Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "The Wedding!" Story

Newlyweds Katie and Matt.

It was an ordinary day. Sitting patiently in the family room, waiting for everyone to finishing dressing. Today is the big day for Matt and Katie. They're getting married! Matt is my nephew, son of my brother Steve and sister-in-law Kathy. Never knew where he met Katie until the minister announced today that they met online. Everyone was supposed to be ready at 1:15 PM, but here it is almost 1:20 and I'm still sitting here. Wedding is at 2:00, but it will take us at least 20 minutes to get there. Finally at 1:27 we are headed out of the drive. Going over in my mind which way would be the quickest to get to Ephrata, PA where the wedding will be held. Finally, have it all mapped out in my head, but as we are traveling on two-lane RT 272N a tractor trailer pulls out in front of me. Plan 2 falls into place and we take RT 222N, a four lane highway. 1:48 and I'm pulling into the parking lot of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ephrata, PA. My daughter in the way-back of the car says, "Our Mother" must have been watching over us on that trip!" We are ushered into our seats and I wave to a few people as the ushers head into a small room to the left of the church altar. Then the mother-of-the-bride is escorted to her seat by her two sons and my brother Steve and his wife Kathy walk behind them towards their seats. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", played by two violinists, begins and the wedding party starts down the aisle. "Oh, my gosh. Aren't they cute," says my wife when our niece Kelly's three young children, Jack the ring bearer, and Megan and Allison the flower girls, start down the aisle. Then the minister asks us all to rise as the "Cannon in D" begins and Katie and her dad enter the rear of the church. I'm sitting right on the aisle and continue shooting as she starts down the aisle. Matt is standing with his best man and ushers next to the minister as Katie and her dad reach the pew where he will sit with the mother-of-the-bride. Well, I'm assuming that everyone has been to a wedding and this one is no different except for just a few things. Matt is close to a foot taller than the minister and when the minister decides to place his hand on Matt's head to bless him, he has to walk another step higher on the stairs in the front of the church to reach him. Oh yeah, the minister is gung-ho on kissing and when he performs the Sign of Peace, he encourages everyone in the congregation to kiss. Wow! Only problem is, I'm sitting on the aisle and my wife is next to me, if you get what I mean. And then, when it is time for Matt and Katie to present flowers to The Blessed Mother, they walk inside a small, brightly lit room to the right of everyone, next to the altar. As they move towards the room, the minister sits and opens his prayer book. My grandson, Caden, sitting next to Carol, notices the minister sitting and reading while Matt and Katie are presenting flowers, tugs on Carol's arm and says, "Shouldn't he be watching instead of sitting there reading. I think that's rude!" All went well and as the bride and groom, Katie and Matt Woods, walked back the aisle, the photographer stopped them right in front of me to take a few more photos. Thanks, buddy! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - More photos, naturally, of the wedding follow.