And the million dollar question is...

There were parts of our ceremony where I felt like a game show contestant. Don Carmine suprised Mimmo and I both by asking a question of us. I was in such a surreal state, so I'm unsure if I understood him right. Basically, I think he said "Usually the priest gives a homily, but I thought that I would let you both speak," (insert Lisa panicking "What! No. He's not serious, right? Oh god, and he has a microphone!") He went on to say that many people that we loved were not able to make it that day and what would we leave behind for them corresponding to our theme of love? The mic was placed in front of Mimmo first (Thank GOD!) and he answered "joy, peace, serenity..." blah, blah, blah, I can't remember. It was a good answer. I stole the first part and echoed his "joy, peace," and I think I added a new word and then I said I would leave many thanks to all those who were teachers for me and couldn't be here today. I remember hearing Mimmo's dad say something and his mom and brother shushing him and immediately I thought "Oh shit, I didn't understand the question right. I gave the wrong answer. I just made a fool out of myself at my wedding in front of all these Italian people,".

Then when it came time for the rings, again, in a very Alex Trebeck or "Let's Make a Deal" way, Don Carmine presented the rings with a question...yes, if you answer this right, you two can take these rings and wear them for the rest of your lives. The question was "Look at these rings very closely. Where do they begin and where do they end?," Oh, I know, I know! Again, mic was placed in front of Mimmo first (why?! i was ready!) who said very matter-of-factly, pointing to the ring "Well, it begins here and ends there." BEEP. Wrong. Try again. Don Carmine went into an explanation of how they did not begin or end, they were eternal and at the end of his speech, he said "Ok, let's see if you're a little more awake now...which hand do we wear the ring on?," We both showed our left hand. Ding, ding, ding ding. We got it right. Then he had to ask "And, why do we wear it on our left hand?," Mammamia. Stumped again. Ummm....As we didn't know the answer and no one in our bridal party knew, Don Carmine posed the question to the congregation. As no one could answer, he asked us all to make a fist with our left hand and then to slowly, one-by-one, starting with the pinky finger, straighten out each finger. The ring finger is the most awkward to straighten out because that's our most vulnerable finger. Allora, that is why we wear it on that finger,

The good news is, even though we kinda sucked at playing, he gave us the rings and we got to do our vows anyway. :-)