The Ceremony - 15 July, 1999

Hallsbergs Kyrka (altar)	After we finished taking pictures with the photographer, we had a little bit of time to try to relax as we stood chatting outside the church. Then, as the ceremony time began to approach, we quickly glanced around to make sure everything was in order and Heidi, Karin and I took our flowers and went to hide inside the "waiting room" until the ceremony was to begin. Here I became a little bit nervous, as we could hear the guests passing outside the door as they took their seats.	Hallsbergs Kyrka (aisle)

Anders and Heidi	After a few minutes which seemed like hours, Andreas poked his head in the door and said it was time to come out! We filed out of the little room and lined up in the back of the church to wait for the organist to begin the processional, Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" -- Heidi and Anders, Karin and Andreas, and my father and I. Then, suddenly, it began and we made our way down the aisle. When we reached Jonas he and my father shook hands and I took Jonas' arm as we walked up the stairs towards the priest.	My father and I

After the processional had ended, the priest welcomed everyone and introduced Psalm 411. I was shaking pretty badly our of nervousness at this point. Following the Psalm was the "Inledning", in which he spoke of marriage and its responsibilities, and then motioned to Heidi to begin her reading, 1 Cor 13:1-7, 13.

Married!

After the reading, the priest asked each of us:

"Inför Gud och i denna församlings närvaro frågar jag dig, Jonas/Julia: Vill du ta Julia/Jonas till din hustru/man och älska henne/honom i nöd och lust?"

"In front of God and this assembly's presence I ask you, Jonas/Julia: Do you take Julia/Jonas to be your wife/husband and to love her/him for better or for worse?"

To which we replied:

"Ja."

"Yes."

He then took the rings, turned around to face the altar and blessed them. Then he gave them to us and we recited our vows:

"Jag Jonas/Julia, tar dig, Julia/Jonas, nu till min hustru/man att dela glädje och sorg med dig och vara dig trogen tills döden skiljer oss åt."

"I Jonas/Julia, take you, Julia/Jonas, now as my wife/husband to share happiness and sorrow with you and be faithful to you until death do us part."

He then pronounced us married and we knelt before the altar as he read a prayer and presented us with our marriage candle. Psalm 84 was sung and we finally turned around to face everyone, married! We stood there for a few minutes, as everyone was frantically taking pictures, and then finally, as the organist played the recessional, "The Trumpet Voluntary" (J. Clarke), we walked back down the aisle.

Kissing	We stook just inside the doors of the church as the guests passed us for the receiving line. I don't think I've ever thanked so many people in such a short amount of time again in my life! It was a lot of fun, though, now that there was no reason to be nervous. I was delighted to get so many complients on my dress. Finally, after all of the guests had gone outside, we exited the church and stood on the stairs for a few moments as more pictures were taken. Then, as we descended the stairs we were pelted with rice from all directions. I think I carried at least a pound of it on top of my head for the rest of the day! Everyone mingled in the churchyard for about 15-20 minutes talking and taking even more pictures, before heading to the the restaurant for the reception.	Smiling for the cameras
Riced!