Going to the Chapel...

I went to a wedding today. It's was incredibly beautiful. It was at Moli'i Gardens at Kualoa Ranch. Hidden away next to the fishpond. It's amazing how the early Hawaiians thought. They were quite brilliant in some things. Fish go in and feed, then get so big they can't get out. While I was standing there I could see and hear the splashing of fish leaping out of the water. One splash was so big and loud I thought somebody had jumped in! In the shallows a very large fish kept swimming by. His back fin and tail could be seen and would cut through the water as he went after his prey.

It is something that you would never guess is there. In fact I talked to several people who have lived on Oahu all their lives and never knew it was there. One of these days I would love to take some of the tours they offer at the ranch. The garden was gorgeous. The colors were so vivid and brilliant. Rich burgundies, bright scarlets, luminous yellows, greens in as many shades as you can possibly imagine, warm browns, and the vivid blue of the sky before soft gray clouds hid it from view. The perfect background for a wedding with all that color and the mountains standing directly behind the walkway for the bride. The adorable flower-girl and ring-bearer trailed after their father as he escorted his mother-in-law, the bride's mother to her seat. The bridesmaids dressed in breezy dresses of cerulean came next. Gracefully traveling down the curving stairs to stand in expectation for the bride. Soon the moment came when the bride stepped to to the top step with her father. She was radiantly beautiful. Shimmering with excitement and love for her groom. Down, she tread, getting closer and closer to the her love and the start of her new life. The ceremony was performed with care, making sure the gravity of the vows the bride and groom were making were carefully thought through. But it also expressed the joy of the moment. Soon came the exchanging of rings and partaking of communion. The best, as always, is saved for last, the first kiss as man and wife.

I think one of the reasons I love weddings so much (well at least the ones where I not running around like crazy trying to solve unexpected problems and accomplish everything that needs to get done) is because it is celebrating the joy of two people in love committing themselves to each other. And if they are serving God, committing their lives together to God. Awesome! Congratulations Mike and Julie!

Before the ceremony

Afterwards. Notice how there is no longer any blue peeking out.

They served pupus here while they took the pictures

Here comes the bride

She's so beautiful

The poor ring-bearer was feeling a little sleepy

At last

the kiss