“Hey man, it’s not every day you get to officiate your best friend’s wedding,” Dad clapped me on the back. Hopefully he couldn’t see how I was trembling inside.

“I know,” I gulped, shoving my sweaty hands down into my pockets.

“Well it sure is a perfect day to do what you were ordained for,” dad laughed, “for once the humidity ain’t so bad.”

It was a beautiful day indeed, I thought regretfully. If it wasn’t, perhaps I wouldn’t have to do this. The sun beamed at me high in the sky, mocking my predicament and glinting off the brightly colored chutes and ladders of our local playground. It was the groom’s favorite place, and he wouldn’t have his wedding anywhere else.

I glanced through the crowd of 20 or so people, all with their dogs of course. I was looking for a particular one. I sighed in relief, not seeing her. But then I felt a cold nose nuzzle my hand.

“Hi Andre,” I patted the sleek, perfectly groomed German shepherd.

“Hi Darrel,” the tall blonde ownder winked at me. My stomach fell.

“Hello friends, it’s 12 o’clock,” dad’s announcement interrupted my awkwardness, “time to start the ceremonies!”

The speakers began playing a generic wedding song as people and dogs filed into their seats.

I stood in front of everyone, a smile plastered on my face. Well, so much for my reputation. I looked over to where she was sitting. She gave me a smile, but I couldn’t tell whether that was a good or a bad sign.

With a woof and a grin, the groom made his walk down the aisle. Dressed smartly into an appropriately tailored suite and perfectly groomed golden fur, he was quite the handsome gentleman. The audience smiled and pulled out their phones to capture the moment. Enjoying the attention, Milo grinned even harder and wagged his tail. I had to admit, it was pretty cute.

Then the wedding march began and all stood to their feet and watched with delight—and I with trepidation—as the bride made her debut. I made eye contact with Sam at the end of the aisle. He gave me a grin and let Sadie loose. The little Chihuahua darted instantly to Milo’s side, white veil streaming behind her. Suffice it to say, we had to cut the wedding march a little short.

The wedding vows were short, but Sadie’s attention span was even shorter. By the end of the ceremony one wouldn’t have known whether she was marrying Milo or Mark, the dog she was now checking out in the front row.

We somehow got her attention at the end in time for her to kiss Milo (aka lick his face), and the two exited down the aisle.

“Eyy, man, you did it,” Sam clapped me on the back. I winced.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.”

“Hey, but you did it. Even with HER here,” he nodded his head toward the tall blonde approaching us.

“Hi Cara,” I said weakly.

“If only Andre was a girl,” she laughed, “then things could have gone differently.”

I smiled, confused.

“Double wedding, even?” she winked, gave a little laugh, and turned to go.

“Bro, don’t fumble,” Sam nudged me.

“Hey, who says it has to be a double wedding,” I called to her retreating back.

She just looked back and smiled at me.

Sam and I grinned at each other. Perhaps today hadn’t been so rediculously pointless after all.