Marriage - The Sign of Love

Recently we had the privilege of witnessing the most amazing wedding.  I knew it would be different, but I didn't know it was going to be so incredibly special.

A young friend of ours is an interpreter for the deaf. That put her in position to meet her new husband who is a member of the Canadian Deaf Curling Association.

I knew there would be sign language at the ceremony, but I didn't expect it to be quite the production it turned out to be.  The ceremony was conducted in English, but as the groom's friends and family were French, there were two  interpreters. One signed ASL to interpret the English being spoken, while another signed for the French people in attendance who could not hear.

The bride and groom both spoke their vows, but also signed them.  I have never seen vows exchanged in such a beautiful manner before.  Hands and facial expressions can convey so much more than a nervous voice can.

When it came time for the rings, the groom turned to his sister, who was acting as the "best man" but she just ran her hands down her dress and shrugged her shoulders.   There were no pockets in the dress, of course.  She turned to the groomsman behind her but he just raised his hands skyward, to indicate he didn't have them either. He turned to the next in line who did the same, and so it went all the way down the line of five groomsmen. The final one searched his pockets and looked a little panicky before also indicating he didn't have them. I sat there thinking, "Oh, oh, he was supposed to have them and forgot them someplace." But no, he produced them and the rings were sent back up the line up to be put on the fingers.  The minister, quietly said, "I think that was planned."

Then it came time for the minister to introduce the new couple to those in attendance. Music was playing in the background.  Suddenly one of the bridesmaids,with her bouquet clenched in her teeth, seemed to have a bee in her bum and started wiggling around.  Pretty soon the rest of the bridesmaids were also in motion.  It spread to the groomsmen and then the bride and groom and finally even the minister got in on the act. It was a flash dance!

 At the reception, when it came time for the new couple to arrive, the other members of the Canadian Deaf Curling Team donned their curling shirts and swept them into the room..  That was a surprise for the new couple, but it was a wonderful way to usher them into the reception.

During the evening, at both the wedding and the reception, there was a lady who would gracefully use sign language to "sing" a song. She used exaggerated graceful flowing motions to sign the words, and effectively sing without making a sound.








  At one point the bride and groom actually got up and "sang" a special song to each other, in this same manner.

As the minister so aptly put it, everything went off with only one hitch....the bride to the groom.