The past twenty-four hours had dragged on for Jude. Although her mother worked diligently to keep her distracted from how much she missed Nick and the nervousness she began to feel, the blonde still couldnât help but keep her eyes on the clock. So it canât be hard to imagine how elated she was as her alarm clock went off the next morning, sending her springing out of bed and shouting, âWake up, wake up! Iâm getting married today!â down the hall into her sistersâ room.Â
All the Hopps girls quickly gathered together in Judeâs room to begin their hours-long process of primping and priming for the big day. First came makeup, then hair, then the moment everybody had waited for with bated breath â Jude being buttoned into her wedding gown. It was an off-the-shoulder, white lace number that fit her curves perfectly. As soon as the veil was placed beneath the bun her hair was gathered into, it seemed as though everything stopped and the reality of the moment settled in, bringing tears to everybodyâs eyes â including her own.Â
âYou ready, Jude dude?â Her father murmured softly from behind her, offering her his arm and her bouquet of sunflowers. âYou look beautiful.â
Jude nodded, dabbing at her eyes quickly before assuming her position and following the rest of the crowd out and onto the porch. As the processional continued and each of her sisters lined up near her place at the alter, she only felt her excitement ramp up. And she couldnât contain her smile or her tears as she and her father finally rounded the corner, revealing themselves to the guests and, most importantly, Nick.Â
And maybe thatâs why her walk down the aisle felt so slow, or why she just wanted to release her fatherâs arm and dart straight to her guy, her best friend, her soon-to-be husband. But their reunion was well worth the wait, especially once her father gave her away and placed her shaky hands in Nickâs, signaling the ceremony was to begin.Â
Nick couldnât take his eyes off of Jude from the second she emerged around the corner to the point where their hands connected. The simple touch still sent electricity straight through her fingertips to his. He blinked before slowly looking down at his soon to be wife. Wow was the only adjective that could describe how he thought she looked and how excited he was to have her in that white dress in front of him. He mouthed a âWowâ before squeezing her hands and looking to the officiant for a split second, nodding that they were ready to begin.Â
âDearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in the celebration of marriage for Nicholas Wilde and Judith Hopps.â The crowd of people, especially the Hopps younger girls, all beamed at their sisterâs name and a twinge of pain struck Nick as he realized not a single person in the crowd was his family. He looked around at all the faces, lovingly staring at Jude. His attention followed theirs and when he looked again to see his blushing bride, he realized the pain in his heart wasnât necessary considering in a few minutes the two would be married and every person at the ceremony would be considered a family member to both him and Jude.Â
âNicholas, please go ahead and say your vows.â The officiant said as Nicholas fumbled to find his notecard, having spaced out in his thoughts just previously.
âI, Nicholas Wilde, stand before my love and in front of family and friends to announce my love and commitment.â He nodded at her, smiling, âJude and I were never friends. We were allies though. Team-mates. Partners. We skipped the part where we opened up to each other on a platonic front and we didnât have some dramatic moment when we realized the other was meant more than just a pal. We didnât have a love story where we just knew instantly either. I love that about us. I love so many things about us as a couple and of course, of Jude as a human.â
Nick smiled, knowing his preface was ending and his vows were coming. âJude. I vow to always have your back. I will never let you go into a situation without backup and support. I vow to always listen and encourage you to be your best self. I will always lead or follow you into harsh times and I will never abandon or deny you the chance to step forward as an independent. I vow to love you so passionately and so without doubt that even the greatest of love stories will envy ours. I vow to be yours and all yours. Your husband and your partner.â He squeezed his hand and nodded for the ceremony to continue.