The day had been hectic, Nick and Gwen had parted ways in order to find all of the things they needed. Gwen only had to go to one shop to find the perfect dress. She wore a long white satin slip dress. It had spaghetti straps and was very plain, her long blond hair hung loosely down her back. The stylist she had found and placed lavendar and yellow flowers in different places among her large, loose curls. She had found the perfect ring for Nick, a plain platinum band and a beautiful bouquet for herself that consisted of yellow and lavendar tropical flowers. Nick also went about his duties, he had decided to wear a pair of black linen slacks and a matching jacket with a white shirt underneath. He already had bought Gwen's wedding band, he had it designed with her engagement ring and carried it in his wallet. He took care of all the legal matters of getting a marriage license and finding a minister.
As the sun was setting on the sandy beaches of St. Thomas, Nick and Gwen stood before a minister as they looked over the blue waters. A photographer was taken pictures and acted as the witness. The minister looked at the barefoot couple and began speaking, "We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Nickolas and Gwendolyn in marriage."
Although the minister was speaking Gwen and Nick barely knew he was there. They both stared at eachother as their hands were joined in front of them. They realized that the wedding ceremony was only a technicality, they were already married...they owned eachother's hearts. Nick had known since the moment he met Gwen that his life would never be the same, he knew that she was the one. After Nick had captured Gwen's soul, she knew that she would never be her own person again, she was his.
"Nickolas and Gwendolyn, life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to each of us by our family or by or friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life - and is the shared goal of a married life."
"Nickolas, do you take Gwendolyn to be your wife?"
Nick looked at Gwen's tearfilled eyes and responded, "I do."
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all other and holding unto her?"
"I do," Nick said softly.
"Gwendolyn, do you take Nickolas to be your husband?"
"I do," Gwen said in almost a whisper as she looked directly into Nick's eyes, tears were now forming for him.
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?"
"I do."
"Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage," the minister said as they each placed a ring onto the bible he was holding. Nick lifted Gwens shaking hand after the minister blessed the rings and began sliding it onto her finger.
"I, Nickolas, take thee, Gwendolyn, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore."
Gwen's tears were now flowing down the sides of her face, she picked up Nick's warm hand and kissed it before slowly sliding the ring on his finger. She looked straight into his crying eyes as she made the same promise to him thru her own tears, "I, Gwendolyn, take thee, Nickolas, to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise to love to you forevermore."
"Nickolas and Gwendolyn, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in holy matrimony, have promised your love for eachother by these vows, the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be husband and wife. Whom God hath joined together, let no man put assunder. You may kiss your bride."
Nick placed both of his hands on either side of Gwen's face and moved into kiss her, slowly and passionately. Her hands found their way to the sides of his face as well, deepening the kiss in the process. As they broke apart the minister said, "Good Luck Mr. and Mrs. Carter."
Chapter 44
Story Index
**Vows taken from www.dfwx.com/master.html**