For my kids: Thegn and Marilee's Wedding Ceremony

Hello everyone, and welcome! My name is Tony, I am a longtime brother, friend and lunch buddy of the groom, and I will be officiating their wedding ceremony today.

Thegn and Marilee are honored that you, their dearest friends and family, have traveled from so

far to help them celebrate their love and commitment to each other. They would sincerely like to thank all of you, and to express their appreciation for the unconditional love, support, and guidance that each of you have shown to them throughout the years.

They would also like to ask for a brief moment of silence to acknowledge their loved ones who could not be here today—-- We think of them now and can feel their presence here with us today.

*moment of silence*

Thank you.

Friends, Family; We are here to celebrate the marriage of two amazing individuals. Marriage is sacred and divine. It is a celebration between two souls opening themselves up to one another, in a bond that cannot be measured on a worldly scale. It is about Love, trust, communication, and forgiveness.

Love is not so much about finding the right person, but about creating a right relationship with the person you find. It's not about how much love you have in the beginning. But how much love you both build along the way. The greatest love of all is charity. Have charity towards one another. I promise that if you do only this one thing, you will have a successful marriage. Love unceasingly, Love deep, Love hard, Love strong. Let the love flow wild and free. Don't let any fears keep you from sharing that love with each other.

Marriage is a journey together, not a destination, and it is the greatest adventure you will ever undertake. Make sure to enjoy it, and don’t take any day for granted. Laugh together, even through the struggles. Hold hands, dance, sing, tease, enjoy nature, and appreciate the little and big things that make you both unique. Encourage each other in your dreams and desires and don't discourage each other in any way. Make goals together and share everything with one another.

Trust each other fully and don't break that trust. When you have arguments: Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to forgive and forget, but that's exactly what you need to do. Give your entire heart, your entire love, your entire allegiance, your entire loyalty. Loyalty means you put the other person in your marriage first all the time, and you let them put you first. Loyalty means subverting your whims or desires of the moment to better meet your spouse’s whims or desires, with the full understanding and expectation that they will be doing the same. This is the heart of everything, and it is a tricky balance. Sometimes it sways one way and some the other. Sometimes he gets to be crazy, sometimes it’s your turn. Sometimes she’s in the spotlight, sometimes you. Ups and downs ultimately don’t matter, because the team endures.

Because marriage is such an important relationship in life, it needs and deserves time. Do not give higher priority to less-important commitments. Take time to talk together and to listen to one another. Use tender, loving, communication as a tool to help navigate. Be thoughtful and respectful. Express tender feelings and affection often. Determine that nothing will ever come between you and your sweetheart to disrupt your marriage. Resolve to make your marriage succeed, in spite of the challenges that arise.

No ceremony can create a marriage. These are just words. As the years go by, continue to build your marriage through patience, dedication and perseverance; through talking, understanding, listening, trusting, helping, supporting and believing in each other. As the years flow by, your strong, resilient marriage will be full of character, encouragement, and most of all, LOVE! Nourish this marriage that you’ve grown from a seed, and continue to grow it into the strong, stalwart union that it is destined to be. So that it will not only withstand the years and decades but will stand tall throughout the eternities.

Rings Vows and Hand-fasting part of the ceremony:

Thegn and Marilee have chosen to do a Hand-fasting ceremony.

While Thegn and Marilee prepare for this I will explain this part of the ceremony. They will place the rings on each other's fingers, then join hands together and tie the knot around their joined hands.

Hand-fasting is a tradition that started in Celtic culture, which is now practiced among many cultures. It is where the term, "tying the knot" came from. The knot is meant to form an infinity symbol and represents the love that has bound your two hearts together. You have joined hands touching your ring fingers together. Because as the tradition goes, the ring finger is the only finger that has a vein that leads directly to the heart. In this way, as you go throughout life, you need only look at the ring on your finger to be reminded of the direct connection to each other's hearts. I'm going to read a poem called:

"The Blessing of the Hands"

These are the hands of your best friend, young, strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

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 help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that, even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

-Author Unknown

Marilee, Thegn, this infinity knot represents the love and harmony that you have for one another. The rings you placed on each other's fingers are a reminder of this unity, and the wholeness and connection with one another's hearts.

The "I Do's"

Vows:

Thegn and Marilee: Having considered all that love and marriage entail, I ask that you each now make your personal vows to each other.

*Thegn’s vows*

*Marilee’s vows*

I now ask you both to affirm your wedding vows.

Do you Thegn, take Marilee to be your wife, to be her constant friend, her partner in life, and her true love. To love her without reservation, honor and respect her, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of distress, and to grow with her in mind and spirit?

Do you Marilee, take Thegn to be your husband, to be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his true love? To love him without reservation, honor and respect him, protect him from harm, comfort him in times of distress, and to grow with him in mind and spirit?

In the presence of these family and friends I now pronounce you husband and wife!

You may kiss the bride!

Friends and Family, it is my great joy and pleasure to present to you...

Thegn and Marilee Wise!