Chapter
34
The wedding
date was set for April 14, 2002. By the time April began, most of the
preparations had been made. Katelyn had decided on a wedding dress. It was a
traditional dress, white and lacy, with a long train and a matching veil. The
bridesmaids dresses were pale lavender, as well as the flower girl's dress.
They would all be carrying bouquets of lavender and pale yellow flowers.
As the date
approached, both Katelyn and Brian grew nervous. Katelyn remembered what
Leighanne had done to Brian four days before the wedding and wondered if that
was part of the reason Brian was nervous. Maybe he was afraid she would do the
same thing to him. Katelyn knew she would never do anything like that to him.
Of course she was scared, but she was excited too. Her only real dream in life
was to get married and have a family. She wanted to be a good wife and mother.
And she knew Brian would make the perfect husband and father.
***
The day of the
wedding, Katelyn woke up with butterflies in her stomach. She and Brian were
staying at Harold and Jackie's house. They had been there the whole week.
The wedding
was not until four that afternoon. But Katelyn had a lot of things to do.
First, she and
Brian showered and got dressed. Then they went downstairs and had a quick
breakfast, although neither of them was very hungry.
At eleven,
Katelyn had an appointment at a local salon to get her hair styled and her
nails done.
By two, her
hair had been curled and piled up on her head in a fancy style, with a halo of
small lavender and yellow flowers around it, and her nails had been painted
lavender.
After her
appointment, she drove back to the Littrells' house. Brian and Harold had gone
to the church all ready to make sure everything was ready. Also, Jackie didn't
want Brian to see Katelyn until the wedding had begun.
Once back at
the Littrells', Jackie helped Katelyn with her makeup. Then, she gathered up
the box that contained Katelyn's beautiful wedding dress, and they headed for
the church.
Once at the
church, Katelyn changed into her dress and finished getting ready. Then she
walked around to make sure all of the bridesmaids and the flower girl were
almost ready.
By
three-thirty, Katelyn couldn't stay still. She was full of nervousness and
excitement.
The wedding
began promptly at four. "Canon in D" was played, as the bridesmaids
and the flower girl walked down the aisle. Then, it was time for Katelyn to
walk down the aisle. Brian's father, Harold, would be giving her away, since
her own father was dead, and he was the closest thing she had to a father. As
"The Bridal March" began to play, she started slowly down to aisle,
her arm resting lightly on Harold's. She felt tears come to her eyes as she
looked down the aisle at Brian, who was waiting for her, an ear to ear grin on
his face. When she reached the end of the aisle, Brian walked down the steps
from the altar and offered her his arm. She flashed a nervous smile at Harold,
then turned back to Brian and took his arm. Together, they walked the steps to
the altar.
As the
minister began to speak, a million emotions ran through Katelyn. This was it!
Her wedding. A day she had been waiting for her whole life. And she was
marrying Brian Littrell, the man of her dreams.
Her thoughts
were interrupted as the minister began the vows.
"Brian
Thomas Littrell, do you take this woman in the holy state of matrimony, to love
her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and
in health, as long as you both shall live?" the minister asked.
"I
do," came Brian's reply.
"Katelyn
Elizabeth Mitchell, do you take this man in the holy state of matrimony, to
love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, for richer, for poorer, in sickness
and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I
do," Katelyn said, her voice shaking.
The next thing
she knew, Brian was placing a wedding band on her finger, right beside her
beautiful engagement ring. She took his wedding ring and did the same.
"I now
pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the minister
said. Brian turned to Katelyn and slowly pulled back her veil. Then he lowered
his lips to her and kissed her tenderly. She wrapped her arms around him and
kissed back.
As they broke
the kiss, "The Wedding March" began to play, and they strolled back
down the aisle, hand in hand.
***
