(no subject)

[felicula]

Ahhhh.

Even for most of the drive home I retained a fantastic sense of euphoria of a very good day. (Not to mention that proud moment when I realized that one minute of looking at the map and picking numbers had yielded the same route mechanchaos and his family had used often. His brother lived in the Ithaca area. Yay direction sense and map use rolls! That also meant the drive took us past both the Groton and Moravia high schools. Neat.)



It is such a great feeling to be there when two close friends, who love one another so much, get married. mechanchaos and I got to meet both dawnstar's and kolys's families, as well as meeting kareila, alierak, and several others who may or may not be on lj.

I'd be lying if I said I went into this weekend completely devoid of nervousness. mechanchaos had officiated weddings and handfastings before, but my prior experiences were limited to group and solo seasonal rituals. Most family weddings I'd been to were at least roughly Christian, and most handfastings I'd attended were rather hasty, informal affairs with a few friends and maybe a family member or two.

dawnstar's and kolys's ceremony wasn't either. Someone looking in would see what looked like a traditional family affair. Someone listening in would hear a unique, non-traditional ceremony steeped in the appreciation of living and growing marital love. It celebrated the love of two best friends who have already weathered some of the ups and downs that are likely to test a new marriage.

I felt honored when they had first asked if we'd be willing to officiate. Now I feel downright proud to have been a part of making their ceremony happen.

I was a bit sheepish, though, that so many complimented mechanchaos and I on the ceremony. Really, it was dawnstar and kolys themselves who did most of the work selecting passages that fit how they wanted there ceremony to be. We helped with some of the details.

Still, it is an indescribable, positive feeling to place my signature on the document that declared them husband and wife. My confidence in my ordination cannot compare to the actual moment of completion, of seeing the glow with happiness, of knowing that mechanchaos and I played a part in that. An important part.

I am honored to have been chosen. I am honored to have met all those I met, both family and friends. I am honored to know that all of us who were involved in preparing for the ceremony succeeded in creating a beautiful space and a touching ceremony.

dawnstar and kolys, I wish you the best, from now until you watch the last sunset. May each new day bring you new joys and understanding. May each new year strengthen your love. And the selfish part- may we always stay friends! ***grins*** ***hugs you both tightly and often***

***spends some more time instigating the clinking glasses, and applauding the result***