Jerry: |
Dear friends and family. Thank you all so much for joining us on
this wonderful day in Paul and Elaine's life. When one thinks of
an exchange of "vows" one of course thinks about how it is an
exchange of promises, an agreement, a sort of "legal" communication.
However, the meaning of such an exchange goes incredibly deeper
than the obvious. The exchange which is about to take place is
about the opening of two hearts and the melding of their essence,
about two souls that intertwine with one another, and about two
people with a special love that binds them together... publicly
acclaiming their love for one another as they exchange their vows,
here and now in front of all of us.
Elaine... Paul... with my love and the blessing of all of us
assembled here today, we wish you happiness, peace and long life.
Paul... if you would be so kind as to begin....
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Paul: |
This day I pledge you my life.
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Elaine: |
This day I pledge you my life.
I promise to share my hopes and dreams,
to embrace your hopes and dreams and help them come true;
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Paul: |
I promise to share my hopes and dreams,
to embrace your hopes and dreams and help them come true;
to accept and respect your uniqueness
and love you as an equal;
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Elaine: |
to accept and respect your uniqueness
and love you as an equal;
to listen intently
and communicate honestly and thoughtfully;
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Paul: |
to listen intently
and communicate honestly and thoughtfully;
to encourage you with tenderness and laughter;
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Elaine: |
to encourage you with tenderness and laughter;
to support you gently and patiently;
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Paul: |
to support you gently and patiently;
to be understanding and forgiving,
ever grateful for the changes you have brought to my life.
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Elaine: |
to be understanding and forgiving,
ever grateful for the changes you have brought to my life.
Our moments together are eternal,
as we work toward our common goals.
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Paul: |
Our moments together are eternal,
as we work toward our common goals.
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Paul,Elaine: |
Jag älskar dej. I love you.
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Jerry: |
Paul is about to break a glass as part of this ceremony.
A brief explanation of this ancient Jewish custom is in order.
Traditionally, this is done to remind us that even at our moment
of joy there is an element of sadness in our lives as the Temple
in Jerusalem is destroyed, all we have left is the Western Wall.
However, I've interpreted this to have a wider meaning...
that we feel sadness for all those living under repressive
regimes, suffering from hunger, or finding themselves in the
midst of war... it serves to remind us that as joyous as we
are in our lives, we should never forget the less fortunate.
[CRASH]
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Jerry: |
Now you will feel no rain,
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Guests: |
for each of you will be shelter to the other.
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Jerry: |
Now you will feel no cold,
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Guests: |
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
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Jerry: |
Now there is no more loneliness,
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Guests: |
for each of you will be companion to the other.
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Jerry: |
Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days of your togetherness
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Guests: |
and may your days be good and long upon the earth.
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Jerry: |
Through the depth of their commitment,
through the mating of their souls,
and most importantly through the sharing of their love
which they have so beautifully demonstrated today,
I declare my friends Paul and Elaine,
husband and wife!
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