Story of some unforeseen events on the wedding day of a young couple
Gerry and Joanne nearly never made it to their own wedding .
On the day of the wedding Gerry was walking out the front door on his way to his best man’s house in Old Ardoyne and it was one of those occasions when he was in two minds wondering if I should keep walking or race back inside for a shot of Irish to sooth his nerves . So there he stood at his front door doing this kind of strange dance back and forward with his feet in a soft slow shuffle with both his shoulders swaying back and forward . If only there was some music to go with his body movement it might have been a great experience but he just followed his basic instincts and closed the front door
On the way up the Pad he bumped into Gravy Murphy .
“Is that you Gerry ? “ he asked .
“Who else would it be Gravy ?”
Gerry said .
“Yea it’s just you all done up in a suit with the hair all shinning . Listen Gerry I don’t mean to hold you up if you’re not too busy could you do me a favour .“ Gravy asked
“No Gravy . I’m actually going to get married this morning ?”
Gravy replied
“What you’re getting married , who to and where ?”
“To Joanna at Holy Cross , so as you understand I’m a bit busy and haven’t time to stand talking . “
“Could you lend me a few quid . I’ll
get it back to you”
Gerry handed him a few notes and said .
“ You’re ok now with that Gravy .“
“Gerry I’m not joking . You’re the man I’ll not forget that .“
On the way to Billy’s house Gerry was stopped by a foot patrol and after they questioned him he got a little upset . He explained he was in his way to the church to get married .
They put him in the saracen and took him to Tennant Street Barack’s for further questioning . Gerry was trying to keep calm and say counting the holes on this perforated cardboard on the wall in front of him .
Meanwhile while Billy was waiting for Gerry to call , he was rehearsing his best man’s speech .
Back in Joanna’s house the wedding dress was delivered . When she unpacked it , she discovered they had sent the wrong one . It was much too big . She had to get a taxi to the Bridal Boutique to get another
outfit but time was tight .
Gerry was released from the Barracks but had to walk back to Ardoyne . It was nearly time for him to be at the Church . In desperation he flagged down an ambulance and explained his situation . The Ambulance driver was sympathising with him
and decided to help . He drove Gerry to Billy’s house and then took them to Holy Cross where a crowd of worried looking people were all standing outside the church wondering what was going on .
Just for a laugh the ambulance driver and Billy took Gerry into the side door at St Paul’s in a stretcher .
It was all in good fun .
Once inside the church Gerry and Billy took their place at the altar rails . They were already a half hour
late and in the church everyone sat in the pews fidgeting uncomfortable .
The church looked a picture with flowers and ribbons at the end of each row of seats near the altar .
Fr Marcellus had been sitting patiently at the organ waiting for the bride to arrive .
Fr Justin stood patiently at the altar making a few improvisations to kill the time . After he had told three short stories about funny things that had happened at some other wedding ceremonies .
A voice at the front door shouted .
“She’s here “
Finally Joanna arrived through the front doors for her wedding day and Fr Marcellus began to play the organ as the bride made her way up to the altar at Holy Cross Church . Heads all turn to look at the bride . Joanna’s dress was exquisite . It was cloaked in a polar-bear dream satin that featuring a fitted bodice and a heart-shaped neckline . It had a very full skirt and full-length train. It had attracted the eyes of everybody in the church .
Billy the best man who was also a good friend of the bride and groom , stood there with Gerry at the altar rails of the church as the bride made her way towards them in her beautiful wedding gown that had luckily been found in a different package in the boutique .
The flower girls looked lovely in their beautiful in their pink dresses.
In the congregation that day were some of the shop owners who knew the happy couple as well as the doctor who had known the family for years , some of the bride and grooms family and friends .
Photographers were busy capturing special moments inside and the church .
After the ceremony there was a lot of explaining to do from both the bride and groom .
Outside the church the ambulance was still waiting parked near the wedding car . Photos were taken before making their way to the Shamrock for the reception .
On the large kitchen table in the Shamrock sat a nicely decorated wedding cake, that held pride of place . All the usual toasts were honoured. Many congratulatory telegrams were read .
After the party the newly weds were taken away by the ambulance to spent their honeymoon unknown by anyone except the bride and groom who had well guarded the whereabouts of their hideaway for a week .
After the honeymoon the young couple settled down into married life and it wasn’t that long when their first baby was born a little girl .
You made me wonder what it was that made the police question Gerry.
I attended a wedding that was to begin at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. It was 102° that day and the church was not air-conditioned. We waited and waited. The groom, an African student from Kenya at the University where I worked, finally came and told the congregation that his bride would be there as soon as she could.
We waited and waited. About 5 o'clock, she showed up. It had seemed that they had not taken the required blood test. It was Saturday, and the doctor had to open his office in order to test the bride and groom. And then the bride didn't have her bridal gown prepared for her and it took a long time for it to be fitted properly on her.
After that we went to meeting building the church grounds and waited through several long testimonials by the groom's cousins. By the time we started eating the goat, it was cold and tough. The champagne was warm.
It was a memorable wedding. When my brother got married in a Catholic church in town. When he kneeled before the altar, on each of his shoes were the words Help and Me. He didn't know until later that his friends had done that to him.
A poignant story about letting go of a narcissist in your life. Have you ever been attacked FULL force by a narcissist? It's the closest thing to being stabbed over and over in the back.
