makeshiftmind

OPENING ADDRESS

Minister:

BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, I greet you.

To our assembled guests, on behalf of the BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, I welcome you.

BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, on behalf of those assembled here, I welcome you as well.

We welcome you to this moment in your lives and to the place you have come in each other’s hearts. We join with you on this day, as you commit before these witnesses, that from this point forward you shall live as one.

I remind all of our guests that you have been invited here for a holy purpose, not just to witness, but to participate fully with your thoughts and prayers, asking God to bless this couple and their married life. You are here because this couple feels close to you and asks that you join with them in this dedication of sacred purpose. You represent symbolically all of the people in the world who will be touched in any way by the life of this couple. You represent their friends and family, now and forever. They have chosen this act of marriage and this public, holy ceremony in which to proclaim it.

BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, we live at a time when very little in life is considered sacred. One thing must remain so, however, or all the world disintegrates. That is and shall be, an agreement between two people. This day we celebrate a sacred agreement between the two of you.

I congratulate you on the journey of your lives, on the strength and the courage it has taken for each of you to make your way to this place. Both of you have found a way to put away childish things and embrace a very serious love. You receive on this day the blessings thereof, for yourselves and all the world.

We live in times that are beset with problems. This marriage is not to be an escape from the world, but indeed it is to be a commitment to greater service to the world. You shall not exclude the world but include it in your love. Together, in this marriage, you shall contribute more fully, for you shall be more full.

BRITTANY, in your love, this man ought to find within himself a greater sense of who he is to be. You ought to see the good in this man, to accept him for who he is and who he shall be, and thus he might be healed and made strong.

And so it is with you also, NICHOLAS, that you ought to love this woman, that in your love she might find herself so beautiful, strong, brave and true, that the entire world might be blessed by the presence of a woman who shines so. May she relax in your arms as she has never relaxed before. May she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend forever.

Our prayer for both of you is that you might find in each other’s love such profound acceptance and total release, that together you might experience the forgiveness that shall free the world. May you create, with your love, a piece of heaven on earth. Love is a miracle that heals us all.

From this point forward, BRITTANY, NICHOLAS’s needs will carry the same priority as your own. Likewise, NICHOLAS, from this point forward, BRITTANY’s needs will be seen to be as important as your own. You shall not be as two conflicting or competing forces, but rather the energies of your lives shall blend into harmony and oneness. Your friends and family will rejoice in the dance of life you do together.

To both of you, I enjoin you to release at this time all impediments to your joy. In this moment, may you forgive each other any past transgressions, that you might enter this marriage anew. Allow the waters of forgiveness to wash you clean. You are given the chance to begin your lives again this day through the strength of your commitment. You commit to a compelling future for yourselves.

(for the family)

With this marriage, your two families are joined, and it is the family unit that shall rebuild the world. With this in mind, I ask you, BRITTANY’s family, to take NICHOLAS into your hearts, as son and brother, and beloved to BRITTANY.

And you, NICHOLAS’s family, I ask the same. I ask that you take this woman, BRITTANY, into your hearts. I ask your other children as well to receive her as their sister, for she is dear and beloved to your son, and shall be so to all your family. May the miracle of this marriage extend throughout your family.

If anyone objects to this marriage, please speak now. As of this day, may you utter only the positive, that your energies might support these two, that any words you say might bless and protect the sacredness of this bond.

FIRST STEPS TRADITION

Minister:

Nicholas and Brittany, today you take your first steps in life together. To represent this special event, please grasp each others’ hands, take one step forward, and repeat after me:

Nicholas and Brittany

As I take this first step
I know you are guiding me in love.
In these steps together you are teaching me
To be a life-long partner.
My steps with you represent support, protection, and pure love in my life.
Together, you allow me to be vulnerable and trust you with my heart,
Because I feel safe.
All my strength and my courage are possible because of you.

HANDFASTING TRADITION

Minister:

Because your lives have crossed in this special way you have formed ties between each other. As you enter marriage you should strive to uphold the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. Remember that your effort and the means you choose to achieve your end are just as important as the end itself.

Please look into each others’ eyes and join your hands.

[Minister retrieves two lace sashes from small, white pillar]

Brittany, will you provide sole comfort for him when painful experiences are inevitable in his life?
I will

Nicholas, will you provide sole comfort for her when painful experiences are inevitable in her life?
I will

[To Both]
Will you share in comforting each other during these painful experiences?
We will

And so the first binding is made.

[First lace sash is draped across the bride and grooms hands]

Brittany, will you share in his laughter and sorrow?
I will

Nicholas, will you share in her laughter and sorrow?
I will

[To Both]
Will both of you look for the happiness in life and the positive traits in each other?
We will

And so the second binding is made.

[Second lace sash is draped across the couples' hands]

Brittany, will you share his dreams and aspirations?
I will

Nicholas, will you share her dreams and aspirations?
I will

[To Both]
Will you dream together to create new hopes and goals for your life?
We will

And so the third binding is made.

[Third lace sash is draped across the couples hands]

Brittany, will you honor him even in times of anger?
I will

Nicholas, will you honor her even in times of anger?
I will

[To Both]
Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?
We will

And so the final binding is made.

[Drape fourth lace sash across the couples hands]

[Tie sashes together while saying:]

Minister:

The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your promises.

[Once sashes are tied together they are removed and returned to the small, white pillar]

WINE CEREMONY TRADITION

[Minister speaks while Nicholas and Brittany are pouring wine]

Minister:

This ceremony represents two individual lives combined like two wines into one chalice. Drinking the mixed wine signifies the commitment you now make, which will live in your minds and hearts forever. Because some wine remains in your individual glasses, you preserve your individuality. Because you drink from the same glass, you embrace your unity.

You may now drink from the unity chalice.

[Nicholas and Brittany drink from the center chalice]

[Wine Ceremony Notes: Red wine and white wine are placed in two royal blue swirled goblets and placed with an empty goblet wineglass on a small table near the couple. The couple goes to the table and each takes the individual goblet and pours some wine into the larger glass. They both drink from the combined glass.]

WEDDING VOWS

Individual Vows (Nicholas)

Nicholas:

I believe that love results from the recognition of the things we value most reflected in another person. In you, Brittany I find so many of the things that I think are important in life. From the very first moment we were afforded the opportunity to speak, I began to see that the beauty of your heart and mind were just as stunning as your physical beauty. Daily I make the choice to love you-to desire your happiness as I desire my own-and with these vows I commit that love to you and you alone.

I promise to receive you as an equal partner with whom to build a happy home and raise a happy family, gladly sharing in the duties and privileges of both.

I promise to support your personal goals, recognizing that you have value as an individual above all else, and that our relationship is only possible because you voluntarily give yourself to me.

I promise to affirm your hard work, appreciate your motives, and recognize every area in which you excel.

I promise to be faithful to you, and you alone. You are my only love, and I give myself to you fully as your partner, lover, and supporter.

I am deeply honored that today you have chosen to call yourself my wife, and to receive me as your husband. I long for the many precious moments that we will share together as we live life to the fullest.

Individual Vows (Brittany)

Brittany:

You were once a dream
then you became a desire
My love for you grew from the depths of my soul
You are the man I never thought existed
who now holds my heart in the palms of your hands

Today I vow to honor you always as my very best friend, my lover, and my soul mate.

I vow to listen to you and to keep an open mind, sacrificing my pride to be your strength, your joy, and your breath.

I vow to give you all of my trust, my tomorrows, and first priority in my life. I promise to make my home in your heart, and to cherish you always above everything else.

I vow to give all my strength towards building a relationship full of happiness, and to be willing to devote the energy needed to sustain that successful relationship and life together

You are my only true love in life, and you show me what joy life can offer, and it is the greatest honor to call you my husband.

Mutual Vows

Brittany and Nicholas:

We promise to respect our individuality, to support one another fully to reach achievements great and small in our personal and professional aspirations, and in all of life’s adventures.

We vow to grow together in unity, providing our family with the material necessities and personal investment that will make our home strong and our personal relationships secure.

We vow to establish a home of equality and mutual intellectual respect-a home filled with a constant desire for life, learning, and the pursuit of education that will be an open forum the exchange and consideration of ideas.

We promise to be more committed to love than to being right, working out our differences through communication. We will make our home a sanctuary of peace and tranquility, and a home based on love.

We promise to be an example of faithfulness to all who observe us, setting an example of love and respect that will demonstrate the depth of our commitment to each other.

We promise to always be mindful of the elusive and fragile nature of life and its gifts, appreciating the joy of living as we live each day as the first, the last, and the only day.

Minister:

BRITTANY, I now ask you to say publicly any declaration of commitment you’d like to make to NICHOLAS.

(she does)

NICHOLAS, I now ask you to say publicly any declaration of commitment you’d like to make to BRITTANY.

(he does)

And so we come, BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, to the presentation of rings by which you symbolize and bind your love.

BRITTANY, please repeat after me:

With this ring,
I give to you my promise that form this day forward you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May we walk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see your innocence in my eyes.
With this ring, I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I shall do my best.
I shall always try.
I fell so honored to call you husband.
I feel so blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank you.

NICHOLAS, please repeat after me.

With this ring,
I give to you my promise that form this day forward you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May we walk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see your innocence in my eyes.
With this ring, I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I shall do my best.
I shall always try.
I fell so honored to call you wife.
I feel so blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank you.

I’d now like to ask all of you to pray with me:

Dear God,
May this man grow strong in the arms of this woman.
May this woman grow glorious in the love of this man.
May the earth be brought closer to heaven through this love.
May all the world be blessed hereby.
Thank You very much.
Amen.

BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, this marriage is your sanctuary, your haven from worldly pain.

BRITTANY, do you take this man, NICHOLAS, to be your lawful wedded husband, to love him and to honor him, nurture and sustain him, through times of darkness as well as light, henceforth and forevermore? Do you promise that times of trouble will not deter you, or tempt you to forsake this love? Do you commit before these witnesses to honor this vow unto all your days?

BRITTANY: I do.

OFFICIENT: NICHOLAS, do you take this woman, BRITTANY, to be your lawful wedded wife, to love her and cherish her, honor and sustain her, through times of darkness as well as light, henceforth and forevermore? Do you promise that times of trouble will not deter you, or tempt you to forsake this love? Do you commit before these witnesses to honor this vow unto all your days?

NICHOLAS: I do.

OFFICIENT: And now, BRITTANY and NICHOLAS, by the authority vested in me by the state of Missouri, but much more important, by the authority vested in my be the fact that I believe in the power of your agreement this day, the look of love in your eyes, and the seriousness with which you make this commitment, and because I believe my faith is shared by others gathered here, it is my honor and my delight to now pronounce you henceforth from this moment, husband and wife.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas and Brittany Cloud.

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