Wow. What a fun and exhausting weekend! Would you believe it’s taken me this long to recover? Yeah, I’m an old, tired fart. 😛

As those who live along the East Coast of the U.S. are aware, this past weekend saw the arrival of the first tropical storm of the annual hurricane season. And just as luck would have it, the worst of the storm passed through us directly on my sister’s wedding day.

I remember saying to numerous people that morning, “It’s a good thing it’s raining so hard right now — hopefully that means the storm will have lightened up in time for the wedding.”

I was wrong.

My sister had rented a large house for the event, with the intention of holding both the ceremony and reception in the expansive back yard, under a party tent. She was not worried about rain, as the tent is designed to withstand inclement weather.

But Tropical Storm Andrea had other plans. The rain, along with it 50 mph winds, did not show any signs of letting up through the day and night. Numerous people — including the bride and groom! — worked all morning and early afternoon to keep the inside of the tent dry, but they were no match for mother nature.

And with just an hour left to go until the start of the ceremony, they were forced to call it quits.

I will let my speech for the bride and groom tell the rest of the story…

(The below is recalled to the best of my ability. I wanted to write it down as a memento lest I forget it, because I decided to ditch my original speech and completely winged this one!)

To those who don’t know me, I’m Jenny, Suzy’s sister, and I’d like to thank you all for joining us in celebrating Suzy and Andrew’s wedding!

I had a long speech prepared about sisterhood, family, and love…but decided to scrap it all earlier today, when it was decided that the wedding should be moved indoors. I was here, at the house, getting my hair and makeup done when Andrew came looking for Suzy. I could tell that their conversation was supposed to be a private one, but being the nosy older sister that I am, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop…

I heard Andrew explain to Suzy that despite their best efforts, they couldn’t stop the inside of the tent from getting flooded. There was also a leak on the roof of the tent.

He kept saying to Suzy, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

I could tell that Suzy was upset, but she kept a brave face and told him, “What are you sorry about? It’s not like you can control the weather. It’s not your fault.”

And Andrew said, “But I know this isn’t what you wanted. I’m so sorry.”

He was practically in tears at this point. And as they stood there hugging, comforting each other, then making plans to move everything inside, I couldn’t help but tear up a little myself.

I knew right then and there that they would make it.

And as their friends and family gathered to help, running back and forth between the tent and the house in the pouring rain, moving furniture and making all the last-minute adjustments, I couldn’t help but be even more touched.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything happen that better represents a couple’s relationship on the actual day of the wedding. To see Suzy and Andrew comfort each other, stick together, and work together in a time of crisis…to not fall apart and to still have fun doing it, and to have everything still turn out so beautifully, as you can all see…

And to have so many people come together to help them out…that only goes to show how much of a positive impact they have on others’ lives and how much we all support their happiness and their marriage.

So I’d like us all to raise a toast to Suzy and Andrew. We love you, and we wish you a lifetime of happiness.

Many congratulations to my sister and new brother!