We set up for a little while before the officiant got to the venue.
"Hi, Violet. Hi, Colby. Are you guys ready to practice?" Our officiant, Joseph, said as he walked over to us. "Yep! Let's just get everyone gathered up so we can start rehearsing." Colby said then turned towards everyone.
"Hey guys! We're ready." He said causing everyone to stop what they were doing so they could come over.
"Okay, so we're gonna get you guys lined up over here." Joseph said and led the way to the end of the aisle. "First we'll have Colby with his mom walk down." He explained as he looked at the paper in front of him.
"Sam will enter from over here to stand next to Colby." He said and pointed to the right side of the alter. "Corey and Tara will walk down the aisle, then Devyn and Gage, proceeded by Kat and Jake." He said as everyone shuffled into place.
"Ki will then go down the aisle by herself. Then it will be Violet." He said then looked up with a smile. "Ready to go?" He asked as we all nodded in agreement.
"Let's have some fun." He said then jogged down the aisle so he could stand at the alter. We all got lined up in our places then started the fake ceremony.
"Are you excited?" Ki asked as I nodded. "Yeah, you better make sure I don't walk down the aisle looking like a hot mess." I said as she laughed.
"Bitch I'm gonna make sure you look like a mother fucking princess." She said with a laugh. "I knew I could trust you. Now pay attention." I said and turned her around to face the alter.
I watched as everyone made their way down the aisle and into their positions. I was trying so hard to keep the happiness in my chest but there was a sadness creeping up that I knew was going to happen eventually.
As Ki walked down the aisle I looked side to side noticing I was all alone on this side of the room. It broke my heart to know that my dad wasn't going to be walking me down the aisle.
I've been trying to prepare myself for months for this exact moment but I was crumbling on the inside.
I just wanted him to be with me.
"Okay, I'll say 'please rise for the bride' then the pretty music will start and Violet will make her way down to us." Joseph said as I nodded and started slowly making my way down.
I was trying to force my features to come off as happy but my heart was breaking in my chest as I looked over to see only Colby's parents sitting in the audience.
I think Colby could tell something was wrong because when I got to the alter he took my hands and rubbed his thumbs gently along them as he looked at me with concern.
I sniffled a bit and smiled reassuringly at him before looking over at Joseph. We spent the next couple minutes going over the order of the ceremony and making sure that everyone knew what they were supposed to do.
"I now pronounce you blah blah blah, then you kiss and live happily ever after." Joseph said with a laugh. "I hope you say it just like that." I teased as he laughed. "Okay, I'll do it." He joked then closed his book.
He then explained how we would leave. Colby and I went first so he took my hand and started walking. "Are you okay?" He asked as we walked.
"Yeah, just a little emotional, that's all." I said as he squeezed my hand. "I'm so sorry, V. I wish I could do something to make this easier." He said as I sighed.
"It's okay, I've been preparing for this for a while. I'll be so happy tomorrow it'll overcome the sadness." I explained as he leaned over to kiss my head. "Just remember that I'll be at the other side of the aisle, ready to comfort you." He said as I smiled.
