IAR36B
The timefor the wedding came quickly enough. The attendants were so few that they gathered at the front of the largest room in the inn. It had a rustic but vaulted ceiling and because it was a lodge in Vermont, a stuffed moose head was in attendance and presumably giving its posthumous blessing. They’d erected a long platform at the end of the room with two steps leading up to it.
It was stark and completely and vibrantly candlelit. Flowers were absolutely everywhere and astonishing, completely white, suffusing the air with their scent. The dark wood of the room and the white candles and flowers looked ravishingly romantic.
Everyone stood as Father Michael walked down the aisle, followed by Caroline, Cassidy and Emily, who were carrying bouquets of gardenias. Caroline and Cassidy took their places stage right. They were wearing champagne-blush dresses for Andy. Emily carried her bouquet of gardenias and took her place stage left. She was wearing a dress of the faintest azure color imaginable for Miranda.
Father Michael turned and nodded. The music was provided by a fantastic cellist playing the prelude of Bach’s Cello Suite Number 1 in G as Miranda had requested.
Everyone turned to watch John walking Miranda down the aisle. Her dress was exactly the color of her eyes. It was formal with a hint of the most modest bodice. John walked her up the platform and kissed her cheek. She hugged him tightly, whispered “Thank you,” and he stepped down. She turned to peruse Emily, gave her a swift up and down look and almost frightened the life out of her as she kissed her cheek and whispered, “You’re perfect, Emily. Thank you.”
Emily put the full force of her true English resolve into play not to cry. Serena saw and cried for her. Wanda, Carlo and Juan Carlo were crying.
Richard walked Andy down the aisle as Audrey, Sam, Doug, Lily and Nigel quietly cried. Andy’s dress was a blush of rose that was completely virginal in front but exposed her back by half. Richard led his daughter up the stairs and kissed her.
Nigel held Magdalena’s hand, trying to remain tear-free.
Miranda took Andy’s hand. They all very quietly and reverently waited for the music to end before Father Michael began.
“You may be seated. We gather together today, most cherished friends and family, to witness the joining of Miranda Priestly and Andrea Sachs in matrimony. I am here to officiate and to give my sacramental blessing to their union. I won’t say much more than this.
“I wholeheartedly commend the union of two souls bound on one journey together. If any of you have some reason these two may not be so bound, let me hear it now.”
There was silence.
He smiled. “That’s what I thought. Your vows and rings will come after my consecration. Miranda. Repeat after me.” She repeated his words. “I, Miranda Priestly, take you Andrea Sachs, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Andy smiled and said, “I have this, Father Michael. I Andrea Sachs, take you Miranda Priestly, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Father Michael smiled and said, “You have written vows to consecrate your union and your wedding rings.”
Andy beamed at Miranda. “Me first before you upstage me.”
Miranda smiled at her.
“Okay.” Andy sighed. “Miranda. What to say. I didn’t know who you were when I met you. Your Lieutenant Emily tried to warn me. I couldn’t hear and didn’t listen. I got a python eating a piglet lesson in respect that day.”
Miranda looked out at their small congregation, “Please understand she’s being romantic.”
They laughed as Andy continued. “So you hired me because I suppose I was something you’d never seen before.”
Miranda nodded. “A mid-westerner disastrously dressed applicant for a job.”
Andy giggled and spoke to their friends and family. “Please understand we’re getting married, okay?”
She hesitated. “When I was a little girl, I dreamed about getting married to some tall, dark, handsome guy who would love me and make me feel like I was everything to him. I wanted him to look at me and know I was what he’d always dreamed of. A person who had the character to support someone, the love and passion to cherish someone. I didn’t get that. I got so much better than my dream come true, Miranda. God gave me you.”
Andy turned and Caroline held a box with two rings in it. Andy placed one on Miranda’s left hand, “With this ring, Miranda, I thee wed.” She nodded firmly. That was all she needed to say. She took the second ring and said, “Right hand, lady.” Miranda held out her hand and Andy said, “I know you’ve been married before but no one has ever taken the time to marry my Runway editor. I fell in love with her first so she needs a ring, too.”
Miranda’s eyes welled as Andy placed it on her right hand.
Miranda took a deep breath, spread her new ringed hands and looked desperately happy.
She smiled at Andy. “Thank you, my love. I have only one ring for you. And nothing to say. I will sing a song I wrote for you.”
She sang. No one knew she could but she did and well and it was in a fine Irish lilt.
If ever I weren’t at your side
T’would only be if I had died
If I were gone as might be lot
I’d beg you dear forget me not
I know our lives will ever be
The hope of all we’ve yet to see
Together and forever dear
My hope for you through all the years
Will be that you remember now
We two are always one and how
We love, have loved, will love I know
My heart tells yours remember so
Hope’s never something that I’d seen
Until the day you came to me
I’ve dreamed my life but now that’s through
I’ve woke and smiled, woke up to you.
**
Andy cried as Miranda put the ring on her finger.
Next Chapter
It was stark and completely and vibrantly candlelit. Flowers were absolutely everywhere and astonishing, completely white, suffusing the air with their scent. The dark wood of the room and the white candles and flowers looked ravishingly romantic.
Everyone stood as Father Michael walked down the aisle, followed by Caroline, Cassidy and Emily, who were carrying bouquets of gardenias. Caroline and Cassidy took their places stage right. They were wearing champagne-blush dresses for Andy. Emily carried her bouquet of gardenias and took her place stage left. She was wearing a dress of the faintest azure color imaginable for Miranda.
Father Michael turned and nodded. The music was provided by a fantastic cellist playing the prelude of Bach’s Cello Suite Number 1 in G as Miranda had requested.
Everyone turned to watch John walking Miranda down the aisle. Her dress was exactly the color of her eyes. It was formal with a hint of the most modest bodice. John walked her up the platform and kissed her cheek. She hugged him tightly, whispered “Thank you,” and he stepped down. She turned to peruse Emily, gave her a swift up and down look and almost frightened the life out of her as she kissed her cheek and whispered, “You’re perfect, Emily. Thank you.”
Emily put the full force of her true English resolve into play not to cry. Serena saw and cried for her. Wanda, Carlo and Juan Carlo were crying.
Richard walked Andy down the aisle as Audrey, Sam, Doug, Lily and Nigel quietly cried. Andy’s dress was a blush of rose that was completely virginal in front but exposed her back by half. Richard led his daughter up the stairs and kissed her.
Nigel held Magdalena’s hand, trying to remain tear-free.
Miranda took Andy’s hand. They all very quietly and reverently waited for the music to end before Father Michael began.
“You may be seated. We gather together today, most cherished friends and family, to witness the joining of Miranda Priestly and Andrea Sachs in matrimony. I am here to officiate and to give my sacramental blessing to their union. I won’t say much more than this.
“I wholeheartedly commend the union of two souls bound on one journey together. If any of you have some reason these two may not be so bound, let me hear it now.”
There was silence.
He smiled. “That’s what I thought. Your vows and rings will come after my consecration. Miranda. Repeat after me.” She repeated his words. “I, Miranda Priestly, take you Andrea Sachs, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Andy smiled and said, “I have this, Father Michael. I Andrea Sachs, take you Miranda Priestly, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Father Michael smiled and said, “You have written vows to consecrate your union and your wedding rings.”
Andy beamed at Miranda. “Me first before you upstage me.”
Miranda smiled at her.
“Okay.” Andy sighed. “Miranda. What to say. I didn’t know who you were when I met you. Your Lieutenant Emily tried to warn me. I couldn’t hear and didn’t listen. I got a python eating a piglet lesson in respect that day.”
Miranda looked out at their small congregation, “Please understand she’s being romantic.”
They laughed as Andy continued. “So you hired me because I suppose I was something you’d never seen before.”
Miranda nodded. “A mid-westerner disastrously dressed applicant for a job.”
Andy giggled and spoke to their friends and family. “Please understand we’re getting married, okay?”
She hesitated. “When I was a little girl, I dreamed about getting married to some tall, dark, handsome guy who would love me and make me feel like I was everything to him. I wanted him to look at me and know I was what he’d always dreamed of. A person who had the character to support someone, the love and passion to cherish someone. I didn’t get that. I got so much better than my dream come true, Miranda. God gave me you.”
Andy turned and Caroline held a box with two rings in it. Andy placed one on Miranda’s left hand, “With this ring, Miranda, I thee wed.” She nodded firmly. That was all she needed to say. She took the second ring and said, “Right hand, lady.” Miranda held out her hand and Andy said, “I know you’ve been married before but no one has ever taken the time to marry my Runway editor. I fell in love with her first so she needs a ring, too.”
Miranda’s eyes welled as Andy placed it on her right hand.
Miranda took a deep breath, spread her new ringed hands and looked desperately happy.
She smiled at Andy. “Thank you, my love. I have only one ring for you. And nothing to say. I will sing a song I wrote for you.”
She sang. No one knew she could but she did and well and it was in a fine Irish lilt.
If ever I weren’t at your side
T’would only be if I had died
If I were gone as might be lot
I’d beg you dear forget me not
I know our lives will ever be
The hope of all we’ve yet to see
Together and forever dear
My hope for you through all the years
Will be that you remember now
We two are always one and how
We love, have loved, will love I know
My heart tells yours remember so
Hope’s never something that I’d seen
Until the day you came to me
I’ve dreamed my life but now that’s through
I’ve woke and smiled, woke up to you.
**
Andy cried as Miranda put the ring on her finger.
Next Chapter