Love is the only sound we heard.

Many of the people I serve email me directly. I also use a service called Thumbtack to connect with people looking for non-religious wedding officiants. I responded to one last Monday for a couple looking for a wedding officiant for Saturday. After sending my quote and introduction, I realized that the couple was looking for a spanish speaking officiant. I am not a spanish speaking officiant and quickly contacted the bride to apologize and let her know that I am not fluent in spanish. We started talking and it turns out she was having a hard time finding a bilingual officiant. She talked with her parents about it and they determined that it would be alright. We set the time and date and I sent a copy of the ceremony to her. She loved it and we moved ahead.
I felt so welcomed when I arrived to the ceremony. This was an event that was going to be a justice of the peace wedding and through siblings and family convincing, became something bigger. After meeting with the bride and groom, who were so kind and gracious, I sat with the bride's young niece and we drew pictures in my officiant book while all the guests arrived.
The service was small and intimate. The bride and groom were nervous. The ceremony, one I often use for simple weddings, was beautiful. There were a few people taking pictures and video. After the bride and groom kissed, they stood there - no walk down the aisle. Instead, the most beautiful thing happened. Silently, her parents came up and shook their hands, embraced them, and kissed them. Then his parents came up and shook their hands, embraced them, and kissed them. Still silently, everyone there came up and shook their hands, embraced them, and kissed them. It was magical and I was there to witness this pure and love-driven action.
I don't cry at weddings I'm officiating, there's a switch that flips and my professional face stays put. This was enough to break that down. As I watched everyone line up for their time with the bride and groom, my eyes filled up and I just stood there and watched. The bride's mother and I hugged and I knew that the language of the ceremony didn't matter, that weddings are such an integral part of all cultures - that love is the only sound we heard. And we heard it together.