During practice, I managed to get through my wedding speech three times without my voice cracking. But, until the actual ceremony, I’d never cried at the beginning. In the middle of the second paragraph, I couldn’t speak. It’s so rare to be able to participate in moments of pure emotion. At the foot of a grand staircase, in the middle of a bookstore, I married two of my favorite women. I cried my way through the second paragraph. I cried during their vows. It was one of the most authentic experiences of my life. Like childbirth. That analogy sat in my head as I walked down the staircase with my son, the ring bearer. It lived there as I danced with him afterward at the dance party. We rawred to Lady Gaga, and spun to Dancing Queen, and the flowered cakes gave us rushes, and the joy overflowed. Even Journey didn’t suck.
I’m still high. Still sore at heart and heel. Why is it that this must be warred for: this love, this communion? It’s human. Ancient and inalienable, surely. How we come together. How we celebrate. How we foster commitment as a community. These are lizard brain instincts. Simple. Love is simple.
I remember the first time I went to a same-sex wedding. It was years ago, before we got to where we are now, and I thought, “why are they doing this? What’s the point? Why spend the money?” After that day, that thought was completely erased from my mind. I saw that it changed the boundaries of that relationship. The changes that took place in that 15 minute ceremony were real, though they could not be put on paper. They were a spoken promise of two people who trusted each other, and the rest of us believed them.
This is the best inspiration for me… for the longest time I had a verrry cynical attitude towards marriage.. but truthfully, it’s the ultimate testament of your love for another in front of all that matter to you.. which is why I never understood people objecting to a same-sex marriage. All that matters is they love, and the end. I’m glad it felt so pure and good.. I’m pretty sure when Tim & me get married, I’m going to be blubbering my vows 😛
Word. It took me a long time to understand the point of a wedding. I see it now. The importance of your community acknowledging and witnessing your commitment. The vital component of recognition. Also, authenticity has made me a believer. There’s nothing as intoxicating as a crazy-in-love wedding. It spun everyone in that room. You couldn’t be unmoved.