Whoa

That was one strange wedding. Well, strange isn't the right word. It was just different. But it was also the coolest wedding I've been to just about ever.

It was cool because even though there was so much that was different, most key staples of a traditional marriage were left intact.

I couldn't possibly explain all the differences, but principle changes were in the music selection -- the bride's choices I'm sure, she has good taste -- and unique vows that included phrases such as "I promise to love you to the end of my wits."

The ceremony iteself was followed by a dinner, and then by mostly traditional reception type stuff (first dance, father/bride dance, etc), though there were some twists there as well. And after that there was basically an all-out party. The groom is in a rock band, and his band had their gear setup, and they played while the rest of the friends and family jammed.


So why come all this way for an offbeat wedding? The bride, Sunny, is a close friend of the family. Some would say my "god sister". Her parents are my god parents, and as children we spent a lot of time together, especially in the summers. I lived my first four years of life in Arizona, and many of my relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) are there, so even after we moved away, I would be sent to Arizona for most of the summer to visit friends and relatives. While there, if I wasn't staying with my grandmother, I was staying with my god parents. Sunny and I played together all day and night, with my cousins at times, and with neighborhood kids at others. We did other activities together such as take an art class and go swimming at the community pool. She is the closest thing to a second sister I could have, and thus the reason I felt it important enough to drive a thousand miles.

In all, I'm VERY glad I came all this way for a wedding, as I also got to talk with many family friends that I hadn't seen in years. I'm talking the kind of friends that I've known since before I could walk. Or in some cases before they could walk. It was great catching up.