Everyone was at the church. The wedding was to start in just a few minutes. While Jeremy paced back and forth inside the church, most of the guests milled around outside, talking and laughing. He was too nervous to talk to anyone right now.
      It certainly was a beautiful day for a wedding. The last few brides came over from the dormitory. "Jason, Biddie says they're ready. Could everyone go inside now?" Laura asked. Jason and Joshua began to move the guests into the church.
      At the dormitory, Captain Clancey waited in the dining room with Molly and Christopher. Molly looked adorable in a long white dress of satin and lace, her hair worn down and curling around her neck with baby's breath tucked in to frame her face, similar to Biddie. Christopher was handsome in a dark jacket and shorts. Clancey had to help him with his tie, being the only man in this house of gaggling geese.
      The door to Candy's room opened and Biddie and Lottie stepped into the room. They both looked beautiful, the Captain thought. Then he saw Candy. Oh, she was a vision in white satin, lace and pearls. Her dress was fitted to the waist, the bodice covered in lace and the neckline trimmed with tiny white pearls. The neckline was rather low, and Lottie's pearls lay against the white skin of her neck. The skirt was full, layer upon layer of lace, with a short train trailing behind her. Her long hair was pulled back from her face with tiny tendrils scattered here and there, and hung in long curls over her shoulders and down her back. Her head was encircled by a crown of white lilies from which a veil of at least ten layers of netting hung to her hips. She carried a bouquet of red roses. Clancey looked at her in awe.
      "Lass, you are a sight to behold, oh, yes, you are darlin'." His voice almost broke as he cursed about something being in his eye, and he wiped at them with his handkerchief. Lottie and Candy exchanged a knowing look.
      "Well, I'll be on my way to the church. I'll make sure everyone is inside. Wait just a minute until I get there, and I'll watch for you to tell them when to start."
      "Thank you, Lottie, for everything." Candy whispered as she hugged Lottie goodbye.
      When Lottie arrived at the church, Jason was waiting outside.
      "Is everyone else inside, Jason?"
      "Yes, Lottie, everyone is waiting."
      "They'll be here in just a minute. Oh, look, here they come now." Jason looked across the square.
As they drew nearer to the church, he descended the steps of the church to greet Candy. He had never seen a more beautiful bride. He took her by the shoulders and kissed her cheek. The two looked at each other for a moment.
      "You're good for him, you know. I... well... we'll see you inside." For once in his life, Jason was at a loss for words.
      He hugged her briefly, took Lottie by the arm, went up the steps and entered the church. Candy almost started to cry again but managed to stop herself. She was crying an awful lot today, for heaven's sake. She wasn't usually this emotional!
      Lottie and Jason entering the church was Miss Essie's cue that the bride had arrived. As Jason escorted Lottie down the aisle to her seat in the front pew, Miss Essie prepared to play the Bridal March.
      Jeremy was standing at the front of the church, trying very hard to stand still, when all he wanted to do was keep pacing. Joshua was standing next to Jeremy, trying to keep him calm. Jason took his place on the other side of Jeremy, and the three brothers turned toward the doors of the church. Jeremy had never been very good at choosing between his brothers, so he had decided to break with tradition and have two best men. Biddie had been thrilled to death, knowing she'd have two men to walk down the aisle with!
      The doors opened and Miss Essie began to play.
      Christopher started up the aisle. He held a small velvet pillow in his hand, on which rested two gold wedding rings. He was being extra careful to walk slowly so he didn't drop it.
      Right behind him came Molly, looking so grown up and serious, with her basket of rose petals that she sprinkled along the aisle as she walked.
      Then came Biddie. She was so happy for Candy and Jeremy, she just couldn't contain herself. She was trying very hard to control her giggling, and was succeeding, for the most part.
      Jeremy stood at the front of the church and watched all of this impatiently. He wanted to see his bride! Suddenly, Miss Essie began playing the Wedding March and all the guests stood up and turned to the rear of the church.
      Clancey stepped into view and extended his hand. With everyone standing, it was hard for Jeremy to see, so he moved forward a few steps. As he did, Candy took Clancey's hand.
      He saw her as she stepped into the church on Clancey's arm. And she was all he saw. The rest of the guests, Clancey, his brothers, everyone and everything was gone from his view except for her. She took his breath away. He had never seen her look more beautiful and he'd never loved her more. She started down the aisle, seeming to float toward him, a vision of loveliness. As she did, her eyes sought his. When their eyes finally met, the love they had for each other was written all over their faces.
      Watching this, Lottie, Biddie and several other girls had started to sniffle and dab at their eyes. Even some of the men had lumps in their throats, especially Jason and Joshua, although they never would have admitted it. And there were sure to be many more tears of joy shed before this ceremony was over.
      Candy and Clancey reached the altar and the music stopped. Everyone sat down. The Reverend asked "Who gives this woman in marriage?"
      "I do, sir." Captain Clancey answered proudly. He stepped forward, hugged and kissed Candy and put her hand in Jeremy's. He put a hand on Jeremy's shoulder for a moment and then sat down beside Lottie, whose eyes were full of tears. Clancey took her hand.
      Jeremy squeezed Candy's hand. They looked deep into one another's eyes, smiled and then turned to face the man who would finally marry them.
      Reverend Brown began to speak.
      "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of this company to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate instituted by God and which signifies unto us the mystical union between God and his church."
      "Candy and Jeremy, you've come here today before God, your family and friends to be joined in Holy Matrimony. Do you come here of your own free will, without encumbrance?"
      "We do." They said in unison.
      "Is there anyone present who has reason why this man and this woman should not be joined in marriage?" Other than a sniffle here and there, silence answered his question.
      Candy hoped the Reverend would remember their request to leave the word obey out of the ceremony. He had been astounded, but she had insisted and Jeremy didn't argue the point with her!
Miss Essie began to play a melody on the organ, very softly. The song was called "My Love" and was one of Candy's favorites.
      Candy and Jeremy turned to face one another as Reverend Brown began reciting the words that would make them husband and wife.
"Jeremy, do you take Candy to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, to love and honor her as long as you both shall live?"
      "I do." He said simply. He looked at her and smiled.
      "Candy, do you take Jeremy to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, to love and honor him as long as you both shall live?" Reverend Brown asked.
      "Oh, yes, I do." She answered softly as a single tear of joy slid down her cheek.
      "May we have the rings, please?" Christopher stepped forward.
      As the Reverend spoke, Jeremy and Candy repeated his words.
      "Candy, with this ring, I thee wed." Jeremy said as he slipped the simple gold band on her finger.
      "Jeremy, with this ring, I thee wed." Candy said, slipping a matching ring on Jeremy's finger.
      Candy and Jeremy looked deep into each others eyes, as Reverend Brown, with joy in his voice, said "By the power vested in me by God and this church, I now pronounce you man and wife. Jeremy Bolt, you may kiss your bride!"
      As Jeremy took his wife in his arms and kissed her, the cheers from the church could be heard as far as the north ridge of Bridal Veil Mountain. The church bells began to ring, and tears of joy flowed freely. Lottie, tears streaming down her face, embraced Clancey and then they both joined Jason, Joshua, Biddie and the children, who were all clustered around Jeremy and Candy. After a moment or two, everyone in the small church pressed forward to join the little group at the front of the church.
      As their first kiss as man and wife ended, Candy and Jeremy turned to the family and friends who had clustered around them. They never did get to walk back down the aisle properly. There were too many happy people clustered around them who couldn't wait another minute to congratulate them!
      Before they left the church, though, Jeremy and Candy were showered with rice and Candy did get to throw her bouquet. And once again, Biddie, the champion bouquet catcher, caught herself another one!