Are you nervous yet?
It was a question that came early and often from friends and family as the date of November 12 inched closer and closer.
After over 34 long years as a bachelor, that was the date I was settling down and getting married. It had been a long road to get there – from finding the right woman to settle down with, and then to plan a wedding that was inclusive of our two religions.
There were headaches and stresses along the way – especially as the ceremony was days, and then hours, away. But there was also an abundance of laughter and anticipation outweighing any of the negatives we faced.
Having decided to get married at home, my fiancée, Michelle, and I had a lot of cleaning and prepping before the big day. In the span of a number of hours we transformed our home into the perfect location to finally tie the knot.
On Remembrance Day my family, including my parents and four siblings, arrived in Calgary after making the trek from various locations in Ontario. By the end of the weekend, my family and Michelle’s family had already started to develop the strong bond that I had hoped they would. One of Michelle’s brothers, Wayne, even flew in unannounced from Barrow, Alaska to share in the festivities. Michelle was in tears the moment Dylan accidentally let it slip that his uncle was in town.
November 12 – the wedding day – arrived quickly. Last-minute details were brought together and Michelle, Dylan and I got ready for the big moment.
After donning nearly identical outfits including black suits, white shirts, purple vests and purple ties, Dylan headed upstairs to prepare for his big role – escorting his mother down the aisle – while I took my place at the front of our living room with my older brother and best man, Marc, on one side and Michelle’s sister-in-law, maid of honour and friend, Cindy, on the other.
A few seconds after the flower girl stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of 25 strangers looking in her direction, Dylan led Michelle down the flight of stairs to the sound of Bruno Mars’ Marry Me.
With multiple cameras flashing, Michelle’s smile immediately lit up the room. Saying she looked stunning doesn’t do her justice.
I think I started smiling the moment I caught my first glimpse of her wedding dress - my smile increasing significantly in size the moment her eyes caught mine.
Up until that moment I had daydreamed about many things: how I would feel, who would be in attendance and most importantly, how beautiful Michelle would look.
Everything about our wedding day exceeded my expectations – I couldn’t have imagined anything better.
From the sand ceremony, where Dylan, Michelle and I took turns pouring coloured sand into a vase to create a mosaic as unique as our family, to the moment the Calgary EMS chaplain – one of Michelle’s co-workers – said those magical words “sir, please kiss your bride,” the day was just stunning from start to finish.
Most of all, Michelle and I had fun. We laughed and giggled our way through our first dance to the strains of Rascal Flatts’ Bless the Broken Road. We marvelled at our wedding cake – a gift from her parents – and sat down and chatted with each and every friend and family member who filled our home after the ceremony for an open house reception.
Thanks to all our friends and family who helped to make the day as special as it was.
