Our Ceremony
I've written our ceremony - and by "written" I mean I've scoured the internet looking for suggestions, samples, other peoples vows. I took bits and pieces of what I found and mixed them together and in certain cases I took entire paragraphs - most of everything I found was on diybride.com and offbeatbride.com. If for some reason I have "stolen" a part of your ceremony let me know and I will give you credit - but I'm not going to remove it from our actual ceremony. The words I found express exactly what we both want our ceremony to say.
Calling the People Together
Welcome! Good afternoon, family and friends. We have come to celebrate the wedding of Tara and Greg. On behalf of the couple, thank you for joining us. They are delighted that you have come to share in their joy during this special day. By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and you support their decision to commit themselves to a lifelong relationship. Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. By making this commitment today, Tara and Greg's relationship will become stronger, better and deeper. Today they demonstrate their devotion to each other by dedicating themselves to a life together and they show their respect for each other by setting forth to honor the vows they have created. Today, their lives, which began on separate paths, will be joined as one.
Dedication to Family and Friends
As we all know, families have a huge impact on who we become. Parents protect and encourage us through childhood, then guide us into adult life; Siblings are who we turn to when in trouble; Aunts and Uncles provide wisdom and advice and the love of Grandparents is unconditional…
To the families of Greg & Tara:
It is you who have nurtured them into adulthood. Without you, their marriage could not be possible. All the love and caring you gave to them, will now be given to each other, and in turn, they will pass it along to their own family. This generation to generation lineage of love is how, in a very real sense, we become immortal.
Today you are witnessing another stage in the lives of Tara and Greg, your continuing support and encouragement will be needed as they unite in marriage.
We celebrate not only the bringing together of two people, but also of two families………
They Greg are also surrounded today by their friends. Some of you have known them their entire lives and some for only a few years. But no matter how long, or in what circumstances, you form the community within which their marriage will be lived, and are recognised by the couple as important, through your presence here today
They are blessed to share this wedding day with you, their family and friends – and thank each of you for making the journey here.
Presentation of the Bride:
Who gives this woman in marriage? Answer: Her mother and I do
Gathering Prayer
Our Father, love has been Your richest and greatest gift to the world. Love between two people which matures into marriage is one of Your most beautiful types of loves. Today we celebrate that love. May your blessing be on this wedding service. Protect, guide, and bless Tara and Greg in their marriage. Surround them and us with Your love now and always. Amen
Scripture or Other Readings:
2-3 readings to be given – Readings to be determined
Statements of Willingness:
Greg, do you take, Tara to be your wife? Do you promise to love and respect her? Do you declare your intention to be honest with her always, and to stand by her side through whatever may come your way? Do you accept each other as you are, for better and for worse, for the remainder of your life?
(I do)
Tara, do you take, Greg to be your husband? Do you promise to love and respect him/? Do you declare your intention to be honest with him always, and to stand by his side through whatever may come your way? Do you accept each other as you are, for better and for worse, for the remainder of your life?
(I do)
Reflections:
When we love, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes is to know inner beauty, and to be loved is to be seen and known as we are known to no other. One who loves us gives us a unique gift; A piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us. We who love can look at each other’s life and say ‘I touched his life’ or ‘I touched her life’ just as an artist might say ‘I touched this canvas’, ‘Those brushstrokes in the corner of this magnificent mural, those are mine.’ ‘I was part of this life and it is a part of me.’ Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together.
Throughout time countless millions of people from many cultures, religions and societies have gathered among friends and families to celebrate their love for one and other and their commitment to each other. Each culture has symbols and rituals to celebrate marriage from the Japanese tea ceremony to the Indian tradition of henna on a brides feet, a rich tapestry of traditions from around the world combine to symbolise the meaning of marriage. And today we should try to remember that a wedding is a symbol, a beautiful, heartfelt and meaningful symbol but a symbol nonetheless. This ceremony is not magic, it will not create a relationship that does not already exist and has not already been celebrated in all the commitments Tara and Greg have made to each other, both large and small, in the days since they first met and recognized their connection to one another. It is a symbol of how far they have come together and a symbol of the promise that they will make to each other to continue to live their lives together and to love each other solely and above all others.
To you, Greg, and to you, Tara, I would say happiness in marriage doesn't just happen. A good marriage must be created, nurtured, and worked at. In marriage, little things are big things. Marriage is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, "I love you" It is not taking each other for granted. It's a hug sent over the phone lines when you're apart. The courtship shouldn't end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years together. A solid marriage is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives; it is you two standing together facing the world and all it offers. It is also forming a circle of love around you that gathers in family and friends. Marriage is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in a spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It's a continuously open dialog. There are also things marriage is not. For example, it is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. Nor is marriage a winner take all argument. It is sharing in all things. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. Marriage certainly is finding room for things of the spirit. It is a search for the good and beautiful as well as the meaningful. It is establishing a relationship in which; the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual, and the obligations are reciprocal. Perhaps most important, marriage is not simply marrying the right partner; it is being the right partner.
Tara and Greg, the symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this - is my husband, this - is my wife.
Vows:
The couple will now state their chosen vows to bind the union.
Greg: “My friend and my beloved – with the deepest love and respect,
I choose you to be my wife.
Through laughter and tears
To learn and to grow with.
I will be faithful to you in marriage and in life.
I promise to be a partner to you, to lean on you when I need strength, and to hold you when I am strong.
To create with you a home which celebrates laughter, friendship, compassion and love.
To communicate openly and listen carefully.
I will strive to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.
I will respect you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but compliment each other.
I will love you deeply and truly for all the days of my life.”
Tara: “My friend and my beloved – with the deepest love and respect,
I choose you to be my husband.
Through laughter and tears
To learn and to grow with.
I will be faithful to you in marriage and in life.
I promise to be a partner to you, to lean on you when I need strength, and to hold you when I am strong.
To create with you a home which celebrates laughter, friendship, compassion and love.
To communicate openly and listen carefully.
I will strive to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.
I will respect you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but compliment each other.
I will love you deeply and truly for all the days of my life.”
Exchange of Rings:
Can I please have the rings? (Receives rings from groomsman)
The wedding ring represents the strength and completeness of marriage. Usually people talk about wedding rings being a perfect circle with no beginning and no end. But we all know that rings do have a beginning. Rock is dug up from deep in the earth. Ore is heated in a furnace, metal poured into the mold, then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where once there was nothing at all… With that in mind
Greg please place the ring on Tara’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment
All that I am I give to you
All that I have I share with you
From this day forward
Tara, please place the ring on Greg’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment
All that I am I give to you
All that I have I share with you
From this day forward
The promises which you have spoken to each other today are inscribed forever in your minds and in your hearts. But words are fleeting and so those who marry wear rings as visible, tangible symbols of their commitment and of their emotional and spiritual connection.
These rings announce to the world that you have been found. They are a reminder and a celebration of the promises you have made today and in exchanging these bands you knit your two lives together as one.
Blessing of Hands
Please take each other’s hands -
As you stand here, holding hands, know the gift that you are to one another.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Lord please bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Tara and Greg see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide. We ask this in your name. Amen.
Presentation and Signing of the Ketubah (Ki-too-bah)
(Vicki presents the Ketubah to the guests)
A Ketubah is another form of a wedding certificate, it is an ancient Jewish tradition that served as a contract between husband and wife, however it’s relevence and meaning is not lost to either the modern world or non-jewish couples like Tara and Greg. It shows that not only is a marriage a physical and emotional union but a spirtual and legal one as well. A Ketubah is typically signed by the bride, groom, an officant and two unrelated witnesses. However, Greg and Tara have expressed their wishes to have their mothers serve as their witnessess. They do this to show respect for the families they came from and the women who gave them the greatest gift of life. Would Paula and Arlene please join us up here to witness the reading?
(Once they have positioned themselves on the side of Greg and Tara –the reading will start)
Vicki – “The bride, Tara and the groom, Greg, have chosen this day Sunday, November 15th 2009 to join their lives together in marriage. This holy union is consecrated with these mutual vows of lifelong commitment.
Tara & Greg have spoken these promises to one another through their commitment to one another and threw their vows they have made today, and will now sign this document that represents those things.
(Tara & Greg both sign the Ketubah)
Having witnessed their vows, the exchange of rings, and now this the signing of the Ketubah do you Paula and Arlene recognize your children as belonging to not only you but now to each other as well?
Answer: I Do
Now please sign this contract as witnessess between the promises set forth by Greg and Tara.
(Once signed, they will return to their seats)
This contract will be displayed in Tara and Greg’s home for the remainder of their lives, so that they may never forget the promises that they have made on this day.
Let us Pray:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love~
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy
Lord, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
Amen
Announcement of Marriage
Love of another is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can have, and it can add depth of meaning to our lives. True love is one of life’s greatest joys, and when combined with genuine giving and sharing, each is infinitely enhanced. The day to day companionship, the joy of doing things together, or the delight of recounting experiences of things done separately, is a continuous and central part of what a man and woman who love each other can share.
Marriage symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives. It must not diminish; rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner. A marriage as it matures is continually developing and in it, each partner is individually developing while growing in understanding of the other. Deep knowledge of another is not something that can be achieved in a short time, and real understanding of the other’s feelings can develop fully only with years of intimacy. This wonderful knowledge of another person grows out of really caring for the other so much that one wants to understand as completely as possible what the other is feeling. Thus, it is possible to share not only joy and success, but also the burden of sorrows and failures. To be known in this way is a priceless gift, because such understanding and acceptance make it easier to live with our problems and failings and worries. But, again, while marriage is the ultimate sharing of two lives, it can yet enhance the differences and individuality of each partner. We give ourselves in love, but we do not give ourselves away; we do not destroy our individuality – that which brought us together initially. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is over-powered or absorbed by the other. Thus, it is out of the tension between separateness and union that love, whose incredible strength is matched by only it’s incredible delicacy, is born and reborn.
Tara and Greg have now solemnly declared to each other and to these witnesses their intention to take each other as husband and wife and have pledged to each other their everlasting love. By the power of your love, the commitment you have made to each other, and by the power vested in me by the state of Kansas I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Greg, you may now kiss your wife
- Calling the People Together
- Dedication to Family & Friends
- Presentation of the Bride
- Gathering Prayer
- Scripture or Other Readings
- Statements of Willingness
- Reflection on Marriage
- Exchange of Vows
- Exchange of Rings
- Blessing of Hands
- Presentation and signing of the Ketubah
- The Blessing and Sending Forth
Calling the People Together
Welcome! Good afternoon, family and friends. We have come to celebrate the wedding of Tara and Greg. On behalf of the couple, thank you for joining us. They are delighted that you have come to share in their joy during this special day. By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and you support their decision to commit themselves to a lifelong relationship. Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. By making this commitment today, Tara and Greg's relationship will become stronger, better and deeper. Today they demonstrate their devotion to each other by dedicating themselves to a life together and they show their respect for each other by setting forth to honor the vows they have created. Today, their lives, which began on separate paths, will be joined as one.
Dedication to Family and Friends
As we all know, families have a huge impact on who we become. Parents protect and encourage us through childhood, then guide us into adult life; Siblings are who we turn to when in trouble; Aunts and Uncles provide wisdom and advice and the love of Grandparents is unconditional…
To the families of Greg & Tara:
It is you who have nurtured them into adulthood. Without you, their marriage could not be possible. All the love and caring you gave to them, will now be given to each other, and in turn, they will pass it along to their own family. This generation to generation lineage of love is how, in a very real sense, we become immortal.
Today you are witnessing another stage in the lives of Tara and Greg, your continuing support and encouragement will be needed as they unite in marriage.
We celebrate not only the bringing together of two people, but also of two families………
They Greg are also surrounded today by their friends. Some of you have known them their entire lives and some for only a few years. But no matter how long, or in what circumstances, you form the community within which their marriage will be lived, and are recognised by the couple as important, through your presence here today
They are blessed to share this wedding day with you, their family and friends – and thank each of you for making the journey here.
Presentation of the Bride:
Who gives this woman in marriage? Answer: Her mother and I do
Gathering Prayer
Our Father, love has been Your richest and greatest gift to the world. Love between two people which matures into marriage is one of Your most beautiful types of loves. Today we celebrate that love. May your blessing be on this wedding service. Protect, guide, and bless Tara and Greg in their marriage. Surround them and us with Your love now and always. Amen
Scripture or Other Readings:
2-3 readings to be given – Readings to be determined
Statements of Willingness:
Greg, do you take, Tara to be your wife? Do you promise to love and respect her? Do you declare your intention to be honest with her always, and to stand by her side through whatever may come your way? Do you accept each other as you are, for better and for worse, for the remainder of your life?
(I do)
Tara, do you take, Greg to be your husband? Do you promise to love and respect him/? Do you declare your intention to be honest with him always, and to stand by his side through whatever may come your way? Do you accept each other as you are, for better and for worse, for the remainder of your life?
(I do)
Reflections:
When we love, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes is to know inner beauty, and to be loved is to be seen and known as we are known to no other. One who loves us gives us a unique gift; A piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us. We who love can look at each other’s life and say ‘I touched his life’ or ‘I touched her life’ just as an artist might say ‘I touched this canvas’, ‘Those brushstrokes in the corner of this magnificent mural, those are mine.’ ‘I was part of this life and it is a part of me.’ Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together.
Throughout time countless millions of people from many cultures, religions and societies have gathered among friends and families to celebrate their love for one and other and their commitment to each other. Each culture has symbols and rituals to celebrate marriage from the Japanese tea ceremony to the Indian tradition of henna on a brides feet, a rich tapestry of traditions from around the world combine to symbolise the meaning of marriage. And today we should try to remember that a wedding is a symbol, a beautiful, heartfelt and meaningful symbol but a symbol nonetheless. This ceremony is not magic, it will not create a relationship that does not already exist and has not already been celebrated in all the commitments Tara and Greg have made to each other, both large and small, in the days since they first met and recognized their connection to one another. It is a symbol of how far they have come together and a symbol of the promise that they will make to each other to continue to live their lives together and to love each other solely and above all others.
To you, Greg, and to you, Tara, I would say happiness in marriage doesn't just happen. A good marriage must be created, nurtured, and worked at. In marriage, little things are big things. Marriage is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, "I love you" It is not taking each other for granted. It's a hug sent over the phone lines when you're apart. The courtship shouldn't end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years together. A solid marriage is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives; it is you two standing together facing the world and all it offers. It is also forming a circle of love around you that gathers in family and friends. Marriage is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in a spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It's a continuously open dialog. There are also things marriage is not. For example, it is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. Nor is marriage a winner take all argument. It is sharing in all things. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. Marriage certainly is finding room for things of the spirit. It is a search for the good and beautiful as well as the meaningful. It is establishing a relationship in which; the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual, and the obligations are reciprocal. Perhaps most important, marriage is not simply marrying the right partner; it is being the right partner.
Tara and Greg, the symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this - is my husband, this - is my wife.
Vows:
The couple will now state their chosen vows to bind the union.
Greg: “My friend and my beloved – with the deepest love and respect,
I choose you to be my wife.
Through laughter and tears
To learn and to grow with.
I will be faithful to you in marriage and in life.
I promise to be a partner to you, to lean on you when I need strength, and to hold you when I am strong.
To create with you a home which celebrates laughter, friendship, compassion and love.
To communicate openly and listen carefully.
I will strive to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.
I will respect you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but compliment each other.
I will love you deeply and truly for all the days of my life.”
Tara: “My friend and my beloved – with the deepest love and respect,
I choose you to be my husband.
Through laughter and tears
To learn and to grow with.
I will be faithful to you in marriage and in life.
I promise to be a partner to you, to lean on you when I need strength, and to hold you when I am strong.
To create with you a home which celebrates laughter, friendship, compassion and love.
To communicate openly and listen carefully.
I will strive to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.
I will respect you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but compliment each other.
I will love you deeply and truly for all the days of my life.”
Exchange of Rings:
Can I please have the rings? (Receives rings from groomsman)
The wedding ring represents the strength and completeness of marriage. Usually people talk about wedding rings being a perfect circle with no beginning and no end. But we all know that rings do have a beginning. Rock is dug up from deep in the earth. Ore is heated in a furnace, metal poured into the mold, then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where once there was nothing at all… With that in mind
Greg please place the ring on Tara’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment
All that I am I give to you
All that I have I share with you
From this day forward
Tara, please place the ring on Greg’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love and commitment
All that I am I give to you
All that I have I share with you
From this day forward
The promises which you have spoken to each other today are inscribed forever in your minds and in your hearts. But words are fleeting and so those who marry wear rings as visible, tangible symbols of their commitment and of their emotional and spiritual connection.
These rings announce to the world that you have been found. They are a reminder and a celebration of the promises you have made today and in exchanging these bands you knit your two lives together as one.
Blessing of Hands
Please take each other’s hands -
As you stand here, holding hands, know the gift that you are to one another.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Lord please bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Tara and Greg see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide. We ask this in your name. Amen.
Presentation and Signing of the Ketubah (Ki-too-bah)
(Vicki presents the Ketubah to the guests)
A Ketubah is another form of a wedding certificate, it is an ancient Jewish tradition that served as a contract between husband and wife, however it’s relevence and meaning is not lost to either the modern world or non-jewish couples like Tara and Greg. It shows that not only is a marriage a physical and emotional union but a spirtual and legal one as well. A Ketubah is typically signed by the bride, groom, an officant and two unrelated witnesses. However, Greg and Tara have expressed their wishes to have their mothers serve as their witnessess. They do this to show respect for the families they came from and the women who gave them the greatest gift of life. Would Paula and Arlene please join us up here to witness the reading?
(Once they have positioned themselves on the side of Greg and Tara –the reading will start)
Vicki – “The bride, Tara and the groom, Greg, have chosen this day Sunday, November 15th 2009 to join their lives together in marriage. This holy union is consecrated with these mutual vows of lifelong commitment.
Tara & Greg have spoken these promises to one another through their commitment to one another and threw their vows they have made today, and will now sign this document that represents those things.
(Tara & Greg both sign the Ketubah)
Having witnessed their vows, the exchange of rings, and now this the signing of the Ketubah do you Paula and Arlene recognize your children as belonging to not only you but now to each other as well?
Answer: I Do
Now please sign this contract as witnessess between the promises set forth by Greg and Tara.
(Once signed, they will return to their seats)
This contract will be displayed in Tara and Greg’s home for the remainder of their lives, so that they may never forget the promises that they have made on this day.
Let us Pray:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love~
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy
Lord, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
Amen
Announcement of Marriage
Love of another is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can have, and it can add depth of meaning to our lives. True love is one of life’s greatest joys, and when combined with genuine giving and sharing, each is infinitely enhanced. The day to day companionship, the joy of doing things together, or the delight of recounting experiences of things done separately, is a continuous and central part of what a man and woman who love each other can share.
Marriage symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives. It must not diminish; rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner. A marriage as it matures is continually developing and in it, each partner is individually developing while growing in understanding of the other. Deep knowledge of another is not something that can be achieved in a short time, and real understanding of the other’s feelings can develop fully only with years of intimacy. This wonderful knowledge of another person grows out of really caring for the other so much that one wants to understand as completely as possible what the other is feeling. Thus, it is possible to share not only joy and success, but also the burden of sorrows and failures. To be known in this way is a priceless gift, because such understanding and acceptance make it easier to live with our problems and failings and worries. But, again, while marriage is the ultimate sharing of two lives, it can yet enhance the differences and individuality of each partner. We give ourselves in love, but we do not give ourselves away; we do not destroy our individuality – that which brought us together initially. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is over-powered or absorbed by the other. Thus, it is out of the tension between separateness and union that love, whose incredible strength is matched by only it’s incredible delicacy, is born and reborn.
Tara and Greg have now solemnly declared to each other and to these witnesses their intention to take each other as husband and wife and have pledged to each other their everlasting love. By the power of your love, the commitment you have made to each other, and by the power vested in me by the state of Kansas I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Greg, you may now kiss your wife
