Jason and Carolyn's Wedding

The Ceremony....

Marriage is not only a commitment between lovers;

It is also an agreement between two friends.

May these two friends, and lovers,

Be both a blessing and a comfort to each other,

Sharing each others’ dreams; consoling each others’ sorrows,

And encourage one another in what ever they set out to achieve.

This ceremony is not magic.

It will not create a relationship that does not already exist;

It is a symbol of their love for each other

And their desire to be together.

May they love each other

And offer love and support to those around them.

These rings are an outward and visible symbol

of an inward and spiritual bond

which unites two hearts in love and friendship.

Take now your rings and place them on each others hand

And exchange your vows as you do so,

Jason/Carolyn,

I offer myself to you as a partner in life.

Vowing to love you in sickness and in health.

Promising to encourage you in both good times and bad;

To cherish and respect you for all the days of my life,

forever giving thanks that we have found each other.

Take this ring as a symbol of my love and all that we share.

Let all who are present bear witness

That these rings, given in love, symbolize the devotion

and commitment that Jason and Carolyn hold for each other.

These two lives are joined together in one unbroken circle.

Wherever they go in this world, and whatever paths they take;

May they always be able to follow that circle back to each other

Let the home that they establish, be a place of sanctuary,

And a well-spring of understanding and compassion.

Jason, Carolyn, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may now kiss.

There were no good shots of us standing up at the front but...

Left: Here's a shot of my trying to get Jason's ring on. Man, was his knuckle ever swollen, everyone laughed as I vigorously forced it on to his finger.

Right: The I Do Kiss. He tried to make it a big kiss, but I was too nervous.

Two Left: Here we are, doing the legal part.

First Right: You can't tell, but I've got this look on my face, at the back of Jenifer's head, I was probably think about how thin she is... (smile)

Second Right: And another face, this one at the back of Daniel's head, probably something about his hair, and that at least he hadn't combed it into an Afro. He's Jason's other brother, and Best Man. 

Left: Here we are doing a Rose Ceremony, our first gifts to each other, which we then gifted to our Mother's, He to Mom, and I to Carol.

Center: I now present to you, Jason and Carolyn!

Right: This is at the end of the impossible long, slow walk, back down the aisle. I wanted to just get out of there, but no, Jason stops me for a Kiss!

Finally! I'm out of there, I can have a nice good cry. It wasn't the first time I cried, and it won't be the last time crying on this day.