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We are gathered here by the sea, to celebrate
with Dan and Julie, the
love they
have for each other, and their desire to unite their lives in marriage.
Let’s
take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty around us, to listen to
the
surf, and to see the incredible colors of the earth, sea and sky. Let
us
breathe in that beauty, let it fill us up and then, let us breathe it
out, as love,
so that we may all appreciate and feel the love we are here today to
witness.
In
the art of marriage, the
little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold
hands. It
is remembering to say, “I love you”. It is at no time taking the other
for
granted. It is standing together facing the world. It is doing things
for each
other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of
joy. It
is not expecting perfection in each other. It is cultivating
flexibility,
patience, understanding, and a sense of humor. It is having a capacity
to
forgive and forget. It is a common search for the good and the
beautiful. It is
not marrying the right partner; but being the right partner. It is
discovering
that your love for one another at its best will never lose sight of or
be
blotted out by commonplace experiences of life.
And
it is
remembering that
remaining devoted, confident and hopeful in one another are the secret
ingredients, which will help you to remain two very happy people,
richer for
your oneness.
“Will
you please, as
an expression that your hearts are joined together
in love, join your hands. “
“Dan,
do you take Julie to be your wedded wife,
to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her,
honor
and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and
health
and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both
shall
live? “
Dan:
“I do”
“Julie,
do you take Dan to be your wedded husband to live together in
marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him,
for
better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and
forsaking all
others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?”
Julie:
“ I do”
Dan and
Julie would now
like to share their
own words with one another.
Dan
please take the ring and
place it on Julie’s finger and repeat after me:
“With this ring,
I promise
to love you forever and to be your constant companion as we continue
the journey of life on this earth."
Julie
please take the ring and
place it on Dan’s finger and repeat after me: “With this ring, I promise
to love you forever and to be
your constant
companion as we continue the
journey of life on this earth."
These
rings are symbolic of
your commitment to each other. The rings you have exchanged are a
symbol of
your promise to love, honor and cherish each other throughout your life
together. This promise is made with the deepest sincerity and affection.
Wine Ceremony
Now I ask Julie and Dan’s parents to join
us
at the front as we drink to symbolize this union of love and family. “This wine ceremony represents the two
individual lives and families that are being joined here today;
combined like
the two wines into one single life.”
(Ceremony
details: Each
father holds a bottle
of wine to symbolize his family (each mother holds a glass). The
fathers pour
the wine into the mothers’ glasses.The
mothers bring their
glasses to the front by Julie and Dan where a single empty goblet sits
on a
small table. The mothers pour their wine into the goblet at the same
time.)
“The
drinking of the combined
wine signifies the commitment you now make to live your lives as one
family.”
(Beginning
with Julie and
Dan, each of them (Julie, Dan and each parent) sip from the goblet. )
“May you remember this day of commitment that
you have sealed with the drinking of the new wine thus joining your lives as one.”
Please
join hands. On behalf
of all those present today I acknowledge that you are husband and wife.
Love
life and life will love you.
Dan, you may
kiss your
bride!
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