June Weddings

From the book Spider's Big Catch

As June wraps its arms around us like the warm hug of a favorite aunt, I begin to think about weddings. I've been a musician for thirty years, and I've played at scores of weddings and receptions, sometimes more than once for the same person. It was a way to make a living-the money was good and there was usually decent food.

As a wedding soloist, I'd sit off to the side, watching brides in white dresses and grooms in rented tuxedos promise to love each other forever. But somehow, I couldn't shake a sadness that always hung over me as I watched, knowing that one in every two marriages will fail.

I can't explain it, but over the years, I developed an eye for knowing whether a couple was going to make it or not. There was just something about the way the bride and groom related to each other-the look in their eyes and their body language-that offered clues as to how their marriage was going to turn out.

Then one afternoon, while our band was playing for a large reception in a small town ballroom, I casually looked across the vast sea of people. My glance moved from table to table, until I saw the bride and groom, sitting alone in a corner. They were sitting in total ease, holding hands, saying nothing.

Her flowing white dress and his tuxedo seemed out of place, but their happiness and comfort with each other was totally apparent. There was no question that those two people belonged together. They would've been sitting there in those same two chairs, still holding hands in exactly the same way, if they'd been wearing blue jeans and overalls at someone else's reception.

They were at a party, to be sure-a big, loud party. But the party was really for the benefit of everyone else in attendance. They were totally comfortable just sitting in their corner, out of the limelight, watching the people they loved having a good time.

As cynical as I'd become over the years, something struck me at that moment as I watched that couple. I realized that weddings actually represent the triumph of the human spirit. Every marriage is a public statement by two people, letting the whole world know that together, they choose to believe that their union will be the one-in-two that lasts.

When thought of in that way, every wedding really symbolizes a victory of hope-in the face of all odds. Sure, it'll take all their courage and strength to succeed, but no matter what, couples continue to try.

They know the statistics are against them-but they look straight into the eyes of the odds makers and say, "So what?"

And why not? Throughout history, people have staked their fortunes, and sometimes their very lives, on less than a 50-50 chance.

Maybe that's why we hold so many weddings in the month of June. It's a month that can be unpredictable-full of warmth and promise one minute, and then suddenly becoming stormy and filled with uncertainty.

As for me, since seeing that couple, holding hands at their reception, I've begun singing my wedding solos with a renewed hope-embodied by two people at the altar, vowing to face their future together, in spite of overwhelming odds.

© 2004. Gary E. Anderson. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Gary Anderson is a freelance writer, editor, ghostwriter, and manuscript analyst, living on a small Iowa farm. He's published more than 500 articles and four books. He's also ghosted a dozen books, edited more than 30 full-length manuscripts, produced seven newsletters, and has done more than 800 manuscript reviews for various publishers around the nation. If you need writing or editing help, visit Gary's website at www.abciowa.com. abciowa@alpinecom.net

ABC News

Hallmark unveils gay wedding cards The Press Association - 39 minutes ago Gay marriage may not be recognised in most American states, but it is by the country's biggest greeting card company. Hallmark is introducing same-sex ... Gay wedding cards from Hallmark: No rainbows please WalletPop Hallmark to offer greeting cards for same-sex unions KLTV Sending the 'Very Best'? Christian News Wire (press release) Gay Socialites - WLAC all 485 news articles

The Associated Press

Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards The Associated Press - 16 hours ago PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Most states don't recognize gay marriage — but now Hallmark does. The nation's largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex ...

2: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a ... Catholic News Agency, CO - Aug 20, 2008 3: and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. 4: Again he sent other servants, saying, ...

You are invited to our Vegas wedding... Independent, UK - Aug 13, 2008 When Peaches Geldof decided to spring a surprise wedding on her family, there was only one place to go. So what are the odds on her marriage lasting? ...

Telegraph.co.uk

Why does Bob look so miserable? Could he be mourning daughter ... This is London, UK - Aug 15, 2008 You wouldn't think his 19-year-old daughter had just got married from the glum look on Sir Bob Geldof's face. The Boomtown Rats frontman looked crestfallen ... Peaches Geldof’s ex-boyfriend confused by her sudden marriage Fametastic all 664 news articles

Lincoln and Corina Seattle Post Intelligencer - Jul 31, 2008 So I was asked to by Lincoln and Corina to reflect at their wedding about their love and find a literary passage that i felt spoke to it as well. ...

Jay-Z explains why he & BeyoncĂ© won't confirm their marriage Infos Jeunes France, France - Aug 8, 2008 Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z went about their union in a pretty uncommon fashion, as far as celebrities go. While most do try to keep the affair a bit private ...

Wedding announcement stirs controversy for Logan newspaper KSL-TV, UT - Aug 4, 2008 By Andrew Adams A small-town newspaper finds itself in the middle of a brewing controversy after publishing a wedding announcement for a lesbian couple. ...

Father H. Baxter Liebler San Juan Record, UT - Jul 23, 2008 by Buckley Jensen In his youth, he very much wanted to go west to Montana and become a sheepman. His parents and family pleaded with him to go to college ...

Madonna: The First 50 Years Access Hollywood - Aug 16, 2008 In 2000, she struck up another Hollywood marriage, wedding Guy, a British director she met through Sting and Trudie Styler. Madonna has also been linked to ...