The house warming turned wedding of Brittany Snow & Quinn Allman.
WEDDING PARTY: Brittany Snow, Quinn Allman, Ashley Tisdale, Arielle Kebbel, Marcy (Snow), Sarah Jayne Jensen, Sophia Bush. Bert McCracken, Dan Whitesides, Jeph Howard, Ian Allman, Riley Allman. Jack Boyd, Mia Allman, Laura and Emma (Snow).
GUESTS: Adam Levine, Amanda Bynes, Beyonce, Billy Boyd, Damien Fahey, Jessica Alba, Kate Walsh, Kristen Stewart. Friends, family and colleagues of both Brittany & Quinn are present as well.
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As guests were pulling up and being redirected through the newly settled house to the backyard, they were all being handed a paper invitation by either Brittany's half brother (Christopher), Quinn's mother (Rebecca), father (Michael) or sister (Rondee) and encourage to take a seat in one of the rows of white wooden folding chairs.
Four was slowly approaching. Though it felt like the entire day had flown by the last hour was going at a mere crawl. Quinn was ready to protest the idea of not seeing the bride on her wedding day and had gotten as far as the outside of the door to the bedroom she was holed up in before his brother, Ian, dragged him back to his area of the house again. So he had admitted defeat, relegated to pacing around the guest bedroom as his groomsmen looked on.
They weren't much help however, as much as they tried to be. Quinn indulged in some liquid courage with Jeph in an attempt to calm his nerves. He was distracted, unfocused, and above all things just wanted to talk to Brittany. When he spotted that he could get away again, Quinn slipped back down the hallway to the girls part of the house, only to be stopped again, this time by Ashley.
She wouldn't budge, but instead offered him a bargain, to act as a runner for a letter and either she or someone else would run a letter from Brittany back to him some time before the ceremony. It wasn't his ideal, but it would work and a few minutes later returned from the kitchen with a folded letter for Brittany.
Her final makeup check and dress check yielded the same results that the nine checks before had, she looked perfect and it didn't seem to quell any of her nerves. Running her hands down the front of her dress, she grinned, the day that she had quietly and quickly planned for and eagerly anticipated was finally here. She had kept herself from peaking out the window after she had hurry herself upstairs after Quinn and most of the groomsmen got there, though now the urge to see the edge of the chairs filled up with friends and family was too great. Peaking out the window the blinds making noises as she moved them to the side and held her breath for a moment trying to get a glimpse of someone familiar, though it was hair to identify most from above the back of their heads. Seeing her cousin in total shock that there were a few celebrities in the crowd. Brittany's photographer friend, Tyler had left minutes before taking the last few snaps of the bride prior to the ceremony. Arielle fussed behind her over the clasps in the back of her dress, making sure it was sitting just so. She looked over at Ashley and grinned nervously, her stomach felt like it was full of butterflies.
Ashley stopped fussing with the laces on Jack's tiny Chucks, smoothing his curls down again as she stood and gave Brittany a soft smile in return. "Just breathe," she reminded, coming around to stand in front of her and take her hand, giving it a squeeze. "You've made it, the hard parts are over, just concentrate on having fun and focus on the joy," she offered her another smile, trying her very best to be calm and reassuring for her.
Taking a very slow and deep breath, Brittany slowly exhaled and blinked. She honestly hadn't thought she would be this nervous just anticipating walking down the aisle. "So have fun and be happy," Brittany repeated it again, "Have fun, be happy." She took another deep breath, aside from the set back with one of Quinn's friends backing out at the last minute, it all had fallen into place just the way she (and the handful of other people involved) had planned. Pausing for a moment, "What exactly was the hard part?"
Ashley watched her friend's face as she attempted to calm her nerves with the breathing, and laughed softly at her question. "The planning of course, the figuring out the where, the when, the how, the what, you guys finished that, now it's party time," she said breezily, waving her hand. "It's going to go by so fast, the ceremony, so just try to focus on you, and Quinn, and the words, and everything else will just happen around you," she kept her voice soft and encouraging, comforting, and met every look Brittany gave her with a reassuring look of her own.
"Oh, and here," she added suddenly, reaching into the fold of her dress where she'd tucked it. "I ran into Quinn on the way to get the water and he had this note for you, since we won't let him come back here. If you want to write a reply I'll send it his way before the ceremony," she offered, handing the private note over.
"Oh and ooh," taking the note Ashley had held out, Brittany unfolded it and begin to read Quinn's handwriting. Grinning for a moment as she finished reading it, she found a piece of paper on her own and quickly wrote a note in response, at least that way he would know she had actually seen the love note he had set by way of Ashley. "If you don't mind?" She held it out to her friend.
"I don't, I will be right back," she promised, curling her hand over the note enough to give Brittany's hand a squeeze before taking it. She didn't wait, just bustled out of the room, stopping to tell Arielle she'd be back shortly, she wouldn't be late.
Before Brittany knew it her attention was pulled towards her mother who had just slipped into the room. They had been talking about this day for nearly a month solid, every conversation had at least one mention of the wedding in it since the new year had begun. The elder Snow, hugged her daughter close to her as for a moment, "You look amazing, Britt."
Blushing, Brittany nodded, "Thank you, Mom." She had made her mother promise that she wouldn't cry until the ceremony though it had largely failed since watching Britt get into her dress had brought her to tears. Brittany on the other had, had been holding up well. "Will you help me with my veil?"
"Of course, I will." Taking a moment to take it in Cinda, helped her daughter along with some of her closest friends watching onward as they out on Britt's final accessory to complete the bridal look. Smiling, Cinda looked at Brittany, "You know, no matter what he says, I am just happy you are happy and you have found someone who loves you just as you are and who you love just as he is." She paused touching her daughter's shoulders, "That is a very hard thing to find and you've done just that." Looking at a clock, she smiled, "It's nearly time." With a deep breath, her mother quickly went downstairs, stopping near Quinn, it was clear that she had already started crying while she was upstairs with Brittany. Hugging him tightly, she kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, "At the end of tonight you'll be my son." She smiled, even if her eyes were on the verge of tearing up, she squeezed his hand for a moment, "She looks beautiful."
Quinn nodded softly before glancing down at Brittany's mom. He exhaled slowly before answering. "Yes ma am." It just came back to him to be polite to her, as overwhelmed as he could feel about the rest of the things going on that day. Turning into a grin, he answered. "She has a habit of doing that." Quinn agreed.
Giving him a nod and a smile, she left him and the other members of the wedding party, letting herself into the fresh air and amongst the assembled crowd taking her seat in the very front, next to an empty chair for her husband.
This was the part that scared him the most, knowing that for the few minutes before their attention would be turned to beautiful people in beautiful clothes, everyone's eyes were on him. However moving down the aisle it quickly turned out to be not so bad as inappropriate wolf whistles and cheers came from his friends, Alex and CW, as he passed them. Chuckling, it broke some of the tension at least in his mind. He stopped in front of the minister, and like he had been told to do, turned to watch her neices follow in the procession.
Two young girls began their slow and deliberate walk out of the house's doorways and down the aisle walking hand in hand, Emma and Laura - Brittany's nieces, dressed in a preview of Brittany's own dress. They had practiced and it was evident as they quietly counted their way down, at the end of aisle they dropped their hands and hurriedly walked towards their father and mother.
Once the hair of her two young nieces bobbed just in front of the front row of chairs, Marcy gave Riley a nod and they began their walk down the aisle. She saw her own husband sitting on the very edge of the aisle with camera in hand and a huge grin on his face. Chuckling, she and Riley took their mark spots on the end and watched as the rest of the wedding party began their own walks.
Sophia waited inside the doorway with Dan for their turn to walk down the aisle. Seeing Marcy and Riley finish their walk down the aisle. She did a last check to make sure she looked perfect, walked over to Dan, sliding one hand through his while putting her flowers in the proper position. "Let's do our walk" she said to Dan with a giggle. Nodding Dan smiled, adjusting his arm against hers, "Let's do this shit," with that they started from the doorway and down the aisle. She walked down the aisle with a big smile, giving her husband Damien a flirtatious wink. She walked all the way down to the end of the aisle with Dan before unhooking her arm from his and walking over to stand behind Marcy on the bride's side and Dan took his spot next to Riley.
Taking their cue from the wedding planner, Sarah and Ian began their own stroll down the aisle. As they were nearing the end of the rather short walk, a small burst of barking and a familiar squeaky noise moved along the back wall of the house as three of Brittany and Quinn's four dogs chased one another, fighting over a toy. A short rolling laughter when through the crowd as Jeph stepped out of the house quickly to move them to a less intrusive and trip inducing place than right in the way of the walk. Quickly returning to the door to gather, Arielle who quickly tucked her arm around his and positioned her flowers so that she was much more put together than the dogs had just been. They exchanged a whisper as they walked down the aisle and then grinned to themselves as friends took pictures of Jeph in a tux.
Ashley fidgeted as she took her place at the back of the aisle, slipping her hand into the crook of the elbow that appeared next to her without thinking about it. Cooley and confidently Bert walked forward, giving Ashley room to mover her arm against his own, the fact that he was in a tux astonished him and nearly everyone who had seen him in it. She grasped it lightly and forgot that she was trying not to look up at him, glancing up and giving him a quick nod and her smile spreading across her face as they started their walk together. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear herself screaming that, oh my gosh that's Bert, but she was beating the urge back to be overexcited about that and remember where she was. She kept her unwavering smile on her face, keeping her eyes focused on the set up at the front of the aisle as they slowly made their way towards it. When they reached the end, she gave his elbow a little thank you squeeze and then let go, taking her spot at the front and turning around. Now she had to watch for Jack and hope he remembered everything they'd been practicing in private all week. Bert had survived the walk while being photographed by at least a dozen phones, he was more than thankful that there were no flashes on them, taking his spot next to Jeph & Quinn, all three exchanged looks with on another, they honestly had never pegged Quinn as the member of the band to get married first.
Jack had been bouncing at the back of the aisle as he waited his turn, his Nana holding his hand and bending down to quiet him and go over what he was supposed to do one more time. He turned suddenly somber as he was handed the little black pillow with the symbolic decorative rings tied to the front, the actual rings safely tied to his Mommy's bouquet with a ribbon, and the other tucked in Bert's pocket. Jack took his place at the end of the aisle with Mia, his serious face breaking as he smiled sweetly at her, standing up a little straighter. His eyes traveled down aisle in front of him, the walk now seeming excessively long in his tiny perspective, but he caught sight of his father holding his baby sister in a chair on the aisle near the front, making goofy faces at him, then his mother at the end of the walk, and smiled again. He pointed at her, looking up at his Nana, "Dere's Mommy!" Lisa laughed at him and nodded, motioning that he should start his walk with Mia and he turned his big eyes back to the front, holding the pillow like his mother had shown him all week, perched in his hands as if it were fragile and one singular jolt would break it. His eyes trained on the pillow, looking up only now and then as he headed for his mother, forgetting about Mia and her flowers. When he reached Ashley, she motioned at the place he was meant to leave the pillow and then pointed out where his Nana was now sitting beside a small gathering toys off to the side for him to go to when he had. He followed her final instructions and took off at a run for the toys, falling to his knees at the bucket of Mega Blocks and starting to build, suddenly lost in his own happy little world, sharing with Mia when she appeared at his side and lowering his volume when Nana reminded him to.
Mia had gotten a similar set of instructions as she stood with her mother at the back of the aisle. It was hard for such a little girl standing back there to wait, knowing her daddy and uncles were all up in the front and seeing her grandparents sitting right up there too. It was almost too much for her to wait for as she rocked on her heels, attempting to grab Jack's hand. As they started to walk down, she glanced between Jack who was focused intently and her family, eyes wide. As she reached the end of the aisle, she stopped at her Uncle Quinn and announced proudly, "Hi Quinn!" He knelt, amidst chuckles from everyone else and pointed over at Jack who had already spread the toys out. Mia took off at a similar run to join in on the games.
Brittany stood off to the side having watched Arielle & Jeph, as well as Ashley & Bert and the cute tiny toddlers disappear out the door and down the aisle that Britt had helped set up in the morning with the wedding planner and her bridesmaid. She knew what it looked like, having the mental picture of lines of chairs, she'd mentally taped pictures of their friends and family into the chairs as she had done a practice walk in her shoes just before Quinn had gotten there. She exchanged whispers with her dad as he moved next to her, "My little girl."
"Dad." She said hushed. She had always been close to her father, and in all honesty her mother as well. The relationship she had known had caused minor confusion with Quinn at the beginning of their relationship, since he didn't have any real reference for a relationship like her families. "You are suppose to think you are gaining a son."
"A son in law... there is a large difference." He grinned as he joked with her. He had thought about what it would be like to walk down the aisle with his youngest, his Daddy's girl she had always been as a child. He had tried for so long to subscribe to the theory that all his children were equal, they were all loved the same amount - but at the end of the day, Brittany was the youngest and she had always been special. "That being said... he's a good guy."
"He's a great guy." She corrected.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." She grinned taking her dad's arm, the nerves that had been plaguing her for what seemed like months had begun unraveling, which to her was a relief. She didn't want to feel anxious while getting married.
"Well then... let's not keep him waiting." Resting his hand on her arm, he took the first steps towards the down and towards the aisle, letting his daughter lead the pace of their walk. The music had changed, the crowd had stood and all of their attention was on Brittany in all her splendor. He was quite proud of her, glancing from her to Quinn, who looked as though he had lost both his train of thought and his breathe, John smiled.
As they reached the edge of chairs, Quinn stepped towards John and Brittany, remembering what his mind had been going over so that he wouldn't mess up. John unlinked Brittany's arm from his and turned to face her, reaching for the bottom of her veil, he gave her smile even though he knew her attention wanted to be on Quinn more than him lifting the veil and giving her away. Letting the veil fall behind her, it was the second daughter in less than 13 months he had walked down the aisle. Leaning forward, he gently kissed her forehead and whispered, "I love you," while doing so. It was time to let her be a grown up, so with that he stepped to the side and gave Quinn a nod, before taking his seat just a short distance away with his wife.
Brittany has been grinning since she saw Quinn standing at the end of the aisle, she was who he was going to and so much of the distance was shortened by knowing that he was at the end. That in less than thirty minutes they would be married. Now that she was standing by his side of so many of their family and friends, she had not butterflies and the nerves were finally at last gone.
He couldn't believe it. He had known vaguely what Brittany's dress was going to look like, sure that she had shown it to him once or twice before, but he had never seen her look like that. She looked beautiful, as he would say she always did, but she looked happy as well. Every headache that had gone into this wedding was suddenly justified as he sensed this was the moment they had worked so hard for. Even with layers upon blindingly white layers on her, she looked perfect.
Grinning at him, Brittany was clinging to her flowers, though they honestly looked much heavier than they were. Still smiling, she whispered, "Hi."
Quinn almost laughed. He couldn't help it. They were in one of the most insane situations he had ever encountered, her in a big white dress and holding giant white flowers, and saying hi like nothing was anything was different? He couldn't stop grinning at her. "Cheeseball." Quinn whispered back, the most appropriate term of affection for her.
Still grinning like a total and complete goof who couldn't stop, Brittany rolled her eyes at him slightly and slide her hand into his, holding her flowers with the other. While it was a insanely overdramatic situation, they were still the same people and him calling her cheeseball only confirmed that more. "Funny seeing you here," she teased before they made the final few steps towards her childhood minister.
Quinn squeezed her hand slightly, feeling the best he had felt all day at the touch. He was the one that tended to get shy and caught up in huge situations and this was one of the hugest. Most of his morning had been spent trying to just see her, to get to this moment and the comfort it brought. "I'm surprised to be the guy standing here myself." He answered honestly, though teasing her. He was the guy standing here, after everything they had gone through. He held her hand tightly in his the last few steps to her minister.
Looking down at Brittany and Quinn, holding hands with smiles that most likely they wouldn't be able to wipe off their faces for the evening, if not the rest of the weekend, Robert began. "It may now appear to be clear that you are all gathered together for more than just a house warming for Brittany and Quinn. We are gathered to help them celebrate their love and the beginning of their life as husband and wife." Looking down at his piece of paper, he looked up and have the couple a reassuring smile, "I've known Brittany since she was a very small child, Quinn on the other hand I've only just had the pleasure of meeting. Though I did get to sit down with both of them to talk about what exactly they were getting into," laughing for a moment his attention was back on the couple in front of him. "When I asked them to tell me - their story as a couple - I found out that they were very honest about their relationship together and I saw two people very much in love with one another." He paused before continuing, "Brittany and Quinn selected a reading, they would like to reflect on before they speak about their love for one another." Clearing his throat be began, "Love is a friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weakness. Love is content with the present. It hopes for the future and it doesn’t brood over the past. It’s the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough, so search for it, explore for it and find it."
Quinn had worked out what he was going to say for his vows. Even had gone so far as to tuck the speech into his tuxedo pocket. But as he saw her come down the aisle he realized a speech wasn't what he was after. And so he decided to wing it, for better or worse. "Umm, Britt. I love you. I've told you before, I think, that it's easy for people to fall in love with you. You're beautiful and smart and the one person that tries to find the silver lining in everything. And, you're my best friend. There is that saying that you can't love someone unless you love yourself, but I don't think that really works here. I could find eight things wrong with me for every one thing I could find wrong with you. You make me happy in the annoying, talk about you all the time sort of way. I can't help it. Loving you has been so much easier than liking myself ever was. I made myself a guy that I liked more for you. Ash told me I was good for you, the first time anyone has ever said that about me, that I was good for someone. I want to always be good for you."
Brittany had started crying, as soon as her dad had tucked back her veil, hugged her and kissed her cheek. That she hadn't been sobbing was a miracle to her. Though now it was her turn to say her paragraph of "You and I having seemed to have our share of perfect timing, just when we need the other to say something wise or inspired - we manage to find the words. When one needed a shoulder, the other was there. When one of us needed that reassurance, the other was the touch that told use just that. Sure, we've had those bumps in the road, those times when we were both tested and we stand here today, side-by-side, stronger and sharing a closer bond than before those times. I know, that in you, I have found the man that is my best friend, my partner in life and my match." Grinning, she paused, "And I love you, too." As she finished, a small bark echoed from somewhere to the back of the chairs, she giggle and dabbed her eyes with one of the many kleenexes there are tucked into her flowers.
Robert turned to Quinn and then to Brittany, "Do you have the rings?"
Knowing that he was first, Bert had the ring tucked carefully into his inner jacket, he had even practiced getting it out so that he wouldn't have to dig for it. Quickly holding it out to Quinn, he handed it off and felt like one of the more worrying burdens of the day was over and behind him.
Quinn turned to his best man, his best friend, who was grinning wildly as well. It had taken them all forever to get to this place it seemed, but even Bert had someone in his life, he knew how Quinn felt and took his job seriously, proudly handing over the ring. It was the one thing he had done well on the first try, Quinn had to admit, the day he had picked out the rings for Brittany. This ring just looked like her in a way he couldn't logically explain.
"After you respond, you can slip the ring on to the others finger." Robert turned first to Brittany and began reading from a sheet of paper in his hands, "Do you, Brittany Anne Snow, take, Quinn Scott Allman, as your husband, to be your partner in life and one true love. Will you trust him and respect him, laugh with him and cry with him, loving him faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles you may face together?"
He held her hands tightly in his,listening to her repeating the words rather than focusing on the preacher saying them. After all, she was the one he was intent on spending his life with, not with the minister. Looking in her eyes he could see she wasn't about to take this lightly. And neither was he.
Brittany listened to the words carefully as he spoke to her, though her eyes were locked onto Quinn's as she looked up at him - and very few of the words were actually sinking in at the time, she knew what it all meant which was what was important. Hearing the end of the question she nodded slightly, "I will."
He kept his eyes on hers, waiting for her to say yes and framing that moment forever. Not that they had said it before, but never on this grand of a scale. He opened his palm, glancing at the ring he held and then with a deep inhale, slid it onto her waiting hand. Accomplished, he released the breathe, looking back up at Brittany.
Feeling the new ring slide on to her finger, she grinned at him. Knowing that any worry he would have about her abandoning him at some point would be at least comforted by the fact that she was serious about being around for ever... or as they had said being stuck with one another till the day they died.
After a moment, Brittany turned to Ashley and got the ring from her, as Robert turned to look at Quinn as ask him the same questions. "Do you, Quinn Scott Allman, take, Brittany Anne Snow, as your wife, to be your partner in life and one true love. Will you trust her and respect her, laugh with her and cry with her, loving her faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles you may face together?"
Brittany held onto the ring, careful not to let it slip or fall. The wedding band felt different than her engagement ring, different to the point that it made her smile grow even as she was holding on to Quinn's hand.
He raised his eyebrows to Brittany playfully, nodding along as the minister read him his vows. "Damn right." He whispered just loud enough for Brittany to hear and maybe the minister if he was paying enough attention. Turning his head slightly to him he answered louder for the benefit of everyone else, "I will."
Closing her eyes, attempting not to laugh too loudly, wedding were suppose to be this serious step and Quinn was making her laugh, which for her was a good sign. Just one of the many reasons she loved him. Sliding the ring on to his finger carefully not to harm his 'livelihood', she grinned at him. They were just a step away from being officially husband and wife.
Robert looked out at the crowd and smiled, "Now that the couple has exchanged vows as well as rings, we come to the part that Quinn told me with confidence he was positive he wouldn't mess up at all." Pausing the man looked at Quinn, "You ready for it?" A chuckle rippled through the crowd as the question was asked.
Quinn laughed along with everyone else. He had said something along those lines to the minister when they had met earlier. He didn't know much about religious traditions, but he did know how to kiss. "I've been waiting for this," He admitted, turning his head briefly to the minister to answer him.
Robert nodded, "Quinn, you may kiss the bride."
The hand that wasn't holding onto hers moved to her cheek, framing her face as he quickly closed the small distance between them with the kiss. Closing his eyes, he let the kiss linger just a bit beyond what they had practiced as appropriate, knowing that she wouldn't complain.
The hand that wasn't holding onto hers moved to her cheek, framing her face as he quickly closed the small distance between them with the kiss. Closing his eyes, he let the kiss linger just a bit beyond what they had practiced as appropriate, knowing that she wouldn't complain.
Her eyes fell close and both of her hands found their way to rest on his shoulders, though even in heels she was on her toes to meet his lips with hers with more ease. As their first married kiss broke, she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose and whisper, "My Gran is watching remember."
Wrinkling his nose in reply, Quinn kissed her softly again. "I hope she's impressed."
Robert looked out at the crowd and with a loud voice, he finished the ceremony. "I take great pleasure in being the first to announce. I give you Mister and Missus Quinn Allman."
Wedding Gallery.
GUESTS: Adam Levine, Amanda Bynes, Beyonce, Billy Boyd, Damien Fahey, Jessica Alba, Kate Walsh, Kristen Stewart. Friends, family and colleagues of both Brittany & Quinn are present as well.
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As guests were pulling up and being redirected through the newly settled house to the backyard, they were all being handed a paper invitation by either Brittany's half brother (Christopher), Quinn's mother (Rebecca), father (Michael) or sister (Rondee) and encourage to take a seat in one of the rows of white wooden folding chairs.
Four was slowly approaching. Though it felt like the entire day had flown by the last hour was going at a mere crawl. Quinn was ready to protest the idea of not seeing the bride on her wedding day and had gotten as far as the outside of the door to the bedroom she was holed up in before his brother, Ian, dragged him back to his area of the house again. So he had admitted defeat, relegated to pacing around the guest bedroom as his groomsmen looked on.
They weren't much help however, as much as they tried to be. Quinn indulged in some liquid courage with Jeph in an attempt to calm his nerves. He was distracted, unfocused, and above all things just wanted to talk to Brittany. When he spotted that he could get away again, Quinn slipped back down the hallway to the girls part of the house, only to be stopped again, this time by Ashley.
She wouldn't budge, but instead offered him a bargain, to act as a runner for a letter and either she or someone else would run a letter from Brittany back to him some time before the ceremony. It wasn't his ideal, but it would work and a few minutes later returned from the kitchen with a folded letter for Brittany.
Her final makeup check and dress check yielded the same results that the nine checks before had, she looked perfect and it didn't seem to quell any of her nerves. Running her hands down the front of her dress, she grinned, the day that she had quietly and quickly planned for and eagerly anticipated was finally here. She had kept herself from peaking out the window after she had hurry herself upstairs after Quinn and most of the groomsmen got there, though now the urge to see the edge of the chairs filled up with friends and family was too great. Peaking out the window the blinds making noises as she moved them to the side and held her breath for a moment trying to get a glimpse of someone familiar, though it was hair to identify most from above the back of their heads. Seeing her cousin in total shock that there were a few celebrities in the crowd. Brittany's photographer friend, Tyler had left minutes before taking the last few snaps of the bride prior to the ceremony. Arielle fussed behind her over the clasps in the back of her dress, making sure it was sitting just so. She looked over at Ashley and grinned nervously, her stomach felt like it was full of butterflies.
Ashley stopped fussing with the laces on Jack's tiny Chucks, smoothing his curls down again as she stood and gave Brittany a soft smile in return. "Just breathe," she reminded, coming around to stand in front of her and take her hand, giving it a squeeze. "You've made it, the hard parts are over, just concentrate on having fun and focus on the joy," she offered her another smile, trying her very best to be calm and reassuring for her.
Taking a very slow and deep breath, Brittany slowly exhaled and blinked. She honestly hadn't thought she would be this nervous just anticipating walking down the aisle. "So have fun and be happy," Brittany repeated it again, "Have fun, be happy." She took another deep breath, aside from the set back with one of Quinn's friends backing out at the last minute, it all had fallen into place just the way she (and the handful of other people involved) had planned. Pausing for a moment, "What exactly was the hard part?"
Ashley watched her friend's face as she attempted to calm her nerves with the breathing, and laughed softly at her question. "The planning of course, the figuring out the where, the when, the how, the what, you guys finished that, now it's party time," she said breezily, waving her hand. "It's going to go by so fast, the ceremony, so just try to focus on you, and Quinn, and the words, and everything else will just happen around you," she kept her voice soft and encouraging, comforting, and met every look Brittany gave her with a reassuring look of her own.
"Oh, and here," she added suddenly, reaching into the fold of her dress where she'd tucked it. "I ran into Quinn on the way to get the water and he had this note for you, since we won't let him come back here. If you want to write a reply I'll send it his way before the ceremony," she offered, handing the private note over.
"Oh and ooh," taking the note Ashley had held out, Brittany unfolded it and begin to read Quinn's handwriting. Grinning for a moment as she finished reading it, she found a piece of paper on her own and quickly wrote a note in response, at least that way he would know she had actually seen the love note he had set by way of Ashley. "If you don't mind?" She held it out to her friend.
"I don't, I will be right back," she promised, curling her hand over the note enough to give Brittany's hand a squeeze before taking it. She didn't wait, just bustled out of the room, stopping to tell Arielle she'd be back shortly, she wouldn't be late.
Before Brittany knew it her attention was pulled towards her mother who had just slipped into the room. They had been talking about this day for nearly a month solid, every conversation had at least one mention of the wedding in it since the new year had begun. The elder Snow, hugged her daughter close to her as for a moment, "You look amazing, Britt."
Blushing, Brittany nodded, "Thank you, Mom." She had made her mother promise that she wouldn't cry until the ceremony though it had largely failed since watching Britt get into her dress had brought her to tears. Brittany on the other had, had been holding up well. "Will you help me with my veil?"
"Of course, I will." Taking a moment to take it in Cinda, helped her daughter along with some of her closest friends watching onward as they out on Britt's final accessory to complete the bridal look. Smiling, Cinda looked at Brittany, "You know, no matter what he says, I am just happy you are happy and you have found someone who loves you just as you are and who you love just as he is." She paused touching her daughter's shoulders, "That is a very hard thing to find and you've done just that." Looking at a clock, she smiled, "It's nearly time." With a deep breath, her mother quickly went downstairs, stopping near Quinn, it was clear that she had already started crying while she was upstairs with Brittany. Hugging him tightly, she kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, "At the end of tonight you'll be my son." She smiled, even if her eyes were on the verge of tearing up, she squeezed his hand for a moment, "She looks beautiful."
Quinn nodded softly before glancing down at Brittany's mom. He exhaled slowly before answering. "Yes ma am." It just came back to him to be polite to her, as overwhelmed as he could feel about the rest of the things going on that day. Turning into a grin, he answered. "She has a habit of doing that." Quinn agreed.
Giving him a nod and a smile, she left him and the other members of the wedding party, letting herself into the fresh air and amongst the assembled crowd taking her seat in the very front, next to an empty chair for her husband.
This was the part that scared him the most, knowing that for the few minutes before their attention would be turned to beautiful people in beautiful clothes, everyone's eyes were on him. However moving down the aisle it quickly turned out to be not so bad as inappropriate wolf whistles and cheers came from his friends, Alex and CW, as he passed them. Chuckling, it broke some of the tension at least in his mind. He stopped in front of the minister, and like he had been told to do, turned to watch her neices follow in the procession.
Two young girls began their slow and deliberate walk out of the house's doorways and down the aisle walking hand in hand, Emma and Laura - Brittany's nieces, dressed in a preview of Brittany's own dress. They had practiced and it was evident as they quietly counted their way down, at the end of aisle they dropped their hands and hurriedly walked towards their father and mother.
Once the hair of her two young nieces bobbed just in front of the front row of chairs, Marcy gave Riley a nod and they began their walk down the aisle. She saw her own husband sitting on the very edge of the aisle with camera in hand and a huge grin on his face. Chuckling, she and Riley took their mark spots on the end and watched as the rest of the wedding party began their own walks.
Sophia waited inside the doorway with Dan for their turn to walk down the aisle. Seeing Marcy and Riley finish their walk down the aisle. She did a last check to make sure she looked perfect, walked over to Dan, sliding one hand through his while putting her flowers in the proper position. "Let's do our walk" she said to Dan with a giggle. Nodding Dan smiled, adjusting his arm against hers, "Let's do this shit," with that they started from the doorway and down the aisle. She walked down the aisle with a big smile, giving her husband Damien a flirtatious wink. She walked all the way down to the end of the aisle with Dan before unhooking her arm from his and walking over to stand behind Marcy on the bride's side and Dan took his spot next to Riley.
Taking their cue from the wedding planner, Sarah and Ian began their own stroll down the aisle. As they were nearing the end of the rather short walk, a small burst of barking and a familiar squeaky noise moved along the back wall of the house as three of Brittany and Quinn's four dogs chased one another, fighting over a toy. A short rolling laughter when through the crowd as Jeph stepped out of the house quickly to move them to a less intrusive and trip inducing place than right in the way of the walk. Quickly returning to the door to gather, Arielle who quickly tucked her arm around his and positioned her flowers so that she was much more put together than the dogs had just been. They exchanged a whisper as they walked down the aisle and then grinned to themselves as friends took pictures of Jeph in a tux.
Ashley fidgeted as she took her place at the back of the aisle, slipping her hand into the crook of the elbow that appeared next to her without thinking about it. Cooley and confidently Bert walked forward, giving Ashley room to mover her arm against his own, the fact that he was in a tux astonished him and nearly everyone who had seen him in it. She grasped it lightly and forgot that she was trying not to look up at him, glancing up and giving him a quick nod and her smile spreading across her face as they started their walk together. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear herself screaming that, oh my gosh that's Bert, but she was beating the urge back to be overexcited about that and remember where she was. She kept her unwavering smile on her face, keeping her eyes focused on the set up at the front of the aisle as they slowly made their way towards it. When they reached the end, she gave his elbow a little thank you squeeze and then let go, taking her spot at the front and turning around. Now she had to watch for Jack and hope he remembered everything they'd been practicing in private all week. Bert had survived the walk while being photographed by at least a dozen phones, he was more than thankful that there were no flashes on them, taking his spot next to Jeph & Quinn, all three exchanged looks with on another, they honestly had never pegged Quinn as the member of the band to get married first.
Jack had been bouncing at the back of the aisle as he waited his turn, his Nana holding his hand and bending down to quiet him and go over what he was supposed to do one more time. He turned suddenly somber as he was handed the little black pillow with the symbolic decorative rings tied to the front, the actual rings safely tied to his Mommy's bouquet with a ribbon, and the other tucked in Bert's pocket. Jack took his place at the end of the aisle with Mia, his serious face breaking as he smiled sweetly at her, standing up a little straighter. His eyes traveled down aisle in front of him, the walk now seeming excessively long in his tiny perspective, but he caught sight of his father holding his baby sister in a chair on the aisle near the front, making goofy faces at him, then his mother at the end of the walk, and smiled again. He pointed at her, looking up at his Nana, "Dere's Mommy!" Lisa laughed at him and nodded, motioning that he should start his walk with Mia and he turned his big eyes back to the front, holding the pillow like his mother had shown him all week, perched in his hands as if it were fragile and one singular jolt would break it. His eyes trained on the pillow, looking up only now and then as he headed for his mother, forgetting about Mia and her flowers. When he reached Ashley, she motioned at the place he was meant to leave the pillow and then pointed out where his Nana was now sitting beside a small gathering toys off to the side for him to go to when he had. He followed her final instructions and took off at a run for the toys, falling to his knees at the bucket of Mega Blocks and starting to build, suddenly lost in his own happy little world, sharing with Mia when she appeared at his side and lowering his volume when Nana reminded him to.
Mia had gotten a similar set of instructions as she stood with her mother at the back of the aisle. It was hard for such a little girl standing back there to wait, knowing her daddy and uncles were all up in the front and seeing her grandparents sitting right up there too. It was almost too much for her to wait for as she rocked on her heels, attempting to grab Jack's hand. As they started to walk down, she glanced between Jack who was focused intently and her family, eyes wide. As she reached the end of the aisle, she stopped at her Uncle Quinn and announced proudly, "Hi Quinn!" He knelt, amidst chuckles from everyone else and pointed over at Jack who had already spread the toys out. Mia took off at a similar run to join in on the games.
Brittany stood off to the side having watched Arielle & Jeph, as well as Ashley & Bert and the cute tiny toddlers disappear out the door and down the aisle that Britt had helped set up in the morning with the wedding planner and her bridesmaid. She knew what it looked like, having the mental picture of lines of chairs, she'd mentally taped pictures of their friends and family into the chairs as she had done a practice walk in her shoes just before Quinn had gotten there. She exchanged whispers with her dad as he moved next to her, "My little girl."
"Dad." She said hushed. She had always been close to her father, and in all honesty her mother as well. The relationship she had known had caused minor confusion with Quinn at the beginning of their relationship, since he didn't have any real reference for a relationship like her families. "You are suppose to think you are gaining a son."
"A son in law... there is a large difference." He grinned as he joked with her. He had thought about what it would be like to walk down the aisle with his youngest, his Daddy's girl she had always been as a child. He had tried for so long to subscribe to the theory that all his children were equal, they were all loved the same amount - but at the end of the day, Brittany was the youngest and she had always been special. "That being said... he's a good guy."
"He's a great guy." She corrected.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." She grinned taking her dad's arm, the nerves that had been plaguing her for what seemed like months had begun unraveling, which to her was a relief. She didn't want to feel anxious while getting married.
"Well then... let's not keep him waiting." Resting his hand on her arm, he took the first steps towards the down and towards the aisle, letting his daughter lead the pace of their walk. The music had changed, the crowd had stood and all of their attention was on Brittany in all her splendor. He was quite proud of her, glancing from her to Quinn, who looked as though he had lost both his train of thought and his breathe, John smiled.
As they reached the edge of chairs, Quinn stepped towards John and Brittany, remembering what his mind had been going over so that he wouldn't mess up. John unlinked Brittany's arm from his and turned to face her, reaching for the bottom of her veil, he gave her smile even though he knew her attention wanted to be on Quinn more than him lifting the veil and giving her away. Letting the veil fall behind her, it was the second daughter in less than 13 months he had walked down the aisle. Leaning forward, he gently kissed her forehead and whispered, "I love you," while doing so. It was time to let her be a grown up, so with that he stepped to the side and gave Quinn a nod, before taking his seat just a short distance away with his wife.
Brittany has been grinning since she saw Quinn standing at the end of the aisle, she was who he was going to and so much of the distance was shortened by knowing that he was at the end. That in less than thirty minutes they would be married. Now that she was standing by his side of so many of their family and friends, she had not butterflies and the nerves were finally at last gone.
He couldn't believe it. He had known vaguely what Brittany's dress was going to look like, sure that she had shown it to him once or twice before, but he had never seen her look like that. She looked beautiful, as he would say she always did, but she looked happy as well. Every headache that had gone into this wedding was suddenly justified as he sensed this was the moment they had worked so hard for. Even with layers upon blindingly white layers on her, she looked perfect.
Grinning at him, Brittany was clinging to her flowers, though they honestly looked much heavier than they were. Still smiling, she whispered, "Hi."
Quinn almost laughed. He couldn't help it. They were in one of the most insane situations he had ever encountered, her in a big white dress and holding giant white flowers, and saying hi like nothing was anything was different? He couldn't stop grinning at her. "Cheeseball." Quinn whispered back, the most appropriate term of affection for her.
Still grinning like a total and complete goof who couldn't stop, Brittany rolled her eyes at him slightly and slide her hand into his, holding her flowers with the other. While it was a insanely overdramatic situation, they were still the same people and him calling her cheeseball only confirmed that more. "Funny seeing you here," she teased before they made the final few steps towards her childhood minister.
Quinn squeezed her hand slightly, feeling the best he had felt all day at the touch. He was the one that tended to get shy and caught up in huge situations and this was one of the hugest. Most of his morning had been spent trying to just see her, to get to this moment and the comfort it brought. "I'm surprised to be the guy standing here myself." He answered honestly, though teasing her. He was the guy standing here, after everything they had gone through. He held her hand tightly in his the last few steps to her minister.
Looking down at Brittany and Quinn, holding hands with smiles that most likely they wouldn't be able to wipe off their faces for the evening, if not the rest of the weekend, Robert began. "It may now appear to be clear that you are all gathered together for more than just a house warming for Brittany and Quinn. We are gathered to help them celebrate their love and the beginning of their life as husband and wife." Looking down at his piece of paper, he looked up and have the couple a reassuring smile, "I've known Brittany since she was a very small child, Quinn on the other hand I've only just had the pleasure of meeting. Though I did get to sit down with both of them to talk about what exactly they were getting into," laughing for a moment his attention was back on the couple in front of him. "When I asked them to tell me - their story as a couple - I found out that they were very honest about their relationship together and I saw two people very much in love with one another." He paused before continuing, "Brittany and Quinn selected a reading, they would like to reflect on before they speak about their love for one another." Clearing his throat be began, "Love is a friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weakness. Love is content with the present. It hopes for the future and it doesn’t brood over the past. It’s the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough, so search for it, explore for it and find it."
Quinn had worked out what he was going to say for his vows. Even had gone so far as to tuck the speech into his tuxedo pocket. But as he saw her come down the aisle he realized a speech wasn't what he was after. And so he decided to wing it, for better or worse. "Umm, Britt. I love you. I've told you before, I think, that it's easy for people to fall in love with you. You're beautiful and smart and the one person that tries to find the silver lining in everything. And, you're my best friend. There is that saying that you can't love someone unless you love yourself, but I don't think that really works here. I could find eight things wrong with me for every one thing I could find wrong with you. You make me happy in the annoying, talk about you all the time sort of way. I can't help it. Loving you has been so much easier than liking myself ever was. I made myself a guy that I liked more for you. Ash told me I was good for you, the first time anyone has ever said that about me, that I was good for someone. I want to always be good for you."
Brittany had started crying, as soon as her dad had tucked back her veil, hugged her and kissed her cheek. That she hadn't been sobbing was a miracle to her. Though now it was her turn to say her paragraph of "You and I having seemed to have our share of perfect timing, just when we need the other to say something wise or inspired - we manage to find the words. When one needed a shoulder, the other was there. When one of us needed that reassurance, the other was the touch that told use just that. Sure, we've had those bumps in the road, those times when we were both tested and we stand here today, side-by-side, stronger and sharing a closer bond than before those times. I know, that in you, I have found the man that is my best friend, my partner in life and my match." Grinning, she paused, "And I love you, too." As she finished, a small bark echoed from somewhere to the back of the chairs, she giggle and dabbed her eyes with one of the many kleenexes there are tucked into her flowers.
Robert turned to Quinn and then to Brittany, "Do you have the rings?"
Knowing that he was first, Bert had the ring tucked carefully into his inner jacket, he had even practiced getting it out so that he wouldn't have to dig for it. Quickly holding it out to Quinn, he handed it off and felt like one of the more worrying burdens of the day was over and behind him.
Quinn turned to his best man, his best friend, who was grinning wildly as well. It had taken them all forever to get to this place it seemed, but even Bert had someone in his life, he knew how Quinn felt and took his job seriously, proudly handing over the ring. It was the one thing he had done well on the first try, Quinn had to admit, the day he had picked out the rings for Brittany. This ring just looked like her in a way he couldn't logically explain.
"After you respond, you can slip the ring on to the others finger." Robert turned first to Brittany and began reading from a sheet of paper in his hands, "Do you, Brittany Anne Snow, take, Quinn Scott Allman, as your husband, to be your partner in life and one true love. Will you trust him and respect him, laugh with him and cry with him, loving him faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles you may face together?"
He held her hands tightly in his,listening to her repeating the words rather than focusing on the preacher saying them. After all, she was the one he was intent on spending his life with, not with the minister. Looking in her eyes he could see she wasn't about to take this lightly. And neither was he.
Brittany listened to the words carefully as he spoke to her, though her eyes were locked onto Quinn's as she looked up at him - and very few of the words were actually sinking in at the time, she knew what it all meant which was what was important. Hearing the end of the question she nodded slightly, "I will."
He kept his eyes on hers, waiting for her to say yes and framing that moment forever. Not that they had said it before, but never on this grand of a scale. He opened his palm, glancing at the ring he held and then with a deep inhale, slid it onto her waiting hand. Accomplished, he released the breathe, looking back up at Brittany.
Feeling the new ring slide on to her finger, she grinned at him. Knowing that any worry he would have about her abandoning him at some point would be at least comforted by the fact that she was serious about being around for ever... or as they had said being stuck with one another till the day they died.
After a moment, Brittany turned to Ashley and got the ring from her, as Robert turned to look at Quinn as ask him the same questions. "Do you, Quinn Scott Allman, take, Brittany Anne Snow, as your wife, to be your partner in life and one true love. Will you trust her and respect her, laugh with her and cry with her, loving her faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles you may face together?"
Brittany held onto the ring, careful not to let it slip or fall. The wedding band felt different than her engagement ring, different to the point that it made her smile grow even as she was holding on to Quinn's hand.
He raised his eyebrows to Brittany playfully, nodding along as the minister read him his vows. "Damn right." He whispered just loud enough for Brittany to hear and maybe the minister if he was paying enough attention. Turning his head slightly to him he answered louder for the benefit of everyone else, "I will."
Closing her eyes, attempting not to laugh too loudly, wedding were suppose to be this serious step and Quinn was making her laugh, which for her was a good sign. Just one of the many reasons she loved him. Sliding the ring on to his finger carefully not to harm his 'livelihood', she grinned at him. They were just a step away from being officially husband and wife.
Robert looked out at the crowd and smiled, "Now that the couple has exchanged vows as well as rings, we come to the part that Quinn told me with confidence he was positive he wouldn't mess up at all." Pausing the man looked at Quinn, "You ready for it?" A chuckle rippled through the crowd as the question was asked.
Quinn laughed along with everyone else. He had said something along those lines to the minister when they had met earlier. He didn't know much about religious traditions, but he did know how to kiss. "I've been waiting for this," He admitted, turning his head briefly to the minister to answer him.
Robert nodded, "Quinn, you may kiss the bride."
The hand that wasn't holding onto hers moved to her cheek, framing her face as he quickly closed the small distance between them with the kiss. Closing his eyes, he let the kiss linger just a bit beyond what they had practiced as appropriate, knowing that she wouldn't complain.
The hand that wasn't holding onto hers moved to her cheek, framing her face as he quickly closed the small distance between them with the kiss. Closing his eyes, he let the kiss linger just a bit beyond what they had practiced as appropriate, knowing that she wouldn't complain.
Her eyes fell close and both of her hands found their way to rest on his shoulders, though even in heels she was on her toes to meet his lips with hers with more ease. As their first married kiss broke, she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose and whisper, "My Gran is watching remember."
Wrinkling his nose in reply, Quinn kissed her softly again. "I hope she's impressed."
Robert looked out at the crowd and with a loud voice, he finished the ceremony. "I take great pleasure in being the first to announce. I give you Mister and Missus Quinn Allman."
Wedding Gallery.