Bernadette and Allen

She smiled as the priest helped her out of the car. He said something to her that made her laugh, something the rest of us on-lookers couldn’t hear. Then he asked her to remind him of the story how she met her husband-t0-be. She paused, stopped mid-breath, and started to cry. The happy kind of cry—the type where a girl fans her eyes to stop the mascara from running.

I met Allen on the tennis court in college, Bernadette enlightened the priest.
Was it love at first sight, the priest asked.
She paused again and managed to say yes before the fanning of her eyes resumed.

By the time Allen was standing at the front of San Juan Capistrano Mission Church aisle, Bernadette has composed herself and walked toward her groom with a smile that lit up the church nave. The priest was there to pat Allen’s shoulder as he cried. The happy kind of cry—the type where a man makes a fist, places it on his lips, and cinches his eyes closed to keep the tears from escaping.

After the ceremony, the couple made their way to the Mission Courtyard and celebrated in the rays of a humid California day. Bernadette and Allen bid farewell to some of their guests and made their way to Monarch Beach at the St. Regis Hotel.

Along the Pacific coast, Bernadette wiggled her toes in the sand while her veil danced in the wind. Allen took her in his arms and held her so close they looked like one person from a distance. And in a certain way, that’s exactly what they became…one person, united in love and bond by eternal commitment.

Here are a few from Saturday…