I DO–I DO

She licked her lips, smiled, clapped her hands with joy. Jennie got the first piece of the 10 layered wedding cake. Her new husband, Joseph, stood straight and tall beside her. He knew what was coming. The cake was going to be slobbered all over his face and onto his rented tux. It didn’t happen. Jennie handed him a Royal Dalton dessert plate with her slice on it, plus the little bride figurine that topped the cake. ‘I give you me, all of me, and may our lives be as sweet, beautiful as our wedding night.’ 250 guests applauded. Cameras caught some tears.

Joseph carefully removed the little tuxedoed figure that stood alone. He was just about ready to put it on slice 2 of the cake, when the ring bearer, his 5 year old nephew, ran up to him and hugged his uncle around his knees. The Royal Dalton plate fell and broke into many shards. The figure was decapitated. Icing splattered around the hem of Jennie’s gown. Cameras caught the disaster.

Waiters, waitresses, busboys rushed to clean up. Jennie remained cool. She held her gown high enough to almost amble over to the bandstand.‘We’re ready, Bennie. Play our song.’ The 10 piece band began with ‘The Girl That I Married’. Jennie spotted Joseph standing with his father. She held her arms out and over the mike spoke only to him. ‘Come get me, Joseph.’ Together they danced, sang aloud in their theatrically trained voices, ‘will have to be, as soft and as pink as a nursery.’ Love, tenderness filled the room. Cameras captured it as they circled the dance floor with the newlyweds.

The family did the ritual dancing with each other. Wines, liqueurs, hard drinks were everywhere. Dinner was served and a better one no caterer ever presented. From the crisp salad, to steaming hot vegetable soup, fillet minion brought to each guest just the way it was ordered. The laughter, the toasts, speeches were an interlude for the dancing that was ahead. Jennie had arranged the music starting with Ragtime, Lindy, and then The Horrah! Everybody UP.’ Love ballads, rhumba, samba, limbo. Each person surely found several tunes to enjoy. Most of the evening the dance floor was filled. A few very senior relatives remained in their seats. They were forgiven. Harry, Jennie’s nephew, and two cousins took over for a few minutes. They were giving a demonstration of break dancing when Sammy slipped, hit his head on a table and had to be carried out. It was a downer for a few minutes. Cameras caught the fall.

Jennie’s best friend, Bella, reached the bride’s bouquet and shouldn’t have been trying for it. She was already engaged. Joseph flipped Jennie’s garter and it flew over one of the cameramen and landed on the chandelier. Another cameraman caught the shot.

The band played ‘The Party’s Over’. Guests tossed petals as the couple came out of the synagogue. A chauffeur opened the limo door for the couple. It had been a glorious June wedding.

But in January, many guests were busy again sending Mazel Tov gifts to the newlyweds for the birth of their son. Cameras were in the delivery room.