Before heading to the sealing room (where the ceremony was held), Will and I both met with the temple sealer who happened to be my Grandpa - Derrell Lindsay. Well, it didn't just "happen" to be my Grandpa, we asked him to be the one to perform the wedding and it was a priviledge. Grandpa Lindsay had performed my older brother, Michael's wedding. And he was also going to perform my younger brother's wedding next month too. Just the very fact that he has made it alive to our wedding is a feat in itself - as he has battled some big health problems over the past couple of years.
Grandpa talked to us for a few minutes and made sure that he had both of our full names correct on his paperwork, and gave us some instruction on how we would enter the room, and which one of us would be on the right/left side.
Will and I then walked down a long hallway towards the sealing room where we would be married.
I wish I could describe the inside of the temple sealing rooms to you adequately, but they are so beautiful I know my words won't do them justice. But think of whitest, most purest room you've ever imagined. And at the center of the ceiling is a beautiful chandelier that is right over an alter, and on all sides of the room there are mirrors, and on each of the tables there are beautiful flowers.
Right before we entered the room, we told each other "I love you" and I said "Honeybucket". That has always been our little inside joke - its a word that, when used after you proclaim "I love you" means you love them the most. And there is no higher word with a higher amount of love. Whomever says "honeybucket" has claim on the most love for 6 hours, and then someone else can "claim" Honeybucket. It has turned into a competition between us to see who can claim it the most.
I was happy that I claimed it inside the temple on our wedding day. :)
Then right as we turned to enter the sealing room, Will stepped on my dress and we both almost tripped!! What an entrance!! But luckily we made it inside unscathed.
As we entered the room, our families and closest friends were there all seated around the room. Will and I went and sat down on a beautiful long bench, while Grandpa then gave us some advice and "words of wisdom" about marriage. I don't remember everything that he said because Will and I were just so excited about getting married, but I do remember one piece of advice that he gave was to "Never say anything negative about your spouse in front of other people. Always speak highly of them and lift them up."
Will had worn a ring for 10 years that his mom had given him that had the letters "RWH" engraved on it. It stood for "Return With Honor". He gave that ring back to his mom right before we both got up to go to the alter, and he whispered into her ear that he had kept his promise and "returned with honor" to the temple. That about sent her into tears right then and there!
After Grandpa was finished, he instructed Will to come take me by the hand and lead me to my side of the alter, and helped me to kneel down. Then he went around to the other side. We knelt down across from each other, face to face, and held hands. As we looked in the mirrors on either side of the room we could see our reflections go on and on...and on. The mirrors represent an eternal marriage.
He then performed what was a short few ceremonial words and then told us that we could now kiss over the alter as husband and wife. Wow - just like that - we were married!
Afterwards, we stood up and exchanged rings.
And then as our family and friends exited, we both stood at the door and quietly, reverently and peacefully gave everyone hugs and accepted their congratulations as they exited.
Eventually we both went back to our "bridal rooms" seperately so that we could get ready to go outside and get our wedding pictures taken. After the pictures, we had a wedding luncheon planned for all of our family and close friends.
I remember being ready way ahead of Will and waiting for him. Somehow he had lost a button on his tuxedo and needed a last minute sewing job from his mother to fix it. But we eventually made our grand exit from the temple to all those waiting for us outside and this was one of the first pictures taken of us as we left the temple. We look so happy!
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