Better late than never, part 3

Yes, it is true I have wanted to marry Keri since 1995. Imagine loving someone with all of your heart for 18 years and wanting, just like everyone else to get married, but you couldn't, because some stupid law reads, one man one woman. It was awful! Funny how awful is only one letter away from lawful.

Since we've been together, Keri and I have attending weddings of couples that don't even exist anymore and at one point we put a moratorium on attending weddings. We felt as long as we were not allowed to marry, we would not attend the celebration of others that could. It was hard, ya know? To see other people getting to do what we so badly wanted and couldn't have. The moratorium was an act of self-preservation, or so it felt.

It didn't last long because we got an invitation to Keri's sister's wedding and there wasn't a chance in hell I was going pass on that, just to prove a point. Keri's sister, Kirsten, said at the reception of their ceremony that she felt it wasn't fair for her and her husband to be getting married when her sister who had been together with her partner for so many years wasn't able to. I thought it was sweet of her to acknowledge our relationship.

Keri and I actually bought rings back in 97 and agreed that we wouldn't wear them until we had a ceremony. Before we could even got to the car we had already decided to say fuck it and wear our new rings, because when were we going to be able to have a ceremony.

Then in 2002 we, I should say I, started to plan a ceremony and I keep calling it a ceremony because it wouldn't have actually been a marriage, because there are still some people around that think a marriage can only be between a man and a woman. I wanted a wedding, a ceremony or whatever you want to call a party where we get together with all our closest people and publicly declare our love for one another. Keri back then agreed to do what I wanted to do but, she definitely was totally fine skipping that part all together.

Not to say at all, that she didn't love me, she is hopelessly, madly, truly and deeply in LOVE. :) In case you are reading this and don't know Keri, I have to tell you that she is the practical one. She would say and has said, why go to all the trouble and expense of it, if it isn't going to mean anything legally. She also said, I want you to be happy and if want a ceremony and you plan it, I will be there.

So, I started planning. I looked into catering, venue, music, flowers, dresses (maybe not dresses back then), but quickly realized the cost of this "ceremony" was quite a bit more than I thought and that is when we decided to buy a house.

I did make more sense to put all of that money toward something that would benefit us. She did have a very valid point. I just wanted to be married to my baby that's all and guess what! I am now happily and legally married. It is an amazing feeling!

Married ✔️