And the rains came . . .

Jul 26, 2013 03:24 PM Back By Bands of Gold Wedding Ceremonies

The weather doesn't always clear up.

It's nice when the sun follows the rain and all is good, but most of the time it just doesn't happen that way. I was officiating a wedding that was set up by a wedding planner and this was one of those unusual/strange weddings. The Bride and Groom were from California, and for whatever reason, they decided to get married in New York City.

They didn't know anyone in New York City. They had a full wedding, planned, catered and attended by about 35 guests, all of whom were from California. And it was an overcast day in the City, with rain threatening.

The wedding was taking place at an outdoor Fifth Avenue location on 50th Street, four stories in the air. I'm betting you didn't know there was such a location, across from Saks 5th Avenue and angled to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Well I didn't. I mean, I know it's used for television settings on New Year's Eve and when they light the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, but I didn't know it was used for weddings.

Anyway, the bridal party was staying downtown, around 30th Street, and were using a limousine to come up to 50th Street, but they were doing it Bride first, then back to get the Groom. Most of the guests were there already, including both sets of parents and everything was set up for the outdoor wedding.

And it started to rain.

I notified Claudia, the wedding planner and she had all the chairs moved inside and set up, just about the time that the Bride showed up. The rain slowed to a drizzle, stopped, then started again, as a drizzle. In the meantime we were waiting for the Groom to come. And we waited, and waited.

No, he didn't go back to California. But neither did the limousine go back for him. Claudia finally called the limousine company, found out what happened and set about correcting it.

During this time the Groom's father came to me and said, "you know, when we have funerals in California, we still gather and bury them even if it's raining." I looked at him and asked if he wanted to do this outside. He said yes, but he'd ask the Bride if she wanted to.

She did.

So I notified Claudia, who now set about having all the chairs moved back outside in the on-again, off-again drizzle.

The Groom finally shows up and we set about getting the ceremony started. I'm sure you already figured out what was going to happen.

We start the ceremony and in the middle of it the rain comes down. Not a heavy downpour but not a drizzle either. But we did the ceremony, and everyone was happy as you can see by this text I received from Claudia:

Hi Rev. Larry!
Sorry for the delay but I was so busy ...I am on my way back from Cali! Leah n joe had an at home party for the guests that couldn't make it to nyc...we played the video recap short version that was made for the party...mostly the ceremony ...it was played in front of all 250 plus guests...and a lot of people commented on u...what a great officiant was a common remark! Leah joe and their families thought u were just so great n officiated with a lot of class...I personally couldn't agree more! u brought warmth and spirit to their ceremony n to two people who I so admire! Thank u so much! Look forward to working with you again!

Look at the pictures, you'll see the rain.

Lessons to be learned . . .I'll leave that up to you.

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