Chapter 5 – The Wedding Ceremony
AN : The wedding vows have come from Wedding Sample Ceremony - Rev Susan
Taylor and The World Light Fellowship.
Charlottestyle='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> couldn’t
stop smiling. Once again Caitlin had
surprised her big time but to actually plan a wedding without her even getting
a sniff of it, was extraordinary in itself.
She must remember to murder Terri when they got to the reception.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Charlottestyle='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> was
suddenly brought back down to earth as she heard the Vicar:
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Let us
begin.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>With the
horizon our only walls, the sky our only ceiling, and the earth our floor we
meet here in nature to affirm our love.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Caitlin and
Charlotte welcome you, their family and friends.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Each of you has given something of yourself
into their lives. It is fitting then
that you share in this celebration commitment to each other and to their lives
joined in marriage.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Do you
Caitlin, choose to marry Charlotte?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> To speak the words that will join you with
her as your wife for the rest of the days of your life?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I do”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Do you style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Charlottestyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>, choose to marry Caitlin? To speak the words
that will join you with her as your wife for the rest of the days of your life?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I do”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Caitlin and
Charlotte, as you have come here today of your own free will in the presence of
witnesses to declare your love for each other, we ask that you both be honoured
and expanded by the promises you are about to make, by the expressions of love
you are about to share, by the marriage you are about to create.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> May love be always in your midst!
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Caitlin
takes style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Charlottestyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>’s right hand.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“ style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Charlottestyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>, I choose you to be my wife.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>I promise
freely from this day forward
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be worthy
of your trust and deserving of your confidence;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be
generous with my time, my energy and my love;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be
patient with you and with myself,
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To return love,
tolerance, and generosity to your colleagues who are your family.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To trust
you;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be
devoted to you and our life together.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>These things
I pledge before you, myself, our friends, and our family.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Charlottestyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> takes Caitlin’s right hand.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Caitlin, I
choose you to be my wife.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>I promise
freely from this day forward
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be worthy
of your trust and deserving of your confidence;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be
generous with my time, my energy and my love;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be
patient with you and myself,
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To return
love, tolerance, and generosity to your family and to my colleagues who are
mine.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To trust
you;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To be
devoted to you and our life together;
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>These things
I pledge before you, myself, our friends, and our family.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The Vicar
continues :
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>From the
earliest times the circle has been a symbol of completeness. And, the wedding
ring has long been a symbol of love and devotion that, like a circle, is
unbroken and has no beginning and no end.
It represents unity, wholeness, oneness, and eternity.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The rings that Caitlin and Charlotte are
exchanging are made of metal that will not tarnish, metal that is
enduring. These rings are symbolic of a
union that will endure time.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>I ask
everyone here to please silently join me in this prayer over the rings :
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Dear God,
spirit of divine love, please bless the giving of these rings so that they who
wear them may go on living in your peace and continue in your grace.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> May these rings be a life-long symbol of the
unity and love between Caitlin and Charlotte.
May these rings serve as a constant reminder of the vows set forth here
today. Amen.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>What pledge
do you offer in symbol of these vows?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“These
rings” respond Charlotte and Caitlin
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>May these
rings remind us well of our vows to each other.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Charlotte,
I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity, love,
respect and trust”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Caitlin, I
give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity, love,
respect and trust.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Your two
lives are now joined in one unbroken circle.
Wherever you go, may you return to one another… in togetherness.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> May you dare to dream, and plan and create
together. May you greet each other’s
sorrow with compassion, and fulfill each other’s need with the sureness of
love. May the years bring you joy and
contentment. May you share a life of
affection and devotion. May you have
happiness. May you have peace
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>By the power
vested in me I now pronounce you wife and wife.style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Hearing this, the congregation burst into laughter but
neither Caitlin nor Charlotte was aware of it as they were locked in a deeply
passionate embrace. style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Charlotte
and Caitlin eventually came up for air and stood in front of their family of
friends taking the applause from everyone and style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Charlottestyle='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> was never
more proud of her lover, as on the day they became one.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She was looking forward to greeting everyone
at the reception and then spending the time alone with her new wife.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The fact that none of Charlotte’s family had
turned up to the wedding was no surprise to anyone and as far as Charlotte was
concerned, she was glad to be able to enjoy her day without it being ruined by
her idiotic family.
On the walk back to the hotel, style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Charlottestyle='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> couldn’t
stop looking at Caitlin. Never in her
wildest dreams did she think this would happen so soon after the proposal.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Well, just like any normal married couple she
was going to make sure that their wedding night would be something very special
indeed.
Chapter 6 to follow
