ATG - Part 7
It's the same thing that I said with part six, really...
Title - All That Glitters
Author - midnightfate
Chapter - 7
Pairing - Tony/Candyce
Rating - PG for a few words.
Summary - It's the wedding! What else is there to say?
Disclaimer - Don't own.
Finally, it was Tony and Candyce's wedding day. It seemed like years had passed since he proposed to her, but it had only been only a few very busy months. They had hoped and planned for an outdoor wedding, but a sudden cold snap sent the wedding inside. That was to be expected in October, so nobody was terribly upset by this change. Now, after all of that hard work, it was time for the main event. Tony was already there with his best man and groomsmen, but he couldn't do the one thing he wanted to do. Not yet. Candyce and Josie were in a side room along with the three bridesmaids, and Josie was putting the finishing touches on a very nervous Candyce.
“Candyce, darling, relax,” Josie said as she put the finishing touches on the wedding dress. “You're trembling.”
“I know,” Candyce sighed. “I'm just nervous.”
“You'll be fine.”
Josie helped Candyce put her long veil on and draped the thin material over her face. The soon-to-be bride looked at her reflection in the long mirror with satisfaction. Her dress was long and full with subtle floral decorations on the skirt and bodice. The long lace sleeves itched, but she could overlook that. She smiled as she looked at herself. Josie had done very well with her preparation. Candyce's normally wild and messy hair was somehow tamed into soft curls, and the makeup played up her natural beauty. The dress clung to her figure in the right places, and the large skirt emphasized her tiny waist. She felt gorgeous for the first time since her senior prom in high school.
“Now, do you have everything?” Josie asked, very much calm. It was one of her more admirable qualities.
“My veil is old. My dress is new. I borrowed your earrings, and my engagement ring is blue. That's everything!” Candyce said happily.
“You're ready, then. Go on,” Josie said as she nudged Candyce towards the door. “Tony's waiting for you.”
The music started, and Candyce zoned out. She loved Pachelbel's Canon, but somehow she couldn't focus on the complex counterpoint and harmonies. The double doors were closed, so she had no idea what was going on outside. Perhaps that was for the better. If she could see, then this would be real! She would really be getting married. It wasn't that she didn't want to marry Tony; she just couldn't believe she was marrying Tony.
Greg escorted his mother to her seat with a very forced smile on his face while Tony's brother escorted his mother. The two women took their seats, and Tony soon entered with his good friend and best man Mike close behind. They took their places at the altar, and then the groomsmen and bridesmaids entered. Amanda, one of Candyce's closest friends from college, entered with Paul as her escort. He looked less than thrilled to be dressed up in a tux, but he was still happy for his friends. Then, Hannah and Clive entered, followed by Jennifer and Richard. The men stood in a diagonal line behind Mike, while Amanda formed the bridesmaid line.
The ring bearer, Tony's dark-haired and dark-eyed nephew entered, carefully balancing the plastic rings on a white pillow with black and blue decorations. He definitely favoured the Slattery side of his family. The flower girl, Candyce's adorably perky and bright-eyed niece came in with him, lapping up the attention and cutely scattering her flower petals along the aisle. They made their way down the aisle, stopping just behind the two lines. Candyce's niece smiled, very proud of herself as she smoothed her frilly white dress that was styled to match her aunt's.
Finally, Josie entered, looking beautiful and elegant in her flowing blue dress. She serenely took her place at the front of the bridesmaid line, and then the string quartet began to play the Wedding March. Candyce's father stepped to her side, and they linked arms as the doors opened. The audience stood as Candyce stepped onto the aisle with her father and slowly made her way to the altar.
Here comes the bride... Candyce thought nervously.
“Who gives this woman in marriage?” the minister asked once Candyce and her father stopped at the front of the aisle.
“Her mother and I do,” her father said.
Candyce smiled lovingly at Tony as she took her place at the left side of the altar. He looked so handsome all dressed up like that, and the black and blue definitely suited him. She was very glad that Josie talked her out of choosing red or purple as the second wedding color. Her brown eyes sparkled in the candlelight as the ceremony began with a quick yet beautifully written prayer.
“Now, please join your right hands for the exchanging of the vows. Do you Tony, take this woman whose hand you now hold, to be your true and wedded wife; and do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses to love, cherish, honor, and protect her: to forsake all others for her sake; to cleave unto her, and her only, until death shall part you?” the minister said.
“I do,” Tony said quietly as he squeezed her hand.
“Do you, Candyce, take this man whose hand you now hold, to be your true and wedded husband; and do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses to love, cherish, honor, and protect him: to forsake all others for his sake; to cleave unto him, and him only, until death shall part you?”
“I do,” Candyce said, eyes glimmering even more.
“Tony, repeat after me. I, Tony, take you, Candyce, to be my lawfully wedded wife...to have and hold...from this day forward...for better or for worse...for richer or for poorer...in sickness and in health...till death do us part...and thereto I pledge my faithfulness.”
Candyce listened as Tony took her other hand and repeated each phrase, and in her heart of hearts, she knew that she was doing the right thing. They were a very unlikely pairing, but they worked very well together, both as a comedic duo and a couple. However, there was one person who didn't share this viewpoint. As Candyce recited her vows, Greg sat in the front row and glared at his sister. He didn't want to be there, but Candyce had to go and invite him. That, and that was the whole family thing. Ugh. How dare his sister go against his advice and marry Tony? He knew it would end up in trouble, but his mother had already suggested that he leave Candyce alone. This was her special day, and she didn't need anything to ruin it. What the hell ever.
Damn it Candyce, you always went against me! Greg thought angrily as he sulked. You're too damn independent.
“May I please have the rings?” the minister said.
Mike took Tony's ring from his jacket pocket, and Josie took Candyce's off her finger. They placed the rings on the prayerbook, and the minster said, “The perfect circle of a ring symbolizes eternity, while gold is a symbol of all that is pure and holy. As you give these rings to each other, our prayer is that your love will be the same, pure and eternal. May the Lord God bless these rings, symbols of your marriage. Tony, take this ring and place it upon Candyce's finger and say to her..."
Tony placed the delicate gold band on Candyce's finger, and the minister continued, “I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore.”
As Tony repeated these words, Candyce's heart soared. Was she really falling in love all over again? She didn't think that was possible!
“Candyce, take this ring, place it upon Tony's finger, and say...”
Candyce gently placed the ring on his finger, and she listened to the same words that Tony told her. She repeated them to him, and then it hit her. She was Tony's wife! Candyce Slattery. She definitely liked the sound of that far more than any words could say. There was a final wedding prayer, and then the pronouncement.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Tony lifted the veil and wasted no time. He kissed Candyce with more feeling than ever before, and she reciprocated it. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and gave him a long, hard kiss. They completely lost themselves in the moment, feeling everything in the world come together. They were husband and wife, and all was well in their world. Tony finally broke the kiss only to catch his breath. He smiled lovingly at his new wife, and she couldn't help but notice that she was crying tears of happiness. Candyce started to brush them away, but Tony beat her to it. He gently wiped a tear away, and Candyce's smile grew. Could things be any closer to perfect?
The minister announced Tony and Candyce as a newly married couple, and they watched as the party made its way up the aisle. The flower girl and ring bearer brought up the rear, and it was their their turn! Tony and Candyce joined hands and hurried up the aisle, doing their best to avoid the storm that met them outside.
“Candyce!” Tony said delightedly. “Come on!”
They got in his car, fully decked out in the typical Just Married attire. She noticed Josie's neat cursive handwriting on the back windshield. She wasn't sure who was responsible for the cans and shoes that trailed from the rear bumper, but what did that matter? Normally, she hated things like this, but this was a different occasion! They sped off towards the reception, ready to begin their new life. Meanwhile, Greg planned out what he would say to Candyce. It wouldn't be pretty, but he thought she had to hear it. It would be for her own good.