Mallory nodded and watched as they opened the gates, she felt that they were being opened in slow motion. She saw Devin from a far and couldn't help but admire how great he looked in his tuxedo and his hair nicely combed. She then looked at the decoration and was completely in love with everything. It's more than what she had imagined and she felt more than happy. She took the first step onto the aisle that was mirrored just the way she wanted it to be. She could see her and her father's reflection.
From the other side of the aisle Devin watched when the gates open. He felt his heart jump out of his chest. He smiled as soon as he saw her and felt his body relax. "The gates of heaven opened up to let in your guardian angel" Liam said to Devin who couldn't stop smiling. He felt his eyes get watery just from looking at her. He wiped the tear that rolled down.
Mallory looked at the front rows where his and her family were seated before stepping right in front of Devin.
"I give to you my heart, take good care of her" Roman said to Devin who was looking at Mallory. "I will sir" Devin answered as he received Mallory's hand and helped her up the step.
"You look angelic" Devin said to Mallory when she was right across him. Mallory smiled, "you look handsome"
The ceremony began as they both looked at each other. Devin felt blessed to be living that moment.
"Welcome! Friends and family of the bride and the groom, and thank you for being here on this important day. We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between them by joining them in marriage. All of us need and desire to love and be loved. And the highest form of love between two people is within a monogamous, committed relationship. Mallory and Devin, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts. Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand in hand. Marriage is going to expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another. To be successful, you will need strength, courage, patience, and a really good sense of humor. So let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other again" The priest said and allowed everyone to take a seat to continue.
Mallory and Devin looked at the priest then at one another during the ceremony.
When they both realized it was time to say their vows.
"Do you have your own vows or would you like to repeat after the traditional vows?" They were asked.
"I have my own" Mallory responded. "So do I" Devin said. "Can we give them each the rings" The priest asked.
"We'll let you begin" the priest said to Mallory.
Mallory was handed the microphone and Noelle took a step closer with the wedding bands. They each grabbed the one they were going to give each other.
Mallory looked at Devin before speaking. She had memorized her vows and smiled but as she looked at him for one split second she thought of Ezekiel. She shook the thought away and knew the decision she had made was the best one and she was sure of it.
"Devin, the love you've shown me is beyond anything my childhood self could dream up. It's heartwarming, genuine, and fierce. Sometimes all at once. At the same time your love has taught me to find what I spent so long searching for within myself, self love. Today I give myself to you. I promise to encourage you and inspire you. To laugh with you and comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad. When life seems easy and when it seems hard. When our love is simple and when it is and effort. I promise to cherish you and always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today and all the days of our life. I ask you to wear this ring today so that every day, in every way, you will be carrying a part of me and my love with you." Mallory smiled and handed the microphone back. She held Devins hand as she slipped the ring on his finger.
Devin was handed the microphone and he looked at their guest before looking back at Mallory.
"Mallory, I promise to give you the best of myself. To trust and respect you as your own person and to realize that your interests, desires, and needs are no less important than my own. I promise to share with you my time and my attention and to bring joy, strength, and imagination to our relationship. To keep myself open to you, encourage your dreams and help shoulder our challenges. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing to face change in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. I promise to be your partner and equal in all things. I promise to love you in good time and in bad, completely and forever. You are more precious to me today than you were yesterday, and you will be more cherished tomorrow than you are today. With this ring I give to you my heart. From this day forward you shall not walk alone. May my arms be your home" Devin said and held Mallory's hand as he slowly slipped her ring on.
"Do you Devin, promise to love Mallory freely, without restrictions; honestly, without deceit; now, without hesitation. Do you promise to accept her just as she is, sharing with her and supporting through the experiences of your lives, be they easy or difficult, happy or sad, challenging or mundane, till death do you apart?" The priest asked Devin as him and Mallory held hands.
"I do" Devin answered.
"Do you Mallory , promise to love Devin freely, without restrictions; honestly, without deceit; now, without hesitation. Do you promise to accept him just as he is, sharing with him and supporting through the experiences of your lives, be they easy or difficult, happy or sad, challenging or mundane, till death do you apart?"
"I do" Mallory answered.
"You came here today to affirm your love for one another and formally acknowledge that which your hearts already knew... That your lives are meant to be shared as one, that you are stronger together than you are apart, and that, for all your days yet to come, you wish to share together all life's joys and challenges, committed to one another. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride" the priest said and took a step back.
Devin grinned as he leaned in to kiss Mallory. They could hear everyone clapping making them pull apart.
~
Mallory held Devins hand as they stepped into the decorated backyard. "You planned all of this?" Devin asked as he looked around. "My grandmother did most of the work, it's incredible" Mallory said as she was in shock of how breathtaking everything looked.
"Congrats" Liam pat Devins shoulder from behind as he walked besides Noelle. "And you, you're stuck with him your stuck with me, we're basically brother and sister now" Liam nodded to Mallory who looked at him.
"How unfortunate" Mallory said to Liam but then smiled so he'd know she was joking.
"Congrats" Noelle hugged Devin. "You and I have been family since you met him" Devin said to Noelle who he had hung out with since Liam asked her out.
"Noelle"
They all turned to see their family walking towards them but the one who had called out her name was her father.
"Excuse me" Noelle said and walked towards her father.
"her and that dress is a total chefs kiss, I need a drink before I talk to her or ask her to dance" Liam said as he watched Noelle walk away with her father.
"Why don't you just go talk to her it's not like you guys haven't already dated" Mallory said.
"He's afraid she'll reject him but it's more than clear that she would like to talk to him to, she's probably waiting for you to start the conversation. Take your chance" Devin said.
"The last time he took his chance we went out on a date and now we're married" Mallory smiled.
"Yeah well I'm going to take a shot and then I'll have the courage to take a chance" Liam said and walked away to look for the bar.
"We're married" Mallory smiled as she held his hand. Devin smirked and leaned in to kiss her.
