The Switch [COMPLETED]

Epilogue 2: The Wedding

Asher Halen:

If I thought I had been nervous for the proposal, it was nothing compared to how I felt now, standing at the front of a beautiful church in front of a handful of Paisley and I's family and friends, dressed in a custom tuxedo and sweating bullets. 

This was it. It had all been leading up to this day - our wedding day. 

The last year and a half had been full of color swatches, dress designs, venue tours, and cake tastings. Paisley had seen to every single detail, and all I had needed to do was nod along and smile to whatever new girlish piece of decor she, Lillian, or Jenny had enthusiastically shoved in my face. I had acted like I cared, but in reality I only cared about one thing: I just wanted Paisley to be my wife. 

Now, though, standing here and looking out over the guests sitting in the simple wooden church pews, I could fully appreciate what all of Paisley's hard work had amounted to. It truly was a beautiful sight to see. White flowers were grouped in clusters nearly everywhere I looked - dangling from the ends of the pews, lining the aisle, and even hanging from the exposed wooden beams across the vaulted ceiling. Creamy white candles flickered from within large glass vases all along the aisle, filling the room with a soft, yellow light and a subtle vanilla scent. Combined with the slowly fading light of the setting sun, the church was awash with a sense of peace and warmth. 

I took a deep breath and clasped my hands in front of me as the pianist began to play the tune that Paisley had picked out for the processional. It was time. 

I smiled as Leo walked down the aisle arm in arm with Jenny, carefully avoiding the short train on her emerald green bridesmaid gown. She looked up at him and he smiled down at her, and I noted the slight blush in her pale cheeks as she quickly looked away. Interesting...

Next came Tucker, my best man, with Lillian, Paisley's maid of honor. The two of them made a striking couple, and it was evident from the looks on their faces that they were just as much in love now as they were when they had made their own trip down the aisle several years ago. 

I laughed when the ring bearer and the flower girl appeared, causing the small audience to erupt into a chorus of giggles and "awes." Tucker and Lillian's son, Jaxon, toddled down the aisle hand in hand with Cecily, Paisley's niece. I looked into the audience and made eye contact with Ashley Monroe, who smiled sheepishly back at me before turning her attention back to her daughter. 

Paisley and her sister had made tentative amends to their broken relationship over the past few years. Ashley had married her preppy college boyfriend and given birth to a daughter before discovering that her husband was having an affair with the nanny. Against her parent's wishes, she had broken off the marriage with her wealthy and successful husband and had decided to live life as a single mother. Having suddenly experienced the same coldness from her parents that Paisley had been shown all her life, Ashley had turned to Paisley for comfort and finally apologized for all the years of cruelty. Things were still a little bit rocky between them, but their relationship was definitely looking up. Asking Ashley to attend the wedding and allow Cecily to be the flower girl had been a healing experience for the both of them. 

I gave Cecily a thumbs up as she approached the front of the aisle, and she flashed me a quick, embarrassed smile before dashing back to her seat beside her mother. The audience laughed once more as Jaxon let out an excited squeal at seeing his parents and dashed over to Tucker, burying his head in Tucker's leg. 

He looked at me questioningly, and I nodded in silent approval before he picked him up and plopped him on his hip.

I smiled once more as I looked around me. All of the people that I loved most were here with me right now in this little church. My whole life had been leading up to this moment. All of my mistakes, all of my triumphs, all of my heartbreaks had lead me here to this exact spot. I wouldn't have traded any of it for the world. 

Suddenly, the music shifted into a melody that I knew well. It was a slowed down, instrumental version of my own song; the song that Paisley had always claimed to hate but now marked all of the most significant moments of our relationship. 

The energy in the room suddenly peaked, and everyone shifted slightly in their seats to crane their necks towards the large double doors at the entrance of the church. The bride was coming.

My heart began to beat faster in my chest as my palms began to sweat. My mouth was feeling fuzzy and one of my legs was shaking without me telling it to. I wondered if I was going to faint. 

The doors slowly opened and the glow of the fading sun illuminated the aisle through the widening gap. And then I saw her.

Complete calm washed over me as I saw my future wife standing at the entrance to the church. She was radiant; stunning; perfection in a flowing white dress with flowers in her hair and stars in her eyes. 

She smiled when she saw me, and it was all I could do not to run down the aisle and sweep her into my arms right then and there. I tuned everything out as she began walking towards me, never once breaking eye contact. The rest of the world melted away until it was just her and I alone in this small piece of forever. 

The world came rushing back when she handed her bouquet of flowers to Lillian and took my hands as the preacher began to speak. 

I honestly don't remember anything else from the ceremony other than the fact that it was perfect. I loved Paisley, and she loved me. Vows were said and rings were exchanged and we shared our first kiss as husband and wife. I had never been more happy in my entire life. Sold-out stadiums and a hundred world tours could never compare to the feeling of complete and utter joy and fulfillment that flowed through me every time I looked at Paisley and realized that she was now my wife. 

People say that you never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. 

I had been lucky enough to walk several hundred miles in the shoes of one of the most amazing women on the planet. Now, we were going to walk the next million side-by-side. And I could not be happier. 

Paisley Monroe: 

"Alright, everyone! On your feet as I have the pleasure of announcing, for the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Halen!"

I laughed as Asher lead me onto the dance floor and twirled me in circles several times before dipping me low to the ground and kissing me passionately. 

I had never felt such bliss. I was his, and he was mine.

Mrs. Paisley Halen. <3

-

A/N:

THE END!

I attached a picture of what I imagined Paisley's dress to look like. I saw this picture on Pinterest YEARS ago and absolutely fell in love with it. Ironically my own wedding dress looked NOTHING like this, but hey. I love them both anyways :) 

Thank you to everyone who read The Switch. You're all awesome <3 

Xo, 

Adrienna