Music! And Ceremony.
We finally made some musical decisions and wrote our ceremony!
Procession: Pachabel's Cannon in D (I saw Rob Paravonian live, last week!)
Candle Lighting: Dayvan Cowboy (Boards of Canada)
Recessional: Book of Days (Enya)
Enter Reception: Perpetual (VNV)
Cake cutting: "Still Alive" GlaDOS and "The Sweetest Thing" U2.
Exit Reception: Don't You Forget About Me (simple minds)
Call to Ceremony
Dear friends and family, with great affection for Chris and Elizabeth, we have gathered together to witness and bless their union in marriage. To this sacred moment they bring the fullness of their hearts as a treasure and a gift from God to share with one another. They bring the dreams which bind them together in an eternal commitment. They bring their gifts and talents, their unique personalities and spirits, which God will unite together into one being as they build their life together. We rejoice with them in thankfulness to the Lord for creating this union of hearts, built on friendship, respect and love.
Charges
Chris and Elizabeth, the covenant which you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness and yet wih a deep sense of joy; with the deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and caring love.
Pledge
Chris and Elizabeth, you have made a very serious and important decision in choosing to marry each other today. You are entering into a sacred covenant as life partners in God. the quality of your marriage will reflect what you put into nurturing this relationship. You have the opportunity to go forward from this day to create a faithful, kind, and tender relationship. we bless you this day. It is up to you to keep the blessings flowing each and every day of your lives together. We wish for you the wisdom, compassion, and constancy to create a peaceful sanctuary in which you can both grow in love.
Chris, are you ready to take Elizabeth as your wife, to live together with her in holy matrimony? Will you join with her to be partners in life in such a way that together you will meet every situation of life; the peaceful and the chaotic, the routine and the exciting, the sorrowful and the joyful, the threatening and the inviting. Will you love her, support her, and commit yourself to her in marriage for as long as you both shall live?
I WILL.
Elizabeth, are you ready to take Chris as your husband, to live together with him in holy matrimony? Will you join with him to be partners in life in such a way that together you will meet every situation of life; the peaceful and the chaotic, the routine and the exciting, the sorrowful and the joyful, the threatening and the inviting. Will you love him, support him, and commit yourself to him in marriage for as long as you both shall live?
I WILL.
Sermon
Hand Ceremony
Elizabeth, please face Chris and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
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 lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes; eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
Chris, please take Elizabeth's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
these are the hands, smooth, young and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
these are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.
Dear Father, 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 love.
Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded on your grace, rich in caring and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May Chris and Elizabeth see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.
We ask in your name, Amen.
Vows
I love you, Elizabeth, as I love no other. All that I am, I share with you. I take you to be my wife through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever.
I love you, Chris, as I love no other. All that I am, I share with you. I take you to be my husband through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever.
Ring Exchange
May I have the rings? Let us pray. Bless, o Lord, the giving and receiving of these rings. May chris and Elizabeth abide in Thy peace and grow in their knowledge of Your presence through their loving union. May the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of their endless love and serve to remind them of the holy covenant they have entered into today. To be faithful, loving and kind to each other. Dear god, may they live in Your grace and be forever true to this union. Amen."
With this hand, I will lift your sorrows.
Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.
With this candle, I will light your way in darkness.
With this ring, I ask you to be mine.
You may now Kiss the Bride!
Candle ceremony
Chris and Elizabeth wish to honour those that have given light to their souls, and have helped them by enhancing their lives, both individually and as a couple. Today they wish to thank those people - both those who are with us today, and those that cannot be with us today in the physical form, yet nevertheless are with us in spirit and in our hearts. This candle represents the love that they share.
(light our candles from the kerosene lamp)
(chris)"Through the storm fronts we will ever surely pass to stand as never ending light."
(liz)"Let there always be, never ending light."
Having found each other to share and grow, Elizabeth and Chris wish to share the flame of that love, with all those that have touched their lives. As you light this flame amongst you, let us give thanks for the lives that have enriched us and for all those who cannot be with us today.
(light bridal party- they go and light the audience.)
I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Chris and Elizabeth XXXXXX.
Procession: Pachabel's Cannon in D (I saw Rob Paravonian live, last week!)
Candle Lighting: Dayvan Cowboy (Boards of Canada)
Recessional: Book of Days (Enya)
Enter Reception: Perpetual (VNV)
Cake cutting: "Still Alive" GlaDOS and "The Sweetest Thing" U2.
Exit Reception: Don't You Forget About Me (simple minds)
Call to Ceremony
Dear friends and family, with great affection for Chris and Elizabeth, we have gathered together to witness and bless their union in marriage. To this sacred moment they bring the fullness of their hearts as a treasure and a gift from God to share with one another. They bring the dreams which bind them together in an eternal commitment. They bring their gifts and talents, their unique personalities and spirits, which God will unite together into one being as they build their life together. We rejoice with them in thankfulness to the Lord for creating this union of hearts, built on friendship, respect and love.
Charges
Chris and Elizabeth, the covenant which you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness and yet wih a deep sense of joy; with the deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and caring love.
Pledge
Chris and Elizabeth, you have made a very serious and important decision in choosing to marry each other today. You are entering into a sacred covenant as life partners in God. the quality of your marriage will reflect what you put into nurturing this relationship. You have the opportunity to go forward from this day to create a faithful, kind, and tender relationship. we bless you this day. It is up to you to keep the blessings flowing each and every day of your lives together. We wish for you the wisdom, compassion, and constancy to create a peaceful sanctuary in which you can both grow in love.
Chris, are you ready to take Elizabeth as your wife, to live together with her in holy matrimony? Will you join with her to be partners in life in such a way that together you will meet every situation of life; the peaceful and the chaotic, the routine and the exciting, the sorrowful and the joyful, the threatening and the inviting. Will you love her, support her, and commit yourself to her in marriage for as long as you both shall live?
I WILL.
Elizabeth, are you ready to take Chris as your husband, to live together with him in holy matrimony? Will you join with him to be partners in life in such a way that together you will meet every situation of life; the peaceful and the chaotic, the routine and the exciting, the sorrowful and the joyful, the threatening and the inviting. Will you love him, support him, and commit yourself to him in marriage for as long as you both shall live?
I WILL.
Sermon
Hand Ceremony
Elizabeth, please face Chris and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
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 lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes; eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
Chris, please take Elizabeth's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
these are the hands, smooth, young and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
these are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.
Dear Father, 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 love.
Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded on your grace, rich in caring and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May Chris and Elizabeth see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.
We ask in your name, Amen.
Vows
I love you, Elizabeth, as I love no other. All that I am, I share with you. I take you to be my wife through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever.
I love you, Chris, as I love no other. All that I am, I share with you. I take you to be my husband through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever.
Ring Exchange
May I have the rings? Let us pray. Bless, o Lord, the giving and receiving of these rings. May chris and Elizabeth abide in Thy peace and grow in their knowledge of Your presence through their loving union. May the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of their endless love and serve to remind them of the holy covenant they have entered into today. To be faithful, loving and kind to each other. Dear god, may they live in Your grace and be forever true to this union. Amen."
With this hand, I will lift your sorrows.
Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.
With this candle, I will light your way in darkness.
With this ring, I ask you to be mine.
You may now Kiss the Bride!
Candle ceremony
Chris and Elizabeth wish to honour those that have given light to their souls, and have helped them by enhancing their lives, both individually and as a couple. Today they wish to thank those people - both those who are with us today, and those that cannot be with us today in the physical form, yet nevertheless are with us in spirit and in our hearts. This candle represents the love that they share.
(light our candles from the kerosene lamp)
(chris)"Through the storm fronts we will ever surely pass to stand as never ending light."
(liz)"Let there always be, never ending light."
Having found each other to share and grow, Elizabeth and Chris wish to share the flame of that love, with all those that have touched their lives. As you light this flame amongst you, let us give thanks for the lives that have enriched us and for all those who cannot be with us today.
(light bridal party- they go and light the audience.)
I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Chris and Elizabeth XXXXXX.