“I will,” replies Danny, never taking his eyes from mine. A shiver runs down my spine. I want to look away, it’s too emotional, but he wants our eye contact, it’s important and if he can do it, so can I.
“Olivia, will you take Daniel to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” I reply, expecting to be overcome with emotion as soon as I try to speak. Instead I feel a thrill of excitement. We are really doing this and nothing is stopping us, not the universe, not psycho exes, not even our own insecurities.
“Will you, the friends and family of Daniel and Olivia, support and uphold them in their marriage, now and in the years to come?”
“We will.” They all answer collectively and I physically feel their warmth and love as they speak.
Danny and I are asked to hold hands and face each other. “Olivia, Daniel hopes you won’t mind that he has made the vows more personal for you.” Danny grins sheepishly. Then she recites his vows and he repeats them, line for line.
“I, Daniel, take you, Olivia, to be my wife.
To love you from this day forward, as I’ve always loved you in the past,
For better, for worse and all that other stuff that doesn't matter as long as we are together.
I promise to be honest with you and never doubt your love for me, whatever life throws at us.
I will always support your individuality and be grateful you don’t like Jimmy Choos.
I promise to be your tech-support, watch chick flicks with you and rub ointment on your new tattoos.”
We all giggle. A big, fat tear rolls down my face, I hope this mascara holds up. Then he takes a deep breath and finishes with a line that threatens to send me over the edge into a sobbing mess.
“Like this tree, we stumbled and fell, but something so strong cannot be wiped out in one moment.
I’m always rooted here with you and together we are too strong to fade away.
I promise we will continue to grow together even if there are more storms to come.”
I just manage to hold it together, I don't know how. Most people here won’t understand the reference, but I’m so glad he included it. Those words are so special to us.
I wonder what I will have to say? Danny winks, knowing I’ll think it’s funny. Then it's my turn to repeat the words.
“I, Olivia, take you, Daniel, to be my husband.
To love you from this day forward, as I’ve always loved you in the past,
For better, for worse and all that other stuff that doesn't matter as long as we are together.
I promise to be honest with you and never doubt your love for me, whatever life throws at us.
I will always let you do things for me, even though I’m a control freak.
I won’t object if you decide to restore another classic car and I promise not to go up any more ladders.”
Waiting for the laughter to settle before she continues, the celebrant has no idea that she is letting my poor, frayed emotions build up before I say the very thing I'm not sure I can say out loud. I inhale a calming breath as she says it first, then I release it before I speak.
“Like this tree, we stumbled and fell, but something so strong cannot be wiped out in one moment.
You are always rooted here with me and together we are too strong to fade away.
I promise we will continue to grow together even if there are more storms to come.”
I finish my vows, in pieces obviously, but grinning at Danny’s cuteness along with everyone else. He looks so pleased with himself.
Next the rings are presented by Scott who stands behind Danny. The celebrant asks us to hold both hands in front of us while she reads the Hands Ceremony. Whatever that is…it sounds American.
“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”
When she says that thing about holding our children, my insides literally clench. Now that it’s in our immediate future, I’ve begun to feel it like a dull ache, which flares up whenever my attention is drawn to it. I never saw myself this way, but the reality of making a family with Danny has had a strange effect on me. She turns to Danny and offers my ring. He places it on my finger and repeats the words she reads.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to you. It has no beginning and it has no end. Let it always remind you of my infinite love for you.” Danny slides a perfectly plain platinum band onto my finger and I smile. It will look just right with my far from plain engagement ring once I put it back on after this.
Then we repeat the process and I say the same words, sliding a matching ring onto Danny’s finger.
Then the moment we’ve been waiting for.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Danny leans in to kiss me and everyone cheers.
Then in a whirlwind, we sit and sign some kind of declaration that I know is not the legal stuff, but it’s for appearance, I love him for the lengths he has gone to. Max and Jen witness. Some photos are taken, but it’s a bit of a blur.
The next thing I know, drinks have appeared from somewhere and everyone is milling around chatting. I’m scanning the scene and taking it all in, when my hand is taken and Danny pulls me quickly beneath the tree’s canopy.
He presses me against the reclining trunk, exhaling a deep shuddering breath as his lips find mine. He kisses me with more passion than I’ve ever been kissed. To start with it’s almost violent, but as we melt into it, it becomes a more loving passion. He draws away reluctantly and grins.
“Happy birthday, Mrs. Morgan!”
I laugh. “Thank you, Mr. Morgan.”
“You look amazing.” He adds stepping back to look me up and down.
“I’ve a great stylist.” I grin pulling him back to me. “You look pretty good yourself.” I murmur, bringing his lips to mine again, this time for a heart-stoppingly tender kiss. I pour everything I feel at this perfect moment into it.
“I’ve missed you today,” I whisper. “It feels like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“It was so hard leaving you asleep this morning.”
“But it was so worth it.” I sigh. “Thank you doesn’t seem enough for what you’ve done.”
He gives me his shy smile. “Sorry it isn’t official.” He shrugs. “I just got this whole surprise idea in my head and then I got so far and found I couldn’t do it legally.”
“Danny, its fine, I don’t care if we never do it. This is enough for me.”
“Oh hell no! We are doing it in two weeks, don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”
I laugh, of course he has it all planned. “I love you.”
“Oh my God, I love you too.” He lunges at me again. Holding his hands tight to my back, I can feel that he wants to run them all over me, but I’m so made up and literally everyone we know is on the other side of a thin covering of leaves. He forces himself away before it’s too much.
“Shouldn’t we get out there?” I ask.