Gentle and soft music enters the hallways and fills the air with excitement and expectation. A sweet conversion of string instruments leave their beautiful melodic tones inviting the guests to share in this time of earnest commitment of devotion and love.
As the bride and her bridesmaids wait in line in the hallway to enter the chapel, April looks over every last detail of her gown. She brushes imaginary lint off her sparkling dress and stretches with one large deep breath for one last perfect fit. She dreamily stares at the floral bouquet enhanced with bright gleaming crystals and delicate baby’s breath for a moment.
As if on cue with the clock for the twentieth time, April apprehensively turns to Jane “Do you have the ring?”
“Yes, I have it right here!” Raising her thumb and politely grinning hiding every shade of slight annoyance to April’s constant nagging, Jane shows April the groom’s ring resting neatly in its place on her hand for a gift at a later time.
Flipping large curls against her cheeks Maggie looks at April with confidence, “I have my petals already too! Do you like my hair? Emma did it for me. I love all of the curls! I think they are so pretty!” shaking her head back and forth to demonstrate their durability.
Warmly April smiles in contentedness as her mind wanders down an imaginary checklist to see if there is anything she has forgotten but it appears everything has been faithfully completed until a threatening thought crosses her mind. “Do you see Elton?” nervously asks April realizing that she forgot to include him on her checklist of important details.
“Yes. Not to worry, he’s already standing in his place rocking back and forth on his heels” giggles Emma as she watches Elton anxiously wipe his forehead staring intently out the side window across the room from him in deep contemplation of the upcoming event.
Listening to music on her Ipod while sharing one of her earphones with Maggie and quietly dancing together to the song “Chapel of Love”, Harriet replies “Maggie, you look quite pretty today!”
Maggie bounces her shoulders to the beat super pleased to be included in the big-girls-world, “Look! Our dresses even match!” giggles Maggie as twirls “Does your dress twirl like mine does?” turning to demonstrate the effect of air and speed while becoming dizzy at her efforts.
Maggie comes to a slow stop rocking a little side to side as Jane involuntarily catches Maggie from falling and pushes Maggie back up with her shoulder. Harriet takes out her ear plug and hands her mp3 player which she is inconspicuously hiding in her bridesmaid’s bouquet to Maggie.
Maggie insists “Harriet, let’s listen to “Lover’s Concerto” and “Be my Baby” again!” handing it back to her.
“You forgot “I Say a Little Prayer!” chuckles Harriet at Maggie’s musical unexpected interest in the wedding oldies mixed together just for the occasion.
Watching Maggie and Harriet trying to dance and twirl makes Emma laugh and smile. Feeling someone is watching her, Harriet intuitively turns around to see Emma standing before her and enjoying the moment of impromptu dancing.
Harriet glares at Emma thinking “Now she wants to pretend to be my friend. I’m not going to let her use me today. It’s time she stopped worrying about me and started paying attention to her own love life!” Snubbing Emma, Harriet defiantly turns the other direction with her back to Emma. In response Emma slumps and glances at the floor at Harriet’s intentional and obvious rejection of her friendship.
The last chords of “Chasing Cars” are played. After a slight pause “When You Say Nothing at All” begins, Harriet enters the chapel carrying a lovely brilliant bouquet of amber, crimson, and mango roses which contrast with her pale matching dress.
Concentrating on his chords and enjoying the flow of the music, Robert looks up for a moment to glance at the congregation. Astonished Robert has never seen Harriet with her hair up with tiny ringlets framing her face. Dreamily Robert silently gushes “Harriet is the most attractive I have ever seen her. She’s beautiful!” Harriet looks up from her bouquet and notices Robert watching her. In response to his sincere admiration, Harriet blushes.
Robert can’t stop looking at her while he plays his guitar as Harriet slowly walks down the aisle in time to the music and finds her designated place on the platform. Once is place Harriet secretly glances over to Robert again and remarks to herself “Robert is so wonderful! I’ve always liked him. I hope we have a chance to talk before the evening is over.”
Waiting for her entrance, Emma watches Knightly affectionately smile over at Harriet as she gracefully walks down the aisle more lovely than Emma has seen Harriet look in a long time. An unexpected feeling of uncommon jealousy overwhelms Emma shocking her. As her thoughts run wild she uncomfortably wonders “Could Knighty really like Harriet?” Interrupting her thoughts, Mrs. Dashing expertly cues Emma to get ready.
Watching Emma following behind Harriet, Knightly believes Emma is looking more stunning than ever. Conscientious Emma focuses on keeping her balance and meeting Lt. Fitzwilliam at the end of white embossed trail. Anxious thoughts crowd her ability to experience the blissful moment of her friends. “What if I lose Knightly? What if he no longer wants to be friends with me? Is it too late to become more than friends? Is he even interested in me? Does he really want to be with Harriet? What kind of fool have I been?”
Observing Emma elegantly make her way towards the platform, Knightly is pleasantly delighted to see how lovely Emma looks today but also genuinely rationalizes “I like Emma whether she is in a t-shirt and jeans or a designer dress. Every day she is beautiful to me. I hope there is a chance to spend some time with her afterwards at the reception and mend a few bridges between us. I’d like things to be the way they were again. Maybe possibly even better than they ever have . . .”
Trying to enjoy everything that is happening at the moment, Grant observantly gazes around the room looking at the guests and seeing some of his old friends from home that he hasn’t seen since his childhood. Memories of past friendships from different experiences in his life invade and provoke his thoughts.
Strikingly Jane slowly walks up the aisle, Grant can’t help but think that he hopes Jane will be the one walking towards him one day. He affectionately stares while Jane catches his eye and sweetly smiles back to him. Grant is taken aback. With his whole soul, Grant can hardly wait until he has a chance and opportunity to tell her all that is on his heart.
With her crown of roses, lace, and ribbon, Maggie enters feeling more grand and elegant that she ever has. Today she is truly a princess. She enchantingly throws her petals, and despite what April instructed, waves to her subjects in between each graceful toss.
As the music fades, Elton sways back and forth having lost all sense of feeling and connection to the world around him. His heart races and life is still for a moment. “How will he be has a husband? What will life be like for them? Will they be happy? How will it all work out?”
Disrupting his thoughts, Jennings gives a loud cue on the piano for the bride’s entrance and everyone in the congregation respectfully responds by standing in anticipation of April’s arrival.
Elton feels as if it is difficult to breathe while his ears feel like they are literally on fire. His head slightly turns and sees April slowing moving towards him at the end of the aisle extraordinarily beautiful in her white form fitting wedding dress accented with soft pearls, delicate lace, and sparkling sequins. He feels such love for her that his heart knows that it will burst if one more ounce of care and affection is added in that moment. As his eyes unwillingly comply with his feelings, a tear leaves the hidden space of his thoughts to be shared with everyone sharing this moment of solemn commitment. They smile at each other and the world suddenly seems so perfect that he knows everything will be all right in the end.
As April finds her place next to Elton, Jane hands her colorful bouquet to Emma standing next to her. Dutifully Jane straightens out April’s stunning dress so everyone can view the magnificent train of handcrafted artwork. April hands her exquisite bouquet to Jane in order to grasp both of Elton’s hands into her own to share promises of love and faithfulness.
Captain Wentworth asks for the rings as a token of their commitment and bond with each other. As best man, Knightly deeply digs into his suit coat and hands Elton the diamond ring which matches her set as he places it on April’s hand.
After stating her earnest and sincere vows to Elton, April waits for Jane to hand her Elton’s ring. Jane looks down and finds that the large man’s ring has disappeared off her thumb. Wide-eyed and panicking Jane blankly looks at her hand as April stands before her baffled by its absence.
Sensing the sincere fright of the moment and April’s horror, the bridesmaids scatter and quickly look around them to see if the ring has accidently fallen somewhere on the platform but it abandons their sight and search.
From the bewildered audience, Alice Hammer loudly yells “I found it! It’s in the aisle!” Jumping out of her seat over two guests, Alice quickly picks up the plain golden ring off the carpeted runway. She runs up to the front of the chapel and triumphantly hands the ring to April who gratefully relieved graciously thanks and smiles back at her. Alice turns around in front of the audience before returning her seat raising her hands in cheerful victory. Delighted everyone chuckles in their seats and the wedding celebration continues.
As April and Elton confess and seal their love with a kiss in front of their family and friends, there is a loud cheer that echoes throughout the chapel. Elton takes April’s hands as they blissfully walk down the aisle together to “You are my first, my last, my everything” with the bridal party following closely behind.
No comments:
Post a Comment