I wish you could hear everyone laughing when this photo was taken. A minute earlier, Ted & I heard our queue and walked down the aisle together. We hopped onto the little stage. Only the officiant was not there waiting for us. I scanned the crowd, thinking, “She said she’d wear a black robe. I don’t see a black robe. She is so not here.” Everyone watched and waited. Some thought it was part of the plan. But it wasn’t.

Ted whipped out his phone and called her (as illustrated in the above photo). There was really bad traffic that day, something about an exit from the bridge being closed. “No, I didn’t get your message” he said. There were laughs all around. My mind was racing. In a nanosecond I worked out that we’d throw the reception as planned, perhaps drink a bit more than expected, leave San Francisco at midnight and head to Reno where a civil ceremony would be performed and we could make it back in time for our honeymoon flight the next day.

“OK, we’ll see you in a few minutes.” I took the opportunity to use the restroom. My posse followed me to the lavatory, running several deep with my mother in tow. “This is so funny!” they said. I must disclose to you, my fine readers, that I loved this wrinkle in the plan.

There was great applause when an agitated officiant arrived, not knowing how much fun we’d all been having in her absence. And then the show went on. No way could I cry at my own wedding after what had just played out. I think the bride and groom had the only dry eyes in the house.

Do you know what part was the best? When we were pronounced husband and wife and every one cheered. People hooted and hollered and whistled and clapped and reached up for high-fives.

We couldn’t agree more.