We all made it to the church and run through the ceremony once. It went pretty well. I was walking behind the groom's cousin who was pretty young and nervous. She made me realize that crap you used to worry about before you became an adult. It was so much easier at 18, wasn't it? Anyway, once we ran through it once, the priest (I think that's what you call it in a catholic church) came back and told the bride that once the ceremony was over, they'd have 30 minutes for pictures and then they'd have to leave. I thought she was going to lose her shit. She really wanted to do a small receiving line for guests who came to the ceremony, but weren't going to the reception. She got upset and rightfully so. The poor priest (who was very recently ordained) didn't know what the hell to do with a crying bride. He just stood there stammering about how it was the rules of the church and something about confession...blah, blah, blah. Let the bride have her damn pictures without being run out of the church!
Someone suggested that she and her husband-to-be could go to the back of the church, greet their guests while everyone else made their way back to the front, and when they were done, we'd do pictures as quickly as possible. Then, since most of the family is from Northeast Philly, everyone basically told her not to worry about it, that they'd take care of it, and I'm pretty sure someone mentioned taking the priest outside for a quick word...gangsta style!
We ran through it again and everything went fine. There was a quick discussion about where the runner starts (front or back of the church) and the priest had no clue. I really think this was his first wedding....ever...that he not only officiated, but attended! Oh well...gotta break everyone in some time, right?
Here were a couple more weird things:
- He would not pronounce them husband and wife. He would introduce them as Mr. and Mrs. so-and-so, but would not pronounce them husband and wife. Weird, right?
- He would not say, "You may now kiss the bride." He said that they don't do that at that church. Weird, right? Maybe he thought it would unleash all of those impure thoughts they had been having for the past 10 years while they abstained from pre-marital sex!
We went back to the hotel and had some beers and conversation...lots of laughs. Then straight to bed for some much needed sleep before the big day! Wanna hear something funny? Bill and I slept in separate beds both nights! It was so nice to sleep without interruption! Haha...true love, right?
