I looked at myself in the mirror, I was in black shorts that went above my knees and a loose white long-sleeved button up. I hated dresses, always have. I took a deep breath as I pulled my hair back. I tried calming myself down as the second hand on the clock seemed to become louder and louder.
"Rachel?" I heard my friend ask, as she poked her head around the doorway. I took one last look at myself and then looked towards her.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"It's time to go." She said, giving me a small smile.
"Alright," I took a deep breath again and following her outside to the my car. We decided to have the wedding venue up in the Redwood hills that we both fell in love with as soon as we saw it. Something simple was the thing we were going for, a small woodsy venue with a couple hundred chairs. White rose petals going down the center of the isle which ended at a wooden archway. We also got tents for the food to be served next to a little dance floor and some private tents for changing.
My best friend and I drove up to the venue, I saw that a few guests had arrived, including my parents and soon-to-be in-laws. I greeted them, giving them all a hug and kiss on the cheek. I gave my mom an extra hug because she was already tearing up and the ceremony hadn't even started. I mentally chuckled to myself as I told her that she'd end up ruining her make-up if she continued.
"I'm so proud of you, baby girl." My mom said, cupping my cheeks. I was never one to cry, but something about this moment just made me tear up a bit. "I'm really glad you and dad could make it." I leaned into her hands still holding my face. She leaned up and kissed my head, "We wouldn't miss it for the world."
The ceremony was starting soon, I was sitting at a table getting into a discussion with my aunt about where we'd buy a house. "We haven't made any decisions yet, but we have our eyes on a few hou-," I stopped talking when I felt a drop on my cheek. I looked around, thinking stupidly that someone threw it at me. I felt another drop, then another, and another. Oh no. I looked up and saw the beautiful spring sun being surrounded by overcast, grey clouds. Within seconds it started to pour droplets of water. People scattered to get under tents for shelter. Thankfully all the food was under a tent, but most of the decorations were outside and now being ruined by all the rain and wind. I heard mumbling behind me:
"We can't have the wedding now! The weather's awful!"
"Maybe we should reschedule it."
"Everything's ruined." Were just some of the comments made by people around me.
I got up, moving through the crowd of people cowering under the big tent. I went over to the small tent that I knew my fiancé was in. I opened the curtain, looking in. She was in a flowing white sun dress, with her hair slightly wavy, draping down to the middle of her back. It wasn't a 'traditional' wedding look, but she looked more beautiful than anyone I had ever seen. She immediately looked at me in the reflection of her mirror.
"Rachel, what are you doing in here?" She got up, fixing her dress strap. "It's pouring outside." I stated the obvious. She must have been in another world or something, because she had no idea. "What?! It is?!" She ran to the curtain and opened it. She turned back towards me, looking down.
"We worked so hard on this and now it's all ruined." She mumbled, putting her face in her hands. I just stood there, feeling helpless at that moment. We did, we spent so much time preparing for this day. Her eyes lit up when she saw this venue. I really wanted nothing but the best for her.
I looked at her drooped head and eyes lowered to the ground. An idea popped into my head. "No, it's not, c'mon." I reached my hand out. "What?" She looked back up, her eyebrows pushed together. "We're getting married right now." I took her hand and walked out to the archway.
"Wait wait, what?" She grabbed my arm still confused. The rain poured harder as I guided her in front of me. It's now or never right? "I have loved you since the first day that I met you, I never imagined that I'd be here, especially here in the rain," I paused, looking at the cloudy sky then back down to her eyes, as she giggled a little. "Saying my vows and marrying you, but you're here and I'm here and it's the most perfect way to get married. With our clothes and bodies drenched and rain pouring down every which way. I wouldn't want it any different." I moved her wet hair behind her ear. There was a mixture of smiling and crying. She chuckled as she wipes tears from her eyes - though I would've been fooled, thinking it was rain drops.
"You are completely crazy," I laughed at her statement, knowing that it was true. She adjusted the grip she had on my hands and continued, "But I love crazy, so I love you, and I cannot imagine a single day, hour, or second without your craziness in my life." She let go of my hands, gently holding my neck as she pressed her forehead against mine. This position was always my favorite, it was a way for us to connect without talking. Just looking into each other's eyes, seeing how deep into each other's soul we could see into.
We were both crying and laughing at this point, as I pulled the rings out of my pocket. She put mine on my finger as I slipped her band onto hers. "I hope that you take me and my craziness as lovingly and willfully as I take you and your insanity." I smiled at her as my heart started to race. I was so nervous about today, but it ended up being the easiest thing I've ever done; loving her.
"Of course I do." She laughed and pulling me down by my neck and kissing me. I slid my arms around her waist, only to be interrupted by the pastor yelling from the tent.
"I pronounce you as married by the way!" He yelled. I pulled away as she giggled and put her forehead back against mine. I looked up at the gray sky seeing the clouds starting to part. I turned my attention back down at my new wife as I saw her lips being pulled up to a content smile. "I love you." She whispered softly, running her thumb over my cheek delicately.
"I love you too."
