That Glorious Day

I have been to a lot of weddings. I love weddings. I love the decorations, the flowers, the dresses, the grooms face when he sees the bride, the cake, the punch, the dancing...

I really loved my own wedding. My dress was just what I wanted. The flowers were perfect. The reception was fun. Adam was handsome. I wouldn't change anything, which I guess is what every bride hopes she'll say when she looks back. Score for me! I do wish I could go back and do it again, though. The second time around I would savor every moment. Now that I'm actually married, all the stress and pressure and nerves are gone and I might remember the day more. But that's not going to happen, so I'll just bask in the fleeting memories of that day.

When planning my wedding, I borrowed some ideas from other weddings I had been to. One thing I borrowed was the processional song, Agnus Dei. My version was instrumental and the pianist played the main part of the song repeatedly while the bridesmaids came down the aisle. Then they closed the doors at the back of the church and I waited for the crescendo of, "H-o-l-y!" when the doors opened and Adam saw me for the first time. It was a symbolic and special entrance.

Almost 10 years ago I was invited to the wedding of a girl named Ashley. She was marrying a guy named Chris who she had met in college. Ashley spent a semester in Africa helping out at the school where I was teaching, and we became friends. When her semester was finished, she returned to Texas, but we kept in touch through email, not to mention the fact that she left my friend Christy and I a bunch of clothes when she left. Anyway, she ended up getting engaged and planning a summer wedding in San Antonio the year after I got back from Africa. I hadn't ever been to San Antonio, so I went and had a mini-reunion with three other girls who had also been Africa . It was such a fun weekend that ended with the wedding.

I really didn't know Ashley that well and I had never met Chris until that weekend, but I cried through the whole ceremony. It was probably the most fabulous wedding I've ever attended. Not because it was lavishly decorated or followed by an expensive reception, but because it was the most perfect picture of Christ's love for His bride. And it all began with the processional.

An older couple began singing Agnus Dei as the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle. It was beautiful. But when their voices swelled at "H-O-L-Y" and the handsome groom saw his glowing bride for the first time, I literally wanted to stand up and cheer. It was breathtaking. A holy union in the purest sense.

Let's be honest, weddings aren't really events where people jump up and shout while the bride walks down the aisle. But as I forced myself to remain in my seat all I could think about is how incredible it will be in heaven when the angles are triumphantly singing, "Holy, holy, holy are you Lord God Almighty! Worthy is the Lamb!" while Christ receives the bride he has been awaiting.

So as I planned my own wedding, I used that song in hopes that Adam and my marriage might be a reflection, albeit weak, of that glorious day.