The Wedding They'll Never Forget - Chapter 12: Chapter 12
You are reading The Wedding They'll Never Forget, Chapter 12: Chapter 12. Read more chapters of The Wedding They'll Never Forget.
The air was sweet with the fragrance of fresh blooms, and the pathways glowed under the soft light of lanterns, casting a dreamlike spell over everything.
Our guests were a perfect blend—mutual friends, business associates, Andrew's old classmates, and his lively, sprawling family, who had traveled from all corners of the country just to celebrate with us. I couldn't have imagined a warmer, more supportive crowd—everyone radiated genuine joy for us.
The ceremony was nothing short of magical. I glided down the aisle in a sleek off-the-shoulder gown I'd known was the one the moment I saw it. When I reached the altar, Andrew's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes shimmering with emotion.
He looked devastatingly handsome in his charcoal-gray suit, the subtle pattern adding just the right touch of sophistication. Our vows were raw and intimate, filled with promises we both knew we'd honor. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he slid the ring onto my finger—a tiny, perfect reminder of how much this moment meant to him. To us.
The reception held its own surprises. Our bridal party blew us away with a video montage, stitching together clips and photos from our earliest days to now. They'd secretly gathered footage from friends and family—awkward first encounters, stolen glances, even the night Andrew proposed. It was sweet, sentimental, and hit me right in the feels.
Andrew squeezed my hand as we watched, both of us overwhelmed by the love poured into it. One of those moments where you realize just how lucky you are to have these people in your life.
The speeches that followed were just as touching. Andrew's best man had everyone in stitches recounting how Andrew once swore he'd never settle down—until he met me. Andrew turned pink with embarrassment, but his grin never wavered. My maid of honor spoke about how much I'd grown since we first met, how proud she was to see me so happy after everything. We both got misty-eyed, and for the first time in forever, I felt the weight of the past finally lift.
The night ended with everyone dancing under the stars, swaying to our favorite songs. Andrew spun me around, and for those few hours, time seemed to freeze—like the universe had crafted this night just for us.
We didn't rush back to reality afterward. Instead, we escaped to a quiet island, a hidden paradise far from the usual tourist trails. For two blissful weeks, it was just us—lounging on untouched beaches, sipping cocktails under swaying palms, and soaking up the local charm. We snorkeled in crystal-clear waters, took long walks hand in hand, and talked endlessly about our future—our dreams, our plans, everything we wanted to build together.
But the peace couldn't last forever. The second reception in Casouth was just around the corner—a smaller, more intimate gathering for my family and childhood friends who couldn't make it to Evercrest. Part of me was nervous about returning to a place tied to so much pain, but this time, I wasn't alone. I had Andrew. And this time, I was stronger. Happier. Loved.
The moment we arrived in Casouth, my family and friends enveloped us in hugs. They adored Andrew instantly—his warmth and charm won them over in seconds. My closest girlfriends even threw me a surprise bridal party, complete with a nostalgic twist: we dug out our old high school uniforms and spent the day roaming the city like we were teens again.
We laughed until our sides hurt in a retro photo booth, retaking shots when we couldn't keep straight faces. That night, we piled into a hotel room, rewatching our favorite movies from back in the day and recreating ridiculous high school videos. The room buzzed with laughter—even though some of us hadn't seen each other in years, it felt like no time had passed at all.
They knew everything—about Paul, the fallout, how broken I'd been. They'd witnessed our decade-long relationship rise and crumble. And yet here was Andrew, a man I'd known for barely a year, showing more care and commitment than Paul ever had.
When the Casouth wedding day arrived, it was smaller than the first, but somehow more personal. Surrounded by my family and oldest friends, I felt their love wrapping around us like a shield.
Still, I couldn't shake the unease. I'd hired extra security—just in case. Even though we'd kept things quiet, there was always a chance Paul might find out. The scars he left ran deep, and the thought of him ruining this day sent a chill through me.
But today wasn't about him. It was about us. And nothing—no ghost from the past—was going to take that away.
Our guests were a perfect blend—mutual friends, business associates, Andrew's old classmates, and his lively, sprawling family, who had traveled from all corners of the country just to celebrate with us. I couldn't have imagined a warmer, more supportive crowd—everyone radiated genuine joy for us.
The ceremony was nothing short of magical. I glided down the aisle in a sleek off-the-shoulder gown I'd known was the one the moment I saw it. When I reached the altar, Andrew's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes shimmering with emotion.
He looked devastatingly handsome in his charcoal-gray suit, the subtle pattern adding just the right touch of sophistication. Our vows were raw and intimate, filled with promises we both knew we'd honor. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he slid the ring onto my finger—a tiny, perfect reminder of how much this moment meant to him. To us.
The reception held its own surprises. Our bridal party blew us away with a video montage, stitching together clips and photos from our earliest days to now. They'd secretly gathered footage from friends and family—awkward first encounters, stolen glances, even the night Andrew proposed. It was sweet, sentimental, and hit me right in the feels.
Andrew squeezed my hand as we watched, both of us overwhelmed by the love poured into it. One of those moments where you realize just how lucky you are to have these people in your life.
The speeches that followed were just as touching. Andrew's best man had everyone in stitches recounting how Andrew once swore he'd never settle down—until he met me. Andrew turned pink with embarrassment, but his grin never wavered. My maid of honor spoke about how much I'd grown since we first met, how proud she was to see me so happy after everything. We both got misty-eyed, and for the first time in forever, I felt the weight of the past finally lift.
The night ended with everyone dancing under the stars, swaying to our favorite songs. Andrew spun me around, and for those few hours, time seemed to freeze—like the universe had crafted this night just for us.
We didn't rush back to reality afterward. Instead, we escaped to a quiet island, a hidden paradise far from the usual tourist trails. For two blissful weeks, it was just us—lounging on untouched beaches, sipping cocktails under swaying palms, and soaking up the local charm. We snorkeled in crystal-clear waters, took long walks hand in hand, and talked endlessly about our future—our dreams, our plans, everything we wanted to build together.
But the peace couldn't last forever. The second reception in Casouth was just around the corner—a smaller, more intimate gathering for my family and childhood friends who couldn't make it to Evercrest. Part of me was nervous about returning to a place tied to so much pain, but this time, I wasn't alone. I had Andrew. And this time, I was stronger. Happier. Loved.
The moment we arrived in Casouth, my family and friends enveloped us in hugs. They adored Andrew instantly—his warmth and charm won them over in seconds. My closest girlfriends even threw me a surprise bridal party, complete with a nostalgic twist: we dug out our old high school uniforms and spent the day roaming the city like we were teens again.
We laughed until our sides hurt in a retro photo booth, retaking shots when we couldn't keep straight faces. That night, we piled into a hotel room, rewatching our favorite movies from back in the day and recreating ridiculous high school videos. The room buzzed with laughter—even though some of us hadn't seen each other in years, it felt like no time had passed at all.
They knew everything—about Paul, the fallout, how broken I'd been. They'd witnessed our decade-long relationship rise and crumble. And yet here was Andrew, a man I'd known for barely a year, showing more care and commitment than Paul ever had.
When the Casouth wedding day arrived, it was smaller than the first, but somehow more personal. Surrounded by my family and oldest friends, I felt their love wrapping around us like a shield.
Still, I couldn't shake the unease. I'd hired extra security—just in case. Even though we'd kept things quiet, there was always a chance Paul might find out. The scars he left ran deep, and the thought of him ruining this day sent a chill through me.
But today wasn't about him. It was about us. And nothing—no ghost from the past—was going to take that away.
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