Jaxon - The Wedding

I go up to my room and find it empty, I check my phone. Mom and Kayla have both left messages saying they have gone for breakfast. I text "ok, going to take a nap," in the group chat titled 'Smiths'. Two hours later, I awake to the sound of mom and Kayla trying to make up their minds on what to wear.

"I think you should wear that cream and orange dress your brother bought you last year," suggests Mrs.Smith.

"No, it's nice but I think I'll wear the sunflower yellow dress."

"Alright then, what should I wear?" asks Mrs.Smith

"Maybe your cotton candy pink dress with the double strand zirconia necklace dad got you, the pink zirconias would look so beautiful with that dress," suggests Kayla.

"With my ivory-coloured heels?"

"Definitely" replies Kayla.

"I'm headed for the shower first!" Jaxon says making a beeline for the toilet.

The Smiths got ready mother and daughter in their dresses Jaxon in his tuxedo with a black bow tie and a gold rose pinned on the right side of his chest near the lapel.

"Mom, I've got to be there early, shall we make a move?"

"Yes, let's go" said Mrs. Smith grabbing her Ivory handbag on the way out.

The Smiths arrived at sharp one o'clock after having lunch together, an hour before the ceremony could take place. The groomsmen arrived at the white chapel, waiting in a room where musical instruments are kept. Uncle Mark arrives and he grins upon seeing Jaxon and Jedidiah.

"So this is it Uncle Mark", says Jaxon with a solemn expression and a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"I guess so. Gentlemen, please slap me awake if one of you finds me falling asleep at my own wedding," says Uncle Mark with a sheepish grin.

"Sure", says Jaxon.

"Will do" affirms Jedidiah.

Before they knew it, Sarah burst into the room and startled them by exclaiming, "there you all are!" "I nearly had a heart attack thinking you had not yet arrived." "Please take your places outside the bride and the bridesmaids are here," she ordered them. "Yes, ma'am", said Jaxon and Jedidiah in unison. Both young men looked at each other and together left the room. Leaving Uncle Mark with Miss Sarah and her fussing about.

Jedidah immediately found Mary-Anne standing in front of Aunt Cecelia who looked radiant in her white lace wedding dress. The bridesmaids were both dressed in ever-green dresses that were one-shoulder that flared out at the bottom. True enough, both girls had gold roses pinned to their hair, making them look like exotic woodland greek goddesses that had descended from Olympus.

"You look gorgeous," said Jaxon softly to Ava. Who upon hearing it blushed prettily under his intense stare.

"You look good too," she replied.

He held out his arm and she put hers through his and held onto her bouquet of flowers which had white and gold roses in it. As soon as they got into position, the first notes of the song were played and slowly everyone walked towards the entrance of the white chapel. The crowd that had come to the wedding rose from the pews and turned to face the entrance as the bridesmaids walked in. Ava and Jaxon walked in first, followed by Mary-Anne and Jedidiah and finally by Aunt Cecelia.

Aunt Cecelia beamed behind her veil and with a nervous and bright smile she glanced quickly about the chapel taking in everything around her and walking in step to the music. She looked like a paragon of beauty and virtue, her dress was styled with an empire waist, that was overlaid with white lace and sequins scattered about making the dress shine under the afternoon sunlight. Which naturally came through the large glass windows, illuminating the inside of the white chapel. Her hands held onto her bouquet, tightly squeezing it whenever she felt nervous. All her nervousness abated as she saw Mark standing in the front looking at her with eyes so full of love and wonder that she felt she could melt under his gaze. Her eyes were torn away from Mark he took her hand and together they faced the priest.

"Today we have come together to witness the joining of this man to this woman in holy matrimony, in the beginning, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone so He fashioned him a suitable companion who would help him." "If anyone has anything to say against this union speak now or forever hold your peace." No one stood up and a solemn silence was felt throughout the chapel for a whole of three minutes. "Then let us begin with the vows, do you Mark Sandford take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife from this day forth till the day you leave this Earth?" asked the priest turning his head and his squinty eyes on Uncle Mark.

"I do" said Uncle Mark calmly.

"Do you Miss Cecelia Hartwell take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband from this day forth till death do you part?"

"I do", said Cecelia in a clear voice, staring up at Mark with eyes brimming with pride and happiness.

"Then I pronounce you both husband and wife, you may kiss the bride," said the priest this time with a smile.

Mary-Anne stood up and helped Aunt Cecelia remove her front veil. Then Uncle Mark slowly drew her into his arms and they shared a passionate kiss. The crowd cheered and everyone clapped as they turned around and faced the crowd with broad grins on their faces. The wedding service was far from over as hymns of worship were sung to God, to give honour and praise for everything He has done. It was then accompanied by a sermon given by the priest from the book of Genesis on the creation of Adam and Eve. After all this had taken place, both Mark Sandford and Cecelia Hartwell signed the registration papers with Melissa Cartwright and Ryan Seafield as witnesses.

"Hey, you want make a break for the reception?" asked Jaxon with a mischievous glint in his eyes, looking at her and then checking his phone.

"Let's do it," said Ava, following as he led out of the chapel and to his car.

His mother and Kayla were already waiting for them in the car when both of them got in. Ava sat at the back with Kayla while Mrs. Smith and Jaxon drove in the front.

"Hi," said Kayla.

"Hello" replied Ava.

"Nice to meet you, pretty sure you know who I am," said Kayla with a smug smile.

"I do, I didn't see you at the Bachelorette Party," commented Ava

"Mom and I realised were too late for it so we sat it out."

"Oh, you should have come," said Ava sincerely.

"Nah, would have ruined things," said Kayla casually.

"Do you know which ballroom they are holding the reception in?" asked Kayla

"It's in the Rose Ballroom," replied Ava.

"Fantastic! Let's hope we arrive first so we can scout the goods," exclaimed Kayla gleefully. To which Ava laughed in reply.