Chapter 5: The Wedding

Where to begin? Well, I slept horrible. That's a good place to start. :] I don't know when I fell asleep but it felt quite like that scene in a movie when as soon as a character closes his eyes, the alarm clock goes off. Morning came too soon and not soon enough all at the same time.

I could not wait to see the man of my dreams in the Temple that day, and to hold his strong hands as we were sealed together for time and all eternity. Everyone in the family prepared to go to the Temple to wait for that moment when we would walk out of those temple doors as Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Davetie Sopu. Little sisters and little cousins in their matching red dresses anxious to see the bride in her white dress. Parents emotional and proud of their children; the Sopu's youngest and the Erickson's eldest. Aunts, uncles and cousins giving their support for the two young people making that big step that leads to a chapter~a novel~of their new lives from then on. That step that would bring to pass so many adventures, and a beginning to a posterity that will stretch on to the eternities.

We had the absolute privilege to have Rodney's father, 'Isileli Sopu, there in the temple with us to seal us together for time and all eternity. Such an overwhelming amount of love filled that room. My parents, grandparents and extended family as well as Rodney's parents, Uncle Puna and Aunt Sociale were there for the sealing and what a wonderful experience it was. We were so grateful to have the love and support of our families and to have them there feeling the Spirit with us, too. We could feel my Great Papa Anderson's spirit in the room as well as many others who have passed on, and we could feel the love and the happiness they have for us as we made the choice to be married to one another for time and all eternity. After we were sealed, everyone in the room came around to us to hug us and give us their love before we went outside to greet the rest of our friends and family. Such pure joy was filling that room and continued to fill every room that we moved into from that moment and throughout the reception later that night. I loved the feeling of having so much support and people there who loved us and wished so much that the rest of Rodney's siblings could have been there. Their love and support was with us, but oh how we wished they were, too.

Anyone who wasn't (or still isn't) in approval of our marriage; well, there isn't much we can say or do to try and change their mind. They have feelings set about us and/or the choice we made together to get married and that is something that they will have to come to terms with in their own lives. We're not going to have our lives negatively affected by people who choose to hurt others with words and cruelty. We are happy. We are blessed. We pray together and make decisions together. We have the knowledge of the gospel and the knowledge that we are living our lives in the right, so we know that with our strength together and with the Lord, nothing can shake that.

We went out into the waiting room before going outside to take some pictures with family and friends who had traveled short distances, long distances and halfway across the world to be with us. More hugs and more tears. :] A moment I will never forget and a memory that someone captured for us; the moment when I got to hug that tall baby brother of mine. He is still a few years from receiving his own endowments and going out on his mission for the Lord, but I had a wave of warmth come over me as I hugged him because I know how wonderful of a missionary, a man, a husband and father he will be one day. I have known that for quite some time and I remember that realization when he was still quite young. He has a gentle kindness about him that just radiates Christ's teachings and the type of man that all men should strive to be; a good one. He takes after our Daddy.

My Rodney is like that, too. I'm so glad that I had a great example growing up of how a man should be. So that one day I could find the man of my dreams, and the one who would treat me as my father treated my mother. A man who would love and cherish every moment with his children no matter how naughty they were being. A man who would put his own needs and desires second to the welfare and protection of his family. A man who would lead by example in all things from paying a full tithe and going to every church meeting to helping mom with the younger kids and making life easier around the house by picking up your own mess. That is the type of man I grew up knowing as the only kind to marry, and my grandma has always told me to marry someone like my dad.

I did.

We went with Arah Kunz and Julie Eggleston (our incredible amazing wonderful fun wedding photographers!) after we had finished at the temple to a park near my home to take the rest of our pictures and had so much fun even though we (or I) couldn't feel our toes, fingers or noses! :]
I knew that the pictures would turn out awesome after how much fun we had and how wonderful their previous work is and couldn't wait to see the finished product! (madelinejamesphotography.typepad.com )

After that, we all head over to the church building where the reception would be held later that evening, ate a fantastic lunch, ate fantaaaastic snickers chocolate cake and took more family pictures. After this had taken place, we all head back to our homes to take much needed naps! :]



Later that evening everyone changed out of their sweats back into their skirts and dresses, or in our case his pinstripe suit (hot) and my fancy schmancy wedding dress (which i LOVE)! The reception was an absolute dream. So beautiful, and filled with people who came to give us their love! My grandpa sang to us with his Barbershop Quartet (~Sigh~) the women in my life sang me a song to the tune of a Beatles song about me and the love they have for me (~SIGH~) Uncle Puna sang to the crowd of people that grew and grew as more people came in and stood along the walls. (~"Tongan Elvis"~ ;))

Friends singing and playing Ukulele for us (~hahaha love it!~) Rodney's cousin Numa doing a traditional Tongan dance and watching as Lata (Rodney's mom) Puna (Rodney's uncle) and that sexy guy (Rodney hahaha) got up and danced behind her with such happiness and excitement for this great day! (~S~I~G~H~!~) Such a joyous occasion and so fun!


Cutting the beautiful delicious cake, no cake in the faces (luckily!) and on to dancing, more hugs, more tears and just happiness all round from the little girls twirling in their beautiful red dresses, to those sitting and enjoying those little girls' silly laughter. :]


My amazing, sweet, and beautiful Mother put the entire thing to action. Without my Mama there would have been nothing. No food. No photographers. No reception. No Temple date. Nothing. She literally put everything in to place and had so many people give her a helping hand with things from putting the decorations up to giving her discounted or free (!!!) things to make our day that much more special. We are so so blessed to have had her, and still have her, helping us and making things work for us the best that she can. She truly goes above and beyond for everyone inside and outside her family to do her very best.


This entire day was filled with moments that will never leave our memories or our hearts. It was an incredible feeling to marry my Rodney and know that I can be with him forever. There is no 'Death till us part' for us. We have each other long after this, and I could never ask for anything more. :]


I love you Rodney Davetie Sopu. For. EVER.