Heart-filled Wedding
Taken November 4, 2023
I recently attended my first wedding ever in my life, and it was possibly one of my favorite events that I have ever attended.
First things first, the church — what a location. I had no idea how beautiful the inside of a church was, with respect to the symbolic paintings of saints, the design of the nave (inside of the church), and finally, the relics that are distributed throughout the church, usually made of gold and covered with gold-trimmed fabrics. The atmosphere, as soon as you enter, shifts immediately, as almost every word and action that an individual may take feels like it is being permanently recorded under a watchful eye. I personally enjoyed the seriousness, as it serves as a tasteful contrast from what has engulfed modern-day culture. Once everyone has finally attended the church and found their proper seating, then the ceremony for the entrance of the Bride and Groom begins.
The Bridesmaids and Groomsmen are the first to make their way to the front of the Church, many of whom were close friends of mine. As they walked down the aisle, occasional glances that showed their discomfort from the overwhelming pressure caused bursts of laughter, providing a reprieve to the intensity of the situation. Then finally, you see the Bride and Groom, who, on this occasion, were two endearing friends, make their way to the front of the altar. The first time seeing them partake in this ceremony was a breathtaking moment. It felt like they were entering a stage of adulthood and maturity in front of all our eyes. After a few gracious rituals and a heartfelt speech from the Priest, the two had become officially married, and everyone started to cheer. Then came the reception!
Ubers, Lyfts, Party Busses, you name it. Every type of transportation was used to get everyone to the venue, which provided a vista as it was on the edge of the Hudson River. Along the way, people shared stories, laughter, and partook in party refreshments. As we entered, there was a coat check and a winding staircase that led to the top of the building where the reception area was taking place. Delicious finger foods, open bars, and live music all came together to create a beautiful atmosphere. My friends and I drank wine, took pictures, and started to discuss how amazing the venue was and how nervous we were with respect to following etiquette. Finally, after a few speeches, everyone made their way to the dinner area, where people sat at tables that were specific to how they were connected to the Bride and Groom.
Delicious food, more liquor, and a dance floor full of happy people. The atmosphere at this point was fun. There were some traditional dances, some not-so-traditional hip-hop moves, but all in all, everybody was dancing their hearts out. I, in fact, danced so hard that I hurt my knee, causing me to spiral a little bit as I had a half marathon coming up, and I was unsure of what the consequences of this injury would be. Moreover, I had a little bit too much to drink, so I had to at this point excuse myself from the party and take a ride home. The end of my journey was cut a little too soon, but for sure I can say that weddings are a beautiful celebration, and you should always go because it’s truly a love-filled moment.