The bride abruptly mumbled during the wedding that something was shifting beneath her dress, and as we cautiously raised the hefty garment, we discovered something horrifying.
All of the guests were having a great time during the ceremony; the hall was filled with happy yells, dancing, laughter, and clinking glasses. It appeared to be a perfect day, the kind of moment that one hopes for in life. As we watched the guests dance, I held the bride’s hand.
In the midst of all that happiness, the bride abruptly leaned in my direction and murmured softly:
There’s a movement beneath my dress.
I didn’t really comprehend what she was saying at first. I laughed as I glanced at her, assuming it was simply another of her jokes to defuse the situation.
— Just what, sweetheart? Your limbs? — At our table, I made jokes and even burst out laughing, attracting the neighbors’ attention.
However, the laughter soon left my face. The bride gave me such a serious, nervous look that I began to feel uncomfortable.
I’m serious. She squeaked my hand a little and muttered, “There really is something, and I’m very scared.”
I made an effort to soothe her:
Perhaps you’re simply exhausted. Perhaps that is the only way it feels.
— No, — she interrupted. – I sense it plainly. Something is there. It’s also in motion.
I froze, unsure of how to respond. However, I recognized then that we needed to check. We were completely taken aback by what we observed when I carefully assisted in removing the bulky layers of her gown.
A tiny snake was wriggling among the tulle and lace, just beneath the cloth. It obviously had no intention of attacking; it most likely entered by mistake, perhaps while the dress was being readied for the event or while the flowers were inside.
The bride screamed and jerked away, but I was able to keep her from falling. Several of the guests hurried closer after noticing the disturbance.
As if sensing that it had been found, the snake slithered out at that same instant and headed directly across the floor toward the exit of the hall.
Everyone stared in disbelief and terror as the small “guest” fled the wedding as the music stopped and the laughter subsided.
Fortunately, one of the visitors knew a lot about snakes. He reassured them all that it was a harmless little snake that had gotten there by accident and was not dangerous.
The bride was still trembling and refused to continue the celebration for another hour, so it didn’t make things any better for her. She ultimately made the decision to change, removing her bridal dress and donning cozy pants.
My wife has been always on the lookout for long skirts and examining every corner ever since that day.
