You are hereby cordially invited to witness the sharing of love and vows between two souls that have finally chosen to come together as one.
SHELBY PAIGE DAWSON
&
MATTHEW ETHAN REYNOLDS
Would love for you to join them as they take this first step together on the beach at sunset on Saturday evening, September the 3rd at six o’clock.
Nags Head, North Carolina
Followed by a reception
The day I never thought would come, finally came, and it was with the man I had loved for most of my life. The end of summer breeze was still salty and warm as it blew across my skin, making my simple yet elegant white dress flow out behind me in soft waves. Knowing I was getting married barefoot on the beach, I chose a silky fabric dress with a square neckline and thin straps that hugged every part of my body except below my waist where the high slit made it billow out.
It was all magical, along with the colorful painted sky from the sunset.
As I waited for the music to start, I gazed down at the bouquet in my hands. Matt and I wanted the two flowers that symbolized our daughter to be the ones at our wedding today. I saw her as a white lily and that was why I always bought them to put at her gravesite, whereas Matt envisioned the pink sunflowers. Everywhere around me her flowers were there.
Once I heard the music play I knew it was my time to go. Taking a deep breath, I walked the rest of the way down the wooden walkway and took my first step onto the warm, thick sand below my feet. Even though the music played, I imagined I was walking down to the sound of the waves. The horizon was so beautiful with its many colors and I knew I couldn’t have gotten a more perfect wedding day.
Up ahead, Matt waited for me as I walked toward him down the aisle. He was dressed in a black tux and on his lapel was a little pink sunflower. My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I knew I had to hold out before I cried. Our family and friends had flown over from California to join us on our special day, but I couldn’t seem to focus on anyone other than Matt. He was all I saw; all I wanted to see. When I finally made it down to him, I passed my bouquet to Lexi, who was my maid of honor; glowing with her medium-sized pregnant belly and dressed in a red flowing gown.
I turned back to Matt, and he took my hands, smiling. “You look beautiful, angel,” he whispered as quietly as he could.
I squeezed his hands and mouthed the words, “Thank you.”
Our minister conducting the ceremony was an older gentleman who had lived in Nags Head all of his life, and when Matt and I went in search of someone to marry us he was the perfect candidate. He was sixty-two years old with a full head of gray hair and he reminded me so much of Clint Eastwood it was uncanny.
As the minister proceeded with the ceremony, Matt and I stood there, our eyes never wavering from each other’s. It all happened so fast that when it came time for the rings I couldn’t believe it was almost over. Instead of repeating the normal vows, Matt and I had written our own. My heart thudded anxiously in my chest because I couldn’t wait to hear what he was going to say.
The minister handed Matt my wedding band and told him it was his time to publicly express his love and devotion to me. Since I didn’t want a new ring, Matt went all out on the wedding band. It was still white gold, but embedded in the whole band was a row of perfectly cut and crystal clear diamonds.
After sliding the ring on my finger, he held my hands tight and began, “With this ring, I want it to symbolize my never-ending love and devotion to you, Shelby. As long as I live there will never be a time when you should doubt that, because for the rest of my life I’m going to prove it to you. I’m going to prove that I am worthy of you by not only being your husband, but your lover, and your friend. Each title has different qualities and I want to fulfill them all. I want to be your everything because that’s what you are to me … my everything. I love you, angel. For the rest of my life, and thereafter, I will always love you.”
“Oh, Matt,” I cried softly, “that was beautiful.” Tears slowly slid down my cheeks, but he wiped them away.
The minister passed me Matt’s ring and murmured, “It’s your turn, my dear.”
I couldn’t imagine Matt wearing a shiny wedding band, so I picked him out a wide, black titanium band encircled with tiny black diamonds. By the smile on his face when I slid it on his finger I knew he approved of it.
“With this ring, Matt, I willingly bind myself to you and I promise to always remain loyal, faithful, and honest in our marriage for as long as I live. You will always have my love, my support, and my undying devotion. I will be there for you every step of the way no matter how many hardships stand in our path. You fight for what you want and I’ve learned to do the same. For the rest of my life, for however long that will be, I will always fight for you … for us, because without you my world is nothing but an endless black abyss. You are my light, my guide, and if you didn’t come back I would still be lost. You brought me happiness and showed me what real love was really like, and for that I will always be grateful. You’re my forever.”
It was done. Once the minister gave his conclusion, it would all be over. I would be Matt’s wife. There was no greater title than that.
The minister’s voice boomed across the wind, “Now that Matt and Shelby have declared their love to all the witnesses here and in the presence of God, I would like to happily announce that they are now husband and wife. Matt, you may kiss your bride.”
Grinning down at me, Matt lifted his hands to my face, cupping my cheeks, and I held onto his wrists as he slowly lowered his lips to mine. He kissed me gently at first, but then deepened it by sliding his tongue inside. It was a sensual yet powerful kiss. We were married and it was the beginning to a whole new life.
“And that’s a wrap, everyone!”
Matt and I pulled apart from the kiss, both smiling from ear to ear, and turned to see the movie producer, Christian Mayer, rushing down the aisle clapping his hands. Our family and friends all stood and cheered with him as me and Matt bowed. When Matt said our wedding would be an adventure, he wasn’t kidding.
Before he proposed to me, Jace had learned that the producer wanted to add a wedding scene to the movie and he needed to find more extras for the part. With Jace’s enigmatic mind he thought it would be a good idea if Matt and I got married on the set, so he pitched the idea to his producer and he loved it.
Christian strolled up to us and kissed me on the cheek before shaking Matt’s hand. “The chemistry was amazing. I can’t believe we got it all in one take. Good job, you guys.”
Matt chuckled and picked me up in his arms. “Now aren’t you glad we did this? Just think about it, how many people can say their wedding is going to be in a major motion picture film?”
“Not many,” I said, laughing as he swung me around.
When he set me down, he took a deep breath of the salty sea air and gazed out at the ocean and the colorful horizon. “You know, I think I kind of like it here,” he confessed. “Don’t get me wrong, I love California, but this place holds something special for us now, too. What would you say if we bought a house here?”
“Really?” I squealed excitedly. “You would want that?”
“Yeah, why not?” Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me in close and pressed his lips to mine. “As long as I have you with me there’s nothing we couldn’t do. You’re my wife now, angel. Whatever you want I’ll happily give it to you.”
“Anything I want?” I murmured softly, gazing into his swirling green eyes.
He nodded. “Anything.”
There was something I really wanted, but it was something we hadn’t talked about yet. “There is one thing I want, but it might take a while to actually get it,” I told him cryptically, biting my lip.
“Why is that?” he asked, furrowing his brows.
With a mischievous grin on my face, I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I think sometimes it can take up to nine months to receive it. Sometimes longer if it takes a while to make.”
His eyes went wide and he gripped me so tight I could barely breathe. “Really?” he murmured excitedly. “Are you sure this is what you want, angel? You have no idea how bad I want this … to start a family with you.”
“Oh, Matt, I want it more than anything. We’ve waited so long for this.”
“Yes, we have,” he agreed, tilting my head back so he could kiss me. “And it all starts tonight. I promise I will give you what you want … what we want. It’ll be a new start, a new beginning, and we have the rest of our lives to enjoy it.”
Yes we do, and it begins now.