I went to a wedding recently. It was very nice. The bride was stunning and the groom was handsome. It was everything you’d want from a wedding. And I’m sure it almost drove the two of them crazy.

I’m starting to think I don’t need that. I’m starting to think I don’t need any of that at all. Frayed nerves, sore tempers, hectic scheduling, grueling to do list. I know it was worth it to them after the fact and I think people should celebrate however they want to – no hate from me, I’m happy to be a party to that joy. I’m just not sure I need that in my life.

I used to want a lot of things I don’t really think I want anymore. I used to want a stunning engagement ring. But I realized I don’t really wear jewelry, so I probably wouldn’t appreciate it. I think I’d rather a simple band. I never wanted an especially fancy dress, but I did want engraved invitations. Real engraved invitations. But then I thought about how they’re just going to end up in a drawer somewhere anyway, so that wasn’t important. I was looking forward to registering at all my favorite stores, but then I realized that I’ve been living alone for the majority of the last decade and I have all the stuff anyone could ever want. Pots, pans, sheets, towels? Got em. Crockpot? I have 2. And 3 cutting boards. And some very expensive knives. I really don’t have a need for wedding loot.

So, what do I really want? That’s simple. All I need is me, Mister, God and a place to sit.

I’ve come to realize that when the time comes for me to make a commitment to the man that the Creator has made for me, the only people that actually need to be there are myself, that man and God. And since God is everywhere at all times, there’s always availability. If we decide to meet up at the park or the coffee shop or the bus station and become man and wife, it’s pretty much done. We go on from that point being what we are. Maybe that’s not ‘legal’ but the way I see it, if we make a commitment before God, it is what it is. We can go make it legal at the courthouse, but it doesn’t make us any more married. It just means other people agree that we are married. And there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s useful in a lot of ways. But in just as many ways, it doesn’t matter at all.

Our ancestors, our elders didn’t go through all these changes to become man and wife and those unions, those bonds of love lasted through joyful times and tremendous adversity. There was a time when being “legally” married wasn’t even an option for our elders. But they made the commitment to each other and to God. Ask someone who’s been married 30, 40, 50 years about their wedding. There was no junior bridesmaid. There was no ice sculpture at the reception. There was no stretch Hummer to whisk them away. The thing they did have was a commitment to loving one another, which they made before the Almighty. Maybe there was some cake and punch afterward, but it wasn’t the important thing. What was important was each other.

Don’t get me wrong: I think it would be fun to be princess for a day at my wedding. But the older I get, it’s not as important to me anymore. The way I see, we can get married in the back yard, just the two of us, have a little rainbow sherbet afterward and call it a night. I’m most interested in being my King’s Queen for the rest of our lives.