Call To Celebration

If it were possible to begin this ceremony by gathering together all the wishes of happiness for Marsha and David from all present here . . . if we could gather together those precious wishes of affection and our very fondest hopes and turn them into music, we would be listening now to a most inspiring symphony, which would be composed of the most harmonious notes possible to produce.

Even though this is not possible, just speaking of it should assure Marsha and David that our hearts are attuned to theirs in these moments so meaningful to all of us for "what greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness."

Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between two human beings; the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention, since no earthly happiness exceeds that of a reciprocal satisfaction in the conjugal state. Marriage should be a life-long consecration to the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to make it last.

We read in The Prophet by Kahil Gilbran:

True love gives nothing but itself
And takes nothing but from itself
Love does not possess, nor would it be possessed
For love is sufficient unto love.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself,
To awake at dawn with a winged heart and
Give thanks for another day of loving.
To rest at Noon and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude,
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart
And a song of praise on your lips.

Unity Candle Ceremony

Marsha and David, the lighted candles symbolize your separate lives, your separate families and your separate sets of friends. I ask that you each take one candle and that together you light the center candle. The individual candles represent your individual lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one.

Music: At Last by Etta James

Cherokee Prayer(said together by Marsha and David after lighting the Unity Candle)

We ask the Creator to protect the ones we love. We honor all creation as we pledge our hearts and lives together. We honor Mother Earth - and ask for our marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons; We honor fire - and ask that our union be warm and glowing with love in our hearts; We honor wind - and ask that we sail though life safe and calm as in our father's arms; We honor water - to clean and soothe our relationship - that it may never thirst for love; With all the forces of the universe, we pray for harmony and true happiness as we forever grow young together.

The Marriage Commitment

David, will you take Marsha to be your wedded wife, to love, to cherish, to continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion?

And Marsha, will you take David to be your wedded husband, to love, to cherish, to continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion?

Please hold hands and repeat after me David:

Marsha, you are consecrated to me now as my wife from this day forward, to love, to cherish, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, in sadness and in joy, to share together as long as we both shall love.

And now Marsha:

David, you are consecrated to me now as my husband from this day forward, to love, to cherish, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, in sadness and in joy, to share together as long as we both shall love.

The Ring Blessing and Exchange

What token of your devotion do you offer your beloved? (Give rings to officiate)

May these rings be blessed as the symbol of affectionate unity. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home that they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find there a friend. May these rings on their fingers symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts.

David, in placing this ring on Marsha's finger, say after me:

Marsha, I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as a symbol of our unity.

Marsha, in placing this ring on David's finger, say after me:

David, I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as a symbol of our unity.

Rose Ceremony

Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings and they shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. You now have what remains the most honorable title that may exist between a man and a woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose meant only one thing - "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift as husband and wife would be a single rose. Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife.(Pause while rose exchange is made.)

In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. Tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. However, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

Marsha and David, wherever you make your home - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words. That rose says the words: "I love you." The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.

Marsha and David, if there is one thing for you to remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love that can make it a glorious union, and it is by love that your marriage shall endure.

Pronouncement

Inasmuch as Marsha and David have consented together in marriage before this company; have pledged their faith and declared their unity by each giving and receiving a ring and are now joined in mutual esteem and devotion; by the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss.

The Benediction of the Apaches

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you.
Now there is no more loneliness.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to be the first to present to you: Mr. & Mrs. Tomlinson!

Recessional

Music: The Wedding March