Weddings are for brides. I didn't know a lot of things in 1983. I know fewer today. But I knew then as I know now that weddings are for brides. My bride had dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding at Trinity Cathedral since she was a little girl. According to her, she knew what she wanted well before she was out of elementary school. And she got it. I largely sat back and let Kate plan for the wedding with her mom and friends and some members of my family as well. It really didn't matter to me, as long as she was happy. I don't know how many guests there were, and off the top of my head I cannot be sure if there were 4 attendants for her or more. I only know the colors because I continue to look at the pictures regularly. So much that I didn't know and so much that I don't remember. What I remember was the dress. Kate fell in love with a beautiful dress with a cathedral length train. It was long and heavy and swept around her beautifully. It was straight out of a Disney fairy tale. What I remember is the church. Trinity Cathedral is a beautiful, open, gothic space with wonderful stained glass, hanging lanterns, and was decorated with bright candles. The occassion could not have been marked with more solemnity or beauty and captured very much my feelings of the importance of the day. What I remember is joking with the groomsmen: my brother Jim, and friends Steve, Maurice and John. There was nervousness that I would stumble through a line but no nervousness about getting married. I was positive that it was the only thing I wanted. What I remember is Kate's smile. If she was ever happier prior to that day, I had not seen it. Over the years we both grew older and changed in so many ways. But the smile stayed. Through all our years of marriage and all that accompanies a lifetime together, that same smile was visible on our 24th anniversary- August 13, 2007. I think sometimes that smile will be the last real remembrance that I will have.