Bride: Nichole
Up front, her groom was waiting for her, unable to stand still; he shifted back and forth on his feet, energizer bunny energy needing to be released. And oh so anxious to see his bride. He took a deep breath. The air filled his cheeks like two wads of bubble gum, and then he remembered to open his mouth and let it all out in one loud whoosh. Yes, he was excited. He did it again. Fidgeted, blew up his cheeks, remembered to let out the air.
She couldn’t see her groom right away as she entered the church, all her friends were standing in the way. She’s short, he’s tall; but somehow, the standing crowd kept her from seeing him right away. Instead, she floated down the aisle clinging to her Daddy and whispering to him, thrilled, about the number of people who had showed up for her wedding: “They’re ALL here, Daddy!”
Finally, they were side by side. Nichole, right between her two favorite men, waiting to make the official transition from daughter to wife. And there they paused.
As the song played, I am not exaggerating to say that there wasn’t a dry eye in the church. Not a one. (Unless, of course, it was the stoic teenage boy on the sixth row who refused to be moved by the sweetness of the situation. But he doesn’t count). Nichole and her daddy are close. Very close. And as she stood on the brink of marriage, this girl-turned-woman celebrated that love and honored her Dad. And, wow, we cried. Everyone did.
She’ll change her name today
She’ll make a promise and I’ll give her aways
Standing in the bride room just staring at her
She asked me what I’m thinkin’
And I said I’m not sure
I just feel like I’m loosin’ my baby girl
And she leaned over
Gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there
Stickin’ little white flowers all up in her hair
Walk me down the isle daddy
It’s just about time
Does my wedding gown look pretty daddy?
Daddy’s don’t cry
Oh with all that I’ve done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every mornin’
And butterfly kisses
Then, she gave her Daddy a hug and turned to hold the hand of her Love, her Friend, her (now) Husband. She grinned at him. As they said their vows, he looked at her and grinned, a lopsided, totally excited, slightly goofy grin as he took her to be his wedded wife. She, looking up at him, a smile in her voice as she said her lines: “I, Nichole, take thee Lee.”