So, in honor of the date I am posting the ceremony my cousin both wrote and performed for our ceremony as minister. Even today it makes me cry as I remember that day and the overwhelming love I felt not only for my now husband but also for all the family and friends that helped make this day perfect.
I hope everyone else enjoys the read as much as I do….
Greetings Friends and Family. I would like to begin this afternoon with a story.
Once upon a time – in a galaxy far far away, of course – there was a beautiful princess and a very tall handsome prince. They both also happened to be gamers, and lived in two kingdoms separated by almost an entire nation. They had friends and family, but they hadn’t yet met that someone to complete them. Then one night it happened. By some twist of fate, he joined her guild. There was a lot of teasing and flirting, followed by the non-stop phone calls. And I do mean non-stop.
Thanks to the time difference between the kingdom of Roanoke, and the kingdom of Santa Clara, the princess could call at 5:00 am her time and still be on the phone with the prince at 10:00 pm when they were crawling into their respective beds. People were starting to worry…but they were happy. The prince ventured to the kingdom of Santa Clara, met the princess, went back to Roanoke with stories of her kindness and beauty, then returned to her arms – never to look back. Which brings us to today…
Sharon and Andrew, today you celebrate one of life’s greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of love as you join together in the vows of marriage.
Andrew – do you take Sharon to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her; forsaking all others and holding only unto her, even through weekend marathons of ‘Sex and the City’ with her sister and friends, when she beats you in Star Wars Trivial Pursuit and though she may sometimes seem like she’s joining the dark side?
Sharon – do you take Andrew to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him; forsaking all others (even Jack Sparrow) and holding only unto him even through weekends of World of Warcraft honor runs and hunts with his best friend and guild mates, and even when it seems he might be transforming into a Decepticon?
Now Sharon and Andrew – Do you both promise to cooperate more on Lego Star Wars and try not to get frustrated with one another when he wants to move on and she wants to collect all the little Lego pieces left behind?
From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness – a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never-ending. As often as either of you looks at this symbol, I hope that you will be reminded of the commitment to love each other which you are making today.
Andrew – please place this ring on Sharon’s finger and repeat after me: I Andrew, take thee Sharon, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, and I promise my love to you, until death do us part.
Sharon – please place this ring on Andrew’s finger and repeat after me: I Sharon, take thee Andrew, to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, and I promise my love to you, until death do us part.
Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings – which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman – the title of “husband” and “wife.” For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose. In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing – it meant the words “I love you.” So it is appropriate that for your first gift as husband and wife – that gift would be a single rose.
Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife.
In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose, and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life – one I hope you always remember – the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
Sharon and Andrew, I would ask that wherever you make your home in the future – whether it be a large and elegant home, or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage – and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love. In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult sometimes to say the words, “I am sorry” or “I forgive you;” “I need you” or “I am hurting.” If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected – for that rose then says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
That rose says the words; “I still love you.”
The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
Sharon and Andrew, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Just as two very different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful poncho, so can your two lives merge together to form a very beautiful marriage. To make your marriage work will take love. Love should be the core of your marriage – love is the reason you are here. But it will also take trust to know in your hearts you want what’s best for each other. It will take dedication to stay open to one another – to learn and to grow together even when this is not always easy to do. It will take faith to always be willing to go forward tomorrow – never really knowing what tomorrow will bring, and it will take commitment to hold true to the journey you both now pledge to share together.
And so, by the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you man and wife. Andrew – you may kiss your princess.
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