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Day 23: A Song That You Want to Play at Your Wedding

Day 23: A Song That You Want to Play at Your Wedding

"Star Wars Theme" by John Williams

“Dad, what are we watching?” I ask, looking up at him.  He had convinced me to spend my Friday night watching movies with him.  Being only ten, I didn’t exactly have any plans and agreed.

“You’ll see in a moment, pumpkin.  I watched this when I was a teenager and I think you’ll like it.”

I turn my attention back to the TV, where the opening credits are beginning to roll.  I see the words “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” appear on the screen and then the words STAR WARS replace them.  Dad reads out loud the opening words as they appear on the screen to me.  Soon the screen goes black and then the movie begins.

Halfway through the movie I whisper to my dad, “This movie’s pretty good.”  I don’t tear my eyes from the screen but I feel Dad squeeze my arm.

“I can’t believe that we’re spending the night of your fifteen birthday watching Star Wars,” my best friend Lily complains.

I know she’s not the biggest fan of sci-fi movies, but since it’s my birthday I know she won’t do anything to change my mind.  “You don’t have to be here; I can ogle Hayden Christensen by myself, thank you very much,” I tease.

Lily immediately perks up.  “Who?”

I grin.  “You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, with bowls of popcorn, candy bars, and cans of soda scattered across the coffee table, Lily and I are sitting Indian style on the couch.  I grab the TV remote and press play.  The Phantom Menace, the first Star Wars movie, begins playing.

“Where’s this Hayden Christensen?” Lily asks me not even an hour into the movie.

I try to hide a grin but fail.  “He doesn’t appear until the second movie… and you have to wait until the third when you get a pretty good view of his abs.”  I’m not going to lie, Hayden Christensen is a big part why I watch the movies.

“What?!”

“Oh, calm down.  It’s worth the wait,” I reassure her as I pat her shoulder in mock sympathy.

“The things I do for you,” I hear Lily mutter in a huff.

I laugh and shake my head before directing my attention back to the movie.

When the opening credits begin rolling for on the second movie, Attack of the Clones, a thought suddenly comes to me.  “I want the Star Wars theme to be used at my wedding,” I state.

“What?”  Lily turns her head to look at me.

“I want the theme to Star Wars to be what I walk down the aisle to at my wedding.”

Lily laughs.  “You are the nerdiest person I have ever met in my life.”

I grin and don’t reply.

“Oh my gosh…” Lily breathes when she sees Hayden Christensen, also known as Anakin Skywalker, shirtless for the first time.

I can’t help but crack up.  “You sound like my mom when she watched this for the first time.”

“Well dang…”

I shake my head, a smile on my face.  I pick up my can of Pepsi and take a sip.  Lily grabs hers and holds it out to me.  “To you, my best friend, my sister from another mister.  Happy birthday.”  She taps her pop can against me and we both take a sip.

I give her a hug.  “Thanks,” I say quietly before settling back to watch the movie.

“Nervous?” Lily asks me as she zips up my dress.

I shake my head.  “Just excited… with a touch of nerves.”

“You look beautiful, Cecily,” my mom compliments me with tears in your eyes.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Now all we need to do is attach the veil and you will be good to go,” Lily says.  I picked her to be my Maid of Honor.  “And we’ve got ten minutes.”

After a few minutes I’m ready with my bouquet of red and white roses in hand.  My wedding dress is a white fit and flare gown with a corset built into the top.  The skirt has tiny diamonds sewn into it that shimmer when I walk.  The veil is pinned to the elegant bun that sits atop my head with dainty curls framing my face.  Bold red lipstick is applied to my lips along with blush and my eyes are made to have a smokey eye look.

A breath catches in my throat as I’m looking in the mirror for the first time that day.  “Wow.”

“Your husband-to-be better be wowed,” Lily comments.  “If he isn’t something is wrong with him.”

I blush.  “Oh… shut up,” I retort weakly.

My mom, who had left the room a moment before, returns.  “Okay!  It’s show time!”

If I had butterflies in my stomach before, they now became dragons.  “Let’s get this over with so I can kiss him,” I mumble.

One by one my bridesmaids, maid of honor, and my mom exit the room.  I’m last to exit and I see my dad waiting for me, looking quite handsome in his tux.  Tears fill his eyes when he sees me.  “My baby girl’s all grown up,” he says getting choked up.  He kisses my forehead as I link arms with him.

I kiss his kiss.  “I’ll always be your little girl,” I tell him, my eyes getting watery also.

“Ruin your makeup and I’ll come after you with a tube of mascara,” Lily threatens.

I laugh and look up, blinking away the tears.

Everyone gets in line as the music begins playing for them.  First my bridesmaids with Justin’s groomsmen walk down the aisle.  Lily goes next with Justin’s best man.  The little ring bearer and the flower go, respectively.   Then my mother goes on the arm of my older brother.

The doors to the auditorium of the chapel close and I know that everyone is rising.  I can hear the beginning of the Star Wars Theme playing and I smile.

Just how I wanted it.

The doors open and my dad begins walking me down the aisle.  I can feel everyone’s stare on me but my eyes are locked with Justin’s.  When we get to the end of the aisle, Justin takes my hand.  Dad leans forward and whispers something into his ear.  I can see amusement in Justin’s eyes as but he nods his head in seriousness.  Dad kisses me on the cheek and goes to sit by my mom.

Justin and I turn towards the minister, looking into each other’s eyes, awaiting the next chapter in our lives.