On Marriage, Weddings and Why They Should be an Option for Everyone
Four years ago today -almost exactly - I woke up with the weirdest feeling. Something massive was happening today, something I was actually going to have to wear stockings and heels for. I am not a morning person (not quite to the point of having a novelty t-shirt that says "I'm-up-and-dressed-what-more-do-you-want", but almost) and I had to search around my blurry consciousness for what was going on. Job interview? My birthday? Oh, that's right, my wedding. Our wedding. Nat and I are getting married today.
I'm not going to go into huge details about the day - but I can remember the nerves, the excitement, and the fact that *this is actually happening*.
We had a small civil ceremony at my in-law's lovely house, with maybe fifty guests; close friends and family. It went without a hitch (except for the literal 'hitching' I suppose) and we even managed to get the kiss right. (Yes, you do have to practice kissing in the rehearsal. One of us kept tilting our head the wrong way. Possibly me.)
My nieces/ flowergirls looked adorable (Mikayla's sequinned pink converse almost stole the show) and my nephew did manage to drop the rings, but all said and done it was amazing/ nerve-wracking/ and joyous all at once.) I was very aware that it wasn't about the day itself, but the kickstarting of a new way of living for both of us. Which is why it was a fairly short, intimate and casual affair; I wasn't going to wear a long white dress and pretend I was a virgin (at 35, that ship had long since sailed); we didn't have any formal photographs; the food was casual and buffet-served. When I hear that today the average wedding costs well into five figures, I'm kind of aghast. Wouldn't that money be better spent on a house deposit or something? My little black semi-goth-lolita dress was $75. Apparently some women spend almost ten times that! It makes no sense to me at all.
Anyway, my point is, my life changed for the better that day. Having Nat as my side-kick/ best friend/ husband has literally saved my life. That's an option that should be availble to any couple, regardless of gender, because it kicks arse; that's why I'm so enthusiastic about legalising gay marriage. Because it's awesome.