//------------------------------//
// Big Day 
// Story: The Apple of White's Eye 
// by DraconequusMaximus 
//------------------------------//

It was soon time for everypony to head to Canterlot, it was the fifth of May & White was overseeing the decorations in the grand hall while Braeburn oversaw the food for the event. Luna & Applebloom assisted White in making sure of everything White was too busy to handle. Big Mac was setting up chairs in the grand hall for the numerous guests that were to attend. On Braeburn's side of the room would be the Apple family of Ponyville as well as several other alongside their friends from Apploosa. White's side of the room would hold the royal sisters, Fuzzy, the other employees from the Trough, & a surprising number of now out of the closet thestrals.
Things were going well, the menu options had been finalized & the grand hall looked beautiful, It had been decked out in white & gold the colors of the soon to be joined pair. At the end of the day the stallions retired to the same room they had used months before  during the holidays. The room held special significance to them as it had been where they had first made love. However they decided to forgo repeating this act until after their wedding. This didn't matter to the pair as they would soon be a couple recognized by Equestria, & Faust. The pair soon slept as they had much to do in the days ahead.
In the morning the couple split to get fitted for their suits. White went with Luna to Ponyville to have his made by the element of generosity herself who was overly enthused to make clothing for royalty. Braeburn was being fitted by Celestia's personal tailor. The soon to be couple spent their days in Canterlot & Ponyville respectively. White was thankful to be out & about without ponies recognizing him as "That gay vampire prince" that Canterlot citizens had labeled him since the publicity garnered during New Moon Night.The thestral did however have trouble getting the seamstress to stop pestering him about his ascension to royal status. Braeburn found himself met with stares & whispers as he trotted around Canterlot heading to the jeweler to pick up Braeburn's own earring to wear when the couple joined at the ceremony. The jeweler who went by Gem Setter, brought out the item in question. It was identical to Whites in form, but the metal was gold & the gem was a ruby. The reason behind this was so it would be more noticeable against Braeburn's coat & match Braeburn's favorite outfit that he had been given by White. It cost a fair amount of bits coming from the best jeweler in Canterlot, but Braeburn wanted everything to be perfect so he didn't care. 
Though they spent the day apart they met again at dinner, the dining hall was filled with the guests for the wedding. Everypony ate happily after their long day of preparations. Luna & Applebloom had become fast friends in the last couple days, which they spent pranking everypony at any given opportunity. 
The stallions retired early that night to spend time alone as tomorrow was the day before the wedding & they were not to see one another from then until the ceremony. When they awoke they embraced & kissed before saying their goodbyes. To switch things up White would spend the day with the Apples alone while Brae would spend it with the princesses. 
"Where are y'all going on yer honeymoon?" Applejack asked curiously. 
"We're spending it in the countryside near Whinnypeg, no reporters, no photographers, no disturbances." White said dreamily.
"Whinnypeg? But that's where..." Applejack said with a saddening expression.
"Yes, We're going to see Braeburn's parents when we arrive. Braeburn hasn't been home since before the fire. He needs this, & I need to help him through it. Braeburn still carries the guilt of it all on his back, he's happier now but he needs to get past this. Then we can truly start a life together." The look on White's face contained happiness, sadness & longing all at once. Applejack knew that White wanted nothing more than to help his fiancee heal just by seeing the look 
A similar conversation was being held by the other groom across the castle.
"You intend to resolve this matter during your honeymoon?" Luna asked skeptically
"It was White's request. He wouldn't let me say no. He still thinks I've done way more for him than he has for me even though he gave me happiness & reunited me with the rest of my family." Braeburn answered with with a saddened expression. 
"White has felt much pain in his life, but you for the first time showed him love. He puts you before himself so that he can heal you as well. I wish such a gentle soul wouldn't place so little value on itself, but I can't deny that if I had been in his situation I wouldn't do the same." Celestia stated somberly.
"When all is said & done, we are sure the two of thee will be better for it just as the case of all that has happened until now." Luna stated as she placed a hoof upon Braeburn's shoulder.
The day came, the grand chapel held the crowd of ponies who waited for the ceremony to begin. All who had a place in the event were in position & at the head of room was Braeburn suited in black wearing the hat White had given him as well as his ruby earring. He stood before Celestia awaiting his fiance. The time arrived, Luna & White led down the aisle by Applebloom who was spreading pink flower petals all about joined him. Luna nodded to the pair before she & Applebloom took their seats. White was truly a sight, he wore a white suit with pink accents the same color as his hair. He had a red rose in his lapel & he wore a bow tie also pink identical to Brae's red one. They looked at each other with both joy & nervousness. Celestia motioned it was time to begin.
"Ladies & gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to join  Duke White Night & Braeburn Apple in bonds of harmony. May any who oppose this marriage speak now or forever hold their peace." After this there was a momentary pause. As nopony spoke up Celestia continued.
"Very well, we shall continue with the ceremony. The grooms have written their own vows which we will hear now." White was the first to read from the card he kept in his breast pocket.
"Braeburn, I had never known much happiness, I was shunned by my family & left them as soon as I could do so, & was persecuted for my looks & orientation by my own people. Eventually I broke, But then you trotted into my life when I was trying to hide myself from the world. You picked up the pieces & put me back together, then you invited me into your life & gave me everything I had ever wanted from life. You saved me from myself & everything else I could never love anypony more than you." He said with tears in his eyes.
"White, my angel. You are the only pony who ever made me feel like myself. Nowhere felt as much like home as it did when I was with you. I never considered telling my parents I was gay until it was too late, after that I never felt like having a relationship but you broke me away from my guilt. Without you I'd still be alone in that house in Apploosa, just going through the motions of everyday life. I swear I will never leave you for as long as I draw breath." Braeburn said his eyes tearing up just as much as White's. 
"Then do you, White Night take Braeburn Apple to be your husband?"
"I do." White said with absolute certainty 
"And do you, Braeburn Apple take White Night the first duke of the thestrals to be your husband?"
"I do." Said Braeburn in the same tone.
"Then by my authority as the co-ruler of Equestria  I pronounce you husband & husband, you may now kiss." As soon as Celestia finished the newly weds embraced in a kiss so passionate that Applejack covered Applebloom's eyes. When they broke the embrace White removed the rose from his pocket, flew upwards & threw it toward a large number of scrambling guests. To everypony's surprise Big Mac grabbed it in his teeth. His ears drooped & he wore a sheepish smile as all eyes fell to him. Celestia broke the silence with a cough & ushered everypony to the Ballroom.
The ballroom had been prepared for the party after the wedding. Food filled tables lined both side walls & the dance floor sparkled in the lights cast from the chandeliers. The Stallions had booked the band "Semisonic Rainboom" for the reception. Everypony was having a wonderful time & filling up on lots of treats (mostly apple related) & everypony was talking to one another. You could even see Big Mac not speaking with a thestral White had remembered seeing approach him at the banquet months ago. After awhile it was time for everypony to dance. The band began playing their song. The two danced for the first time. It was awkward & clumsy but nopony seemed to notice, certainly not the stallions as they were lost in each other's eyes. They danced every song until it was impossible for them to continue, then they were seated. It was time to cut the cake, a monolithic pastry that took four ponies to carry in. White cut the cake with a hoof guided by Braeburn, they took the first piece and took turns feeding it to one another. The night continued on until everypony was danced out & full of cake & treats. 
The Stallions boarded a chariot attached to one solar guard Pegasus & one thestral of the night guard & were carried off to their honeymoon destination in Whinnypeg.