gail+owen

Talk about perfect timing!

The trip back home during the holidays couldn't have been more perfect - two of my closest friends were getting married (well, not to each other though) and they've both asked me to be a part of their special day. One, of course, I already blogged about. Gail, the other friend I referred to, has been an old, old friend from way back. We went to the same grade school and high school, but she was a year older. We were both top of our respective classes and we shared so many other interests in high school, we easily clicked. From then on, we became good friends and shared so much through the years. Despite going separate ways in college (we went to different schools and made new friends), Gail and I would always make it a point to see each other during the school breaks. We did so through the years and so continued to share an amazing friendship.

She asked me to be her matron of honor, and needless to say, I was honored.

Her wedding, I have to say, was one of the most beautiful I've been to. I couldn't help but cry (hmmm, honestly, bawl would be more apt, even my husband, who was there throughout, would say) throughout the wedding because of how happy I was for her. I first cried seeing her groom, Owen, cry as she walked down the aisle. I cried again seeing her beam as she walked down the aisle to her already crying groom. I cried (AGAIN) when they exchanged vows (they wrote their own vows - God bless their priest-celebrant who allowed them to; ours didn't, sadly). I cried, for the nth time, when the priest blessed them and they kissed and hugged. To put it simply, I cried every time the groom cried. Yes, he cried throughout the wedding and after. It was just the most touching sight! I've been to too many weddings, so trust me when I say I've seen all sorts of grooms and all sorts of expressions on their faces as they watched their bride walk down the aisle (I've seen some laugh, smile so brightly and cry tenderly), but I've never seen such expression as the one I saw on Owen's face. He cried in the most tender, most thoughtful way that simply just moved me (and many others, I saw!). I don't know Owen so well, I just know him through Gail's beautiful stories about him, but somehow seeing him during the ceremony (and after), how he cried, how he looked at Gail, how he cared for her throughout the day, I knew and I know that my dearest friend is in very good hands and that she's just so blessed to have him, as much as he is blessed to have her!

For those of you who know me well enough, it wouldn't come as a surprise to know that I cried at a friend's wedding. However, it just felt different for Gail. I've seen Gail through so many things - through all her triumphs and heartbreaks. Gail's former boyfriends ALL broke her tender heart in too many pieces in the past. Seeing her so happy with Owen just made me too emotionally happy for her. Add to that the sweet and crying groom that Owen was, I just couldn't help but thank God for sending my friend truly the man of her dreams. As good, caring  and thoughtful a friend that Gail always has been to me, she deserved only the best, not an ounce less. Then again, like I like saying, good things do happen to good people - all in God's perfect time. So it did.

And like I said in my toast, cheers to two selflessly caring people who truly (TRULY) love each other and who truly (TRULY) deserve each other!

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Here's a glimpse of their beautiful wedding!