the wedding los angeles july 13 2002	also see: the proposal the honeymoon 1 2 3 4 5 prev next
Prenuptual preparations. Abby, Sadie's sister, played the roles of matron of honor and hairdresser.   I had to depend on my friend Gordon to tie my bowtie.
	"Suck it in, sister."
All was ready beneath the arches of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial.   My sister Jill, who served as my" Best Man" and our minister, Brother Nishthananda try to wrangle the ring bearer, my nephew, Jacob. From the other side of the lake, where Sadie was kept in seclusion before the wedding, she overheard on the coordinator's walkie-talkie, an explanation of the delay: "We're having a ring bearer moment!"
	The ceremony began with the minister leading us to the altar. Note Jacob dutifully carrying the ring pillow.
	Brother Nishthananda's soft voice required amplification. We had some trouble fastening the microphone to his robe. Earlier, I told him about having seen Christian at Mt. Washington and how I was in awe of the monastic commitment. Brother reminded me that I was about to make a similar commitment to God, as husband and (future) father.
	Without my knowledge, the wedding coordinator, Babette, in blue, led Sadie, her mother, and her sister to the spot where the processional was to begin.
"Here comes the bride," escorted by her mother.   I quietly watched Sadie make her way around the lake.
The Matron of Honor.   The Best Man.
Sadie and her mother entered the Gandhi lawn. Once the actual wedding ceremony began, no photographs were taken, in accordance with the Lake Shrine wedding policy. This is to keep everyone present and focussed on the sacred rite performed by the minister and the vows exchanged by the bride and groom. The ceremony was simple and beautiful. Based on the ancient Vedic wedding rite and developed by Paramahansa Yogananda for the West, it included prayer, flame, incense, and the exchange of roses and rings.
	At the conclusion, Brother Nishthananda showered us with rose petals and pronounced us husband and wife.
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