Cool Wedding Vows with a Renaissance theme for The Wedding Ceremony of Casey & Elizabeth
Wedding Officiate: Get Me To I Do: Rev. Anthony Hash
Wedding Planner: Liz Daley

October 30, 2015

The Welcome

Friends, we have been invited here today to share with Elizabeth and Casey a very important moment in their lives. In the time they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.

The Giving of the Bride

Who gives this woman to this man and blesses their love?

The Opening

Casey and Elizabeth, this is a special day for both of you.

We have come together as family and friends to acknowledge that love truly conquers all things. Love overcomes great obstacles and transcends time, distance and space. That love has brought you here today, and we rejoice with it and with you!

The Readings – Cool Wedding Vows

Thomas Merton said these words of wisdom:

The beginning of love,
is to let those we love be perfectly themselves,
and not to twist them to fit our own image.
Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves
we see in them.

In a lifetime we read many books, some are dime store paperbacks quickly forgotten, some we grow with from childhood and continue speak volumes to us as we mature. I share some of those words with you now:

Hang on a moment!” said Ron sharply. “We’ve forgotten someone!” “Who?” asked Hermione. “The house-elves, they’ll all be down in the kitchen, won’t they?”

“You mean we ought to get them fighting?” asked Harry. “No,” said Ron seriously, “I mean we should tell them to get out. We don’t want any more Dobbies, do we? We can’t order them to die for us -“

There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.

“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice, “Oi! There’s a war going on here!” Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.

“I know, mate” said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?”

The Rite of Union – Cool Wedding Vows

Marriage should not be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully. With it are both deep joys and responsibilities. Please remember that your miracle lies in the path you have chosen together. Enter into marriage knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Commit to the miracle of making each day work together, for no human ties are more important or more tender.

Since it is your intention to enter into marriage I ask you:

Lord Casey, if it is truly thy desire to become one with this woman; the present unto her a symbol of thy pledge and token of thy love.

Groom presents sword with ring on it.

Lady Elizabeth, you are the most gracious and lovely one that Lord Casey has ever seen, for he understands the essence of thy true self.

The beauty which radiates around thee can only be rivaled by the beauty which radiates from within thee.

The pledge of his sword is a pledge of his soul. It is his prowess, his fire, his passion, his strength and courage. It is his ability to protect, defend and care for thee.

With the strength of his blade and the endurance of its steel to represent what is in his heart, take from him now, as his beloved, the ring that rests upon it, and choose him to be your own.

Bride takes ring from the sword.

Repeat after me:

I accept the pledge of thy blade—and the eternal promise—of this wedding band.

Bride takes sword from groom and knights him.

Repeat after me:

For the boy thou were,

For the man the art,

And for the husband thou shalt be to me,

I do choose you to be mine own.

Bride returns the sword.

Lord Casey, if thou wilt place this ring upon her finger, Lady Elizabeth shall, from this day forth, ‘till beyond the end of time, take thee to be her own.

Repeat after me:

With this ring my Lady—I thee wed. –I take you as my friend—my lover, my wife—from this day forth—and until the fullness of time—where we will meet—and remember and love again.

Lady Elizabeth, if it is truly your desire to become one with this man; then present unto him a symbol of thy pledge and a token of thy love.

Bride bows and presents the chalice to the groom.

Lord Casey, in the eyes of this woman thou art the only man in the world. Yours is the voice of sound reason and unwavering support.

You are the spark to the bonfire of her passions and yours are the arms in which she wouldst lay down to rest.

The pledge of her chalice is the pledge of all that is within her. Her felicity and devotion. The place in her heart where two souls can be sheltered and nourished, that they may grow together, ever closer, and flourish as the leaves on the trees and the fruits of the vine.

As the depth and bounty of her chalice foretell the richness of your future together, take from her now the band that lies within, and do choose her as thy own.

Groom takes the ring from the chalice.

Repeat after me:

I accept the pledge of your chalice—and the eternal promise of this wedding band.

Groom pours wine into the chalice and takes it from his bride.

Repeat after me:

For the girl thou were,

For the woman thou art,

And for the wife that thee shall be to me,

I toast and drink to thee,

And take you to be mine own.

Groom makes a toasting gesture, drinks

and returns the chalice to his bride.

Groom presents the bride with the ring.

Lady Elizabeth, if thou wilt place this ring upon his finger, Lord Casey

Shall, from the day forth, ‘till beyond the end of time, take you to be his own.

Repeat after me:

With this ring my Lord—I thee wed. –I take you as my friend—my lover, my husband—from this day forth—and until the fullness of time—where we will meet—and remember and love again.

Unity Ceremony with Cool Wedding Vows

Elizabeth and Casey, together as you light this candle of unity, you symbolize the flame of your own individual selves joining to ignite the partnership of marriage.

You also bring the warmth, strength and wisdom of your family’s fire as kindling for your own.

As Casey and Elizabeth, your flames are separate, yet they feed the same fire.

From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.

As we stand before this eternal light of love, I ask that you join your right hands.

Casey and Elizabeth from this day forward you will share each other’s pains and seek to alleviate them.

And so the binding is made.

Casey and Elizabeth from this day forward you will share each other’s laughter and joy and look for what is brightness and truth.

And so the binding is made.

Casey and Elizabeth from this day forward you will share each other’s burdens and lighten them and dreams and encourage them.

And so the binding is made.

Casey and Elizabeth from this day forward you will share each other’s anger and seek to understand and peace and seek to nourish it.

And so the binding is made.

Casey and Elizabeth from this day forward you will share each other and be equal.

And so the binding is made complete.

Closing Blessing – Cool Wedding Vows

Hear these words and know them in your very being:

Above you are the stars,
below you are the stones,
as time doth pass, remember…
Like a stone should your love be firm
like a star should your love be constant.

Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect
guide you in your marriage,
let the strength of your wills bind you together,
let the power of love and desire make you happy,
and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable.

Be close, but not too close.
Possess one another, yet be understanding.
Have patience with one another,
for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.

Be free in giving affection and warmth.
Have no fear and let not the ways nor the words
of the unenlightened give you unease,
For your Love shall be with you now and always.

The Kiss and Introduction – Cool Wedding Vows

Forasmuch as you Casey and you, Elizabeth, have openly declared your wishes to be united in marriage, and in the presence of these witnesses have pledged love to each other, and have confirmed the same by joining hands, exchanging rings and declaring your vows, I as a minister of the Commonwealth of Virginia am legally authorized to pronounce that you are now husband and wife.

You may now kiss the bride.

After the kiss:

Ladies and gentlemen I am honored to give to you Mr. and Mrs. Casey and Elizabeth B###!