Kate walked quickly to catch up with Bruce’s stride. It was as if neither one of them could wait to get to the destination.
A man holding a book stood ahead. His polite demeanor settled Kate’s nerves.
“Bonjour. I am Monsieur Chappel. It is a pleasure to meet you both. You are Mr. Stanger?”
Kate loved the heavy French accent.
“Yes, this is my wife to be, Kate.”
Kate shook Mr. Chappel’s hand.
“Well, let us get started. Is there a certain space in which you would like to stand?”
“I have no preference,” Kate replied. Bruce took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.
Mr. Chappel began there ceremony.
“The joining of two people in love is such a beautiful thing. Love is something that is not found by all, so when one finds it, he or she should make sure that they protect it at all costs. To know that you are loved by someone is the most precious gift in the world.
“Here, in Paris, the City of Love, we bring together two amazing people who confess that each has found love in one another. What a wonderful lot in life to know that you have one another. Please remember this time of love and of joy and happiness when times get hard. Remember that you pledged to love one another and keep one another first at all times. Remind yourselves of this day. The day the two of you took your vows to be together forever, until death do you part.”
Mr. Chappel turned to Bruce. “Bruce, would you like to say a few words to your bride?”
“I would.”
Bruce took Kate by the hand.
“Kate, from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one. You were the woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, I find your faith and your ability to love and let me love you amazing. You are everything I want in a woman, loving and exasperating.”
Kate could not help but laugh as the tears started to fall down her cheeks.
“You have made me the happiest man on earth, allowing me to share my love and my life with you. I know it has only been about a year we have been together, and some may say we are moving too quickly, but all I know is that we are meant to be together. We are meant to be with one another. I could not see my life any other way, and I hope I can be the man that you need in your life. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together and I pray our lives will be spent as an adventure exploring each other and life together.”
Mr. Chappel looked to Kate. “Kate. If you want to say a few words?”
She tried to catch her breath, but through the tears, she could barely speak.
“Oh wow, I did not think I would get this emotional. And I did not have anything so eloquent prepared.”
She took a moment to breathe and then spoke.
“Bruce, you have come along and turned my life completely upside down. I was in no way prepared to be in this space in my life. You know that. But you have taught me that I have to trust the process. I have to trust that I have within me what is needed to make things work. I had an idea of what love would be when I found it, but you have made me change my mind about all that I thought that love would be.
“Love to me was this foreign concept that was almost unattainable. I had no idea what to expect when I found it, so I did not really look for it. And then you came along. A man that did not look anything like what I expected for myself. And you turned out to be all that I needed. I appreciate the fact that you are honest with me, and help me to be the best Kate possible. And besides all of that, you have given me the greatest gift of all. You have convinced me to really step out and live life in a manner in which I had never expected. I am proud to say I love you and I am so happy you have been patient enough with me to let our love grow and blossom. I am so happy to become your wife.”
As the words came out of her mouth, Kate fell more and more in love with Bruce. The two of them did not take their eyes off of one another.
“Now for the vows. Bruce, do you have the rings?” Mr. Chappel asked.
Kate had not even thought of the rings, she had been so wrapped up in the moment of the proposal she had not thought of the rings. She took the brief pause in the ceremony to use the tissue in her hand to dab at the tears in her eyes.
Bruce produced the rings from his pocket. His smile let her know that they were doing the right thing.
“Bruce, do you take this woman, Kate, to be your wife. To protect, to love, to cherish and adore, for all of your days?”
Sliding the ring on her finger, Bruce replied, “I do.”
Mr. Chappel turned to Kate.
“Kate, do you take this man, Bruce, to be your husband. To love, to cherish, to hold for all of your days?”
Kate slid the ring on Bruce’s finger. “I do.”
“Then it is my pleasure, with the power vested in me, to pronounce you man and wife. Bruce, you may salute your bride.”
Bruce wasted no time planting a huge kiss on his bride. Kate giggled as he picked her up in his arms and twirled her around. Once her feet hit the ground, it came to both of their attention that an audience had formed when the people around them began clapping and whistling and snapping pictures with their phones.
They both shook hands with their audience, Kate accepting hugs and well wishes from those standing around her. Some of the people offered to send them the pictures from their cell phones as mementos of the joyous occasion. After thanking Mr. Chappel and signing some paperwork to make the nuptials official, Bruce took Kate by the hand.
“We have one more thing that we need to do.”
Kate was not sure what else they possibly needed to do on today except for continue to celebrate.
Bruce led her to the car, holding the door open for her to get in. He walked around to the other side and jumped in himself.
“Where now?” Kate was so giddy with excitement, it did not really matter where they were going, as long as she was with Bruce.
“I think you will like this.”
As they watched the scenery pass by, Kate could not believe all that had just happened.
“Did I really just become Mrs. Stanger?”
“You did.” The two of them burst out laughing.
“This is so crazy. A few months ago, I would have never thought I was the type to be whisked away on an impromptu vacation where I would get married.”
Kate shook her head in disbelief.
“Are you happy, Kate? I mean, are you truly happy?”
“Bruce, I could not be happier.”
“Good. Now, to mark our marriage with something tangible. Ah, here we are.”
The chauffeur stopped the car and Bruce hopped out. Running around to her side, he let her out.
“What are we doing?”
“I saw this on television and I thought, what better way to end our ceremony.”
They approached a bridge overlooking a canal and that bridge was flanked with two railings. Those railings were filled with padlocks.
“The legend goes that you sign your names on the padlocks, chose a space, lock it on the railing, and throw away the key in the water. How about it?”
“Let’s do it.”
Kate was practically running to the bridge. Bruce followed behind her, pulling a small bag out of his pocket. In the bag were a padlock and a permanent marker.
“I thought that this would be the perfect way to introduce us to the world as Mr. and Mrs. Stanger.”
“Bruce, this is a wonderful idea.”
He passed her the lock and the marker. “You do the honors.”
She held them both in her hands, trying to think of something specific to write. Then it came to mind that she should make it simple. Once she wrote the message, she turned the lock around to show Bruce for his approval.