Derek and Shannon Wedding

I’d  like to welcome all of you to this very  special occasion and I’d like  to thank Shannon and Derek for inviting me  to officiate at their  wedding.  I am very honored and feel truly  blessed to be here.  

We  are  gathered here today to witness and celebrate an act of true love.    Shannon and Derek, in their devotion, respect, and love for each other   wish to unite in the holy bond of marriage, and to dedicate themselves   to each other’s happiness.  On behalf of them, I welcome all of you.

I   remind all of our guests that you have been invited here for a purpose  –  not just to witness, but to participate fully with your good wishes  and  prayers, asking God to bless this couple and their married life.   You  represent their friends and family, now and forever.  They have  chosen  this act of marriage and this public, holy ceremony to proclaim  it.   Together we all thank the Higher Power that brought them together  and  ask Him always to guide their way.

Silent Blessing

Let   us now close our eyes and bring to mind any love ones who could not be   here today, especially for Kellie, the mother of the bride who is here   in spirit with the couple. Though they are absent physically, we  invoke,  through our thoughts and prayers, their loving presence. We  pray God  might multiply beyond measure the blessings from these loved  ones to  this loving couple. Now, from our hearts, we ourselves  visualize and  sanctify all the blessings we would bestow on Shannon and  Derek in their  lives as a couple.

I belong in your arms - by Deborah Bridea

I belong in your arms
 Finally, I have found a place
 Into which I fit Perfectly, Safely
 And securely with no doubts,
 No fears, No sadness, No tears.
 

This place is filled with happiness and laughter
 Yet it is spacious enough, to allow me
 The freedom to move around,
 To live my life and be myself.
 This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed,
 I have found Finally 
 Inside your arms, Inside your heart, inside your love.

Let  me explain that Shannon and Derek have not  come here today only to  make a solemn promise.  For love has no  requirements or conditions.   That’s what makes it Love.  If your love  for one another carries  requirements or conditions, then it is not love  at all.

What  Shannon and Derek have  come here to do is to declare their choice to  live and grow together –  out loud and in your presence, out of their  desire that we will come to  feel a very real and intimate part of their  decision, and thus make it  even more powerful.

Derek  and  Shannon, is it your firm understanding that you are not entering  into  this marriage for reasons of security……that the only real security  is  not in owning or possessing, nor in being owned or possessed.

…not in demanding or expecting, and not even in hoping, that what you think you need in life will be supplied by the other…..

But   rather, in knowing that everything you need in life…..all the love,  all  the wisdom, all the insight, all the power, all the knowledge, all  the  understanding, all the nurturing, all the compassion, and all the   strength, already resides within you…..

Is that your firm understanding today?

(They say, “It is.”)

And   Shannon and Derek, is it your firm understanding that you are not   entering into this marriage as a means of in any way limiting,   controlling, hindering or restricting that which is the highest and  best  within you – including your love of God, your love of life, your  love  of creativity, or any aspect of your being which genuinely  represents  you, and brings you joy.

Is that still your firm understanding today?

(They say, “It is.”)

Finally,  Derek and Shannon, is it your firm understanding that you do not see  marriage as producing obligations, but rather as providing  opportunities…..opportunities  for growth, for full Self expression, for  lifting your lives to your  highest potential, for healing every false  thought or small idea you  ever had about yourself, and for ultimate  reunion with your Creator  through the communion of your two souls…

And   this is truly a Holy Communion….a journey through life with one you   love as an equal partner, sharing equally both the authority and   responsibilities inherent in any partnership, bearing equally what   burdens there be, basking equally in the glories.

Is that the Vision you wish to enter into now?

(They say, “It is.”)

Now   those were the agreements and understandings of Earthly things…..how   life will be within the physical structure called marriage.

Let   us now exchange larger understandings…..your spiritual nature and your   spiritual Truth….the purity of your real and Highest Self, and the   purity of Divine Love, which shines upon you now and always.

Derek, please repeat after me…..

I,   Derek, ask you, Shannon…..to be my partner, my lover, and my wife……I   promise to be faithful, supportive, and loyal…..and to give you my   understanding and love….. throughout all the changes of our life….and I   will always treasure you as being my other half…..I promise to  celebrate  all the happy times with you and be your courage and strength  during  the hard times…..I promise to support your dreams and stand  beside you  always….From this day forward….. I will be you proud husband  and your  best friend….. It is my intention to be with you  forever…..sharing all  that is good within me…..with all that is good  within you.

(The minister turns to Shannon)

Shannon, do you choose to grant Derek's request that you be his wife?

(She answers, “I do.”)

Now Shannon, please repeat after me…..

I,   Shannon…..ask you, Derek….to be my partner, my lover, and my  husband……I  promise to be faithful, supportive, and loyal…..and to give  you my  understanding and love….. throughout all the changes of our  life….and I  will always treasure you as being my other half…..I promise  to celebrate  all the happy times with you and be your courage and  strength during  the hard times…..I promise to support your dreams and  stand beside you  always….From this day forward….. I will be you proud  wife and your best  friend….. It is my intention to be with you  forever…..sharing all that  is good within me…..with all that is good  within you.

(Minister turns to Derek)

Derek, do you grant Shannon’s request that you be her husband?

(He answers, “I do.”)

And now would the best man please bring up the rings?

These rings and their circular nature are the symbol of holiness, perfection, and peace.

These   rings exchanged today are also the symbol of never-ending love.  Love   that must first begin with each of us as Self Love, then radiates out  to  another and allows their love to return in full measure….completing  the  circle of love without end.

Lastly, these rings are the symbol of the eternity of spiritual life and truth….that which has no beginning and no end.

The   precious nature of the metal and stones of these rings represents the   wonderful essence they find in each other and the wonderful essence  they  find individually, through their mutual love, respect, and support  of  each other.

To both of you, I  enjoin  you to release at this time all impediments to your joy. In this  moment  may you forgive each other any past transgressions, that you  might  enter this marriage reborn.  Allow the waters of forgiveness to  wash you  clean.  You are given the chance to begin your lives again  this day,   as God grants you radical renewal through the power of this  commitment.   You commit to a compelling future for yourselves and your  children,  and to any part you might play in the healing of the world.   Receive  fully God’s gifts on this day, as He receives so fully the  gift of your  love for each other.  May you rejoice in Him, as He  rejoices in you.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

(The minister gives the rings back to Shannon and Derek)

Now, Shannon and Derek, please take these rings you wish to give one another and repeat after me:

With   this ring…..I thee wed….that we may bond in body, mind, and   spirit….take now the ring you give to me…..and give it a place upon  your  finger…..that all may see and know….. of my love for you.

And   so now, in as much as you, Shannon, and you, Derek, have sanctified   your union by announcing your truths that are already written in your   hearts, and have witnessed the same in the presence of these, your   family and friends, and God, through the power vested in me, I now   pronounce you husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride. (KISS)

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us now join in an Irish blessing for our closing prayer.

May   the road rise to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May  the  sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your  fields.   May the light of friendship guide your paths together.  May  the  laughter of children grace the halls of your home.  May the joy of   living for one another trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from your   eyes. And, when eternity beckons, at the end of a life heaped high  with  love, may the good Lord embrace you in the arms that have nurtured  you  the whole length of your joy-filled days.  May the gracious God  hold you  both in the palm of His hand.  And today, may the spirit of  love find a  dwelling place in your hearts.

Ladies and gentlemen,, let me proudly present to you, our newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Derek Slattery