** Harper **
When the small group returned to the terrace, they could see from behind the garden gate that the ceremony area was already filling up with a colorful crowd. Guests were busy hugging each other and finding their seats, while the music and casual icebreaker jokes from the DJ were playing in the background, topping up the scene with a merry festiveness.
In that merry festiveness, the wedding party got together and did one last runthrough of the procession order, among other details. Then Eli led his groomsmen out of the garden — where the bride would step out of a few minutes later — and got into their positions at the wedding arch first.
The audience quieted instantly, everyone sitting up straight in anticipation, and it wasn't until then that the gravity of the moment suddenly settled on Harper, hitting her like a flash.
