I was walking through Bryant Park when I came upon a wedding ceremony. A young couple with a handful of friends in attendance were getting married by the carousel.
It was very sweet and unexpected.
The bride wore what appeared to be a white vintage dress with matching kitten heels holding the biggest bouquet of anemones she could carry while the groom was dressed in a 40s white tuxedo. They looked right out of a Dashiell Hammett novel. I stood in the shadows observing, and to my surprise, became emotional.
A woman, also watching, came over to ask what was wrong.
“Nothing, I said, I suppose I’m just moved by the whole thing.”
“Maybe you want to get married,” she said with a wink.
“Married, me?”
I thought about this. I’m always so quick to say no, marriage isn’t for me, but then I thought, if I were to meet a man I wanted to be with enough to tie the knot, what kind of wedding would I have?
I strolled a bit musing over this, finding myself on the steps of the 42nd Street Library. I had walked in-between the lions, as Truman Capote once wrote, without even realizing it. I sat down to people watch still mulling over the question.
I found myself smiling.
Of course I know what kind of wedding I’d have and more than that, where it would be. I’d get married on Brooklyn Bridge, probably my favorite place in the whole world. I’d even opt for the Brooklyn side on behalf of all the writers who have lived there over the years viewing it as a great omen.
It would be twilight, so the lights would be on, with only a handful of close friends present. Camille, naturally, would be my maid of honor. Ed, Bill and Jed would throw rice, brown of course, while Camille tried to sleep with all three of them. I’d have Mazzilli give me away whispering like a mantra I should eat a little more while Amy, who’d be on speed-dial, held a cab in case I changed my mind.
I’d wear a long dress with a train that could come off at will, and my groom would be tall, slim and elegant in the same kind of tux the young man in Bryant Park wore. He’d have a sense of history so he and the bridge would meld together like 2 hot metals, if you know what I mean.
My friend Alex would come to take great pictures of me walking down the longest aisle in the world. Mustn’t forget Evelyn, she’d be there too making sure I didn’t trip on my dress that she probably got for me wholesale. Now I’m crying, but weddings seem to do that to me.
Who knew?
When it was over we’d go to a simple but cool place for champagne and dessert and I’d be saying to my oldest friend Joan, “Can you believe this Joan”? quite a lot.
My reverie was interrupted when I saw the whole wedding party from the park getting into cabs on 42nd and 5th.
I smiled thinking, look Susannah… 
another omen.
SB
Oh, I love the Brooklyn Bridge at twilight! What a beautiful reverie.
Thanks Alice. I did know that you’re familiar with Brooklyn. I remember your Spa Castle tale. Yes, the BB is something everyone should get to see and walk across. Nice hearing from you.
I love the imagery though I don’t think I fully understand the references to Brooklyn Bridge. I guess you have to be a New Yorker to understand that?
It’s so beautiful and one of its kind. It also has such romance to it…been written about by the poets. Walking across it is one of my favorite things to do. I guess you do have to be at least an American to appreciate it. You can say it’s our London Bridge.
Sounds like you’re ready…now that you’ve written it; you might want to read it aloud!!!! “soon come.” as the Jamaicans say:)
Mmm, and what a lovely omen it might be Susannah…ever so lovely.
I want an invitation to that amazing event and I promise to put Chester in an appropriate tux just for you : )
Maybe he could be ring bearer. Does he drop things as a rule?
We singletons need some sort of celebratory gathering like that with all our friends around us. I think that’s what’s so appealing about weddings, how they bring people together to share a special moment. Birthdays aren’t the same, everyone has one every year. Weddings are (hopefully) once in a lifetime (ok, who am I kidding?). But they’re supposed to be and that’s why we put so much time, effort, and money into them.
I loved this, you should do a post on some of your fav writers who lived in Brooklyn.
That’s a nice idea…Hart Crane, James Baldwin, Truman Capote, Pete Hamil to name a few. The chances of me having a wedding like that are rather slim I’m afraid, but the dream can be tucked away. No harm in that Dame
I love your imaginary wedding. Your groom is impressive too. I also get misty at weddings. Wonderful post!
Thanks, you’re always very generous and kind to me. So, are you writing? Hope so.
I posted last night. Finally.
Will check in.
Jimmie will be there!
You bet. He’ll have on a spiffy suit with a carnation in his lapel
Well, ya never know. I know I won’t but again, ya…