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Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Day - 26 September 2000 - Tuesday

Andy and I led the march to the front of the room where Fritz, the magistrate, stood awaiting our arrival.  Mary and Dad followed directly behind us with the balance of our party filing into the room.

The "room" as I have referred to so many times was a room a great history.  It was a hall where Mozart had played for the royal family and Archbishops.  The room was a magnificent structure of parquet wooden floors, brilliant chandeliers, rich damask wall paper, and twenty foot windows that allowed for the morning sun to stream in.  The room was alive, it was filled with music, love and honor.

We walked into the room with an elation of pride and love for each other and our family and friends, both who were and were not with us physically at that moment.

As we approached Fritz, he seated Andy and I in the center, with my Dad on my left and Andy's Mom on his right.  Fritz, also was smiling with his eyes sparkling.  Fritz gave a speech that spoke of love equating to building a home.  That one must first lay the foundation and place each material in place with both love and patience.  His words were so much more than I expected, they were quite fitting for two people beginning their lives together.

Fritz sealed the ceremony with our vows, that Andy responded a full hearted "Ya", when Fritz asked him if he took me to be his wife.  I am sure that it was in honor of the Deutsch language.

We were then asked to approach the table, and exchange rings. This was the first time I was able to be close to Andy.  He was shaking and had tears in his eyes.  I squeezed his hand to let him how much I loved him, and gave him a loving smile.  (He later said that he had missed his father not being able to share such a moment with him.)

The ceremony commenced when Fritz had us exchange our rings that were housed in a bowl on the table in the front of the room.  He pronounced that "Andy may kiss the bride".  Andy was shaking as he reached for my lips.  At that moment in time, I never had felt a greater inner peace, as I did when we turned to face the world together as one, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Morris.

At this moment, photos were taken, hugs and tears were flowing and Dad came to Andy and Mary to I, both welcoming us to the Reiber and Morris family.

We walked out of the room and were warmly greeted by the couple that my father had met the night before.

They were on their way out of town, back to Berlin, but stopped by to wish us well.  They had brought a small bouquet of roses.  It truly was a gesture of kindness.

Someday I hope that Andy and I will be able to reciprocate their generosity to a young couple beginning their lives together.

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