By Rev. Tom White, July 3, 2019 — Weddings have a way of sparking people’s interest, so here are two more to consider.
Alonzo was the groom. Anna was the bride. At the rehearsal, we went through the recital of the vows word-by-word. When we got to the point where I said, “Alonzo, repeat after me: ‘I, Alonzo, take thee…,’” the groom interrupted me, and with his inherited West Virginia twang, said, “Aw, Pastor Tom, you aren’t going to call me Alonzo, are you?”
I was puzzled. I replied, “But that is your baptized name. I always address the brides and grooms by their proper names.”
Alonzo went on: “Can’t you address me as ‘Bunky?’ Everybody calls me Bunky. You address me as Alonzo, no one will know who is marrying Anna.”
He was right, everyone, including myself, knew him as “Bunky.” Those magic seven words “I’ve never done it that way before” very briefly ran through my mind, but I thought to myself, you know, he has a very good point. I began the marriage ritual again, saying, “I, Bunky, take thee, Anna….”
One more comment. Bunky was always a good-natured soul. He gladly repaired the local police cars for parts cost. He was also friends with a lot of motorcycle riders, and for them, he performed the same services. The ride to the reception hall was over two miles away. The bridal party rode to the reception in a limo. No fewer than three police cars led the way; their sirens sounding the way. Bringing up the rear were fifteen cyclists, representing two different motorcycle gangs.
There was another time when I sorta bent the rules for a couple planning their wedding. This one particular couple wanted the song, “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire, I Just Want to Start a Flame in Your Heart.” I politely told them that the music for weddings should be of a religious nature, but I asked them why they wanted that particular song. They told me their story:
They both were firefighters, but they were from two different companies. They both were taking a course at the Ocean County Firemen’s Training Center. Part of this annual training event required them to crawl through a smoke-filled room. One day, someone accidentally kicked the groom’s gas mask off, leaving him helpless in that chamber. Overcome with smoke, he collapsed. Another person came in the room, bumped into his body, summed up the situation and dragged him to safety. That rescuer was the woman he was now going to marry. She was 31; he was 25. And now they were getting married.
I said, “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire, I Just Want to start a Flame in Your Heart” as a wedding processional? By all means!!”