Our wedding video arrived early last week just in time for our reception this past Saturday night. To be honest, I had dreaded its arrival.
You see, during our lovely beach wedding, I got emotional during the part where we repeated our vows. As I do often, I overthink things and I remember thinking how embarrassing it might be to lose it for all to see. And my self-fulfilling prophecy was indeed fulfilled.
As the vows elevated in meaning and commitment, I could feel the emotion welling up. And finally I had a long pause as I tried to fight off the emotion. Finally, I got the words out, but it was sort of a cry-talk kinda thing. And the next line was subject to the same delivery, though it came much faster. After those two vows, I was able to get it together.
The effect of my showing emotion sent Suzanne to an emotional state too. And while she didn’t lose it quite like I did, you could tell that we were both very caught up in what we were saying.
So when the video arrived, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But as we previewed it, I found myself getting teary again. And then again as we watched it with her parents and then again with my parents. And as it turned out, several women at the reception came back with tears in their eyes. So I guess the emotion helped to solidify the meaning and importance of the event.
I have subsequently heard that one couple now wishes to renew their vows after seeing us in the video. So I guess I should be a little less embarrassed and be okay with being human. Emotions are all part of life and shouldn’t always be suppressed.
I thought your tears at our wedding made the moment that much more meaningful. Yes, I cried tears of joy with you as we recited our vows, and have cried both times I watched the video. It was a beautiful and intimate and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Weddings where the vows are clearly sincere are always more lovely than even the grandest affair over-produced to the point where there is no emotion. I was in a wedding that was large and expensive. The coordinator called herself the “wedding nazi” (what a B&*%$ she was too!). We were all so concerned about the little tasks we had to do, the spacing between us, and who had on the right hose underneath our full length gowns, no one shed a tear. We were all too afraid to do something wrong that would muddy the artistic vision.
I went to a small wedding a few months later and the spirit of love and committment filled the atmosphere. It was so much better.
As a guy, though, I am sure it was a bit humbling to have everyone see you get all weepy but that’s ok…promise.