May 16 – “The Rehearsal Third-Degree”

Big day today at the Vaughan household, Galveston Sycamore Edition.  Well, not at our house, but for us.  We have three pretty major events to attend in a relatively small space of time.  First is a benefit for a friend who is recovering from cancer.  That starts at 11 a.m.  Next is a Baby Dedication in Texas City at noon that I am presiding over.  Then comes the wedding I am officiating at 3:30 back in Galveston.  Add to that stopping by to get my medications at the pharmacy and of course packing for vacation.  Interesting day.

The rehearsal for the wedding was yesterday afternoon.  I haven’t had a group of worriers like that in a long time.  Now I understand the bride being concerned about the day being just perfect.  That’s a given.  I can even understand the groom being nervous.  But this was everybody.  Stacy the Wedding Coordinator and I fielded a barrage of questions from the time we got there until we left the premises.  Here’s a sample of some the queries:

Her: “When will I sing”

Me: “I will call you up when it is time.”

Her: “Well where do I stand?  And will there be a microphone?  Do you want me to sing the song right now?  Do I sing the second verse, too?”

Him: “What will you say right before I read my poem?”

Me: (I read him the section from by book) “And I will call you up.”

Him: “Can you read those words one more time?  Are they right at the beginning, or do they come, say, fifteen or twenty minutes into the service?”
Me: “Fifteen or twenty minutes into the service we will be done.”

Him: “Sweet.”

Him: (As the rehearsal ends) “Can I just take a picture of those words with my phone so I can make a good segue?”

Someone: “Who will escort in Grandma?  And the Moms?”

Groom: “Why does someone have to escort my Mom in when my Dad is here?  Can’t he just do it?  Why does he walk behind the two of them?”

Great question, my friend.  Tradition.

Bride’s brother: “What do I say when I present the bride to the groom: This guy?  Me?  I’ll do it?  I’ll try to find out?”

Someone: “Will the ring bearers have the actual rings or just those fake things tied to the pillow?  Who do they give them to?”

What a group.  They were all really nice folks, though.  Very heavy New York or maybe even Boston accents on the groom’s side of the family.  This should be a fun one.  Oh, I forgot one other question.  I know it was on everyone’s mind, but the groom finally said it out loud: “What if it rains?”  Actually the hotel has some very nice rooms, and they are good about moving everything inside if they have to.  Looks pretty cloudy out there this morning, though.

Psalms 25:8-9 says, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.  He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

Father, would you race with us through all these events today?  Bless the young children and newly married couples and those recovering from difficult situations.  Amen.