The Wedding Diary

It’s been three wonderful years since I’ve married the most beautiful woman in the world. It only recently dawned on me that I’ve never written my intended Wedding Diary. I probably got caught up doing something unimportant. Anyway, if you ever wanted to walk through with me on my wedding day here it is.

All of the guys stayed over at my house. The night before we were partying like rock stars, drinking up a storm. Not really, we went laser tagging in Fullerton. I won, of course. The theme of the wedding was “Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling” (Ps 2:11 – emphasis added).

We wanted to rejoice because marriage is a God honoring institution reflecting the beautiful relationship between Christ and the church. However, it’s essential to tremble with reverence and not act like a bunch of juveniles in the process, something that could easily happen with my friends and I.

9:00am – Breakfast with the groomsmen

The groomsmen and I decided to go to IHOP. We feasted and I had about seven cups of coffee. My buddy Aaron took charge and asked each of the guys to impart some words of encouragement. After a couple of jokes and gregarious laughter, which nearly caused a scene at the restaurant, my buddy Bryan (of all people), changed the tone from lighthearted to dead serious by sharing some of the most transparent and personal things in his own life while becoming greatly emotional. He shared his personal struggles in his own marriage and encouraged me to avoid certain pitfalls. Then everyone else joined in and started giving me wise counsel.

I’ll never forget that morning with my guys. All of their uniqueness and why I love each one of them were on full display. I knew this day would go beyond my wife and myself. Several people would be touched, challenged, and changed.

10:30am – Getting ready to get ready

After a rather sobering morning we headed back to the house in order to clean up and made sure we had everything we needed for the big day. While cleaning up a massive pillow fight broke out and slowed the process considerably. If you know anything about guy-pillow-fights you’ll know it usually doesn’t end without a wrestling match breaking out and maybe a couple of drop kicks. This was no exception.

1:00pm – Pictures at the park

We managed to act responsible just enough to clean up and put on our tuxes. We even got the park on time in order to take pictures. Katie and I decided to take our pictures before the ceremony in order to have the reception immediately following the wedding. I enjoy quick transitions at weddings instead of the few hours of lag time in between. Once we arrived at the park, I saw Katie in her dress from a distance, walking slowly towards me (I’m getting emotional just writing this). We had a moment to ourselves and I felt like I was dreaming. I thought to myself, “Is this angelic gorgeous white girl really going to marry me?”

Shortly after nearly falling apart at the sight of my bride we actually started taking pictures. We went through the usual routine of taking wedding pictures. (I’m supposed to leave out the part where Katie tripped and fell during the picture taking time. It was on a steep hill and she was in a wedding dress and wedding dresses are notorious for making a girl completely immobile. So this is me not mentioning that part.)

Side note: When the wedding photos were developed all of us noticed Bryan’s head looked absolutely colossal in EVERY SINGLE PICTURE. To this day he’s convinced our photographer photo-shopped his head. Whatever the case, his head overshadowed our pictures because it truly does jump out at you.

1:30pm – meeting at the church

The guys and I went to the church where the ceremony was being held and had lunch together. We carefully made sure we didn’t get anything on our tuxes and spent some time in prayer. There were a few more jokes and we were off.

3:00pm – The ceremony

Dr. Thoennes, my pastor, professor, mentor, and close friend, who was performing the ceremony, came and got me. I walked my sister up to the front row and went around with Dr. Thoennes to the back door as the seating of the family continued. Before we walked through the door and onto the stage, he gave me a big hug and I told him, “We’ve been through a lot.” (This could be an entire blog in itself)

As we walked through the doors, the processional began. Dr. Thoennes gave one of the best sermons on marriage I’ve ever heard. He mentioned all of the things we’ve been through, all the times I complained about being single and how the girls at Biola were racist. He mentioned my mom and how wonderful she was. I pretty much lost it there. He even had Katie and I turn around and look out at the crowd and take that moment in. He pointed out that the next time we would see all these same people gathered together we’d probably be at one of our funerals.

4:00pm – Off to the reception

At the reception site, the wedding party was introduced first and then finally my wife and I were introduced. I walked out like I was in the starting lineup of the Lakers giving out fist-pumps and high-fives.

Immediately afterwards, we had our first dance. Katie and I had taken Swing-dancing lessons, not so much for the wedding but for fun. We also didn’t like the 7-minute slow song and awkward stare into each other’s face while everyone was looking at us. And if you know me at all, I never like to do things like that in conventional ways. So yes, we rocked the house by taking in the moment and swing danced to our soul’s delight. It was fun and people seemed to enjoy it as well.

Once we finished our first dance we walked to the wedding party table where several people were trying to calm down Becky (sister-in-law). I turned to Katie and said, “What’s wrong with your sister she looks like a train wreck?” Katie replied, “I don’t know.” Well then, this was going to be interesting. The groomsmen began their wedding speeches. I already wrote about that HERE.

When the guys were done giving their speeches the microphone was handed off to Becky who proceeded to have a complete meltdown of epic proportion. Hey, she was only a teenager giving her first wedding speech following a bunch of grown men with graduate degrees who just finished giving their speeches. So we’ll cut her some slack, although the epic meltdown is still absolutely hilarious. If I could describe it, it sounded like a small child completely sobbing trying to explain a situation to their parents but being unable to collect their thoughts in order to do so because of their unstable emotional state- all in a voice of a wounded walrus. That sounds about right. I love my sister-in-law. I always remind her to just chalk it up as “life experience.” Besides, it was probably more memorable that she completely crashed and burned than if she were to actually say something coherent and cliche.

My new father-in-law came up to the table and they handed him the microphone. He was supposed to pray for the food but couldn’t bring the microphone to his mouth without almost losing it. He’ll deny this but we have video footage. I guess getting emotional runs in the family.

We feasted. There was some more dancing, meeting and greeting the tables, and we enjoyed some sticky rice and mango for dessert. Yes, I’m Thai. There was some more joking between the guys and I, a lot of hugging, and what would the night be without bagging on Bryan a little (or a lot).

7:00pm – The send off

Everyone lined up and made a lane for his as we walked off into the sunset. Actually, Dr. Thoennes forgot to sign the marriage license so we had to drop by his house to get that done. Once we got to his house we chatted for a while reflecting on the day and how we were feeling. He wanted to mail the marriage license for us so we didn’t have to worry about it. Furthermore, he was going to stay up and pray for us the rest of the night. I just marvel at the amazing leaders God has put in my life.

Then we were off . . . well . . . you know the rest.

Happy Anniversary to my lovely wife of three wonderful years!!!