—by Leigh Stringfellow, Carrboro, N.C.

This was without a doubt my most memorable and romantic Valentine’s Day wedding. The bride phoned me up just three weeks before the wedding. When I heard her voice, I first assumed she was kindly calling on behalf of her granddaughter. She told me plainly, “I’m 92 and I’m getting married, isn’t that something?” She met her groom, age 93, at their retirement community and fell in love, both for a second time. The gathering was to be small—close friends and family—with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and classical harp music.

The weather was perfect—clear skies and even a bit warm for a winter day. I arrived about 45 minutes before the start of the prelude, unpacked my harp, and set my case inside the caterer’s office across the hall. It wasn’t long before I met the bride and groom. The bride walked in with a big smile, looked over the set-up, and went through the schedule of when her family and friends would arrive. Like most brides, she was joyful and bit nervous before the ceremony.

When her grandsons arrived, she asked them how she looked and wondered about her hair. She made a lovely bride and was a vision in pink! One grandson asked why she didn’t wear white, to which she responded, “Well, I think I’m about 50 or 60 years too late for that!”

When her groom arrived, the bride’s eyes lit up. She adjusted his shirt collar before the wedding, and he asked flirtatiously, “Shouldn’t you wait until after the wedding to adjust my shirt?”

I began playing prelude music when the first guests arrived, and the ceremony began shortly thereafter. I played “Canon in D” by Pachelbel to signal the start of the ceremony. Everyone sat down as the bride and groom exchanged their vows. From my place behind the harp, I could see the bride’s eyes moisten as the groom placed the gold ring on her finger. They shared a kiss as soon as the officiant declared them husband and wife, not even waiting for the words, “You may kiss the bride.” The guests erupted with applause!

Everyone ate and drank and talked and laughed while I played. From my seat, I could tell they were a happy bunch. They cut the cake together and dessert was served. When her friends left, the bride invited me to join her family at their table. I enjoyed the rest of the evening with the bridegroom, her grandsons and her son. As all brides do, she showed off her ring, talked about the future, and laughed. •