RP: Choosing You Who: Coop/Gen and everyone invited! When: Saturday, August 12, 2009 Where: Aruba! What: Coop and Gen tie the knot ♥ reception follows Warnings: TBD but presumably none
♡ The General Descriptions ♡
Everything was absolutely perfect, in Gen’s not-so-humble opinion. The portkey’s had been set up so that their guests would arrive in Aruba around noon, though the ceremony wasn’t scheduled until three. Everything had been set up throughout the morning, from the arbor and 'aisle' lined with starfish, tiki torches at the start of it to the ribbons tied to the chairs.
The reception area was set up under a large gazebo with three long tables arranged in a U-shape and seats on only the outside of it. There were decorations along the center of the tables and a large buffet table with coconut bowls of mixed fruit, chicken and veggie kabobs, an arrangement of California/sushi rolls that were clearly labeled with possible allergens, and bacon wrapped scallops. Little seashell mints and toothpicks as well as stacks of drink savers were in regular intervals along the tables. There was also a drinks bar with the usual beverages plus a signature seafoam sangria.
The bride and groom had decorated champagne flutes for their first toast as husband and wife (as well as all the other toasts that followed) and almost didn't want to cut the gorgeous cake that Melinda had made for their special day, though they did do it before letting their guests at the cupcakes. There was also raspberry filled chocolate starfish and individual goody bags of seaglass candy that Zahara had made for them.
Another table was set off to the side for gifts and cards, though they'd made it clear they didn't want gifts and would rather people donate to a charity from a list they'd provided in their name. There was also a message in a bottle station on the table for people to leave their well wishes for the newlyweds.
♡ The Ceremony ♡
When the time finally came for the bridal party to make their way out onto the beach where her soon-to-be-husband was waiting for her, Gen wasn't filled with nerves, but instead a pleasant jittery anticipation. She couldn't stop smiling, and she couldn't wait to see the look on Coop's face when he finally saw her. As ridiculous as he was with his insisting on following some traditions, she'd managed to get him to cave a little bit, making sure they woke up together this morning and went on their normal morning run, which led to their usual post-morning run shower shenanigans. It was the perfect start to her wedding day, she thought--it was them. But parting ways after that, not seeing him all day since then, it had anticipation curling low in her belly.
She felt gorgeous and knew her girls looked amazing too. As music played, Auri went down the aisle first, holding a basket filled with flower petals and a handwritten note from Gen to give Coop, which she did perfectly, following instructions well. Quin and Addi were next, each holding a small bouquet and wearing white barefoot sandals and a necklace Gen had given to each as a gift before the ceremony.
As Genevieve approached the start of the 'aisle' her eyes were focused entirely on Coop. Her dress was simple but everything she'd wanted it to be, even having a pocket for her wand. Her hair was left down with a little bit from the sides pulled back so it wouldn't be in her face and a starfish and pearl tiara/headband. She wore the necklace her grandmother wore at her wedding as her something old, her headband as her something new, a pair of pearl earrings from her mother as her something borrowed, and her barefoot sandals were her something blue. She had one hand tucked against her Papa's arm and her other clutching her bouquet as her father walked her down to the love of her life, her soulmate, her other half.
♡
Cooper had hated leaving Gen that morning, he realized in that moment that it had been a good thing he had caved and gone on their morning run. He didn’t know what he would have done if he had parted ways with Gen the night before the wedding, like he had intended to do. She had made him rethink a few traditions and that was one he was so very glad that she had made him rethink.
Auri was the first down the aisle, which did nothing to help Cooper’s baby fever. It just made him wonder what their daughter might look like, if she would have blonde hair like Auri or would her hair be a bit darker like Cooper’s? He had been a bit lost in his thoughts when the little girl had stopped in front of him to hand him a note. His brows had perked when she tugged at his hand to grab his attention and he had bent down to her height, his cheeseball grin in place as he reached his hand out to take the note from the little and even stealing a quick hug from the little girl.
He opened the little paper that she had handed him, that smile warming and growing as he saw Gen’s hand writing. He felt tears spring to his eyes just seeing her words, she couldn’t wait to marry him. His heart soared, of course she had sent one little surprise down the aisle before her. When he stood again, it was Addi and Quin’s turn to head down the aisle. They looked beautiful but Cooper kept looking past them, trying to get a peek at the only woman that he had eyes for today.
Finally, after what had felt like forever for Cooper, she was standing at the end of the aisle with her father. That bright goofy smile of his was plastered in place as soon as his eyes met Gen’s, his heart soaring. She was really there, standing at the end of the aisle. It was such a ridiculous thought to have but there had been that fear from the moment he had stepped away from her that morning, that she might change her mind at the last second.
When the music started up and Gen started her way down that aisle to him, he felt tears springing to his eyes and he gave a throaty chuckle as he bounced on the heels of his feet. He felt that overwhelming excitement that he seemed to have anytime he thought of his future with Gen. He was literally bursting with excitement as he bounced in place a moment, doing his best to not rush down the aisle to make a grab for her, she wasn’t moving fast enough. Having both of his best mates standing up there with him was enough though to keep him in place, their presence at his back helped Coop keep his mind about him.
♡
When they finally reached Coop, Aldrich stopped and patted Genevieve's hand, leaning in to kiss her cheek before turning to Coop and shaking his hand. He wouldn't transfer his daughter's hands to Coop's--it was a tradition he didn't believe in, as none of his children were his property. This wasn't a transfer of property but walking her down the aisle to him was still a symbol of respect and acceptance. His daughters were two for two in husband choices so far, in his opinion, he thought with a smile as he left them to take his seat next to Mabel.
Gen's lips were stretched in a wide smile as she passed her bouquet off to Quin and put her hands in Coop's. "Hi," she whispered to him, going off-script, but they wouldn't be them if they didn't go off-script from time to time. And then Hyperion started the ceremony. It was a blur as he went through the required confirmation that they were there willingly, that they would take the other in good times and bad and such. Her heart was starting to race as they got closer to exchanging rings and their personal vows. She'd found the most beautiful vows, and she couldn't wait to say them to him. "I do," she confirmed at her turn.
Turning a bit, she got Coop's ring from Addi before facing him fully again. Holding the ring at the third finger of his left hand, she spoke the words she'd memorized over the last month. "I didn't fall in love with you, Cooper. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way. I believe in fate and destiny, but I also believe we are only fated to do the things we'd choose anyway. And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you, and I'd choose you. I choose you--again and again, at the start and end of every single day, no matter the season, no matter the year. I choose you--to struggle and succeed with, to fight and make up with, to love and grow old with. I choose you--knowing there are still trails we must travel, knowing there are mountains left to climb. Je vous choisis pour toujours être à mes côtés."
As she spoke the last words, pretending that she hadn't gotten a bit choked up with emotion toward the end there as she slipped into French, she slid the ring onto his finger. "Je vous ai choisis, mon coeur," she murmured as she gave his hand a little squeeze.
♡
Cooper couldn’t help himself, as her hands found his and she whispered that little hello, he gave her a playful wink that was definitely exaggerated. “Hey yourself, what’re you doing after this?” As if this were casual and he were hitting on her for the first time. It wouldn’t be them if they weren’t at least a little ridiculous during the ceremony.
As they went through the motions and exchanged “I do," his smile just grew. His eyes grew moist as he listened to her, her vows. She chose him was such a powerful thing. He chuckled softly, though it was a watery noise, as she finished her vows and slipped that ring on his finger.
It was his turn then, and he brought a shaky hand up to wipe under his eyes as he sniffled away more tears. He wasn’t shaky for the usual reasons grooms were on their wedding day, Cooper instead was just that excited. This was the moment he had dreamed of for years now, marrying Gen like this. Sure, he’d always wanted to be married but it wasn’t until he had met Gen that he could picture it. He could picture growing old with her, having children, and even grandchildren with her. She had always been it for him.
“Can I just say ditto?” he asked then, giving Gen that wink again as he chuckled another watery laugh. If he hadn’t made a joke, he was sure they would all worry about him. He couldn’t take much seriously sometimes, especially when he was as excited as he was today. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the moment just a few short months ago he had never thought would be possible. He had almost lost her, he wasn’t about to do that again.
“You’ve always been better with words than I have, I’ve never been able to convey my feelings correctly and it’s caused more than a handful of fights.” He sucked in a breath. “I’m going to do my best now to make my words half as beautiful as yours, I knew I should have gone first.” Because apparently Cooper couldn’t help himself, he had to make a few jokes.
“I realized when I met you that I had never known love before, I thought I had but I had never experienced the love one can feel when they find their soulmate. You’re not just my partner, you’re my guide to love, my every wish, and the person I want to grow old with. I vow to carry you, and to be carried by you, to journey with you and to love each minute of this crazy ride with you. I vow to kiss you everyday, as we do today – with love and devotion. That each kiss we share from now will be a remembrance of our wedding vows, our joy, and everything we’ve come to share over the years.”
He licked his lips, his mouth going dry as he was handed the ring, slipping it into place on her finger. “They say that the Gods separated man and woman because we were too powerful together, they were scared. They doomed us to walk this earth finding our other halves. They better be terrified, I found my other half and I’m refusing to let you go. I know our love has what it takes to conquer this world and the next. We’ll face whatever comes our way together as we face everything, with laughter and love.”
Gen let out a soft chuckle at his response. "Oh, you know, just a little party--you should come," she answered, feeling her heart swell with love for this man even as their friends and family laughed at the exchange. It really was so them, and she doubted anyone would be surprised.
Seeing the moisture in his eyes made it harder to ignore the tears in her own--they were happy tears though, and that made all the difference. She wasn't embarrassed by them in the least. She laughed again with their guests at his question, and she lifted one hand to cup his cheek, stroking her thumb just under his eye. "No," she answered, wrinkling her nose at him, loving the moments of silliness he was bringing to the ceremony. She dropped her hand again, bringing it back down to his, as he started so speak, laughing and shaking her head a bit as he insisted he should have gone first.
As perfect as he thought her words had been, she felt the same about his, and she knew that as long as they remembered their promises to each other today, they would be able to get through anything. Together. And then she felt the weight of the ring sliding onto her finger, and her heart started racing. This was real, and it felt better than she'd thought possible, which was a surprise as she'd had high hopes for it.
"Je t'aime, mon coeur," she whispered back. God but she loved that he'd spoken French too, it made her tear up even more, reminding her that he'd learned French for her, because he loved her and that part of her life was important to him because it was important to her. On impulse, she rocked up onto her toes and kissed him, not at all in the point of the ceremony they were supposed to kiss just yet, but she didn't care.
♡
Hyperion wasn't even trying to hide that his eyes were wet, didn't try to dim the wide smile that stretched across his face as he watched his best mate exchange vows with the love of his life. It was a beautiful thing and, yes, he was a complete and utter sap, but he didn't care. Everyone who knew him knew that he was, and he wasn't ashamed of it.
When Gen deviated from the 'script,' he couldn't help but chuckle again. "Alright, alright, save it for after I pronounce you husband and wife," he teased, drawing a bit of laughter from everyone again. "Please join your hands," he instructed them. They'd gone over what what happen for this part of the ceremony, and he trusted that they hadn't forgotten in the midst of the emotions. He pulled his wand out then and levitated a small wooden box up in front of him. It had been carved with various runes and blessings for the marriage, and inside were the cords Coop and Gen had chosen for their handfasting. One was woven with green for fertility and prosperity, pink for love, unity, and truth, and purple for healing and strength; the other had red for love and passion, orange for encouragement and kindness, and yellow for balance and harmony.
Hype opened the box magically and then levitated the cords out, sending them to wrap around Cooper and Gen's joined hands in figure eights as a symbol for eternity as he spoke. "These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will join your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it, support and encouragement to pursue your dreams, and comfort you through difficult times."
He was proud of himself for getting through that without tripping over his words or crying, though there were definitely tears in his eyes. But there was still more. "And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch." He put his wand away then, and brought the ends of the cords together, tying them manually into simple knots. "On behalf of all those present, and by the strength of your own love, I am honored to pronounce you married. You may now seal your vows with a kiss." He took a step back then, smiling broadly at the newlyweds.
♡
Cooper gave her an impish grin when she asked him to come to this little party afterwards. He’d definitely be going to that party, he was definitely going to be late though because he wasn’t going to let her go once he was allowed to get his hands on her.
He leaned into her touch as she held his cheek, it was such a quick little tender moment and he had the urge to kiss her but he held back. He knew that he had to wait for that moment, she would be pissed if he ruined it all by kissing her just then.
Then she kissed him! His heart soared and of course he didn’t let the moment go without wrapping those big arms around her slender little waist and squeezing her close for just a moment before allowing her to go. It was just as quick as her kiss, he had needed to hold her.
The rest of the ceremony went just as they had planned. He watched with wide eyes as the cords wrapped around their hands, those tears he had been able to hold back had started to fall as Hyperion spoke. It was that moment that he knew he had definitely chosen the right man for the job, there was absolutely no one else that he would have marry them. It wouldn’t have been their wedding if anyone else had officiated it. He really hoped he’d get to repay that favor someday.
“Thank Salazar, you talk too much.” Cooper teased under his breath, just loud enough for the three of them to hear just seconds before he was tugging very gently at her hands that were laced with his, pulling her in closer as he kissed her. He kissed her passionately, wishing in that moment that he could wrap his arms around her and hold her against him. He didn’t care that some might find the kiss a bit inappropriate for a wedding, it was them. They played hard and they loved hard, there wasn’t anything mild about their love. It was a burning sort of love that left no doubt, they were meant for each other.
♡
That he held her close and returned the kiss was perfect, just as everything had been so far. She didn't care that it was the wrong point in the ceremony for a kiss, and she didn't think anyone present would be surprised by their improvisation. She just couldn't help herself!
The handfasting was beautiful and elegant even, and she was happy for Coop that he got to have his best mate do this for them. She knew how much that meant to him, and she wouldn't want anything else. It was fascinating, seeing the cord Cooper had chosen--she'd poured over the list of meanings behind the colors before choosing her own, though they were the three that had stuck out to her most initially. She knew what his colors stood for, and she felt they couldn't be more perfect.
The kiss, their first as husband and wife, absolutely encapsulated everything that made them them, and she didn't hold back in the way she kissed him back. It wasn't until someone coughed and the laughter broke through to her awareness that she finally pulled back, feeling breathless. Hyperion murmured to them then to let go of their hands, and they were able to slip them out of the cords, which fell into the open box just below. She wasn't sure when he'd magicked it there, but it was lovely nevertheless, watching the entwined and tied cords settle in the charmed box.
With another laugh, she kissed Coop again, lighter this time, and then they were walking back down the aisle, together, as husband and wife...