Mr. Jet and I wrote our own ceremony, which was a great perk of having my Nana "ordained" for a day to perform our ceremony. It was a nice, clean slate for us to start from. It was also a little overwhelming to start from scratch! With the help of a few bees before me (Mrs. Cherry Pie, to name one!) and a great book called The Wedding Ceremony Planner, we were able to narrow down our ceremony into a personal and heartfelt ceremony we both loved.
I'm writing out the text to hopefully help a future bride looking for the right words!
GATHERING WORDS
Love is what has gathered us here today.
We are all here to celebrate the love that Alison and Mark have for each other
As well as the love that each of us has given them throughout their lives.
As families and friends,
We are the ones who have taught Alison and Mark how to love and be loved.
We have shown them the true meaning of family.
Today, they come before us to enter into the sacred covenant of marriage,
Vowing to be partners through the trials and triumphs of their shared life.
They are declaring to each other and to all of us present
That they will be by each other’s side,
No matter what life brings their way.
In marriage, two lives are intimately shared;
And the blending of the two must not diminish either one.
Rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner.
As Alison and Mark give themselves into a marriage partnership,
They will not abandon themselves;
They will not shed their individuality;
For that is what brought them together in the first place.
I'm writing out the text to hopefully help a future bride looking for the right words!
GATHERING WORDS
Love is what has gathered us here today.
We are all here to celebrate the love that Alison and Mark have for each other
As well as the love that each of us has given them throughout their lives.
As families and friends,
We are the ones who have taught Alison and Mark how to love and be loved.
We have shown them the true meaning of family.
Today, they come before us to enter into the sacred covenant of marriage,
Vowing to be partners through the trials and triumphs of their shared life.
They are declaring to each other and to all of us present
That they will be by each other’s side,
No matter what life brings their way.
In marriage, two lives are intimately shared;
And the blending of the two must not diminish either one.
Rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner.
As Alison and Mark give themselves into a marriage partnership,
They will not abandon themselves;
They will not shed their individuality;
For that is what brought them together in the first place.
REMEMBRANCE
At this time,
We would like to honor the memory
Of Alison’s grandparents, Normand, and June & Richard,
And Mark’s grandparents, Sofia and Manuel, and Maria and John,
Who, while unable to be with us here today,
Are carried in our hearts always.
At this time,
We would like to honor the memory
Of Alison’s grandparents, Normand, and June & Richard,
And Mark’s grandparents, Sofia and Manuel, and Maria and John,
Who, while unable to be with us here today,
Are carried in our hearts always.
READING
Now we invite Alison’s best friend Kate forward with a reading:
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end
with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
Now we invite Alison’s best friend Kate forward with a reading:
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end
with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
Previously on The NewlyJets:
The Rehearsal
The Night Before
The Wake-Up Call
The Ladies Get Ready
The Dress
The Bridezilla
The First Look
The Portraits...and the Mailman
The Trolley Portraits
More Portraits & A Good Luck Charm
The Pre-Wedding Snack
Portraits of Some Ladies
Portraits of Some Gents
The Big Solo
The Ceremony Processional
The Bride Makes An Entrance
The Rehearsal
The Night Before
The Wake-Up Call
The Ladies Get Ready
The Dress
The Bridezilla
The First Look
The Portraits...and the Mailman
The Trolley Portraits
More Portraits & A Good Luck Charm
The Pre-Wedding Snack
Portraits of Some Ladies
Portraits of Some Gents
The Big Solo
The Ceremony Processional
The Bride Makes An Entrance
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