A definition of marriage and weddings

Steve and Chelsi's wedding was yesterday. Widely anticipated by myself, it came and went all too quickly. It was probably the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. Was it because everything was meticulously planned down to the last iota of a detail? Was it because thousands and thousands of dollars had been spent by all involved? No and no. It was beautiful because it was simple, lovely, and all about the couple's love. It perfectly suited the two getting married.

It was a day-long celebration. At dawn, the couple got baptized together a few yards from where they would later be married. The rest of the day was spent eating, sleeping, and fellowshipping with the couple and others involved in the wedding. It was so nice to actually get to spend some time with the bride and groom. It was a gorgeous day, so exploring and playing games were all options. At six, all of the guests arrived to eat supper. The tables were beautifully decorated with fresh wildflowers the family had picked up earlier. The wildflowers were all from a garden and arranged by the family. At 7:45, it was announced that the wedding ceremony would be held outside. Then, the couple was married under a beautiful canopy decorated with vines, with the ground scattered with colorful rose petals. Chelsi looked absolutely gorgeous in a simple wedding dress her and her sisters had made. It was beautiful! Steve looked handsome in a light brown suit. The bridesmaids looked beautiful as well, in dresses they had all picked out. Brown was the only stipulation. The guys wore suits with brown ties of their choice. The couple served the guests communion, praise songs were sung, and they were announced just as sun was setting. After the ceremony, there was dessert and dancing, toasts and talking. It was delightful.

One of the best parts, however, was the message on love Josh, the pastor, shared. Marriage is often taken too lightly these days. It is often gone into too lightly and broken even easier. Weddings, while beautiful, can be commercial and plastic. Gorgeously planned and perfectly executed, but without feeling. Josh told us that sometimes people even change their vows from "as long as we both shall live" to "as long as we both shall love." However, God ordains marriage as a physical symbol of His relationship with us. The way a husband and wife are to love each other and be committed to each other is the way God feels about us. Josh said, "Isn't it nice to know that when times get rough, God doesn't commit to us only 'as long as we both shall love'?"

It was absolutely refreshing to see these two beloved people come together as one in such a simple and lovely way. They committed to each other to be together for life, and I know they will honor that commitment. They didn't need a fancy wedding to do it, either. They focused on their love as opposed to the decorations and look. And this is what made that wedding the most beautiful one I have ever been to.