"Dear children of God, you have come today to pledge your love before God and before the Church here present today in the person of the priest, your families and friends.", the priest said as we stood up in front of the altar.
He uttered a prayer and started his homily.
"In becoming husband and wife you give yourselves to each other for life. You promise to be true and faithful, to support and cherish each other until death, so that your years together will be the living out in love of the pledge you now make. May your love for each other reflect the enduring love of Christ for his Church.", the officiating minister said.
"As you face the future together, keep in mind that the sacrament of marriage unites you with Christ, and brings you, through the years, the grace and blessing of God our Father. Marriage is from God: he alone can give you the happiness which goes beyond human expectation, and which grows deeper through the difficulties and struggles of life."
"Put your trust in God as you set out together in life. Make your home a centre of Christian family life.
The Christian home makes Christ and his Church present in the world of everyday things. May all who enter your home find there the presence of the Lord: for he has said: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."", the priest continued preaching as all of us were listening carefully.
"Now as you are about to exchange your marriage vows, the Church wishes to be assured that you appreciate the meaning of what you do, and so I ask you---", and my favorite part came, exchange of vows.
"Have you come here of your own free will and choice and without compulsion to marry each other?", he asked and I suddenly felt nervous again, Naku baka napipilitan lang tong si Mika, lagot na. I mentally said and prayed, Wag naman po sana.
I looked at her and she looked at me, too, and smiled. Nakahinga ako ng malaim, mukha namang di siya napilitan. "We have.", and we answered in chorus, wholeheartedly.
"Will you love and honor each other in marriage all the days of your life?", the priest questioned.
"We will."
"Are you willing to accept with love the children God may send you, and bring them up in accordance with the law of Christ and his Church?"
"We are.", we replied. Both of us were excited to build our own family.
"Mika, do you consent to be my wife?", I asked. Alam ko namang mag a-I do siya, pero asking that question made me anxious, nakakaba pa rin pala talga.
"I do.", she answered with a very big smile on her face. " Do you, Kiefer, consent to be my husband?"
"I do.", I answered without any hesitations. " I take you as my wife, and I give myself to you as your husband. Ayan Babe, ha! Willing na willing akong ibigay sayo ang sarili ko, nagkakandarapa pa.", I continued and everyone laughed.
"Baliw!", she said and rolled her eyes on me. "I take you as my husband, and I give myself to you as your wife, parang wala po kasi akong choice!", she said, grinning and the guests laughed again.
"Ano? Magbubully-han na lang ba kayo o icocontinue natin to?", the priest asked with a boyish grin on his face.
"Father, normal lang sa asawa ko po yan. Wag niyo lang po siyang pansinin!", I quipped as the guests continued to laugh. "Continue, Father, Continue."
"To love each other truly, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, all the days of our lives.", the priest made us recite it and my eyes watered again.
Sinong hindi maiiyak? We just made a vow in front of everyone, including the lord God. Sobrang saya. "Iyakin.", Mika whispered as she wiped my tears with the hanky she was holding, and wiped hers as well. I smiled at her.
The priest asked our Maid of Honor, Jessey and Best Man, Thirdy to get the ring and put in on the bible. " Almighty God, bless these rings of faithfulness and unbroken love. May Kiefer and Mika always be true to each other, may they be one in heart and mind, may they be united in love forever, through Christ our Lord."
"Amen.", all of us chorused.
The priest instructed me to get the ring for Mika, putting it on the fourth finger of her left hand, "Mika, wear this ring as a sign of our faithful love.", I uttered and slid the ring on her finger.
And it was Mika's turn to put the ring on my finger. "Kiefer, wear this ring as a sign of our love and fidelity.", she said.
After the exchange of rings, was the lighting of candle, which has a back ground music, Set me as a Seal by Matt Maher.
"By the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife.", the priest declared, Eto na yun eh, yung pinakaaantay kong part! Yuhoo! "You may now kiss the bride." and the guests cheered.
I held the hem of Mika's veil and slowly uncovered her face. It was our first time to kiss in public but it didnt hinder us from doing probably, the most romantic wedding kiss ever. I held her face and slowly deepened my face on her. I felt her lips on mine and I wanted to faint, it was different, the kiss was different, iba na kasi may label na, Husband and Wife. The light kiss eventually deepened and we almost forgot that there were people watching over us. We were panting after our looooonnnggggg first kiss being a married couple.
"Hoy!", Pauly shouted, "Mamaya niyo na ituloy yan. Ano, maghahalikan na lang kayo? Hindi na tayo kakain?", he said and everyone laughed except me.
"Bwisit, panira ka talaga ng moment!", I said and threw one of my shoes to him!
