From A Natural History Of Love - Diane Ackerman
#8 Contemporary Readings
These readings are beautiful for both the traditional ceremony and the contemporary ceremony. They may be placed in the “optional” reading sections of your outline, or added where you feel appropriate. Sometimes couples like so many different readings that they include some in their programs as well. If you are planning a completely contemporary wedding – the message might be based on one of the readings you have chosen.
1. Table of Contents
2. Table of Contents
3. A Natural History of Love
4. All That is Gold Does Not Glitter
5. Art of a Good Marriage, The
6. Bridge Across Forever
7. Celebration of Marriage
8. Chinese Classic from I Ching
9. Chinese Poem
10. Dance, The
11. Design a Home Together
12. Friendship
13. From this Day Forward
14. Gifts of True Love
15. Give Love
16. Happiness
17. How do I Love Thee
18. I Am Love
19. i carry your heart
20. I Fell in Love with You
21. If Only
22. I Just Want You to Know
23. I Love You
24. Imagine
25. I’m Glad There’s You
26. I Must be Dreaming
27. Infinite Love
28. Inspiration
29. In the Moment Love Begins
30. In Your Eyes
31. I Promise
32. Irrational Season
33. Keeper of Friendship
34. Key to Love
35. Kindness
36. Let the Song Begin
37. Like a Rose
38. Love
39. Love Happens Without Choice
40. Love is a Friendship Caught on Fire
41. Love is in the Everyday
42. Love is the Source of Life
43. Love Sonnet
44. Magic
45. Marriage Advice
46. Marriage is Like Two Trees
47. Marriage is Love
48. Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of It’s Love
49. Marriage Means Being In Love for the Rest of Your Life
50. Miracles and Rainbows
51. Music of Love
52. My Hearts Desire
53. Mystery of Love
54. Newly Wedded
55. One Love
56. On Love (Excerpt) “The Prophet” by Kahil Gibran
57. On Your Wedding Day
58. Our Song
59. Painting the Canvas of Your Lives
60. Photograph
61. Princess Bride
62. Promise, The (by Heather Berry)
63. Promise, The (by Robert Sexton)
64. Promise of Marriage, The
65. Prophet, The (Excerpt) by Kahil Gibran
66. Pyramid, The
67. Road Through Time
68. Romance
69. Some Friends are Forever
70. Something Rare and Beautiful
71. Sooner or Later
72. These Hands
73. Thoughts in a Garden
74. Time for Love
75. Today
76. To Love
77. Touched by an Angel
78. True Love
79. Tuesdays with Morrie (Excerpt)
80. Two Trees
81. Union
82. Velveteen Rabbit – Example 1
83. Velveteen Rabbit – Example 2
84. Victor Hugo – On Love
85. When a Man and Woman Are in Love
86. When Harry Met Sally (Modified Excerpt)
87. Why Marriage?
88. Wings
A Natural History of Love by Diane Ackerman (Excerpt)
Love.
What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful.
It has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art,
cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved,
driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fueled national scandals,
bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings.
How can love's spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable?
Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization,
with taproots spreading into deep and mysterious days.
The heart is a living museum.
In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit,
preserved forever like wondrous diatoms,
are our moments of loving, and being loved.
All that is Gold Does Not Glitter Modified poem from Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
(Book 1 - Chapter 10)
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Our vows shall be eternal when spoken,
What finer promises can love bring.
Our love has a quiet golden glow,
With you I’m lost no longer.
I have found my home I know
Time only makes love stronger.
Love in our hearts so deep.
Will never end or go astray.
Friendship has the spark to keep
Our passion’s flame to stay.
Our hearts are lit with joy this day
As we begin our lives as one.
Now that we know the way
Our lives have just begun!
Our promises are for all time.
Bless all who gather that they may
Find a life that’s so sublime
They share love as we do today!
The Art of a Good Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In the art of marriage, the little things are big things…
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is never taking the other for granted;
The courtship should not end with the Honeymoon…
It should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
Not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
But in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation
And demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
Or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
Understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
In which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship,
In which the independence is equal,
Dependence is mutual
And the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right person,
It is being the right partner.
Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach (Modified Excerpt) (Keys and Locks)
A soul mate is someone who has
locks that fit our keys,
and keys to fit our locks.
When we feel safe enough to open the locks,
our truest selves step out
and we can be completely and honestly be who we are;
We can be loved for who we are
and not for who we're pretending to be.
Each unveils the best part of the other.
No matter what else goes wrong around us,
With that one person we're safe in our own paradise.
Our soul mate is someone who shares
our deepest longings, our sense of direction.
Then we're like two balloons,
and together our direction is up,
Then we know we've found the right person.
Our soul mate is the one who
makes life come to life.
Celebration of Marriage (Author Unknown)
The secret of love and marriage is that
it is the emergence of a larger life.
It is the finding of one's self by giving it away.
Such is the privilege of husband and wife –
to be each himself, herself and yet another;
to face the world strong, with the courage of two.
To make this relationship work,
takes more than love, it takes trust
It is to know in your hearts
that you want only the best for each other.
It takes dedication, to stay open to one another,
to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so.
And it takes faith, to go forward together
without knowing what the future may hold.
While love is our natural state of being,
these other qualities are not as easy to come by.
They are not a destination, but a journey.
The true art of married life is in this inner spiritual journey.
It is a mutual enrichment,
a give and take between two personalities,
a mingling of two endowments and talents
which diminishes neither, but enhances both.
Chinese Classic from I Ching
When two people are at one
in their inmost hearts,
they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze.
And when two people understand each other
in their inmost hearts,
their words are sweet and strong,
like the fragrance of orchids.
Chinese Poem (Author Unknown)
I want to be your friend forever and ever
When the hills are all flat
And the rivers run dry
When the trees blossom in winter
And the snow falls in summer,
When heaven and earth mix
Not till then will I part from you.
The Dance Excerpt from Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
A good relationship has a pattern like a dance and is built on some of the same rules.
The partners do not need to hold on tightly,
Because they move confidently in the same pattern,
Intricate but gay and swift and free, like a country dance of Mozart’s.
To touch heavily would be to arrest the pattern and freeze the movement,
To check the endlessly changing beauty of it’s unfolding.
There is no place here for the possessive clutch, the clinging arm,
The heavy hand; only the barest touch in passing.
Now arm in arm, now face to face, now back to back – it does not matter which.
Because they know they are partners moving to the same rhythm,
Creating a pattern together, and being invisibly nourished by it.
The joy of such a pattern is not only the joy of creation or the joy of participation;
It is also the joy of living in the moment.
Lightness of touch and living in the moment are intertwined.
One cannot dance well unless one is completely in time with the music,
Not leaning back to the last step or pressing forward to the next one,
But poised directly on the present step as it comes.
Perfect poise on the beat is what gives good dancing its sense of ease,
Of timelessness, of the eternal.
Design a Home Together
May you design a home together.
Not just a house of stone or wood, but an island of peace.
May your home include the beauty of nature.
May it reveal the elements of simplicity, beauty, and color.
May your home encompass all your dreams and desires.
May it be filled with life, light, music, laughter and most of all love.
May your home be completed with hope, joy, passion, and compassion.
May trust, faithfulness, respect and commitment always be found there.
May it be a home where companionship and communication is cherished.
May your home be a haven from any confusion and chaos the world can create.
May it be a place where you gather strength and support.
May the love that you create there carry with you throughout your lives.
May you find your home in one another’s hearts.
May you always know your home is the best place you could ever wish to be.
Friendship Judy Bielicki
It is often said that it is love that makes the world go ‘round.
However, without doubt, it is friendship
which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel.
True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life -
it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship,
it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony,
and it is the calm warm protection we sometimes need
when the world outside seems cold and chaotic.
True friendship holds a mirror to our faults and failings,
without destroying our sense of worthiness.
True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments,
and encourages us to grow to our best potential.
Groom and Bride came together as friends.
Today, they pledge to each other not only their love,
but also their strength, warmth and most importantly -
the fun of true friendship.
From This Day Forward by Cokie and Steve Roberts (Excerpt from the Introduction)
Marriage is serious business and hard work.
It’s not just becoming roommates; it’s becoming soul mates;
it’s not just signing a license, it’s sharing a life.
The words in the marriage ceremony “from this day forward” are scary.
At the moment a couple exchanges those vows,
they can never know what they really mean,
what hills and valleys stretch out in front of them in the years ahead.
But if you take the words seriously, there is no going back.
There’s only the future, unlimited and unknowable,
and the promise to make the journey together.
Gifts of True Love
True love brings out our best qualities and talents, and gives us many gifts…
Joy - when you give the best of yourself and receive even more.
Blessings – when love is shared with someone who loves you in return.
Acceptance - of being who you are and all you can be.
Security – when good qualities are appreciated and faults forgiven.
Importance - to the welfare and happiness of one another at all times.
Respect - as you treat each other as you wish to be treated.
Understanding – a tolerant attitude and sympathetic ear.
Communication – to solve problems together and share feelings and goals.
Compromise - instead of needing to win when differences arise.
Empathy - and a shoulder to lean on through life’s trials.
Adjustment - to unexpected and new situations throughout life.
Responsibility – not to look for excuses or place blame.
Forgiveness – when we are sorry for the mistakes we make.
Encouragement – at times of need and to help us flourish.
Good Humor – a positive outlook no matter what happens.
Commitment - to promises kept forever through good times and bad.
Trust – knowing that faithfulness can always be counted on.
Reassurance – that someone is waiting for you at the end of the day.
Knowledge - that wondrous things in life happen because of love.
Give Love
Strive to show compassion in all you say and do.
Be willing to give of yourself without end.
Be faithful to those you love.
If peace and happiness is what you seek.
Strive to make your soul shine through in peace.
Turn away from loud, hurtful thoughts and actions.
Share instead thoughtful words and feelings.
Then you will find comfort.
When you ask for what you want or need
Begin by freely giving the same.
Ask for forgiveness when it is needed
And set an example of how to forgive.
You must forget yesterday to get on with today.
What is today, and will be tomorrow, is what is important.
Learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat them.
Do this, and you will find each new day rewarding.
Happiness (Author Unknown)
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of others including Love.
One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all prepared their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed.
Love wanted to stay until it started sinking. When Love was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a beautiful boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you Love. You are all wet and can probably damage my beautiful boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by, so Love asked for help "Sadness, let me go with you." "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I prefer to go alone!"
Happiness passed by Love too, but Happiness was so happy that Happiness did not listen when Love called!
Suddenly, there was a voice "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elderly. Love became very happy that Love even forgot to ask the name of the elderly. When they arrived on dry land, Love asked Knowledge who was the elderly. "It was Time."
"Time? But why did Time help me?" Knowledge answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding such a great Love.
How Do I Love Thee? By Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints,
I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life!
And, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
I Am Love (Author Unknown)
Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings.
Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim.
Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame.
And though you cannot see me, I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces.
I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes.
I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face.
I am your father's shield as he guards your home.
And yet…Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear.
Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always.
Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless.
And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children.
I am woven into the whispers of passion.
I am in the blessings of Grandmothers.
I embrace the cries of newborn babies.
And yet…Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed.
Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them.
Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul.
And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind.
I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night.
I am the hug of a child.
I am love.
i carry your heart by ee cummings (This poet never uses capital letters)
i carry your heart with me.
i carry it in my heart.
i am never without it.
anywhere I go you go, my dear;
and whatever is done by only me
is your doing, my darling.
i fear no fate.
for you are my fate, my sweet.
i want no world.
for beautiful, you are my world, my true.
and it's you who is whatever a moon has always meant;
and whatever a sun will always sing is you.
here is the deepest secret nobody knows.
here is the root of the root,
and the bud of the bud,
and the sky of the sky,
of a tree called life;
which grows higher than the soul can hope
or mind can hide.
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart.
i carry your heart.
i carry it in my heart.
I Fell in Love with You
I fell in love with you.
How could anyone not love you?
Your life is filled with loving,
caring, and giving of yourself.
Your natural desire is to nurture.
Your character shows its highest quality as
you treat others with compassion and empathy.
You have the gift of making others feel better.
Happiness and satisfaction grow around you
like a lovely well tended garden.
Love exudes from you like steam off a cool lake
as a beautiful warm day dawns.
Did you know - your smile makes the sun shine?
Just one look from you fills my heart with happiness.
Beauty shines like springtime from within your soul.
Your strength comes from reaching out to help others.
With each new day your love surrounds me with wonder,
like watching snowflakes as they slowly drift from the sky
to cover the earth with a glistening blanket.
Your love keeps me warm like a fire on a cold winter night.
You are the essence of what is most important in life - love.
If Only
If only our love could be frozen in time we would always be together.
But time would surely be thawed - by the warmth of our love.
If only we could save every precious minute we have together.
We could spend the moments over and over again - and never run out of time.
If only there was enough time or words to express our feelings of love.
But surely - there will never be the words or enough time.
If only others could find love such as we share with one another.
Then the world would know - how precious every moment is.
I Just Want You to Know (Author Unknown)
I just want you to know…
How important you are to me,
I know that you care and understand me,
And that you trust and believe in me.
I just want you to know…
How wonderful it is having you to love,
Knowing you are always there for me…
That you will always be my friend.
I just want you to know…
That I know how wonderful you are,
That I care and understand you…
I trust and believe in you.
I just want you to know…
How much I love you too.
I Love You by Roy Croft
I love you, not only for what you are –
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not for what you have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you, for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you, for putting your hand into my heaped up heart,
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
that you can’t help see dimly there,
and for drawing out, into the light, all the beautiful belongings
that no one else had looked quite far enough to find.
I love you because you are helping me to make
of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple.
Out of the works of my every day,
not a reproach, but a song.
I love you, because you have done more
than any creed could have done to make me good,
and more than any fate could have done to make me happy.
You have done it with out a touch,
without a word, without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself.
Perhaps that is what being a friend means after all.
Imagine
Imagine finding your one true love!
It would like viewing the beauty
Of all the flowers in the world at once
Rejoicing in their many vibrant colors
Breathing in their delightful fragrance
Imagine feeling such intense happiness!
If every dream of love came true
All at once for every person everywhere
Imagine this and you will only begin to know
The feeling of love we share
Our joy surpasses all imagination!
I'm Glad There's You (Author Unknown)
I’m glad there's you to smile at me
And brighten up my day
To share my thoughts and understand
The things I do and say.
I'm glad there's you to laugh with me
At ordinary things
To show me what is special,
In everything life brings.
I'm glad there's you to be with,
And I think it’s time you knew,
Just how happy you have made me,
And how glad I am there's you!
I Must be Dreaming
I can’t believe it.
I must be dreaming.
Don’t wake me up.
Is this happening?
This special day.
I’ve waited for this.
So very long.
And now you’re here.
You are the one.
You’re meant for me.
And now they enter.
That sweet young bride.
That nervous groom
Could that be me?
Could that be you?
I see they are
So much in love.
So delighted
And so excited.
I think I’m dreaming.
They’re holding hands.
The room is full.
But they’re alone.
He looks in her eyes.
She looks in his.
They promise always
And even more.
I see a tear.
Then with a smile
Two lives are joined.
I must be dreaming.
I think it’s me!
I think it’s you!
Our wedding day
Is finally here!
I’ll stay forever
Within your arms.
We will be happy
Secure and warm.
I’ll cherish your love.
Don’t ever wake me.
Don’t even try.
Just let me dream
My whole life through
If I’m with you.
Infinite Love by Regina Hill
When two people join together and bond their lives forever because they are certain they have something special that will make their commitment last - this is the first act of faith.
Upon this act of faith, these two people will build a life.
And as long as their determination stays with them, this life will always be their hope, their dreams, their truth, their being, their inspiration, and their source of strength.
Through their life together, they will hurt and laugh.
Together, they will feel all of life’s ups and downs.
They will learn and grow through trial and error.
The lessons will show them the meaning of true love and the difference between a love that lasts and one that just gives up.
These two people will face each failure together and discover the strength to go on.
They will encourage each other’s dreams and forgive each other’s faults through a labor of love.
These two will become as one, fighting against the odds and, ultimately, creating a commitment
that will grow into . . . an infinite love.
Inspiration
You are each other’s inspiration
You have known since that first sensation
When you knew your love was true
You recognized what love can do
Your hearts became one with such ease
With love soft as a summer breeze
Your love is strong and will survive any pain
Your love is sweet as the air washed with rain
You reached down deep within your soul
You showed your love to become whole
This may have come as a surprise
But now your love, you can’t disguise
You never thought you would perceive
The way your love makes you believe
That so much happiness can be
It’s true your love has set you free
You look forward to each new day
Because in your hearts your love will stay
You have brought each other to this place
Now inspiration – you embrace!
In the Moment Love Begins
When did our love begin?
With a look, a smile, a word, a sigh, a touch?
When did the world start to spin?
When did being together come to mean so much?
I lost my heart when I met you.
It became yours when yours became mine.
Precious love like ours is granted to few.
A treasure of love that is lasting and fine.
No one could love you more.
I know that that my heart wins
That special prize we all search for
In the moment - love begins.
In Your Eyes
The saying “The eyes are the window to the soul” must be true.
In your eyes I see a future full of hopes and dreams - together with you.
In your eyes - I see where we are going - I see where we have been.
I want to do it all - time and time again.
In your eyes - I see all the best life can hold.
We will stretch our sights and be very bold.
When life brings us trials - we will have the strength to pass every test.
I know that as one - we will always be blessed.
In your eyes I see trust - and that you know our love’s true.
So it is - when I look in your eyes - I see love shine from you.
I see all this in your eyes - a happy soul that is peaceful, trusting, warm and pure.
I give you my heart - my life - all that I am - in your love I am secure.
The sparkle of mischief and joy that shines in your eyes
Brings all those around you happiness – it’s no surprise.
I am honored that - for you - I am the one
Because it is the same - for me - or none.
Thank you for opening your soul to me.
Gaze into my eyes and you will see
That from the first look - you brought light to my heart
And that through all eternity we could never part.
Whatever your eyes express - I will be there.
To be sure that you know how much I care.
I will cherish your soul for all the days of my life.
I see our destiny to become husband and wife.
I Promise by Dorothy Colgan
I promise to give you the best of myself
And to ask of you no more than you can give.
I promise to respect you as your own person
And to realize that your interests, desires and needs,
Are no less important than my own.
I promise to share with you my time and my attention
And to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship.
I promise to keep myself open to you,
To let you see through the window of my world into my innermost fears
And feelings, secrets and dreams.
I promise to grow along with you,
To be willing to face changes
In order to keep our relationship alive and exciting.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad,
With all I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how…
Completely and forever.
Irrational Season by Madeline L’Engle (A Selection)
Ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made.
Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves
How much they hope for as their love grows and deepens,
And how much risk they are willing to take.
It is indeed a fearful gamble…
Because it is the nature of love to create,
A marriage itself is something which has to be created,
So that together, we become a new creature.
To marry is the biggest risk in human relations
That a person can take...
If we commit ourselves to one person for life
This is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom;
Rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom,
And the risk of love which is permanent;
Into that love which is not possession, but participation…
It takes a lifetime to learn another person.,,
When love is not possession, but participation,
Then it is part of that co-creation
Which is our human calling.
Keeper of Friendship (Author Unknown)
In a friendship
We're free to expose,
Parts of ourselves
Nobody else knows.
But the thing that sustains it
And sets it apart,
Is not something spoken
It's a bond of the heart.
True friends are rare
In a lifetime two or three,
I'm so glad it happened
Between you and me!
Key to Love (Author Unknown)
The key to love is understanding.
The ability to comprehend
not only the spoken word.
but those unspoken gestures,
the little things that say so much by themselves.
The key to love is forgiveness.
To accept each others faults
and pardon mistakes, without forgetting,
but remembering them
for what can be learned from them.
The key to love is sharing.
Facing your good fortunes
as well as the bad, together;
both conquering problems,
forever searching for ways
to intensify your happiness.
The key to love is giving.
Without thought of return,
but with hope of just a simple smile,
and by giving in but never giving up.
The key to love is respect.
Realizing that you are two separate people,
with different ideas;
that you don't belong to each other,
that you belong with each other,
and share a mutual bond.
The key to love is inside us all.
It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients
that will take you to its threshold;
it is the continual learning process
that demands a lot of work.
But the rewards are more than worth the effort... and that is the key to love.
Kindness by Randolph Ray, from “My Little Church Around the Corner”
Kindness is the life’s blood, the elixir of marriage
Kindness makes the difference between passion and caring.
Kindness is tenderness. Kindness is love…
But perhaps greater than love…Kindness is goodwill.
Kindness says, “I want you to be happy”.
Let the Song Begin Modified excerpts from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
(Book 6 - Chapter 9 - and Song)
Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun!
We finally found our path together,
Even though we know not whether
What the future holds is kind.
We will be grateful if we find,
A journey there as man and wife.
Our hearts and souls as one in life.
Now let the song begin! Let us sing together
Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,
Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,
Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,
Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:
Celebrate along with us, as we begin our lives together!
Like a Rose
Our love is like a rose
With petals soft and fair
So beautiful their colors
Their fragrance fills the air
Because we know not everyday
Can always be the best
The thorns remind us that
True love passes any test
Our love is firmly rooted
No matter what the season
It is planted deep and well
This is the very reason
A rosebud blossoms full
With daily care and tending to
And with a lifetime of commitment
Our love will grow as roses do
Love by Roy Croft
I love you not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out;
I love you for putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart and passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked quite far enough to find
I love you because you are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple.
Out of the works of my every day
Not a reproach, but a song.
I love you because you have done
More than any creed could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it without a touch,
Without a word, without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself.
Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.
Love Happens Without Choice (Author Unknown)
I am convinced that love is one of the few things in life that happens without choice.
You can no more choose to be in love than you can choose to reject falling in love.
It is something that happens to us... It is our fate…Our destiny.
A good marriage, on the other hand, must be created.
Recognize how fragile each life-story is,
then choose to protect the heart, the future,
and the life-story that have been entrusted to you.
Choose to make this a good and never ending story.
The Irish poet William Butler Yeats said it best,
“Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
I would spread them under your feet,
but being poor, I have only my dreams.
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.”
Love is a Friendship Caught on Fire by Laura Hendricks
Love is friendship caught fire;
It is quiet, mutual confidence,
Sharing and forgiving.
It is loyalty through good and bad times.
It settles for less than perfection,
And makes allowances for human weaknesses.
Love is content with the present,
Hopes for the future,
And does not brood over the past.
It is the day-in and day-out chronicles
Of irritations, problems, compromises,
Small disappointments, big victories,
And working toward common goals.
If you have love in your life,
It can make up for a great many things you lack.
If you do not have it,
No matter what else there is,
It is not enough.
Love is in the Everyday (A little silly - but serious)
I love you now - I love you best
Upon this knowledge you can rest
It is the ordinary things life brings
True love - that everlasting sings
Love is in the everyday things we do
Like watching movies or going to the zoo
It is eating macaroni and cheese
And saying thank you - and saying please
It is enjoying fries and soda pop
Whenever we go out to shop
As long as I can be with you
Any ordinary thing will do
Today we might just watch TV
While eating popcorn - you will see
That cuddling and holding hands
Is always in our daily plans
We love sitting in the Sun
Even till the day is done
Then gazing at the stars and moon
On a beautiful warm night in June
We walk together in the park
And listen to the dogs bark
We whisper secrets after dark
Our love has that special spark
Let me tell you – it is true
I never want you to be blue
My love is with you all the while
Let me brighten up your smile
Of love - this is the A B C’s
You should never – ever - tease
You should know that I will always care
A love - that’s true - we’ll always share
I know this is a silly rhyme
But truth will make it known with time
I say this to you so sincerely
Because I love you - so very dearly
Show your love in every way!
Love is in the everyday!
Love is the Source of Life
Love is being happy for the other person when they are happy
Being sad for the other person when they are sad
Being together in the good times and being together in the bad times
Love is a source of strength
Love is being honest with yourself at all times
Being honest with the other person at all times
Telling, listening, respecting the truth ~ and never pretending
Love is a source of reality
Love is an understanding that is so complete ~ you feel as if you are part of the other person
Accepting the other person the way they are and not trying to change them to be something else
Love is the source of unity
Love is the freedom to pursue your own desires while sharing your experiences
The growth of one individual alongside of, and together with, the growth of another individual
Love is the source of success
Love is the excitement of planning things together ~ the excitement of doing things together
Love is the source of the future
Love is the fury of the storm, the calm of the rainbow, the source of passion
Love is giving and taking in daily situations
Being patient with each other’s needs and desires
Love is the source of sharing
Love is knowing that the other person will always be with you ~ regardless of what happens
Missing the other person when they are away ~ while remaining near in heart at all times
Love is the source of security
Love is the source of life.
Love Sonnet by Pablo Neruda
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
Where “I” does not exist, nor “You”,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
Magic
I thought that love was an illusion.
Now I’m done with that confusion.
Love was hidden but now I see.
Your love was waiting there for me.
My heart’s been broken in the past.
This time the spell - it has been cast.
It only took you to make me believe.
I know only truth is up your sleeve.
With magic ropes I have been bound.
Because your love - I have now found.
I never want to be set free.
I always want you here with me.
Love with you is so amazing.
It is like a fire blazing.
It is not my imagination
I’ve never felt this great sensation.
The magic of our love
Flies freely as the dove
That’s pulled from a hat.
It’s as awesome as that!
Our love is fantastic.
I’m so enthusiastic.
Our love is invincible.
It is so sensible.
There are no tricks here.
It does clearly appear.
It’s so easy to see -
It’s magic – between you and me!
Marriage Advice by Jane Wells (1886)
Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.
Believe the best rather than the worst.
People have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Please hand this down to your children and your children's children.
Marriage is Like Two Trees (Author Unknown)
A marriage is like two trees rising from the sacred earth
That grow close together, but from different roots
Different colors of leaf, different textures of bark
Different flowers in the spring
Yet the same bees that drink their nectar
The same birds that nest in their branches
And sing the spring into their unfolding buds
The same shower of leaves falling in autumn
The same flood of cold bringing winter sleep
And sometimes, two trees may entwine so closely
That we who watch them see only one tree
With different leaves, and wonder at the miracle,
For a miracle it is.
Marriage is Love by Gloria Matthew
If two are caring as they are sharing life's hopes and fears.
If the music of laughter outweighs sadness and tears.
Marriage is togetherness.
If both derive pleasure from the mere presence of each other,
Yet when parted no jealousies restrict, worry or smother.
Marriage is freedom.
If achievements mean more when they benefit two
And consideration is shown with each point of view.
Marriage is respect.
And if togetherness, freedom and respect
Are combined with a joy that words can never fully define, then
Marriage is love.
Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of It’s Love by Edmund O'Neill
Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring out in each other.
It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal.
It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships.
A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic.
There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing,
and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life.
Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher,
commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly,
and passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.
It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences,
and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage,
they create a spirit unique unto themselves
which binds them closer than any spoken or written words.
Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people
who love each other and it takes a lifetime to fulfill.
Marriage Means Being In Love for the Rest of Your Life by Chris Ardis
Marriage is love walking hand in hand together.
It's laughing with each other about silly little things,
And learning to discuss big things with care and tenderness.
In marriage, love is trusting each other when you're apart.
It's getting over disappointments and hurts,
Knowing that these are present in all relationships.
It's the realization that there is no one else in this world
That you’d rather be with than the one you're married to.
It's thinking of new things to do together;
It's growing old together.
Marriage is being in love for the rest of your life.
Miracles and Rainbows
Today an unexpected miracle may be
Just waiting to set your heart free
You know that come whatever
You will always be together
Whenever live gets discouraging
You may find it encouraging
To remember the promises of the rainbow
And that it is rain that makes flowers grow
May it always be understood
Whether times are bad or good
With true promises you will see
Love lasts eternally
The Music of Love
Love plays its song on the strings of your hearts
The music begins as your life together starts
To have the finest of compositions
You must become excellent musicians
You start out with just one pure note
Then the air is filled with music that begins to float
As your life is in harmony with a love that is true
Every day you will play a melody that is new
This single note will become a symphony
As your love grows into the greatest music that will ever be
Your hearts swell with joy and anticipation
For a future filled with music that is your own creation
Some days may be difficult and the music will be hard to listen to or to hear
But with commitment and faith you must hold your love dear
And the music of your love will grow stronger and sweeter with time
Practice makes perfect until your love becomes incomparably sublime
So begin with a song that your souls will complete
Music with rhythm based on your heart’s beat
Share your music with feelings and your future will be
To play music orchestrated to last eternally
The music of love is too exquisite for words to define!
My Hearts Desire
You are my hearts desire.
To be in your presence is to be in a place of peace.
This is the place I wish to remain all of my days.
I feel secure in your love.
Because we are together
Troubles pass quickly by.
A quiet moment with your arms around me
Eases any worries or doubts.
You understand me and know my feelings.
When you say you love me my spirit soars.
When I am down, you show me the way to the light.
Your love of life and joy is infectious.
All the old cliché’s such as;
“You had me at ‘Hello’”, “Love at first sight”,
“You are my other half”, “You are my soul mate”,
“With you I am complete”…are so true.
You never know what love is until it happens to you.
You never understand how love feels until it happens to you.
I just have to say…I’m so glad it happened to us.
The Mystery of Love
True love has always been a mystery
That has intrigued us throughout history
This is just the beginning of the story
Of what love is in all its glory
The secret to love is encrypted within your heart
To give love to another will be only the start
Love will exceed your dreams through every part
As giving love grows into an art
Once you have deciphered love’s code
Recognize it is a gift bestowed
You have found the right road
When your soul becomes love’s abode
This mystery must be solved by two
Then everyday starts fresh and new
You’ll gain knowledge of every clue
When your love is shown in all you do
Love’s secrets are no longer in disguise
With joy in your heart you now advise
It becomes simple to surmise
Solving the mystery of love is wise
Love may seem difficult to conceive
But if we learn to trust and to believe
We are blessed when we perceive
The many memories love will weave
Newly Wedded by Winthrop MacKworth Praed (Excerpt)
Now the rite is duly done,
Now the word is spoken,
And the spell has made us one
Which may ne’er be broken;
Rest we, dearest, in our home,
Roam we o’er the heather:
We shall rest, and we shall roam,
Shall we not? Together.
One Love
You are the other half of me
That’s the way it will always be
I come alive with your touch
You know I love you so much
One look and my spirits flew
I had no choice but to love you
We will always be there for each other
There could never be another
When we embrace
I see in your face
A love so divine
You’ll see it reflected in mine
The sound of your voice
Makes me rejoice
When life takes its toll
You calm my soul
In my heart you dwell
Since the first day we fell
Head over heals into love
We will always be in awe of
There will always be that thrill
We will always dream our fill
And all our wishes will come true
I only need to be with you
You can place in me your trust
Till everything has turned to dust
Such a wonderful endeavor
Truly our love will last forever
As one heart - one soul – one love
On Love Excerpt from “The Prophet” by Kahil Gibran
Think not you can direct the course of love, for love,
if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love gives naught but of itself, and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed;
for love is sufficient unto itself.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
When you love, let these be your desires:
to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody, to the night.
to know the pain of too much tenderness.
to be wounded by your own understanding of love; and bleed willingly and joyfully;
to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
to rest at the noon hour and mediate love’s ecstasy;
to return home at eventide with gratitude;
and then to sleep with a prayer for your beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
On your Wedding Day (Author Unknown)
Today is the day you will always remember,
The greatest in anyone’s life.
You’ll start off the day just two people in love,
And end it as husband and wife
It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey,
With moments to cherish and treasure.
And although there’ll be times when you both disagree,
These will surely be outweighed by pleasure.
You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past,
When the secrets of marriage were spoken;
But you know that the answers lie hidden inside,
Where the bond of true love lives unbroken.
So live happily forever as lovers and friends,
It’s the dawn of a new life for you.
As you stand there together with love in your eyes,
From the moment you whisper “I Do”
And with luck, all your hopes and your dreams can be real,
May success find its way to your hearts,
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys,
But today is the day it all starts.
Our Song
Our love’s song such a special thing
It sometimes feels like angels sing
Together we will sing out strong
About our love our whole life long
As our love song fills the air
The notes may take us anywhere
Our hearts contain the melody
As we compose the rhapsody
The genre will make changes
And our voices find new ranges
As the pages of life turn
With each new challenge we will learn
The music is new day by day
This will never change the way
We feel down deep inside
Our love we cannot hide
Depending on our mood
The music might include
Some rock n’ roll when we are happy
Or some jazz when feeling snappy
As country music does explain
At times we might just feel some pain
Sharing how we love each other
How there’ll never be another
And if we’re in the mood to dance
The choice may just include romance
Slow dancing closely through the night
Classically will bring delight
The music’s never ending
As our notes just keep on blending
And when we feel like having fun
We will never be outdone
We’ll improvise if we need to
It keeps our music fresh and new
Let the notes take us where
Only those in love will dare
We will enjoy this great endeavor
Our harmony will last forever
As scores of music we design
Our special song we will be so fine
Painting the Canvas of Your Lives
Today you will erase the canvas of your former lives.
Beginning with this moment, you will start to paint them again.
Let your talents flow freely, with the amazing colors of harmony and beauty
As you begin to create an exceptional new life together.
Blend your paints
As you promise yourself to each other completely.
Be a true and faithful friend, lover, and confidant.
Show respect and be proud of one other.
Cherish the time you spend together.
Strengthen your colors
When you provide a tender shoulder to lean on
And wipe away your partner’s tears with laughter.
Overcome pain with compassion and nurturing.
Be a solid rock upon which your partner may rest and depend.
Consider the brush marks you leave
By being close companions as you create marvelous memories.
Laugh and smile and dream together.
Be there for each other in all that life has to offer you
As you walk life’s pathways from this day forward.
Paint your life with all the love and pleasure you can find.
May your life be as colorful as every beautiful sunrise and sunset.
May your love be as peaceful as a starry night.
May your work upon this canvas last throughout eternity
As your passion for one another vibrantly colors your lives.
Photograph
I wish I had a photograph
Of everything we’ve done
To capture every moment
To remember all the fun
Our days will be so full and bright
As our love envelopes
All the future life can hold
No matter what develops
You’ll see it in our faces
In scenes we have composed
As the camera captures us
Our love will be exposed
As our collection is completed
This conclusion may be drawn
Love is pictured in our memories
As our life continues on
Images of a love so fair and true
Are forever captured in my mind
You will always be a part of me
Our two hearts eternally entwined
“Princess Bride” Modified Excerpt - Buttercup’s Love for Westley
(Buttercup to Wesley)
I love you, I know this must come as something of a surprise…
but I have loved you for several hours now, and every second, more.
I thought an hour ago that I loved you more than (anyone has loved another)...
but half hour after that I knew that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then.
But ten minutes after that, I understood that my previous love was a puddle
compared to the high seas before a storm…
How many minutes ago was it? Twenty?
I love you so much more now than twenty minutes ago that there cannot be comparison.
I love you so much more now than (when we met), there cannot be comparison.
There is no room in my body for anything but you.
My arms love you, my ears adore you, my knees shake with blind affection.
My mind begs you to ask it something so it can obey.
Do you want me to follow you for the rest of your days? I will do that…
I will be quiet for you or sing for you…
or if you are hungry, let me bring you food…
Whisper that I have a chance to win your love.
Groom and Bride may your love always be such as Buttercup’s was for Wesley - may it remain as strong as it is as today - and may it continue to grow stronger minute by minute - throughout your life together.
The Promise by Heather Berry
Within this blessed union of souls,
Where two hearts
intertwine to become one,
There lies a promise.
Perfectly born, divinely created,
And intimately shared,
It is a place where the hope
and majesty of beginnings reside.
Where all things are made possible
By the astounding love shared by two spirits.
As you hold each other’s hands
in this promise, and eagerly look
into the future in each other’s eyes,
May your unconditional love and devotion
Take you to places were you’ve both only dreamed.
Where you’ll dwell for a lifetime of happiness,
Sheltered in the warmth of each other’s arms.
The Promise by Robert Sexton
Across the years I will walk with you –
in deep green forests; on shores of sand;
and when our time on earth is through,
in heaven, too, you will have my hand.
The Promise of Marriage (Author Unknown)
Marriage is a promise of companionship,
Of having someone to share all of life’s experiences.
Marriage does not promise that there will not be any rough times,
Just the assurance that there will always be someone who cares
And will help you through to better times.
Marriage does not promise eternal romance,
Just eternal love and commitment.
Marriage cannot prevent disappointments, disillusionment, or grief,
But it can offer hope, acceptance and comfort.
Marriage can’t protect you from making individual choices
Or shelter you from the world,
But it will help to reassure you
That there is someone by your side who truly cares.
When the world hurts you and makes you feel vulnerable,
Marriage offers the promise
That there will be someone waiting
To listen, to console and to inspire.
Marriage is the joining of two people who share the promise
That only marriage can make…
To share the sunshine and the shadows,
And experience a richer, more fulfilling life because of it.
The Prophet by Kahil Gibran (Excerpt)
True love gives nothing but itself,
and takes nothing but from itself,
for love is sufficient unto love.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
To awake at dawn 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 your beloved in your heart,
and a song of praise upon your lips.
The Pyramid
Pyramids remain one of the great wonders of the world. A pyramid usually has four corners and equal triangular sides that converge into one point at the top. A pyramid is a very stable and monumental structure. The work and the design of the pyramids has lasted through the ages.
If a successful marriage is compared to a pyramid, these four elements would be the cornerstones of its foundation: love, honor, cherish and faithful promises.
Love in marriage means promising to always be there for each other.
You treat your partner as you would expect to be treated yourself.
Love doesn’t give up when the first disagreement comes along.
No one is perfect. True love understands this, and overcomes it.
Honor implores us to acknowledge one another with highest regard.
You are proud of the person your partner is, and encourage them to grow.
You do not try to change them or insist upon your own way.
You communicate openly, honestly, and with respect.
Cherish means treasuring each other, beyond all expectation.
It is showing all encompassing love and compassion.
It is being considerate of your partner’s feelings, needs, and dreams.
It is giving the best of yourself, to enhance your partner’s life.
Promises made as you marry, come from your heart and soul.
They ring with honesty, faithfulness and trust.
It is imperative that you always remember them, and live by them.
Renew your promises with every word and gesture you make.
Work steadfastly to build your life together upon the strong foundation of your love, and the promises made to each other today.
Your love for one another will easily pass the tests of time. Your love will be looked upon and remembered as another wonder of the world.
Road Through Time Modified poem from the Lord of the Rings - by J.R.R. Tolkien (Book 3 - Chapter 4)
(Reflects the days of our lives as seasons – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter)
When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;
When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;
When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,
When you will marry me! Marry me! Our love will be so fair!
When Spring is come to earth and field, and corn is in the blade;
When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;
When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,
Marry me! Marry me! For true love is so rare!
When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold,
Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;
When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,
I’ll love you true, and love you long! I’ll give you all my best!
When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;
When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town;
When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West,
I'll linger here beside you dear, to prove true love is best!
When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain,
I'll look to thee, and you to me; together we’ll remain!
When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;
When broken is the barren bough, and light and our youth is past;
I'll look to thee, and be with thee, with promises that last!
Time will matter - not at all, with love - that’s unsurpassed!
Together we will take the road that leads through all time as one.
And far away we’ll find a land where both our hearts may rest.
Each new day - will bring us joy – and will compare to none.
I promise this, and so much more - my love - my heart - my best.
Romance
You should always choose romance
Every time you have the chance
It should always be your goal
Let romance live within your soul
You would never want to miss
The wonder of your loved one’s kiss
Pledge your love on bended knee
And let love set you free
Love is so very fine
Words could never define
Wonder overwhelms you
As all your dreams come true
Romantic gestures mean so much
A special look, a gentle touch
Exchange a single rose
Or a simple note of prose
Romance will keep your love on fire
Remember this and you’ll never tire
Of showing love in everyway
Your live as one begins today
Some Friends are Forever (Author Unknown)
Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;
someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
That there really is an unlocked door
Just waiting for you to open it.
This is forever friendship.
When you're down, and the world seems dark and empty,
Your forever friend lifts you up in spirit
and makes that dark and empty world
suddenly seem bright and full.
Your forever friend gets you through the hard times,
the sad times, and the confused times.
If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows.
If you lose your way, your forever friend
guides you and cheers you on.
Your forever friend holds your hand
And tells you that everything is going to be okay.
And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete,
Because you need not worry, you have a forever friend for life.
And forever has no end.
Something Rare and Beautiful (Author Unknown)
You share today the joy of a deep commitment and a sacred trust.
You have given each other the most precious gift of love,
Treasure it, nurture it and encourage it with all the honesty you used in creating it.
You are sharing something rare and beautiful.
Always speak the truth and listen attentively
So that you may understand each others thoughts and intentions.
Inspire each other by sharing your accomplishments.
Say I love you often to retain the warmth between you.
Laugh a lot too, even when you are angry.
Remember you are each other’s best friend.
Stand together and for each other always
May each day be a blessing and the fulfillment of your dreams.
Sooner or Later (Author Unknown)
Sooner or later we begin to understand
that love is more than verses on valentines,
and romance in the movies.
We begin to know that love is here and now,
real and true, the most important thing in our lives.
For love is the creator of our favorite memories,
and the foundation of our fondest dreams.
Love is a promise that is always kept,
a fortune that can never be spent,
a seed that can flourish
in even the most unlikely of places.
And this radiance that never fades,
this mysterious and magical joy,
is the greatest treasure of all –
one known only by those who love.
These Hands (This is also included as Blessing of Hands in Blessing Examples)
Groom and Bride, look closely upon each others hands that you hold on this, your wedding day.
These are the hands of your best friend, strong and full of love, holding your hands as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years.
These are the hands that through the years, with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.
(Optional)
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength to hold on when you need it.
Throughout the years you will love, laugh and cry together, and share your innermost secrets and dreams.
These hands will continue to tenderly and gently nurture you with love throughout your lives.
These are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
May these hands continue to build a relationship founded in care and devotion for one another.
May this couple, these hands, and the wedding rings worn upon them, be blessed, as they symbolize the promises made here today.
Thoughts in a Garden by R. Gehrardt
This is a special place, a place where people have brought beautiful living plants, here to establish them, to nurture and care for them - that they may forever surround us with the beauty we now see. And into this place where we stand, you have brought something beautiful - the relationship that is becoming your marriage. Here you are declaring it and pledging it, promising to establish and nurture it. We are aware of the special beauty between the two of you, just as we are aware of the special beauty of this place.
We are with you now in this appropriate place to celebrate your relationship as it is and as it is yet to be; and in doing so we ask only that you remember how your life together will have the same seasons and needs as this garden. There will be growth like spring and loss like fall. There will be giving as the blossoming flower, and rest as the seed beneath the snow. All the seasons will be yours.
But remember, too, that gardens are not just happenings; the more wonderful the garden, the more skilled the gardener. So you will have to care deeply for the life that is yours together, and nurture it. You will have to appreciate and cultivate your differences, and accept that the landscape of your relationship will change with time. You will have to take care of yourself, if for no other reason than out of love for the other. And you will need the support of family and friends to reach full growth.
As you caringly chose this place to declare your marriage, so remember its lessons for your life together through the seasons that are yours to share. And may those seasons bring you and yours joy and happiness.
Time for Love
Love is as old as time
There are times that love is as passionate as the stormy seas
Other times it is like a soft wind rustling the leaves of trees
Sometimes love may strike like a bolt of lightning
Or love may grow slowly - like a child – without noticing
That time - is passing by
Only the fortunate know - love is not always easy and tame
Tend to - and feed your love - to have an eternal flame
Love requires care – attention - and effort - to last
Deny love this - and it will be - but a memory - of the past
Give love - time
Without love - life is empty and dark.
It only takes that certain spark -
To bring to life - the glow of love -
Promising a future to dream of
Time - knows no end
There is a secret that makes love true
It is to give as much of yourself - as is given to you
When everyday feels like the first day you knew
That someone loved you – and you loved them too
Time - is precious
Only true love heals - and brings us joy
All your heart - you must employ
To be brave and venture into something real
It is only through faith that you will feel
This is - the time
Create a love that lasts through eternity
By each other’s side – you will always be
Through all of your remaining days
Your souls as one - will find their ways
Time – lives in your hearts
Today (Author Unknown)
Today…
I look into the eyes of my best friend.
The one with whom I can share anything with.
My deepest hopes and heart filled dreams,
Inner fears and sheltered insecurities,
My most warming joys and overwhelming triumphs,
All future journeys that I have left to encounter,
This and more I know I can share with you.
Today…
I take pride in my best friend.
With admiration I look upon you and smile.
For all that you are and all that you do that makes me so proud.
Every part of you that I have come to adore,
And for those parts I have not yet learned.
Today…
I share my soul with my best friend.
I give it with the great confidence and trust.
Because with you I am at peace,
And I know with you it is safe.
You give me warmth that I keep with me always.
And what else can I give to someone who has given so much.
For you have opened my eyes to see love,
Which before I was blind to.
Today…
I am marrying my best friend.
To Love (Author Unknown)
To love is to enter a whole new world -
a world of togetherness - a world of sharing
all that is dearest and deepest within your hearts.
To love is to remember and keep alive forever
all those unique qualities
that drew you to one another in the beginning -
those first halting phrases -
that wonderful feeling of one-ness when your eyes first met.
To love is to constantly search
for new ways to bring each other happiness -
to make the most of every moment you share together -
and marvel at how your feelings for one another
keep rising to new dimensions.
To love is to create an oasis of tranquility
for one another and a quiet place,
apart from others, where you need not pretend -
where you can be yourselves -
And know within your hearts, you will be accepted by one another.
To love is to greet each day
with great anticipation -
always eager for another opportunity
to share new adventures -
and gather up new memories together!
To love is to follow the rainbow through the rain -
to be able to laugh at yourselves and be willing to say -.
"I was wrong and I'm sorry" -
To forgive - and more importantly - to forget -
and to always believe and trust in one another.
To love is to watch with wonder all the miracles of creation -
to find beauty in all the simple things of life -
and to find, within yourselves -
a deeper appreciation and a new awareness
of how wonderful it is to be alive - to be happy - to be together.
To love is coming together from the pathways of your past
and then moving forward - hand in hand -
along the uncharted roads of your future -
ready to risk - to dream - and to dare - always believing
that all things are possible with faith and with love.
Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in it’s train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
in the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave.
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
True Love (Author Unknown)
True love is a sacred flame that burns eternally,
And none can dim its special glow or change its destiny.
True love speaks in tender tones and hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart, and true love conquers fear.
True love makes no harsh demands; it neither rules nor binds,
And true love holds with gentle hands, the hearts that it entwines."
Tuesday’s With Morries by Mitch Albom - Excerpt
“Still,” Morrie said, “there are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage:
If you don’t respect the other person, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.
If you don’t know how to compromise, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.
If you can’t talk openly about what goes on between you, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.
And if you don’t have a common set of values in life, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.
Your values must be alike.”
“And the biggest one of those values, Mitch?”
“Your belief in the importance of your marriage.”
He sniffed, then closed his eyes for a moment.
“Personally,” he sighed, his eyes still closed,
“I think marriage is a very important thing to do,
and you’re missing a lot if you don’t try it.”
He ended the subject by quoting a poem he believed in like a prayer:
“Love each other or perish.”
Two Trees by Janet Miles
A portion of your soul has been
Entwined with mine.
A gentle kind of togetherness,
while separately we stand.
As two trees rooted in
separate plots of ground,
while their topmost branches come together,
forming a miracle of lace against the heavens.
Union by Robert Fulghum
You have known each other from the first glance
of acquaintance to this point of commitment.
At some point, you decided to marry.
From that moment of yes to this moment of yes,
Indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way.
All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks.
All those sentences that began with “When we’re married”
And continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will”
Those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”
And all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another,
“You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed,
Well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time.
Before this moment you have been many things to one another
Acquaintance, friend, companion, and even teacher.
Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life,
And things will never quite be the same between you.
For after these vows, you shall say to the world,
“This is my husband.”
“This is my wife.”
The Velveteen Rabbit – Example 1 – Longer Story
The Velveteen Rabbit was written by Margery Williams and published in 1922. Though it is a children's story, at the very heart of the book is a message about the strength and power of true love. This is an excerpt from that story.
THERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen.
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be shabby, except to people who don't understand."
That night, and for many nights after, the Velveteen Rabbit slept in the Boy's bed. At first he found it uncomfortable, for the Boy hugged him very tight, and sometimes he rolled over on him, and sometimes he pushed him so far under the pillow that the Rabbit could scarcely breathe. But very soon he grew to like it, for the Boy used to talk to him, and made nice tunnels for him under the bedclothes that he said were like the burrow the real rabbits lived in. And they had splendid games together. And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin and dream, with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long.
Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off, and the pink lining to his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded. He even began to lose his shape, and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more, except to the Boy. To him he was always beautiful, and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about. He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are real, you can’t be shabby, except to people who don’t understand.
The Velveteen Rabbit - Example 2 - Shorter Story
The Velveteen Rabbit was written by Margery Williams and published in 1922. Though it is a children's story, at the very heart of the book is a message about the strength and power of true love. This is an excerpt from that story.
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."
“Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
“Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
“It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be shabby, except to people who don't understand."
Victor Hugo - On Love
“You can give without loving,
but you can never love without giving.
The great acts of love are done by those
who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.
We pardon to the extent that we love.
Love is knowing that even when you are alone,
you will never be lonely again.
And great happiness of life
is the conviction that we are loved.
Loved for ourselves -
And even loved in spite of ourselves.”
When a Man and a Woman are in Love by Stephen T. Fader – Modified
When a man and a woman are in love - his life lies within hers and her life lies within his.
Each lives as an individual - yet they also live for one another.
Each strives for independent goals - but they also work together to achieve their dreams.
They will give to one another what they need to survive - and help fulfill each other’s wants.
They will turn one another’s disappointment into satisfaction - and frustration into contentment.
They will work as a mirror - reflecting to each other their strengths and weaknesses.
They will work together to build a better understanding of one another.
They will learn to lean on each other - but not so much as to be a burden on the other.
They will learn to reach out to one another - but not so much as to suffocate the other.
They will learn when it is time to speak - and when it is time to listen.
They will be there to comfort each other - and to celebrate together.
They will be one another’s friend - guiding each other to the happiness that life holds.
They will be one another’s companion - facing together the challenges that life may present.
“When Harry Met Sally” Modified excerpt from the movie
Groom and Bride would like to share some modified lines from the movie “When Harry Met Sally” that expresses how they feel about each other. Near the end of the film Harry tells Sally:
I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.
I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.
I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.
It's not because I'm lonely. I am here because when you realize that you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
Why Marriage? by Mari Nichols
Because to the depths of me -
I long to love one person -
with all my heart - my soul -
my mind - my body.
Because I need a forever friend
to trust with the intimacies of me -
who won't hold them against me -
who loves me when I'm unlikable.
Who sees the small child in me -
and who inspires the potential in me.
Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
with someone I feel blessed to hold.
Because marriage means opportunity to grow in love and friendship.
Because I promise to take full responsibility
for my mental and physical wholeness.
Because I will take half of the responsibility for my marriage.
Together we create our marriage -
because with this understanding -
the possibilities are limitless.
Wings
Love is like a butterfly
So spread your wings and fly
Love’s wings will take you ever so high
But you’ll never know until you try
When you emerge from that chrysalis
You will certainly know this
True love can start with just one kiss
This chance at bliss - you should not miss
Life’s moments you will share
More than alone you’d dare
With one who’ll always care
No love will ever compare
That certain flutter in your heart
Tells you that it’s time to start
Your love will be a work of art
You know that you will never part
Trust in all the special things
Especially the joy love brings
And as the morning sings
Spread your beautiful wings!
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