Picture Perfect?

ASHLEY'S POV :

I'm standing up here at the altar , with the minister from my family's church , waiting for things to finally get started . I swear , it feels like this day has already been 50 hours long . It probably seems a little weird to most people , but this is the longest that Dev and I have been apart since we started dating . I guess now I see why Andy's concerned about our tour in a few weeks .
Finally , the music starts , and the wedding party starts up the aisle . Some of Dev's smaller cousins are the flower girls and the ring bearer , and then CC follows , with Holli on his arm . They're followed by Paul and Darcy , Tony and Tiff , Andy and Juliet , Jinxx and Alice , Jake and Inna , Blasko and Jazy , and two pairs of my cousins . The girls all look really pretty , the dresses aren't as puffy as most people stick their bridesmaids with . And the guys all cleaned up really well , in charcoal - gray suits , with white shirts and royal purple ties . It's sort of a contrast to my lighter gray suit , and I'm wearing a black shirt , with the same tie as the others .
They split off and line up on either side of the altar , and CC gives my shoulder a quick squeeze as he takes his spot next to me . "How ya doin' , bro ?" , he whispers .
"I'm going to scream if this drags on much longer , I've just about reached the end of my supply of patience ." , I inform him .
The music changes , and he says , "I think you're about to get your wish . Here comes the bride , dude !"
Everyone turns their head to see as Rob comes around the tent , with Dev on his arm , and for just a second , I can't breathe . This is completely worth all the waiting , I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life . She's wearing an incredible silver dress , with purple lacings on the front and purple flowers on the skirt , with silver - colored ballet - type shoes , and her hair is partly up , but with a mass of curls still tumbling down to her shoulders . She's also wearing the teardrop shaped amethyst pendant I gave her as an engagement/ birthday gift , and a pair of matching earrings . She looks at me and gives me a brilliant smile , and my heart feels like it's ready to leap out of my chest .
They finally reach the altar , and the minister starts the ceremony . We go through all of the standard stuff , until we get to the actual vows , because we decided to make up our own . He tells me it's my time to speak , and I take her hands and say , "Devlin , I love you more than I ever thought one person could love another . You have always been here for me when I needed someone , even before we were dating . You are beautiful , intelligent , loyal , and loving , and I am the luckiest man alive , because you choose to be with me . I promise to always be there for you , no matter where in the world I am . I promise to always be faithful to you , and to never give you any reason to question my love for you ."
"I want to live the rest of my life with you , with whatever that brings . I want you to be my first sight in the morning , and the last thing I see at night . I want to have adventures with you , see new places , try new things , raise a family with you , and be old with you . I want you beside me until we take our last breaths on this earth , and if there is anything after that , I want to be with you then , too . You are my world , and I swear to love you to the end of my days ."
As I finish , I hear Inna whisper to Jazy , "I hope you used waterproof mascara on her ."
Dev sort of giggles at this , then looks up at me and says , "Ashley , I knew from the first time we met that you were going to have a special place in my life . You are smart , talented , funny , and one of the most thoughtful , generous , compassionate people I've ever had the honor to meet . You've been through some incredibly tough things , and you've come out stronger every time . I love you more than I'm actually capable of putting into words , but aside from that , I admire you , and respect you for the man that you are . I'm the luckiest person I know , because I get to see the real Ashley , not the one that other people think you are . In some ways , I feel sorry for those people , because they don't know what they're missing out on ."
"In the rather short time that we've been together , you have become the axis that my world revolves around . I can' t imagine my life without you being a part of it , and I don't ever want to try . I know that things aren't always going to be easy , but I promise to support you fully in whatever you do , and to always be here with an ear to listen to your dreams , and your problems , a shoulder to cry on if you ever need it , my arms always open to hold you , and my heart full of love , for the rest of our lives together . You are my everything , I adore you , and I am proud to become your wife , and hopefully someday , the mother of your children ."
Right now , it's a good thing that I'm not wearing makeup , because I'm tearing up myself .
We exchange rings , and a few minutes later , I finally hear the words I've been waiting for all day , "You may now kiss your bride ." I wrap my arms around her , as she slides her fingers through my hair , and kiss her thoroughly . Finally , I hear Andy yell , "Dude , save something for your honeymoon !"
Everybody laughs , and I finally back off, and look her in the eye . "I love you , Mrs . Purdy"
"I love you more , Mr . Purdy ."
"Not possible !"

_____________________________________________________________

DEVLIN'S POV :

After the wedding , we all get back in the cars and leave the park to go to the reception , which is at an event hall in Warrensburg , a college town about 10 miles from Paul's airbase . This time , though , Ash and I are together , riding with my parents , so we manage to keep the PDA to a minimum for now .
When we get to the reception , it's apparent that everybody has put a lot of thought into everything . There's an excellent sound system for music , a bar , a buffet line , and the cakes are the center of attention . Tony has totally outdone himself .
The wedding cake itself is banana cake , ( my favorite ) with orange - mango puree between the layers , and coconut icing , and Tony has made it a replica of the cottage that Ash and I stayed in when he proposed . It's totally fabulous , but the grooms cake may actually have it beat !
Ash told Tony to make the grooms cake chocolate , but didn't give him any other specifics , so he wound up making an actual scale replica of Ashley's Warpaint bass , with spun - sugar strings and molded - chocolate for the pegs and everything else . It almost looks like the real thing , and everybody is taking pictures before it gets cut . Ash is so impressed that he posts a picture to his Instagram right then , with a plug for the restaurant where Tony works .
Everybody sits down to eat , and there are several toasts made , then we cut the cake . We don't smush it on each other like most people seem to do , I just end up with a bit of icing on the end of my nose , which Ash kisses off . This apparently gets posted to several social media accounts as well .
We then sit down and open gifts , with Holli and Darcy making a list of which one came from who , so we can send out thank - you's later . After we open everyone else's , I nudge CC , and he goes into the next room , and comes back with a cart holding a box , roughly 5X3X2 , and wheels it over to Ash . He sort of raises an eyebrow at me , and I say , "I thought I'd find you at least a partial solution to something you've been sort of griping about for awhile ."
He opens the box , to find a guitar case inside . He pulls the case from the box and opens it , and says , "I'd still rather have the real thing , but this is great ! Thank you , darlin' !"
He pulls a bass out , and holds it up for everyone to see . I had a custom finish put on it , with a picture he took of me when we were at the resort , which he says is his favorite . ( At least that he's willing to let anyone else see ) I was looking at him around the doorframe , and my hair was sort of over one eye , and it ALMOST looks like I'm not wearing anything .
He lets everybody get a good look , then puts it back in the case , and walks over to the gift table . He reaches underneath , and brings out a good sized box , and carries it back to me .
"I hope this is right , I had to ask somebody who knows all this stuff , babe . If it's actually what it's supposed to be , I thought you might find some use for it soon ."
I take off the paper , and open the box to find a camera . I'm not sure why he got me another one , but then I look at it more closely and realize that it's an underwater camera , that can take still photos and video . I look at him , and he grins at me , reaches into his jacket pocket , and pulls out a pair of plane tickets .
"Since we're going to the Bahamas , I thought you could get some good shots while we're diving or something . That will be something to look at later , and think about our trip . Y'know , memories we can actually share with people ."
"This is perfect , Ash ! You always seem to be able to think of the perfect thing ." , I say , flinging my arms around him .
"To be honest , about half the time I'm actually just winging it , hoping I don't screw things up too much ." , he chuckles .
"If that's true , then with the degree of success you have , you must be one of the luckiest men on the planet ."
"Not one of the luckiest , babe ." , he says , "I'm THE luckiest man on the planet . After all , I've got you ."

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