Wedding Kwento Part IV

I could see the ento from afar na unti-unting pumapasok. Inakyat na ni Mr. Alvarez yung kotse sa driveway. Pagkapasok ng parents ko sa simbahan. Sinara na agad yung pinto ng church at pinababa na ako. By the time na nasa halfway ng aisle and parents ko, I had 16 seconds to prepare. So I was standing there in front of the doors. Edu was with me kasi siya yung nag-ayos ng gown ko at pinicturan niya pa ako. Syempre pa-cute na naman ako. Aba! Dapat maganda ang pictures!
Nakakatawa pa kasi sabi niya bagalan ko daw ang pag-lakad. Akala ko naman isa yun sa words of wisdom niya sa mga brides yun pala sabi niya pag mabilis raw ako hindi raw siya makakatakbo at wala raw akong picture! Hahaha!

I could also remember what Jason Magbanua wrote for the wedding primer. Sabi niya, pag nag-closed door entrance daw, make sure na pag-open yung doors, walang ibang taong makikita, yung bride lang so I made sure pa na wala nga akong katabi.

It was Rhodora and Teenee who opened the doors from the inside. Syempre excited na ako. Walang nag-register sa isip ko. Ni hindi ko nakita yung aisle flowers! Alam ko na on cue yung pagbukas ng pinto sa unang verse ng The Prayer (bridal march ko) pero except for the 1 second after pagbukas na pagbukas ng pinto na narinig ko yung kanta, never nang nag-register sa isip ko yung music.

While walking I was telling myself to savor the moment. I even told myself to lower my bouquet para makita yung gown ko (tip ito ng isang w@wie sa primer). Tapos nakita ko yung mom ko naiiyak na. Syempre tinanong ko pa yung sarili ko, “Hmmm... maiiyak kaya ako?” Tama ba naman yun? Then I saw my groom waiting for me at the altar. Sa gitna siya nakatayo so from my point of view, nasa gitna siya talaga ng parents ko. I just focused on him. Tapos nakita ko siyang umiyak. Aaaaawwww... as in naiyak na ako kasi sobra siyang umiiyak (syempre hanggang ngayon hindi niya inaamin na umiyak siya!).

When we reached the altar, I faced my dad who helped me remove my veil (got this from Lea Salonga’s wedding). I faced my mom and we hugged each other so tight. I faced my dad again and hugged him, too. I am very close to my parents kasi and although there were times I just wanted to leave home and be on my own, now that it was actually happening, ang hirap pala. After hugging my dad, he helped me put my veil back on again tapos I faced Bernard na. I was so smitten with my groom. He looked so handsome! *kilig*

After Bernard has kissed my mom and shook hands with my dad, it was my turn to do the same to Bernard's parents. Buti na lang may alalay din sa church who guided us. When we reached the altar, Jojie faced me. I thought he was going to profess undying love. Sabi niya, "Ang galing nung kumanta! Akala ko CD! Live pala yun?!" So much for undying love! Hehe! Pero ang galing kasi talaga nung kumanta ng bridal march ko eh. He's one of my friends from the clinic before and his name's Denden Atanacio and he's a soloist of 92AD. Nakakahiya pa sa kanya kasi he had so many singing engagements that day at talagang siningit niya ako sa schedule niya. Right after niya nga kumanta, umalis na siya eh.

Anyway, back to our wedding mass... Iba rin pala ang feeling ng nasa harap. Tsaka hindi mo nakikita kung maganda yung wedding kasi ikaw yung andun sa harap! Hahaha!

The rites went smoothly. When we came to the part where we were going to say I do's and it was Bernard's turn to be asked na, pag-umpisa pa lang ng pari ng tanong, sumasagot na po ang mister ko ng "yes, yes, yes." I knew he was excited and I am very convinced of his love for him but seeing him cry and hearing him say those words as if he could not wait one more minute to be married to me just made me melt. His love humbled me.

I love the passage that we read while giving each other our rings. We didn't have our own vows but we had this:

I, Clarice, take you, Bernard, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us. Bernard, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

which, for me, embody what marriage is all about and what Bernard and I are all about. :)

The mass finished without incident. Although tawang-atawa kami kasi yung church organist ay ayaw pakantahin si Abie, akala niya siguro magaling siyang kumanta. Haaaay! Tawang-tawa kami ni Bernard kay Abie kasi nakikita namin siya na gusto nang sakalin yung organist!

After the mass, the guests proceeded to the church doors for the petal and rice throwing. Ang galing-galing ng mga coordinators ko! Akala ko hindi nila mapu-pull off yun eh but by the time we walked to the doors, naka-line na talaga yung mga guests at may mga petals and rice na panghagis. Ang ganda ng recessional namin.

- to be continued -