June 30th 2007
New Durham, New Hampshire.
Order of Service
Introduction
Reading and Short piece of music
Sand Ceremony
Vows and rings
Big Kiss with music and fireworks. {Bryan being very careful not to explode us all :-)}
Party with much joy and happiness!
We welcome you today to witness the marriage of
Bryan and Alexandra, who have found each other over time and over distance that only served to make their bond closer. You, their friends and family, have shared and contributed to their lives in the past, and by witnessing their marriage ceremony today, they ask you to share in their future, not only as a couple but as a new family.
Short piece of music
Reading:
'Then Almitra spoke again and said...
"And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together,
and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings
of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between
the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other's shadow.'
Marriage is a promise, made in the hearts of two people who love each other, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's lover, teacher, listener, critic, and best friend.
It is into this state that Bryan and Alexandra wish to enter, and create together a new family that includes their love of A, F, B and J....To celebrate this special bond I would like to invite the new family to perform a Sand Ceremony to signify that once joined, each of them remains as individual as a grain of sand, and yet once blended are inseparable for all time.
I place a layer of white sand to signify that Love has blessed this union and that Love is a basis upon which we build. Bryan and Alex, I ask you to add sand to signify yourselves and the bond of love that shall not be undone and which is the strength and foundation of this new family, Children, I ask you to add your sand to complete the family that once joined shall never be separated. I add the final layer to seal the bond that this new family has created. With love this bond is made.From this day forward they shall be a family whose strength is founded upon love, friendship, honor and trust.
Rings are a symbol of eternal love, they have no beginning and no end, and so with the exchange of rings Bryan and Alexandra symbolise their eternal love.
Bryan...with this ring....
Bryan's vows....
Alexandra....with this ring....
Alexandra's vows.
Exchange of rings.
In the presence of these witnesses and by the power vested in me by the State of New Hampshire, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
turn to face family...
Ladies and gentleman, I present to you Alex and Bryan and their family, A, F, B and J.
Lots of joy and celebrations!!!!!!!!