FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE
Groom expresses deep love for mate with wedding songs

By Brian Canubida

Brian Canubida sings for his bride, Marni, during their wedding reception at the Hale Koa hotel. Grooms who sing for their brides seem to be scarce, he said, but that didn't discourage him. Canubida family photo

Before our wedding on June 30, 2001, I had dated Marni Miyashiro (now Marni Canubida) for about five years. Realizing that she was my soul mate, I proposed to her on Valentine's Day of 2000.

When we decided on our wedding date, I played with the idea of singing a song to her at our wedding reception. Most importantly, I wanted it to be a surprise. I began to search for the perfect song that would express my deepest feelings for her.

One night while on the midnight shift, patrolling in my police vehicle, I heard for the first time a song titled "Love of My Life," written by Jim Brickman and sung by Michael W. Smith, playing on the radio. I was so drawn by the words of the song that my eyes began to fill with tears of joy and happiness. I knew that this was the song that I would sing at my wedding reception that would express every feeling I had towards Marni.

One of our favorite movies is the "Wedding Singer." I wanted to start off my performance with a short song entitled "Grow Old With You," which Adam Sandler sang to Drew Barrymore in the plane at the end of the movie.

About two months prior to the wedding, I began to gather the music sheets and words to the song. I asked a friend, Eric Kim, if he could play his guitar while I sang. With my guitarist at hand, we began to practice a few times a week.

As the day of the wedding drew closer, I began to get nervous about the performance. I didn't want to tell anyone about my surprise, so I couldn't talk to anyone about the anxieties I was feeling.

The big day came. My wife was stunning, the wedding ceremony was divine and no thought of my performance crossed my mind until after the ceremony, when we began our picture-taking. All I could think of was my performance. Would I remember the words to the song? Would I sing off-key? And how would I get the nerve to perform in front of more than 300-plus guests?

Questions such as these ran through my head, but when it was time for me to sing, it went off without a hitch.

As I stood there in the middle of the dance floor with my wife sitting in front of me, the words just flowed as if I had written and recited my own love poem to her. All I could remember during that moment was the feeling that only my wife and I were in the room.

As I sang, her eyes began to fill with tears of complete happiness, making me feel like crying, too. It was one of the most loving moments that Marni and I have shared. After my performance, I kissed my wife and whispered into her ear, "Love you, honey."

The weeks of practice and never-ending butterflies were all worth it. If I had the chance, I would do it all over again for her.

After the wedding weekend, I put away those sheets of music so that I can sing to her again for our 25th anniversary.

The Canubidas live in Mililani.

For Better, For Worse is a periodic column written by readers, with their stories and advice on weddings and marriage. Write: For Better, For Worse, 'Ohana Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; e-mail ohana@honolulu advertiser.com or fax 535-8170. Articles and photos submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in printed, electronic or other forms.