An SBC Wedding: Part I (FINISHED)

[Judith Eastman]

This phase of the wedding is closed to only the happy couple's closest friends.
Expect part II, aka the Heart Patient Convention, next week, which will be open to all SBC crew and more.

[Lt. Cmdr. Judith Eastman, PhD, PsyD, MBA, MS, Rabbi Nathan Eastman & others - Observation Lounge - Feb. 24, 2397]

This was it. The big day. The time chosen for the actual ceremony was 7 am, very much in the morning hours, in large part due to the bride's eagerness not to wait any longer.

There were some traditions that were shunned  here. The reception, which is normally before the ceremony, was pushed to be held after. The traditional Jewish wedding contract, which Judy saw as forbidding a two-breadwinner household, was cast out completely. The veil, deemed to be a rather objectifying tradition in Judy's eyes, was omitted as well.

However, to the surprise of those most intimately involved with the planning process, Judy did don a flowing white dress, one with a gold finish along its v-shaped neckline.

She stood, interlocking her arm with Max, and ready to be called down the aisle to the chupah, the traditional canopy under which he would place a wedding ring on her finger. Then, he would say, "behold, you are consecrated to me as my wife under the laws of Moses and Israel", and just like that, she would become Lieutenant Commander Eastman-Williams. The rest of the ceremony, while meaningful, was just for fun.

"On the day of their wedding, a bride and groom are like royalty," Nathan explained, standing outside the chupah. "Royalty, of course, need an honor guard. For this, we have on hand the bride's parents, Jonathan and Diane Eastman."

Jon went over to Max to lock arms with his new son-in-law, while Diane went to do so with her daughter. Had the groom's parents still been around, they too would be a part of this "honor guard".

"Let's do this," Judy whispered to her husband-designate as she tugged him to start them walking down the aisle.

[Leanna Mazal]

[Observation Lounge - Feb 24th, 2397]

His nerves were simmering just under the surface but they were largely kept at bay thanks to Judy's eagerness to hold the ceremony so early so he didn't have much time to think about it and overthink things. Of course he wished that his parents were still alive to witness their only son finally settling down and marrying the most amazing if sometimes stubborn woman.

He was glad that things hadn't gotten more awkward in terms of the organising and now that the day was finally here, he could put all of the unpleasantness behind him as he prepared to become a husband for the very first time.

The run up and tensions caused through him wanting to stay true to himself, had been stressful to the point where he didn't know if he could do this and had doubted himself a little over whether he was prepared to go through with the wedding. But luckily he had gotten through it thanks largely to Lea and confiding in her after the first visit from Nathan and now as he stood arm in arm with Judy felt ready more than he ever had been.

He was also relieved that some traditions had been shunned as they prepared to go down the aisle. Listening as Nathan spoke but his focus was on the ceremony itself and smiled as Jon moved over to lock arms with him and as he heard Judy whisper, smiled once more as he whispered back.

" Yes let's"

Then he started to walk down the aisle.

[Ozu Saya]

[Observation Lounge]

Saya gripped Kyo's arm tighter as Judy and Max appeared at the end of the aisle, Judy's parents flanking them as they made their way forward to the small canopy where Judy's cousin stood waiting to perform the ceremony.

She and Kyo had gone through two of their own, on Vulcan and Bajor, and Saya was finding greater appreciation at the symbolism and meaning of the various elements included in each. And this one was yet different again.

Judy looked happy, as Saya never would have anticipated her being about marriage. From some of their earlier conversations, she never would have expected the older woman to even consider entering the state again. But here they were. Saya was grateful to have been able to get leave in order to return.

Kyo smiled when Saya's grip tightened on his arm and he squeezed her hand briefly. Though he wasn't as close with Judy, he was happy to be here to support her and Max. She'd done a great deal to help him with his courtship of Saya and would forever be grateful to her. He was also interested in the ceremony itself, after having experienced a couple of Jewish meals and the like. He found the practices compelling, much as his own beliefs and ceremonies in worshiping in the Prophets.

They both turned to watch as Max and Judy made their way to stand under the chupah.

[Judith Eastman]

[Lt. Cmdr. Judith Eastman, PhD, PsyD, MBA, MS*, Rabbi Nathan Eastman & assorted others - Observation Lounge]

As they walked down the aisle, Judy made little kissing motions with her lips to the crowd. She would've waved, but her hands were occupied. In particular, she noticed Saya and Kyo; the latter's red hair stood out in the veritable sea of silver.

At last, they reached the chupah. Judy's parents parted silently and returned to their front-row seats, each silently insisting on sitting down unaided and refusing the other's assistance with a shake of the head or a little wave. Judy couldn't help but chuckle a little and exchange a look with Max, as if to say that this was what they were aspiring to.

Nathan lectured again.
"The chupah, under which they're standing, used to symbolize the home the groom built for the bride. In this day and age, it symbolizes the home they're building together," he explained, reciting verbatim what Judy had told him to. "There are no walls, to symbolize that they, like Abraham and Sarah, the first patriarch and matriarch, will always be open to guests. Do take them up on that, they have the best food you will ever eat."

The last remark elicited a few laughs in the audience. Even those who didn't love interfaith marriage had to admit that this was a culinary juggernaut.

"Now, the groom will place a ring of his on the bride, to consecrate her to him. She has the option to run away..."
"Walk away," Judy interjected, making a joke on her hip replacement.
"Walk away, right. She has the option to walk away if she doesn't wish to marry him. Her standing through the ceremony amounts to saying 'I do'. There are no formal vows as among the goyim."

Judy then extended her hand for Max to place a ring on. It was shaking, from a combination of tremors and excitement.

OOC notes:
* I think this name needs a hyphen. Don't you?

[Leanna Mazal]

[Observation Lounge]

As Lea sat in her designated seat next to Fells, she quietly contemplated on how this was the first wedding that she had attended since her own. Not that she wanted to remember too much about it considering how it ended but still it was nice to reflect on the happier memories especially getting to share this moment with two of the important people in her life.

Even the earliness of the hour didn't dampen her spirits or her enthusiasm as she watched Max and Judy walk down the aisle. They both looked radiant and had to smile at seeing Judy in the dress that she had helped her to pick despite her earlier protestations that she wouldn't wear one and then squeezed her boyfriend's hand as she focused on watching the ceremony.

[Leanna Mazal]

[Observation Lounge - Max]

Walking down the aisle with Judy and her parents either side of them made Max feel even less nervous, especially as he acknowledged those that he passed until finally they reached the chupah. Smiling as Judy exchanged that look with him after her parents had taken their seats before focusing on Nathan.

Listening to his words, taking in the meaning and the emotion behind them until it was time for him to place the ring on Judy's finger. Not really noticing the laughter as he looked intently into her eyes, holding her hand reassuringly as he then slid the ring on and smiled at her as he spoke the blessing.

"Behold, you are consecrated to me as my wife under the laws of Moses and Israel".

[Judith Eastman]

[Lt. Cmdr. Judith Eastman-Williams, PhD, PsyD, MBA, MS, Rabbi Nathan Eastman, Jonathan Eastman, Sen. Diane Eastman and many others - Observation Lounge]

The assorted friends and relatives in attendance waited a moment, to see if Judy had insisted on a reciprocal ring exchange. It would've been a very Judy thing to do. However, Max's wedding ring was already on him - for once, Judy had followed tradition.
Slowly, the crowd erupted into raucous cheering and applause, which prompted Judy to give her handsome hubby a big damn kiss. Naturally, that fueled more applause.

"You know, corgis do this by peeing in each other's food bowls," Judy remarked once the well-wishers calmed down a bit, which drew laughter.

"Always our little girl," Jon whispered to Diane.
"Always a little girl," Diane corrected.

"By tradition, a succession of relatives recite the Sheva B'rachot, or seven blessings. Allow me to first introduce the bride's son, Lawrence Eastman."

Lawrence, whose messy brown hair looked very out of place in a bespoke three-piece suit, rose, recited a blessing, and then left.

"Next is the bride's other son, Gerald Eastman."

Gerald, who looked like a cleaned-up version of Lawrence, with his slicked-back hair and finely-trimmed beard, did his piece.

"Next will be the bride's cousin, Herbert Roth III."

Bart, as he was known, was a middle-aged man with a salt-and pepper beard. His delivery was sung beautifully, in line with tradition.

"You know what, let's call the rest of them up at once," Nathan announced, conceding that his grandiosity was time-consuming. "The bride's aunt, Nancy Eastman-Levin, the bride's grandmother, the honorable Estelle Roth, the bride's mother, Diane Eastman, and the bride's father, Jon Eastman, will read the remaining blessings, in that order."

The rest of this portion of the ceremony went by smoothly, with each elderly relative doing his or her part.

Finally, Nathan handed a glass of red wine to Max.

"You drink some, Mrs. Eastman-Williams drinks some, and then you break it with your foot and the crowd goes wild," he explained in a whisper.

[Ozu Saya]

[Observation Lounge - Max]
"Behold, you are consecrated to me as my wife under the laws of Moses and Israel".

[Observation Lounge]

I like that, Kyo leaned over to murmur in Saya's ear, forgetting, as he often did, that he could have said it telepathically since they were touching.

Saya smiled up at him and squeezed his hand in response. She'd been quite pleased with both of their ceremonies, even the more religious aspects of the Bajoran one. While she didn't actively practice worship of the Prophets, she was much more open to the idea in general than she had been.

They followed the cues of the rest of the attendees for how to react to the different elements of the ceremony. Saya found she truly enjoyed the parts that were sung in what she presumed was Hebrew. The sound was appealing and made her want to ask Judy to sing some songs in the language.

[Leanna Mazal]

When the applause and raucous cheering erupted behind them, Max only had eyes for his Bride especially as she leaned for a big kiss that he happily reciprocated, letting it linger for as long as possible.

Grinning at his new wife at her corgi comment which naturally drew laughter from the crowd before holding her hand as Nathan spoke to them all once more. Not letting go as each member of the family was called to give the blessings and looked on proudly especially when his new sons got up first.

Listening with all of the emotion and understanding he had come to learn about the Jewish faith and his own appreciation for the way each blessing was delivered until Nathan handed him a glass of red wine.

Nodding in response to his whispered explanation, then turned to face Judy as he followed the instructions and drank from it before holding out the glass for Judy to do the same.

[Fells Halgerdur]

Weddings were something very special. A pact for life...where two people decided that they wanted to go a joint path. Even Fells had to respect that. Personally he didn't need a priest or paper to take someone else that serious but then again, it had never gotten that far.

While he sat next to Lea and watched the ceremony in his best suit, fresh shave and hair cut, he contemplated whether he'd ever do it, too. He looked down at Lea's hand in his and then turned his head to smile at her. Possibly for her, she was a keeper, he knew that much.

The couple looked very happy and even though Fells wasn't a huge fan of Judy and her counseling he swore to be civil and behave on her special day. This was about her, not him. Maybe he could even leave a good impression for a change.

He squeezed Leas hand and well and whispered in her ear. "They look very happy."

[Leanna Mazal]

[Observation Lounge]

As she watched the ceremony, Lea embraced the emotions of those present but none shone out for her more than those of her friends. Seeing them so happy and finally becoming man and wife after all of the stress and planning was just perfect and what they truly deserved. When Fells looked at her and smiled she beamed back at him, happy that she was getting to share this with him and that she had finally found someone who made her feel so complete.

She also knew what Fells thought of Judy but with him promising to be civil well that's all she could ask for. So when he squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, she smiled again and whispered back.

" They do indeed and I'm glad that you're here with me".

[Judith Eastman]

[Lt. Cmdr. Judith Eastman-Williams, PhD, PsyD, MBA, MS & others - Observation Lounge]

Judy looked out at the audience while Max had his portion of the wine. She noticed a few side conversations, and couldn't help but wonder what they were chatting about.

Then, her husband handed her the wine, and she finished it off slowly, elegantly, like a respectable, married woman - which she was.

"I'm dropping it on a count of three. Then, you stomp on it," Judy forewarned Max as she raised the now-empty glass in the air. "One, two, three."

Then, she dropped it, which led to some cracking, but not quite shattering. It was left for the groom to finish what his bride had started - breaking this wineglass, like marriage itself, was a team effort.

[Ozu Saya]

[Observation Lounge]

The breaking of the wineglass was interesting, and Saya noted to herself to ask Judy about it later. On the surface, it seemed a rather silly and somewhat hazardous practice, but presumably there was some sort of symbolism to it.

They look very happy together. I'm pleased for Judy, Saya commented silently to Kyo.

He smiled and squeezed her hand in agreement. I am, too. And ever grateful to Judy for nudging us together. He grinned as Saya flushed and shook her head.

[Leanna Mazal]

[Observation Lounge]

Max watched as Judy took the glass from him and sipped it the way he always admired before she then forewarned him as to what she was going to do next. " Okay"He replied quietly, watching the glass as Judy began the countdown, following its trail as she then dropped it.

Hearing it crack as he then reached out with his right foot and stamped on it, breaking it in the process then waited for the reaction to what he had just done.

[Judith Eastman]

[Lt. Cmdr. Judith Eastman-Williams, PhD, PsyD, MBA, MS & others - Observation Lounge]

The reaction was quite possibly much more than Max had anticipated.

The Jewish segment of the crowd erupted into applause, a cry of "Mazal Tov!", and then into the traditional, arguably melodic chant of "Siman Tov uMazal Tov uMazal Tov uSiman Tov!"

Each relative was in their own key, but their celebration was heartfelt. Soon, it calmed down.

"Now, honey, we're supposed to go and be alone together for 15 minutes," Judy told her hubby. "Think you can put up with your wife for that long?"