Eion started his vow. “Do you remember the very first day that we met?”
It was not the usual love at first sight moment. I’ve hated you, not knowing that it was love that I was feeling. We started out as enemies and now, look at us. You have become my lover, my companion, and my best friend. There's no one else I'd want to build a life with. I get to have you by my side, my love, and my wife, for eternity.” Saying that he paused. He was looking at my eyes as he said that. He didn’t have any copy, he then continued,
“You have made me the happiest man in the world today by agreeing to share your life with me. I promise to cherish and respect you. I promise to care for you and protect you. I promise to comfort you and encourage you. I promise to be with you for all of eternity.
I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you are yet to become. I promise to be patient and to remember that all things between us are rooted in love. I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them. I promise to share my whole heart with you and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to love you loyally and fiercely—as long as I shall live.”
I smiled at that, feeling tears in my eyes. It was now my turn, I had prepared a copy of my vow in case I forgot but now, I feel like not wanting to read it. I cleared my throat, “I choose you and promise to choose you as my husband every day we wake. I will love you in word and deed. I will laugh with you, cry with you, scream with you, grow with you, and craft with you.” I paused, reliving the moments with him.
“To be your kin and your partner in all of life's adventures is all I could hope for in the world. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I don't yet know, I give you my hand. I give you my love. I give you myself, the good, the bad, and the yet to come. “
“You love me in and complete me in ways I never knew possible. From this day forth, I promise to listen to you and learn from you, to support you and accept your support. I will celebrate your successes and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you, my husband, and rejoice in your love for me for all of the years of our lives, my strawberry addict robot.” Ending my vow, Eion’s face was flooded with tears. Wiping it, he breathed in and out to calm himself down.
The priest then cleared his throat, turning to Eion. “Eion Aurelio Hudson, do you, take Leizel Snow Garcia Waterstones, as your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
Eion stared at me, “I do.”
The priest nodded and now looked at me. “Leizel Snow Garcia Waterstrings, do you, take Eion Aurelio Hudson, as your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
I smiled at Eion, “I do.”
The priest then said to Eion, “Repeat after me.”
"I, (Eion Aurelio Hudson), take you (Leizel Snow Garcia Waterstrings), to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
“I, (Leizel Snow Garcia Waterstrings), take you (Eion Aurelio Hudson), to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
Caleb, who was looking so adorable in his suit, was now holding the two boxes of rings in his hands.
He was looking red and flustered. He handed it to us before running away and I chuckled at him.
“You may place the ring on her hand and repeat this: "I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."
As he said that, Eion gently held my hand and out the rings on my hand.
The priest then asked me to do as he told Eion and I did.
"By virtue of the authority vested in me under the laws of the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Putting the ring on Eion’s hand, the priest then smiled at Eion, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Eion grinned at that, sighing in relief, “Ugh, finally.”
Raising my wedding veil, Eion drew a heavy breath before clashing his lips on mine. Everyone in the crowd cheered, and I could hear Leroy and Dax’s voices.
I closed my eyes, savoring the moment and when I knew we had been kissing for almost ten seconds, I took the initiative to break it. Eion seemed disappointed but I gave him a look. He winked at me, mouthing “I can’t wait for the honeymoon.”
I gasped at that, turning to him with wide eyes. He just pinched my nose, a smirk playing in his lips.
Shaking my head at him, I managed to see my mom with her camera in her hands documenting everything with happy tears in her eyes.
And as if he couldn’t wait anymore, Eion then carried my bridal style as the place was now covered with flowers and bubbles, one of the gimmicks of the organizers.
The crowd continued cheering as Eion opened his car and made me hop inside the passenger seat and him in the driver's seat. It felt like a scene from the movie, everything. And I watched everything unfold in front of me. It was like I was just one of the bridesmaids, now I’m the one getting married.
The feeling of nervousness was now gone with Eion beside me.
“To the reception, Eion okay? You still have to appear to the guests.” Aunt Maggie said, appearing on the window and giving Eion a look.
Eion nodded beside me, “Yes, I know that, Aunt. Stop ordering me around, it’s my day today.”
And with that, Eion started the engine of the car and we finally left the venue.
Eion glanced at me, “It felt like it has been a long time since I last saw you, ”
“It’s only two days, Eion,” I replied.
He nodded, “Yeah, but the wedding took longer than I thought.” Then, as if thinking of something, his lips turned into a smile, “We should have been on our honeymoon by now.”
I shook my head, “Wait, Eion, don’t. I know what you're thinking. Don’t even think about it.”
“What? I’m just smiling innocently.” He said, trying to defend himself. “I’ve been waiting for this. Can’t you grant my request?” He pouted, “Please? Mrs. Hudson?”
I felt a bit strange hearing him call me that. Wow, I’m no longer Ms. Waterstrings. I’m Mrs. Hudson now. I bit my lip, sighing and giving in to his request. Oh well. What can I do?
“Alright, Mr. Hudson.”
Grinning at my response, he licked his lips and instantly grabbed my chin.
I guess this is round two for the kissing the bride part.