It happened. The long and winding road that Melissa and I have been on for the last 12 years, finally offered up a conclusive destination named happiness. By happiness, I mean a life-long commitment to each other commonly referred to as the holy and sacred union of marriage. Marriage! I can't believe it happened, and that I am a husband! Not only a husband, but the husband of the most amazing female to ever grace the planet. Our wedding was a long time coming, and a long time in the making. We[and by we I mean Melissa, her Mother, her Father, and I]had a year of planning and of detail-sorting invested in this thing. It all came to a culmination and fruition on December the 12th, 2009.
The whole wedding weekend was very surreal to me. I knew it was happening, and was aware of the events that unfolded and swirled around me, but somehow had a hard time feeling a presence of mind and maintaining a mental sense of reality. I honestly felt, for the greater portion of those 48 hours or so, that I was sleepwalking in a beautifully soft and hazy dream. A lot of the family members and friends from both sides flew in on that Thursday night, to an atypically cold Atlanta weekend. With highs only in the 40's and a promise of a Saturday drizzle, it wasn't exactly the weather we'd been hoping nor praying for. However, there was nothing to do but bundle up and make the best of it - besides, it still probably felt like a day at the beach for the gaggle of hearty, thick-blooded Minnesotans. So, Melissa and I spent that Thursday evening going to one of our favorite steak&sushi restaurants with my family and a couple of close friends. The food was great, the atmosphere was festive, and the smiles and hugs were plentiful. Afterwards, we all adjourned to the white light laden outdoor square where we were able to take group pictures in front of an absolutely towering Christmas tree. It felt so good to be standing in the middle of Atlantic Station, in my adopted hometown of Atlanta, with my soon-to-be-wife and all of my loved ones. I don't know the exact word for that feeling, but I felt warm inside. 
The wedding rehearsal was slated for 11am the next morning, so after seeing everyone made it back to the downtown Marriott Suites and enjoying a brief reunion with the Golden clan, it was time to head for home and a few hours of sleep. Well, sleep didn't come easily that night, but the morning sure came quickly. After a few violent "snooze" slaps to the 'ol alarm clock, I was showered and on my way to our rehearsal. Can I say I was shocked? I was shocked at how easily the rehearsal went by, and at how well-behaved everyone was! We had no problems of any kind, and were finished before I even knew it! Awesome. Afterwards, everyone sort of gradually dispersed in different directions like so many loose marbles on a slowly spinning merry-go-round to enjoy the Atlanta afternoon however they saw best. I, spent the next hour and a half setting up the private wine cellar at SHOUT Restaurant with my soon-to-be Father-in-Law for our rehearsal dinner, while my lovely Fiance' went to be pampered at a beautiful and exquisite bridal shower being thrown in her honor at The Four Seasons. Alan[Melissa's Dad]had made a video for us that he planned to show at the dinner that night, and for which he had rented in a movie-projector and massive mobile screen. Once the scene was set, we had some time to kill so Alan suggested I come and lunch with him, his Uncle Max, and his cousin Jeff. I did, and had the distinct pleasure of getting to know those two interesting and engaging gentlemen for the next two hours. The stories and shared laughs really helped me to settle down a bit and get outside of myself for a time. Then, back home to an empty house[the dog was already in the kennel, where she would have to stay for the next couple of weeks while we were busy being honeymooners]. I showered, put on some fresh clothes, and went out to run a few errands involving flowers, flower petals, and some candles. Once all was in place and each line of my to-do list was checked, it was time to go to the rehearsal dinner. My Mom and Dad were so wonderful and sweet to put on our rehearsal dinner at one of the coolest and hippest night-spots/restaurants in the downtown area. The whole event was just a smash including the food, the video Alan had prepared[extremely moving and touching, I think I had some dirt in my eye a few times], and the speeches made by our Father's. With lots of love, lots of laughing and lots of crying, the dinner was just a great big success that was wildly appreciated by Melissa and I. Again, it was time to go home and try to convince my eyes and mind to submit to sleep, tomorrow was to be our wedding day!!Okay, so I'm sure most people that have been married know that sleeping the night before the big day is practically laughable. I don't think I slept more than 2-3 hours, tops. But, whatever - today was the day I had waited for my whole life!! I don't think men necessarily dream about their wedding day the same way women do as little girls who want to grow up and be a princess and wear the gown and have the ball etc., but it is something we think about. I had hoped it would happen someday, and since I'd met Melissa, I'd prayed it would be with her since I couldn't see myself ever even being capable of giving my heart to another! And so, now, here we were. This was to be the day I would stand before my family, friends, and God to vow my lifelong loyalty and commitment to the girl of my dreams. She was off being pampered/beautified/whatever it is women do when they get ready for something really big, and I was left to do - what else? Go to Waffle House!! My Mom and Dad and Brother drove out and met me at the Waffle House nearest me[and where my favorite server works who always gives me a hard time with her back-woods, trailer-park-with-blow-up-furniture, just-fell-off-the-turnip-truck southern accent. "Excuse me ma'am, can I get a cup of coffee?" "No you can't." "Okay, thanks." "How about a waffle and bacon-biscuit?" "NO. I'm tired." Sooner or later, she winds up plunking down a sweet tea for me on the table, and slinging me a plate of food - sometimes, if I'm lucky, it's even what I ordered. Why do I keep going back there.....?]. Anyway, breakfast was greasy and good and I was full. Me and my Dad hung out together afterwards, hitting up a music shop and just kinda catching up on some quality time together. Then, it was back home to shower, shave, and get ready to go get married.
The ceremony was to be at 6pm that evening, but I had to check in to our wedding night suite at The Georgian Terrace first, at 3pm. The Georgian Terrace is a beautiful 100 year old historic hotel where everyone stayed for the Premiere Party of "Gone With The Wind" back on Dec 15th, 1939[almost exactly 70 yrs before our wedding!], and is a place Melissa has always been enamored with. After making sure to do some personalization and finishing touches to the room, I was picked up by my best man and groomsman to be delivered to the Wimbish Mansion[our wedding location]. Now, let me tell you something - when you spend a year putting together ideas and details for an event, you think it's going to be cool and you hope it's going to be spectacular, but you don't really know how the end result will look until it's actually done. Well, when I walked in to the Wimbish, I was BLOWN AWAY. I will never forget how beautiful it all truly was. It was warm, and dim, and candlelit, and up-lit, and soft, and elegant, and romantic. I mean, I'm talking romantic. There were flowers everywhere. Bunches of them covering everything, in their white and red splendor. Truly a sight to behold. Now, all I had to do was kill and hour and a half until showtime. Let me tell ya - I could not sit still. I paced, and paced, and drank Diet Cokes, and paced, and fidgeted, and paced, took some pics and video with my boys, and paced, and paced. That 90 minutes, was tough!! That was probably the most anxious I've ever been, and ever hope to be!!! I was ready though, I was ready. And before I knew it, it was time. The officiating Pastor - Dr. David Cooper, Senior Pastor of Mount Paran Church of God in Atlanta, GA[who has been a constant source of inspiration and spiritual encouragement to both Melissa and I for the last year or so, and whom we felt so very blessed to have marrying us]had arrived and after a little small talk, the moment came for us to walk out in front of all of our gathered loved one's. Out we went, and up onto to the stage I took my stand. The harpist's hands were interpreting the music of angels, and I felt as if my heart would surely burst. Suddenly, the music stopped, and a new song["Dodi Li", which is a Hebrew love song]began, indicating my bride was about to walk out. And then........there she was at the top of the stairs with her Daddy. Pastor Cooper took my arm at this point, and whispered in my ear "take a good look - you are gonna' remember that the rest of your life.". I believe him. I have never seen ANYTHING like my Melissa in that moment. Words could never even hope to describe how incredible and transcendent her beauty was. It was just an inside-out glowing pureness of the likes few will ever see[at least outside of the fortunate attendants]. People often refer to someone looking "like an angel", but Melissa actually resembled what I imagine an angel must actually look like - for real. Good work God. I watched her walk up the aisle, towards me! Unbelievable. When she was finally within reach, I grabbed her and pulled her to me, unable to hide my relief at being within the same breathing space as her once more. She does that for me you know - helps me feel like I can breathe. The rest of the service was a bit of a blur, to be honest. I was lost in that dream-like state I spoke of earlier, unable to believe this was happening. My sister read some scripture[quite well, by the way - I was proud of her], and Dr. Cooper spoke on love and commitment being a covenant. Then, I had a song played that I had written and recorded for my bride entitled "When I Look In Your Eyes". She had wanted me to sing, but I told her no way! I knew I wouldn't be able emotionally to get through singing live, so I figured this would be the next best thing. Plus, it was a surprise that she didn't know about[I'm big on surprises, they're fun!]. After all of that, he said "repeat these vows after me" which I did, and then she did, and before I knew it he was declaring us husband and wife and told me I could kiss my bride!!! And I did!! Like, 10 times!!!! I couldn't help it!!! We were immediately whisked off and up to take pictures, and eat some finger food before going down to be "officially" announced at our reception.
I had convinced Melissa months before, that I had settled on just renting a standard black limo for our post-wedding transportation, but that wasn't quite true. She has always had a deep love for horses, and I thought it would be most appropriate to include her favorite animal and hobby into our most special of days. So, I commissioned a horse-drawn carriage to pick us up at The Wimbish Mansion, and take us all the way down to The Georgian Terrace[which is at one of the coolest and busiest areas of downtown Atlanta, right across the street from the Historic Fox Theater]. The only problem was that there is some kind of zoning laws in that particular stretch, so the carriage company had to arrange for the police to escort us on our trip. I told Melissa to enjoy it, because it's probably the only time in our lives that we will shut down Peachtree Street with a police escort!! Our photographers[the amaaaaazing and incomparable ALMASY]arranged to meet us down at "The 'Terrace" to take a few more shots in that incredible space before we called it a night and headed up to our suite. So, after a few more pictures and before we turned into a pumpkin, we stepped into the elevator and went up, up, up, crashing straight through the roof and into the rest of our lives. Our wedding, was a dream come true. "Dream Come True" is one of those phrases that is way overused, but in this case, it is perfectly accurate. I could've never expected to have so beautiful and wondrous a wedding, and I am the luckiest man in the whole wide world to have the best wife a man could ever ask for. The night may have been a dream, but it is only the beginning. This fairy-tale is far from over, and in fact has just begun. The best is most definitely yet to come, but we surely could not have started this marriage any better. For I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine from December to Eternity, 12/12/09 ----------->
