A Beautiful Wedding

Two weeks ago, my brother Josh married the loveliest lady. I couldn't be happier to have Emily as a sister-in-law. She calms my brother in a way that no one can. They are a couple that is truly meant to be, and I'm beyond excited for what their future holds.

The Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner took place at Josh and Emily's friend Eric's house, and it was an amazing, fun, beautiful night. Bridesmaids and groomsmen, parents and siblings filled the room, and excited chatter bounced off the walls. We sipped on wine and feasted on Mexican food. Emily looked stunning; she had a pre-wedding glow. Josh looked dapper, and very proud. He had a smile that just wouldn't leave his face, as he looked around the room at his best friends, his family, and his soon-to-be family. People toasted, and gave some of the best, funniest, and most heartfelt speeches I've ever heard. We laughed and cried. I stood up to speak, without having a real plan of what to say, and I became completely overwhelmed with emotion. I wanted to represent Josh's siblings, and convey to Emily how proud we are to have her in the family. I wanted to say how much I believe Ian would have loved her as a sister, and what great friends I imagine them being. I could barely speak to get my point across, as tears welled up, and emotions choked my every word. I've never had that happen before; I've seen award show winners break down like that, but always thought "Ok, get a hold of yourself." But it was real and true, and the whole night was splendid. We all floated home, anxiously awaiting the next day's excitement.

The Ceremony
Josh and Emily's friends' parents opened their home and had the ceremony there, in the hills of Calabasas. Their friend Wes built them a chuppah to be married under, and it was outside in the beautiful backyard, overlooking rolling hills. All the bridesmaids, dressed in pewter and red, gathered at the ceremony site early, and we bustled around, getting ready and fawning over the beautiful bride. She looked like a Hollywood starlet from the 1940s. And as always, she was calm and collected. As the time drew closer for her to walk down the aisle, she was studying her vows and staying very quiet. My brother and all his groomsmen started showing up. They sipped on whiskey and helped each other fasten their boutineers. Josh was pacing a bit, and doing his famous nervous leg-kick.

And then it was time to walk down the aisle. We all lined up, and prepared ourselves behind the groom. As I watched my brother standing at the alter, the tears came a'welling again. Jillian was standing in front of me, and I whispered to her "Make me laugh so I'm not crying." She whispered back, "I could punch you, if you want." I said, "Yeah, keep that up." And we walked down and took our places in our seats. Josh hadn't seen his bride yet, as she had been hidden in the house since he got there, so it was amazing to watch the look on his face when she came down the aisle. Ben Folds' song "The Luckiest" started to play. Josh looked over at me briefly, and saw tears in my eyes, and said "Oh great, it's all over now." Their friend Eron married them, and did such a great job. I read a little speech that I had written. Josh and Emily wrote their own vows, which were incredibly sweet. The ceremony was beautiful, and even included the word "Slurm", a popular nonsense word in Josh and Emily's vocabulary. And before long, they were married, and the celebration began.

The Reception
The newlyweds' reception took place in Pasadena, at The Rococo Room. There was a big dance floor, beautifully decorated tables, a cupcake tower, and a candy station. The glowing couple was announced, and they had their first dance. Their maids of honor and best men gave speeches, one of which included a display of a poster-sized picture of my brother in a Baywatch bathing suit, from his college fraternity days. When I say bathing suit, I mean a women's bathing suit. That's all I'll say. It wasn't pretty. And I shall no longer digress. We danced and danced, and my dad and I did a duet: "Tonight You Belong to Me" & "Two of Us". The night was perfect, and everyone had a blast.




My Reading from the Reception:
When a love is simple and happy and true, it can test and defy boundaries. It floats and it dances. It sits next to you on the couch, lies beside you on the bed, holds your hand while you cry, laughs as you laugh. It whispers in your ear, and cradles you when you hurt. This kind of love is not always easily found. And this kind of love is not made up of fluff. It's not wrapped up with pretty pink ribbons, or covered in sparkly flashy jewels. But it is a beautiful kind of love. It's honest and true, and accepting. It's long-lasting. And Josh and Emily have found it. Together, they dance, they laugh, they sing, they cry...well, mainly Emily does the crying part. But with their kind of love, they can test and defy boundaries. Speak with honesty and respect. They can trust. And with their love, they can leap into an unexplored world of marriage. And here, their kind of love is bound. And they'll learn and create and grow. And here, it is simple and happy and true. And it will float and dance, as long as they both shall live, till death do they part.

Congratulations, newlyweds. I love you dearly.