The day of the wedding...

I’m at the church getting ready.  Summer, Reece, Vivian and Britney are in the rectory with me.  And I am a mess I can’t stop crying.

Me – “I can’t believe she’s not going to make it.”

Reece – “Honey she’s going to be here.”

Me – “You think so.”

Vivian – “Sure they’re probably in a cab on the way here now.  Now come on dry your eyes, we have to start getting you ready.”

Me – “Okay.”  The stylist comes in and starts my hair.  “Where’s the boys?”

Summer – “Connie has them in the nursery here.  Do you want me to go check?”

Me – “No I’m sure their fine.”  Stephen comes in.

Stephen – “Dad sent me to check on you.”

Me – “Tell him I’m fine.”

Stephen – “Oh here this is as clean as they get.”

Me – “Thank you.”

Brit – “You are not seriously going to wear those are you?”

Me – “These are my lucky sneakers.”

Summer – “they’re gross”

Me – “I was wearing these the day I met Brian.  I’m wearing them.”

Viv – “Don’t worry the dress covers them.”

Stephen – “I’m also supposed to tell you that people are starting to arrive.”

Brit – “that’s our exit cue.  Now all I have to do is get them to sign this book right.”

Me – “Yeah.”

Brit – “that sounds easy enough.”  Her and Summer leave.

Stephen – “You know if you and Brian ever get hard up for money you could always just sell your guest book for some quick cash.”

Me – “Funny.”

Stephen – “I’m serious.  Well I guess I better go start sitting people.”

Reece – “Good.  And I’m going to go make sure the boys are ready.”

Me – “Thanks guys.”  They leave so Viv and I are sitting there.  I look at her.

Viv – “She’ll be here.”

At the airport…

Loren and Kevin got off the plane.  She immediantly starts running to the entrance.

Kevin – “Loren what about the bags?”

Loren – “They’re not going anywhere.  If we hadn’t gotten tied up in customs in New York then we could but we did so we can get them later.  I’m not missing Jess’s wedding.”

Kevin – “Okay you’re the boss.”  They get out and there is this long ass line for a cab.

Loren – “Shit now what.”  Kevin looks around and sees a young couple getting in a mini van.

Kevin – “Come on.”  He takes her hand and walks up to them.  “Hi I’m sorry I hate to bother you but we need your help.”  The young woman looks up at him.

Jane – “I know you.  You’re Kevin Richardson, I’m a big fan.  Oh I’m sorry where are my manners, my name’s Jane and this is my husband Dave.”

Dave – “Nice to met you.”

Kevin – “Hi.  Well I was wondering if you could help us out.  We have to get to a church on the corner of Paper and State Street in like 15 minutes.”

Dave – “Hop in.”

Loren – “Thank you so much.”  Everyone gets in and Dave gets up on the freeway.

Jane – “Not to be nosey but didn’t you to just get married, why are you rushing to a church.”

Kevin – “My cousin’s getting married to her niece.”  Jane’s eyes get big.

Jane – “How old is your niece?”

Loren – “She’s three years younger then me.”

Jane – “Oh okay.  Sorry I was picturing a little kid.”

Loren – “That’s okay.”

Kevin – “It might be quicker if you get off on F Street.”

Dave – “Okay.”

Everyone was seated and we were all standing in the entry of the church.  Tommy and Noah were both awake and sitting in their side by side stroller as Summer pushes it.  Connie had decorated it for the walk down the aisle.  I wasn’t nervous, but I was upset because Loren and Kevin weren’t there yet.

Me – “Can’t we wait a few more minutes.”

Goldie – “I’m sorry honey but Pastor Jones has another service scheduled after yours.”

Me – “Okay.”

Goldie – “I love you.”  She kisses my cheek and then Stephen walks her down the aisle and they sit.  I take a deep breath.  As the music starts for my attendants to go down the aisle.

Viv – “that’s our cue.”

Connie goes first pushing the boys.  Everyone ohh and ahh’d at how cute they looked.  Then Vivian and then Reece.  Next it was me and Kurt’s turn.

Kurt – “In case you were wondering I had all the doors locked.”

Me – “I’m not taking off this time.”

Kurt – “Well better safe then sorry.  This is the second time I’ve tried to get rid of you, you are getting married this time if I have to drag you up there kicking a screaming.  I promised Brian.”

Me – “I love you daddy.”  He kisses my cheek.

Kurt – “So you ready?”  Just then we hear some one try to get in.  Then a lot of loud banging.  Everyone in the church looks up the aisle and get very quiet.

Loren – “Kurt unlock this damn door!”

Me – “Loren.”  He goes and opens the door.

Kurt – “Sorry I didn’t think Stephen actually locked them.”

Me – “I was so afraid you weren’t going to make it.”  Loren is hugging me.

Loren – “If you only knew what we went through.”

Kevin – “Come on honey let’s go sit down.”

Loren – “I’ll tell you later.”

Me – “okay.”  They walk in the back of the church and see everyone looking at them.  Loren gives a little wave and then sits in the back row.

Kurt – “So can we do this now.”

Me – “yeah.”

He takes my arm and we stand at the top of the aisle.  I look down and see Brian standing there in his tuxedo.  I smile at him and he smiles back.  We start down the aisle.  I look at my guests as I pass.  Britney is there with Justin, but everyone else tagged along too.  I look at Lance and I can see how happy he is for me.  On the other side of the aisle I see everyone I worked at MTV with.  There’s Carson, Dave, John, Chris was sitting over by them.  And then I see Brad.  I hadn’t seen him so long I couldn’t help myself I had to wave.  He just shakes his head and waves back.

I then look back at Brian.  He is standing there with his hands in front of him.  We stop at the stairs.

P.J. – “Who gives this woman away?”

Kurt – “her mother and I do.”  Brian reaches his hand out to me and I take it.  He helps me up the few stairs.  I can’t do anything but stand there and smile.  Reece takes my flowers.

P.J. – “Dearly beloved we are gather here today to witness the long awaited union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony.  If there is anyone here who has just cause as to why this union should not take place.  Let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”  No one says anything.

I whisper to Brian, “that’s a good sign.”  He just smiles.

P.J. – “Marriage is a sacred bond before God, those that enter into it should not take it lightly.  I have had the pleasure of watching Brian grow from a little boy into the find man he is today.  I unfortunately do not know Jessica as well but I can see that she is a fine young lady.  They have written their own vows which they will now exchange.”

Brian – “The day I met you my life was forever changed.  You made me want things that I never thought I would be able to have mostly your love.  We had our problems but got through them to stand here today before God and make promises to each other.  And now I not only have your love, which you have given to me so freely, but you also gave me two sons to cherish.  I love you so much, I am so happy about spending the rest of my life with you.”

Me – “I sat down to try to write how I feel about you, and I had trouble finding words to express that.  Just imagine me speechless.  I thought I was cursed, I thought that I couldn’t ever love anyone.  Then you came into my life and chased me and wouldn’t let me run away until I realized what everyone else knew, I loved you.  I love you so so much.  You were always there for me when I needed you.  It feels like God made you just for me.  He knew I would need you to spend the rest of my life with, and I do I need you to with me forever.”

P.J. – “The rings.”  Reece hands me Brian’s and Harold hands mine to Brian.  We give them to Pastor Jones.  He takes them and puts them on the bible he’s holding.  “May the lord bless these symbols of your love and your future life together.”  He takes my ring and hands it to Brian.  “Brian please repeat after me.”  He speaks and Brian repeats it.

Brian – “I Brian Thomas, take you Jessica Paris to be my lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold.  To love and to cherish through richer or poorer, through sickness and health, forever and ever, till death do us part.”  He puts the ring on my finger, now it’s my turn.  I take Brian’s ring.

Me – “I Jessica Paris, take you Brian Thomas to be my lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold.  To love and to cherish through richer or poorer, through sickness and health, forever and ever, till death do us part.”  I put the ring on his finger.  I look at his eyes and I can see how much he loves me.  We join hands in front of the pastor.

P.J. – “May you always find solace in each others arms and happiness in each other’s smiles.”  He sprinkles holy water on our joined hands.  “What god has brought together let no man put asunder.”  He sets the bible and the water aside.  “Now before God, this church, your gather family and friends, I am pleased to pronounce you husband and wife.  You my kiss the bride.”

Brian – “I thought you’d never get to that part.”  He lifts my veil.  “Hi.”

Me – “Hi.”  He takes my face in his hands and kisses me.  I didn’t realize until he touched me that I had been shaking the whole time.

P.J. – “Ladies and Gentleman, it gives me great pleasure to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Thomas Littrell.”  We stand there for a moment while everyone claps.  Then the music starts and we walk down the aisle.  Our fathers are holding our mothers as they cry.  Reece and Harold Jr. come up next followed by Vivian and AJ, then Summer and Nick and then Howie pushes the boys back up.

Once we get to the entryway Brian turns around and hugs me so hard.  He sets me back down.

Brian – “Oh god!  Baby I love you so much. I can’t believe we actually did it.  That we actually got to here to us getting married.”

Me – “Me either.  I’m so happy I feel like my chest is just going to explode.”  I hug him again.

Brian – “What is on your feet?”

I lift up the hem of my dress.  “My lucky sneakers.”

He can’t help but smile.  “What am I going to do with you?”

Me – “Well we have the rest of our lives to figure that out dear husband.”

Brian – “yes we do dear wife.”

Loren and Kevin are the first ones to us.

Kevin – “Congratulations Mrs. Littrell.”

Me – “Thank you.  I was so worried you weren’t going to make it.”

Brian – “yeah anyway, what kept you guys, Uncle Kevin.”

Loren – “Now Brian don’t make your Uncle Kevin mad.”  I laugh.

Kevin – “Me and you are going to have a talk about this Uncle Kevin bullshit.”

Loren – “Yes dear.” 

They head outside while we thank the rest of our guests for coming.  Once everyone has left the church, Brian and I take a moment inside by ourselves.

Me – “I still can’t believe we did it.”

Brian – “You’re not sorry are you.”

Me – “hell no!”  I lower my voice.  “I guess I shouldn’t cuss in church.”

Brian – “Well if he can over look the shoes I think it’ll be okay.”

Me – “Why do you hate me shoes so much.”

Brian – “Cause for awhile I felt like those shoes were more important then me.”

Me – “You are so retarded.”

Brian – “hey you married me so what does that make you.”

Me – “A saint for taking on the burden of living with you.”

Brian – “Now I’m a burden.”

Me – “A lovable one.”

Brian – “We should probably get going.  Your mom put a lot of work in to this reception.”

Me – “Okay.”  He reaches down and takes my hand.

Brian – “Coming Mrs. Littrell.”

Me – “yes.”

We run out to the waiting car through all the rice and to the reception.