits who brazenly challenged any adult who'd listen to their demands for a duel. Being both a coward and a gentleman, I politely declined the chance to display my Wu-Tang skills upon a small child in favor of sampling the rich red wine that was somewhere between a port and a blush (or so I was told). I catch a glance of the lucky couple over the dueling children, arm in arm in the adjacent dining room, glowing in the grace of their vows made flesh, surrounded by friends, family and well wishers. The look on their faces - joy and relief and exhaustion and jubilation all mixed into that unique 'we made it' stare of newlyweds. It occured to me that though I've been to quite a few marriages in the last few years... none of them had the air of humble regalty that this one offered. The sense that you were watching the coming together of not just two families but of two peaceful kingdoms that had merged under the treaty of their love - I imagined that cartographers would soon need redraw their maps in the aftermath and that we guests were in fact nothing but diplomats dispatched from far away lands to bear witness to their union.
After more wine, seconds on the Thai Food buffet, cake, conversation and cigarettes we made our way home to the Witch House to shut down the final hours of the weekend.
Oh and apparently when I dress up in my suit I look like I belong in an 80's era Ska-Band... not bad for an old man.
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no subject
on 2008-06-03 05:58 am (UTC)It's been too long, yet again! Could I convince you & Vee to make the long haul for another dinner anytime soon?
xxx
no subject
on 2008-06-03 03:02 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-06-03 02:31 pm (UTC)As they say on the internet, "Pics, or it didn't happen." :)
no subject
on 2008-06-03 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-06-03 03:24 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-06-03 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2008-06-04 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-06-04 03:00 pm (UTC)Good to see you there, btw.
Just in from Mexico
on 2008-06-10 12:20 am (UTC)Great to see you there! And this was a joy to read as so much of the ceremony & reception is kind of a blur to us -- we loved it, thought it came off excellently, but we almost wish we'd been able to attend as guests as well. But in a clone capacity -- not a Shakespearian disguise & mingle with the crowd way.
~rl
Re: Just in from Mexico
on 2008-06-10 04:00 am (UTC)Here's a stray shot Victoria took of you guys...
Re: Just in from Mexico
on 2008-06-11 12:10 am (UTC)Thanks for that sweet post about our event. I'm so glad you came to the wedding, and I'm glad you had a good time.
We will definitely have you and your lady over for dinner sometime soon.
Re: Just in from Mexico
on 2008-06-11 03:40 pm (UTC)