Our limo arrived at the Chapel EXTREMELY early. We were there at 2:25 PM, and our ceremony wasn't scheduled to begin until 3:00 PM. We pulled up behind Gabe's limo, and we sat and waited. I was getting a little nervous at this point, and I could tell my parents were, because almost as soon as the car stopped, my mom and dad got out for a smoke. Dad paced around and chatted with the limo driver and Mom greeted family and friends as they arrived. Maria, Kim, Tracey and I sat in the limo and waited, until Maria's bladder was about to give out and she had to find a bathroom. So we let her out, and she was back in ten minutes with some upsetting news. It seems her cousin Chris (also Gabe's cousin) had not yet arrived, and he was scheduled to read the first reading. Chris was coming from Manhattan and bringing a caravan of relatives with him, and the news made me slightly nervous. We still had about 10 minutes until we had to start, so we waited a little longer. Finally, Deacon Pat (who was officiating our ceremony) came out of the church to talk to my Dad. We had to make an executive decision, and Chris was replaced last-minute by another of Gabe's cousins. Problem solved, no more stress. Three o'clock hit, and we were getting out of the limo and heading up through the small courtyard to the chapel steps.

I waited outside with my dad as Tracey, then Maria, and then Kim filed down the aisle. Our processional music, "The Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary)" by Clarke was playing. I turned to my Dad and smiled. He was nervous, and so was I, but we were holding ourselves together incredibly well. We entered the small foyer of the church and watched as our groomsmen Dave and Mike rolled out the aisle runner. After they finally had it settled (we hadn't practiced this at the rehearsal, and it kept rolling out on an angle), everyone stood up, the music changed, and Dad and I started down the aisle. It's a very short aisle, and I hardly remember the walk at all. I remember seeing no one until I saw Gabe at the end. He looked incredible - his face was serious and sweet and his eyes were slightly red from the emotions. I remember thinking "My God, it's real!" Daddy pulled up my blusher, kissed me on the cheek, shook Gabe's hand and gave me away. Gabe and I walked hand-in-hand up to the altar. All the nerves were gone and I couldn't stop smiling!

We had a full mass, so there was a reading from the Old Testament (Genesis 1: 26-28, 31), the New Testament (1 Corinthians 13: 1-8), then the gospel reading (John 15: 9-12). Next came the homily/sermon (Deacon Pat's homily was short and touching), then we exchanged vows. Gabe went first, and he spoke up clear until his voice cracked ever so slightly. Then I said mine, and my voice cracked too, but there were no tears!

(Sidebar note: At the rehearsal, Gabe and I told Deacon Pat that we wanted to read the vows off cue cards so we would look like we'd memorized them. Well, at the last minute, Gabe decided he wanted to be able to look at me while he said his vows, so Deacon Pat whispered them, and we repeated them. Afterwards, our guests told us the vows were the most touching part of the ceremony and they were all impressed that we had memorized them. It turns out no one knew Deacon Pat was prompting us!).

We were pronounced husband and wife, we kissed (Deacon Pat was a little disappointed in the kiss, but we were in church, for heaven's sake!) and then lit the unity candle (which was not OUR unity candle, the one my grandmother gave us, but a substitute since ours didn't arrive in time). I took a seat on the other side of the altar with my husband for the remainder of the mass. At this point, I noticed my mother and father in their seats. My mother is one of the least emotional people I know, and there she was, crying her eyes out! Along with my Dad, Aunt, Grandmother and Maria. Gabe and I held hands through most of the rest of the service, and he leaned over and kissed me on the forehead which was so comforting and sweet.

At the end of the mass, we were introduced, kissed again, and we began the recessional ("Trumpet Tune" by Purcell). We needed to stay in the church to do a few pictures and since it's such a small chapel, an impromptu receiving line formed. It was fine because it was only Gabe and I so it didn't take too long, and we did get a chance to greet everyone. When everyone had exited, the photographer took us back up to the altar to re-create a few moments (like the unity candle, so we could have the real one in the photos, and a better shot of our "kiss"). Then we headed out and were pelted, er... showered with birdseed from the satin roses Gabe's Mom made. We headed into the garden for family photos, then we were off in the limo to the USGA Golf Museum for Bridal Party pictures...

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