I can rest easy about all the Palm Springs details because I’ve already (unintentionally) had my dream wedding.
On two days notice, we scheduled our church wedding for 3:30pm Thursday June 3rd at St. Dominic’s. For background, a wedding is only considered a Catholic marriage when it’s done inside the church. None of this outdoor stuff which is what we’ll be doing in Palm Springs. So after months of preparation—marriage classes, regular meetings with the deacon, a bubble test with the results reviewed by a therapist, and a weekend retreat—this was it. My photographer agreed to capture the wedding. Dean and I got dressed up in wedding attire. In attendance were my parents, my sister, and Marc.
Deacon Mike spent a few minutes reviewing the ceremony with me and Dean beforehand. A welcome, a few readings, the gospel, a homily, a few prayers, the vows, then you’re on your merry way. Probably 30 minutes. Simple enough.
Then he took us to a secluded chapel behind the altar of the church. Now I’ve been going to St. Dominic’s for years and I never knew about this chapel. The Friar’s Chapel glows with natural light. It’s all marble with the exception of built-in mahogany seats. With ten seats, the chapel is meant for very small weddings. Our photographer snapped away while we listened to the readings and the homily. I was so overcome with emotion at how beautiful everything was that my voice crackled when I said my vows.
We took more pictures inside the church (the inside of the church that’s familiar to me) and outside on the front steps, then decided to celebrate with bubbly. As crazy as San Francisco is, it’s peculiar to see a bride and groom walking along Fillmore in a wedding dress and cumberband and bow tie. So peculiar that the Elite Café comped us some of our champagne and the Universal Café where we had dinner brought us out a round of prosecco.
It was perfect. Great weather, great company, great food and drinks, great wedding. So very happy.
Saffron Lee
Congratulations, wife and husband!
It sounds wonderful and dreamy and perfect.
I’m very happy for you both!