Jenny and I were married by a wedding celebrant. We were the only people present but to me it was as good as any wedding. It was as romantic and pure as any public wedding. More even. By any standards. Anywhere and anyone. I will have to explain. We had been together for some time. A matter of years. Since I first saw Jenny I felt I was completely attached to her and never imagined not being with her. I felt we were married. I was antgonistic to getting formally married. I came from a largish extended family that were viscous in their attitudes and I always felt identification with those on the receiving end of these attitudes.. I had been to lots of weddings where snide comments were said about the bride. She is definitely pregnant. Why was he marrying her? Or - she is definitely marrying down. She could do better than him. I had been to a wedding where the bride was over two hours late. The bridegroom paced up and down the road outside the church looking towards Wangaratta until he finally spewed up and fainted. Fell to the ground - and therefore suffered a lifetimes contempt from all the women present. I had been to weddings where the brides mother was ashamed - she was ashamed because everyone knew the bride was pregnant - everyone was shamefaced and never looked her in the eye. I knew that I myself as a person I was not approved of - I had been told as much so many times. Plus I always felt superior morally and didnt approve of the crude standards that existed in the society I lived in. Because I did not feel a true member of society I was not prompted to have a public wedding. And of course I had been publicly been married before. I felt I was committed to Jenny and did not need to have the state involved. But in talks we had decided that we could try and have children. Jenny felt she was ready to have children. She said I could organise the wedding. I looked in the local paper and phoned the local wedding celebrant. It was surprisingly easy. I even teased Jenny by saying it was on tomorrow night when I put the phone down. It wasn't but it might as well have been. It was next tuesday night. We went to the celebrants house. I did not have to even produce evidence of divorce. Her daughter acted as witness. I went over the words with her beforehand. We agreed to put in the normal vows but no other extended sayings that have become standard in public weddings.. There were no flowery statements. But because we had the normal vows - do you wish to enter into marriage with this woman - do you take this woman as your lawful wedded wife - etc - I was able to say them with absolute conviction. I was totally truthful in what I was vowing. I had no regrets. I meant what I said. And say them with conviction I did. I could say them again now. The Celebrant was a very nice woman. She kissed and hugged Jenny when she was finished. It was all very wonderful. Just the wedding I wanted. I am glad that Jenny let me do this. I loved her for allowing me to do it. It was our wedding and ours alone.
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