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Emmett sat on the bed in the house he and Elle shared, dressed in a tuxedo, staring at a blue velvet box. Inside, were two matching gold wedding bands. Today was his wedding day and Emmett couldn’t wait. He had never been more sure of anything in his life as he was about marrying Elle. It had been just over a year since Elle proposed to him, beating him to the punch, but he was so glad she did. Seeing her get down on one knee in front of her graduating class and their friends and family made his heart swell. Elle Woods didn’t do anything in half measures, and carrying out a grad gesture to profess her love to him made Emmett feel invincible. She had that effect on him; he felt like he could do anything with her by his side. She supported him when he took on Callahan’s divorce. She encouraged him to apply for the most competitive law firm in Boston, knowing he would get the job even though he wasn’t confident himself, and coming home to her every night helped brighten even his hardest days. Emmett felt so lucky.
They were getting married in the backyard of the house he bought for his mom, looking over the cape. Elle stayed there overnight, not wanting Emmett to see her before the wedding, out of tradition, and also figuring she would have more time to get ready if she was already at the venue. Their wedding was going to be intimate, with only their closest friends and family in attendance. He was surprised Elle wanted it that way. When Elle’s mother tried to get her to invite some distant cousin, Elle explained, “Our wedding is a party to celebrate Emmett and my marriage. The only guests I want are people who know us both. If cousin Carol doesn’t even know my fiancé’s last name, she shouldn’t be there.”
Of course, having an intimate wedding didn’t meant that Elle had to forego the fun of planning the party. They decided to wait until after Elle passed the bar before they immersed themselves in any wedding preparations, but Elle had planned an evening that he knew would be worth the wait. The color scheme was pink, of course, and navy blue. Paulette was Elle’s matron of honor, and her bridesmaids included Margot, Serena, Pilar, and Vivienne. Emmett didn’t have as many friends as Elle, but he chose his childhood friend, Rick, as his best man. His groomsmen were his coworkers Michael and Sam, his college buddy, Matt, and Paulette’s husband, Kyle. Bruiser would be their ring bearer, which Emmett had to admit was a cute idea. They would have a live band and had prepared a choreographed first dance. The meal was a vegetarian pasta dish and they had a chocolate fountain for dessert, in addition to a vanilla and strawberry cake.
“Emmett, is it alright if I come in?” Kyle asked, knocking on his bedroom door. His groomsmen were all at his house, getting ready together. They were scheduled to start driving over to his mom’s place in about an hour.
“Sure, it’s open.” Emmett called out.
“Hey man, you excited?” Kyle asked, not knowing any couple as in love as Emmett and Elle.
“I really am. I just can’t wait to see her. I hope she’s excited too.” Emmett shared, smiling.
“I bet she is. I have her gift for you. That’s why I came in.” Kyle handed him a lidded gift box with a card.
Emmett and Elle had decided to exchange sentimental gifts with each other before the wedding. They both agreed that jewelry would feel impersonal and they wanted the gifts to be the final way they communicated their love and commitment to each other before meeting at the altar, so they each searched for something unique to give. They had asked Kyle and Paulette to deliver the respective gifts the morning of their wedding.
“Thanks.” Emmett said. Kyle left the room. Emmett opened the card first. It read:
Dear Emmett,
I have been waiting for this day for so long. I cannot wait to walk down the aisle to you and exchange our vows. I want to tell you about the moment I decided I wanted to propose. It was Thanksgiving, during the Fall of my last year at Harvard. We had just had dinner at your mom’s new house. You were watching the game after dinner and she pulled me upstairs to show me her new bedroom furniture. We ended up coming across some of your family photo albums and started flipping through them. The pictures were all of you, your mom was in a few of them, but you were the star. One picture that stood out to me the most was one of you on your 3rd birthday, looking through a View-Master. You had the biggest smile on your face, bigger than in any other picture, it was clear how happy you were. Then I noticed, you were holding that View-Master in almost all of your pictures at that age, like it was your prized possession. Your mom told me that your dad had given it to you as a gift. She said the two of you hadn’t seen him for almost a year, but that he came to your birthday party and that was the final time you ever saw him. She said you became obsessed with the toy, just because it came from your dad, and that you used it so much it ended up breaking after a year. She told me you were heartbroken, but between bills and rent, she couldn’t buy you a new one. I remember thinking that, even at 3 years old, you had so much love in your heart, but you deserved better than the hand you were dealt in life. I don’t know if you remember that birthday or that present, but the smile you had on your face in that picture is etched into my memory forever. I decided right then and there, that I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile like that, I want to give you the family you deserve, I want take a million happy photos together over the course of our lives. I love you with my whole heart, Emmett, and I cannot wait to marry you.
Forever Yours,
Elle Forrest
Emmett smiled at how she signed her name. She was keeping her maiden name, but he had made a habit of calling her Elle Forrest at home. It started as a joke, and transformed into an endearing nickname. Emmett was overcome with so many emotions. He didn’t remember that birthday or the gift his father had given him, but his heart ached remembering his childhood and how he had hoped for years that his father would return, even though he had no real memory of the man who abandoned him when he was only a toddler. Emmett already knew that Elle understood him better than anyone in the world and he felt so grateful for her. The story she told in this card reminded him of that; Elle could simply look at him, or at a picture of him, and understand what he needed and wanted better than he could himself. Emmett hadn’t believed in soulmates before meeting Elle, but he couldn’t argue with how perfect she was for him, as cliché as it was.
When Emmett opened the box that contained the gift, he found a retro View-Master. His eyes were misty after reading the card, but after opening the box, tears started to steam down his face. He smiled as he inserted the cartridge and began to flip through the pictures, all ones of him and Elle over the past four years. It started on the first picture they took together, a crooked selfie taken on a disposable camera during one of their study sessions at Harvard. It continued with photos of the two of them at Fenway Park, their first Christmas as a couple with Emmett holding the Boba Fett helmet Elle gifted him, at the beach in Malibu, in front of the first apartment they shared together on the day they moved in, at Elle’s graduation with Emmett showing off his engagement ring, kissing on the bench where they met. The last one wasn’t a photo, but a handwritten slide that said To Be Continued… E+E followed by today’s date, their wedding date.
—
“Elle, honey, I’d better give you this before you put your makeup on. If you get emotional, we won’t have time to fix it.” Paulette said, handing Elle the gift Emmett had gotten for her.
“Thanks Paulette. That’s a good call.” Elle said, taking the box from her matron of honor, knowing she would cry if Emmett wrote anything even slightly sentimental in the card.
Elle was wearing a white silk robe that had the word “Bride” embroidered on the chest. She was at Emmett’s mother’s house with her bridesmaids getting ready. They had started the morning with brunch and played pop music while they got their hair and makeup done for the big day. It was a fun way to start the dat and energize herself for what would be the happiest day of her life.
Elle stepped into a private room and opened the card.
My Darling Elle,
I cannot express in words how excited I am to become your husband. I could shout it from the rooftops. The four years that you’ve been in my life have been the best that I’ve ever had. They went by in an instant, yet I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. I’ve never met anyone as compassionate, warm-hearted, or determined as you, Elle, and every day I wake up feeling like I’m the luckiest man in the world because I get to spend my life with you. Our relationship may have started with me helping you learn, but I think I’ve learned more from you than I could ever offer in return. You taught me that being highly caffeinated is the only way to go through life. You taught me that tangerine is, in fact, NOT the new pink; pink can never be outdone as a color. You taught me that there’s more to life than work, and that the moments in life that we cherish the most almost never happen at work. You taught me that I’m worthy of love, just because. Even if love can happen with no reason, just because, there are a million reasons why I love you. I am still baffled as to what I did to deserve you, but I will never let a day go by without reminding you how much I love you, how much you mean to me, and how amazing you are. You deserve the world, Elle, but I hope you’ll accept me as your consolation prize. Now go open your gift, I know you want to.
Love Always,
Em
P.S. Before we kiss at the altar, let’s do our secret handshake.
Elle shed a few tears at how sincere his letter was, and giggled at the jokes. Emmett was always so humble, but Elle knew how great he was, even if he didn’t always see it himself. She felt like the lucky one.
She opened the small gift box and found an elegant rose gold watch with an unique fabric band. She examined it more closely and the fabric looked familiar. It was navy blue and patterned, it appeared to be satin and it was braided around an elastic band. It took another moment for her to recognize that the fabric was from the first tie she had bought Emmett when she took him shopping during the Wyndham trial. He loved that tie, but when they were unpacking after their move, Bruiser got ahold of it and claimed it as a chew toy. Elle assumed that Emmett had thrown the scraps away. She found a note at the bottom of the box that read:
If you haven’t already realized, the band of this watch is made from the tie you bought me. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. I know we said no jewelry, but I hope you like this one. I doubt it’ll match your wedding dress, but I figured you could wear it to work. I hope you like that it’s pink. :)
—
“You look beautiful, sweetheart.” Anthony Woods said to Elle as she walked down the stairs to meet him. All their wedding guests were seated and the bridal procession was about to begin.
“Thanks dad. Did you see Emmett yet?” Elle asked, eager to be reunited after their morning apart.
“I did, he’s waiting for you at the altar.” The man replied.
“How did he look? Do you think he’s nervous?” Elle knew Emmett wouldn’t get cold feet, but if she felt nervous, Emmett must be too.
“He didn’t seem nervous exactly, I think he’s just excited waiting for you. Are you nervous?” Anthony asked, trying to gauge his daughters feelings.
“I might be, but I’m not nervous about our marriage. I’m excited for that. It’s just such a big day, I feel so many emotions at once.” Elle struggled to explain.
Anthony understood how Elle must be feeling and gave her a calm smile. “Ellie, you picked a good one. Emmett is a great man, I can see how much you two love each other. We are all here to celebrate the two of you. Once you get to the altar, your nerves will go away. You’ll see.”
“Okay,” Elle took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
She and her father stepped outside and let the bridesmaids know to start walking down the aisle.
As soon as the bridal procession began, Emmett perked up. He couldn’t wait to see Elle, he knew she was going to look beautiful and he didn’t want to wait another second to commit himself to her completely.
Vivienne came down the aisle first, followed by Serena, Margot, Pilar, then Paulette, all in synchronized- but not identical - rose colored gowns. Bruiser came down the aisle next with the rings fastened to his collar, causing everyone to smile and say “aww”. Then everyone stood up and he spotted her. Elle was walking down the aisle arm linked with her father. Emmett’s face lit up seeing her. She looked beautiful in her simple lace gown, but as soon as he and Elle made eye contact, the two couldn’t look anywhere else.
Emmett started crying. He didn’t expect to, but he was so overcome with joy that he couldn’t keep his emotions inside. Elle got misty eyed too, but managed to reign in her tears. All of her nerves melted away seeing the pure love Emmett had for her in his eyes.
As Elle and her father reached the altar, Emmett wiped his tears - thankfully his friend Rick had brought tissues with him, knowing Emmett was a softie. Elle kissed her father’s cheek after he gave her away, and stepped up to face Emmett.
“You look beautiful,” Emmett whispered to Elle, as privately as he could, “I’m so excited to marry you.”
Elle grinned and her smile warmed Emmett up inside, “Me too.” Elle whispered in reply.
The officiant began, “Welcome friends and family. We’ve come together today to witness the joining of Emmett and Elle in matrimony...”
The ceremony continued as scripted until it came time for Emmett and Elle to share the vows they had written. Emmett went first.
“Elle, I have been looking forward to this day when I would be able to express my love and commitment to you in front of friends and loved ones. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. Love brought you into my life four years ago, when you stepped onto campus in a pink, bedazzled Harvard top. I didn’t realize it then, but you would change my life for the better. I’m thankful everyday that love has kept us together and after today, love will bind us for the rest of our lives. I vow to always give you the best version of myself, because you deserve nothing less. I vow to stand beside you through challenges and will be patient with you always, even when you say Superman is better than Batman.”
Everyone laughed.
“I vow to trust you through any uncertainty. I vow to support you through all of life’s adventures. I vow to love you unconditionally everyday, my commitment to you will never falter. ”
Tears started to form in Elle’s eyes. “That was beautiful, Emmett.” She whispered before sharing her own vows.
“Emmett Forrest, you have been my rock since the night you told me I needed a chip on my shoulder.”
Emmett let out a chuckle, and Elle continued.
“I can always count on you to guide me, to celebrate with me, and to encourage me. You have been there for me, loving me, and cheering me on without asking for anything in return. Today, I promise that I will always do the same for you. I vow to love you, wholeheartedly and unconditionally. I vow to always show you kindness, even when life gets tough. I vow to give you strength when you need it most. I vow to hold your hand everyday and through every decision we make as we build an amazing life together. Side-by side, we’re going to be unstoppable.”
Emmett beamed at Elle. He looked forward to everything their future held.
Next, they repeated after the officiant to declare their I dos and exchange rings.
“By the authority vested in me by the state of Massachusetts, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss.”
Everyone cheered as the ceremony ended. Elle and Emmett couldn’t contain their happiness. Elle held out her hand to Emmett and he met it with his, completing their secret handshake and surprising the crowd. When they finished, Emmett reached for Elle, cupping her face in both of his hands, planting a series of sweet kisses on her lips before finishing with a long one that conveyed all his love and joy in that moment. Elle placed her hands on his waist and matched his lips with her own, relishing in the happiness they were both feeling.
When they separated, she picked up Bruiser and carried him with her as they walked hand in hand back up the aisle into the house.
They fumbled through the doors, excited to have a private moment together as the backyard was transformed for the reception. They sat on the couch, kissing once again, unwilling to separate, and unable to wipe the smiles from their faces.
“I loved the gift you gave me.” Elle said as Emmett reluctantly pulled away from her.
“Yeah? I hoped you would. I loved mine too. Your card was—“ Emmett began to tear up again, “I just— my childhood —“
“I know.” Elle stopped him, understanding the pain he still felt.
“Thank you for being my family, Elle.”
Elle stroked Emmett’s hand, playing with the new ring on his left hand. “Thank you for being mine, too.”
The two kissed once again, communicating all of the emotions they had that day through their intimate embrace.
When they broke apart Elle could see Emmett beginning to smile again. She wiped the last few tears from his cheeks. Suddenly he grabbed her hand and pulled her off the couch, “Ready to celebrate Mrs. Forrest?”
Elle laughed, “Of course!”