Post-Nuptuals: The Wedding

Sammit and I were wedding'd on October 2nd 2010.  We were married on October 1 2010, but we were wedding'd the next day.  We had a big ceremony in a church (a wonderful all-accepting non-denominational church that let us include pro-gay-marriage lines in our service) with an officiant, 10 attendants, 6 ushers and a ring bearer.  Our officiant's name was Reverend Smith and he worked part time for the church; he was very nice and did a wonderful job with the ceremony we wrote.  Having attendants was a last minute decision - 1 month before the wedding.  My sister, Devin, served as my maid-of-honor.  I asked 4 other women who have had amazing impacts on my life - two I had the luck and pleasure to meet in High School, Stephany and Yolanda, and two in college, Monica and Lisa.  Sammit's brother, Sandeep served as his best man.  He asked 4 other men who have known him for decades - his friend since kindergarten, Mike, and elementary school, Jay and Brandt, and his cousin, Rishi.  I asked my close friend from college, John, and my cousin's sons, Max and Nate, to be Ushers on behalf of my family.  Sammit asked a trio of close friends, Pasterz, Brian and Derek on behalf of his family.  Sammit's delightful sister (Indian sister = 1st cousin) and her husband escorted their son, Neil, as our ring bearer.

Sammit arrived at the church in a carriage led by a white horse, surrounded by his friends and family in a musical uproar.  They came, dancing, with drums and chimes.  I could hear them when they were still blocks away, the anticipation was delightful.  When they arrived at the church I had to be out of sight, but I found places to peak.  My family and friends met his and the important players of our lives exchanged garlands of flowers (hand picked and strung the night before by myself, Monica, Lisa and John) and danced with each other.

Nate, one of the ushers, handed out programs or guides to our ceremony.  Max held a porcelain dish with our rings tied to it; he stood as guests held our rings in their hands blessed them for our happiness and long lives.  

We played string versions of Pixie songs, some of Sammit's favorites while guests were being seated.  He walked down the aisle the "Do You Realize" by the Flaming Lips.  My attendants walked down the aisle to the beginning of "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban; I walked down, with my mother and father on either side of me, to the reprise.  

Our ceremony was a combination of traditions.  Reverend Smith asked our parents to support us and asked our guests to stand as witnesses to not only our wedding but our marriage.  We acknowledged our differences and our 7 years together leading up to the wedding.  We lit candles to honor the memory of our grandparents and two of our uncles who passed.  We exchanged vows and our hands were fastened with a silk ribbon, a Celtic tradition nodding at an Indian tradition where the bride and groom are tied to each other.  We took seven steps around the fire made by our memorial candles, each step representing an Indian blessing, under a Mandap designed by my mother (that now sits in our back yard).  We exchanged rings.  We kissed.  There was no "giving away" or "honor and obey" there was no "man and wife."  We are equals.  We make public note that we affirmed the rights of every person to be married under the law and "when all individuals have the same rights to marriage and family, then we shall fully rejoice in marriage knowing that love is honored equally where ever it resides."  We left the church to "Say Hey, I Love You" by Michael Fronti and Spearhead.

We left in the carriage Sammit brought to the church and enjoyed a ride around the city before entering our reception (to AC/DC's "Back in Black").  We had delicious food, so I've heard.  Sammit and I put together a photobooth with props and printing.  Our guests used copies of their photos to make a scrapbook guest log.  Our cake was wonderful.