I arrived at Griffith park, sat on a bench, and waited for the wedding party to come. This was just our meeting spot. Our final destination was a 10 minute hike up a hill to secluded lookout for a sunset elopement.
The bride came first with her cousin. Next came family. Last was the groom.
He stepped out of his car, glanced around until he spotted his bride who was wearing a simple white dress, and then started walking straight towards her. “Oh my!” he said. “You are beautiful.” As they embraced, he cried. Slow drops of salty water swelled within his eyes and then released down his cheek. He repeated those words again, and again, and again.
I watched, because how can you not stare at someone so consumed by the moment, so drunk by life’s goodness? For the next phase of his wonder, I would see him raise his head, glance around, and then tell no one in particular about something wonderful he noticed. He would just blurt it out. “Isn’t this so magical.” “Wow! look at the view.” “We really do have it all here!” He talked as if we were all transfixed on the same splendor, experience the same moment, hypnotized by the same elements.
The bride guided him towards me to say “hello”. After speaking a few words, the force of the heavens pulled his eyes towards the air to testify How “BEAUTIFUL E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G” was. He then looked straight at me with wide and intense eyes. And as if trying to speak into my soul, he declared,
“And
I
can
see
it
all.”
I really do think he could.
When we arrived at the top of the hill, and as everyone was still getting settled, the groom, his mother, and his two brothers huddled together with their arms around each other’s neck, forming tight circle. They were almost bouncing together as they spoke of their love for each other and appreciation for where they’ve come from. Up and down the bopped. Tighter and tighter they gripped.
Within a few minutes we had started the ceremony and then the bride and groomed were married.
I signed the license and descended down the hill alone, as they remained there, forming an even bigger circle than before, celebrating.