EVERY time I attend a wedding, I always think of it as the beginning of forever. It is a beautiful occasion that reminds me of two souls who are deeply in love. Attached to it is the font of everlasting love, for better or worse. Just last Saturday (December 12, 2020), I was able to witness the wedding of Dexter Alvarez and Alice del Mundo. When my husband and I arrived at the church, there were only less than 25 guests, as the social crowd is not permitted this time and that social distancing is mandated.
So Alice the bride walked down the aisle. She was the only woman in a white long elegant dress with light make-up and, honestly, her simplicity magnifies her beauty. There were no bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers. I did not see flower petals on the floor but, amazingly, even without it, the wedding rose she was carrying was a perfect image of her that brought love in the air.
As Dexter watched Alice, everyone knew he was smiling underneath his face mask. The presence of Alice’s immediate family members, although incomplete, did not make the ceremony less special. Things may have been different when the wedding was set earlier before the pandemic, but the crisis turned the ceremony solemn and unique. And Dexter’s eyes were sure filled with joy and fulfillment.
For me, the limited guest envelopes me in so much quietness. When the mass started, the one-meter rule distance dragged me more to listen to the powerful words of Fr. Erwin Rommel Torres about the beauty of marriage. While Alice and Dexter both face the altar recognizing God who brought them together.
What a different experience I would say! Relatives and closest friends of the bride and groom may not all have been invited to witness the lovely event, but indeed, the ceremony becomes more meaningful and memorable. Guests' eyes and ears were all focused on the lovely couple that even how soft and low their voices when they said “Yes, I do” to each other, it has reached up echoing to heaven.
The reception was at the bride’s residence, it was simple but very elegant. Guests were limited, but the food was not. The entire table and food set-up have the personal touch of the bride– what a perfect setting, sumptuous food, and delightful music. Even without the tossing of the bouquet and dancing with relatives, I can smell the flowers blooming and can feel the spirit of love dancing. I have never attended such a beautiful wedding!
Now I have learned that wedding ceremonies need not a bigger venue, visitors reaching more than a hundred, bridesmaids, and flower girls to make it memorable. The crowd or the number of guests is not going to characterize the newlyweds celebrating great love. In a pandemic, where a lot of restrictions or ground rules are to be followed, people can still push through with their long-awaited weddings and can still have the best wedding ever.