Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create a marriage; marriage is an action exemplified by love and patience, dedication and perseverance, talking and listening, helping and supporting, tenderness and laughter, learning to forgive and respect differences, and learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony will do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as life partners.
The beliefs and thoughts about love which motivate Mitch and Erin are perhaps best expressed in the words of poet Kahlil Gibran:
"You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in your silent memory. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heaven dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bondage 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 of 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 shadow."
Mitch and Erin have written vows to one another that they would like to pledge here, and so we will now honour them by witnessing their sacred pledge to one another, built on integrity and kept true by love and trust. Please now read the vows you have written for one another.
Mitch: The first time we met, I hugged you and at that moment I knew I would fall in love with you. Since that time, I’ve been inspired by your incredible grace every day. I have never known such a beautiful, warm, kind, and insightful person, you're absolutely fabulous. Knowing you has meant that I’ve discovered new things about myself. I have a renewed lust for life that you continually nurture. You have inspired me to become the best father, friend, brother and son that I can be. I'm so honored to know you and share my life with you. I, Mitch, take you, Erin to be my best friend and partner, and my love – for my whole life to come. Each day of my life, I promise you honesty, respect, trust, and love – changing and growing with everything we learn and share. I vow to honor and respect you for all that you are and will become, taking pride in who we are, both separately and together. I promise to challenge you, and to accept your challenges to me. I will join with you, our children and our community to create a world we all want to live in, where love and friendship will be recognized and celebrated in all their many forms. Above all, I will give you my love freely and unconditionally. I pledge this to you from the bottom of my heart, for all the days of our lives.
Erin: Mitchell, I am so in love with you. I’ve waited for you for so long. Now that you are finally here, I can’t imagine a life without you. I am so proud of who we become when we are together. You make me laugh, you inspire me, you take care of me, and you honour my heart. You are my best friend, my partner, and my lover. I take you to be no other than who you are in this moment, loving what I know of you and trusting what I don't yet know; with respect for your integrity and faith in your love for me. I promise you that everyday I will do all I can to make you feel loved and respected. When you need me, I will be there, and when your strength fails you, may mine support you. I will always hold you up to be the best man you can be, the man you are in your heart, and nothing less. I vow to provide you support and encouragement in your life. I pledge to be open honest and faithful to you. To nurture your spirit and support your dreams. To honour your thoughts and feelings. I promise to comfort and challenge you. I promise to stand with you as we share this life, and cherish the memories we make together. I will join with you, our children, and our community in an ongoing effort to create a better world, where the principles of compassion, responsibility and commitment to others will be celebrated. Whatever road we travel down, I will always be by your side. Mitchell, I pledge to you today to walk with you as your partner and lover - your wife - for all the days of our lives. I give you nothing less than my whole heart - I am yours.
Erin and Mitch, by committing to one another, also make a commitment to the people most important to them: their children, who will join us now. Sophie, Isaac, Hannah and Zoe will be joined as brothers and sisters in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have deep influences upon them: it will both complicate and enrich their lives, and will forever change the course of their future. These children will have much to contribute to this new family, and it is the desire of Mitch and Erin to extend their commitments to each other by making pledges to their children. As you come together here, we will seal this union with spoken promises.
Erin and Mitch, do you affirm that your love for each other is broad enough to include Sophie, Isaac, Hannah and Zoe and deep enough to honor their presence in this marriage?
Erin and Mitch: We do.
Do you promise to be loving, nurturing and supportive parents, always putting the needs of Sophie, Isaac, Hannah and Zoe above your own, protecting them, giving them the best of yourselves and pledging yourselves to love and care for them, now and always?
Erin and Mitch: We do.
To Mitch: Mitch, please turn toward Isaac, Hannah & Zoe and repeat after me: Isaac, Hannah and Zoe, I want you to know that I love your mother with all of my heart. I promise you that I will love you and care for you as if you were my own. I promise you my trust, my support, and what knowledge I can share. I promise to be as available to you as I am to your mother.
To Erin: Erin, please turn to Sophie and repeat after me: Sophie, I want you to know that I love your father with all of my heart. I promise you that I will love you and care for you as if you were my own. I promise you my trust, my support, and what knowledge I can share. I promise to be as available to you as I am to your father.
To Children: You are a vital part of this new marriage. Mitch and Erin give you their unconditional love and honor your presence in their lives. Sophie, Isaac, Hannah and Zoe, you will have a share in this union, for your lives will be touched by the commitment being made here today. Your participation is requested to help develop the bonds of a new family and we ask from you a pledge of mutual love and commitment, challenge and support, and that you will help create a home and a way of life in which all of you may grow into the fullness of the best people you can be.
Sophie, Isaac, Hannah and Zoe, will you now pledge to do your best to help make a happy and successful home for all of you by your love and cooperation?
Children: We will.
This family does not exist in isolation. They feel a sense of responsibility and obligation to return to the world that which they have been so fortunate to receive. Their love is a source of strength with which they nourish not only each other but also the world around them. And in turn, we, their community of friends and family, have a responsibility to them. With our care, respect, and love, we will support their marriage and the new family they are creating today.
Will everyone please rise. Will each of you, present here today, surround Erin and Mitch in love, offering them the joys of your friendship, the wisdom of your experience, and support them in their marriage?
Guests: We will
You may be seated.
It is now time for the exchange of rings.
Mitch, please place the ring on Erin’s finger, look into her eyes and repeat after me: “I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.”
Erin, please place the ring on Mitch’s finger, look into his eyes and repeat after me: “I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.”
Will you, Mitch, take Erin to be your partner for life, with all of your heart and soul?
Mitch: I will.
Will you, Erin, take Mitch to be your partner for life, with all of your heart and soul?
Erin: I will.
By the power of your love and commitment, in the presence of all gathered here, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you to be partners in life. You may seal your marriage with a kiss!
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