John and Sarah were married on 20th May this year at one of my favourite venues The Mandalay in Northcote. Amazingly for this time of the year the weather was quite mild. They had a large bridal party but we all managed to fit in the rotunda. John became very emotional when he saw his beautiful bride come down the stairs. There were hugs all round and then we commenced the ceremony.
The following are some ceremony highlights:
Good afternoon everyone, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this ideal intimate location for the marriage of John and Sarah.
Standing with me here is the beautiful bride Sarah, accompanied by her stunning attendants Julian, Ann, Astrid and Jaclyn; and the handsome groom John, his dashing groomsmen Ivan, Elias, Sunny and Damian, and don’t forget the gorgeous flower girls Olivia and Alma and pageboy Hayden.
From the moment John and Sarah met they had an instant connection. In fact it was only 2 weeks into their relationship when they both knew that this was it! … already knew in their hearts that they were ready for this commitment. 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 as husband and wife.
By making this commitment they are showing each other in those small and selfless ways, that life is so much better because there is someone to share all the parts of the days with, someone who can be trusted with our thoughts, our fears, our hopes and our dreams.
This couple works well together because they share a similar sense of humour and are willing to weather the challenges of life together. They work well as a team and complement each other nicely.
In Sarah’s words John is energetic, enthusiastic, cheeky, caring .. and stubborn.
In John’s words Sarah is very loving, honest, loyal, enthusiastic and passionate about everything she does, a people’s person.
…….That’s why everyone is here to be with you today. We have all loved in our lifetimes, all of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing – and others that are exciting and full of adventure.
Today is a time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought you here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.
I’m here – we’re all here – because we want those moments for you. We’re here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn’t happily ever after – love is the experience of writing your story. It’s not one moment – not even this moment. It’s every moment. Big ones like saying “I love you” moving in together, getting engaged – but mostly a million little ones that come in between.
John and Sarah both share similar interests especially their two fur huskies or fur babies as they call them.
They both love surprises and almost a year to the day John proposed in front of about 12 people at his birthday party. Sarah had no idea so had to hide behind the bench to hide her sweat pants as she only just had time to change her top! She was a little confused because he proposed with granny’s eternity ring… that wasn’t part of the plan! She later received her own engagement ring.
They think of marriage as a lifetime commitment and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives and their goal is to continue with their open communication and never going to sleep with an unsettled argument.
John and Sarah always refer to each other as soulmates so the following reading is fitting
Reading (celebrant) Soulmate by Julia
As a child you learn of a soul mate…a person made perfectly for you, your two souls become connected as one and are destined to be together until the end of time.
Through adolescence you grasp on to this idea of a soul mate, believing you will someday find the one.
But after much heartache and many rivers of tears, this notion you’ve held onto for years begins to fade.
As time goes by, day by day, year after year, you move forward, accepting of your failures and proud of your successes…until that day.
This is a day like any other, it begins no differently than yesterday and the days before, but it is a day that will change you forever, a day that the magic and fantasy of a soul mate becomes real.
For each of us it happens differently…the holding of eye contact, an introduction, a smile. Regardless of how it began, the moment is unforgettable.
It was a magical moment, frozen in time, the surroundings, the smells, the feeling you felt. The rush of warmth through your body felt exhilarating and new, yet somehow familiar. It was a feeling you imagined time and again…but never this powerful.
As butterflies fluttered in your stomach it was an explosion of emotions. Who is this person that can make me feel this way?
As this invisible force draws you to this person you can sense a mutual feeling. A connection unlike any other you’ve experienced before, impossible to resist.
You feel a burning, a fire from deep inside, that you can’t ignore. From that first second of encounter this person is there with you, in every thought and action…causing you to smile, laugh, and feel more alive than ever before.
This person becomes a part of you, your other half…your soul mate.
Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely – for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?
John: Personal vows:
“I, John, choose you, Sarah, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, trusting what things I will discover. I will respect you as a person, a partner and as an equal. There is little to say that you haven’t already heard, and little to give that is not already freely given. Before you asked me, I was yours and I am devoted to you in every way. I marry you with no hesitation or doubt, and my commitment to you is absolute.
Sarah: Personal vows:
“I, Sarah, take you John to be my husband. You are my counterpart. I promise to always be your ally in conflict, your greatest fan and your toughest adversary. I promise to communicate fully and fearlessly. I promise to create and support a family with you, in a a household filled with laughter, patience, understanding and love. I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together. I will love you faithfully through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there, believing that love never dies. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep.”
Conclusion
…………..John and Sarah, remember to do the simple things that will make this love a treasure. Plan for the things that are important to you and make sure you do them. Be thankful for one another, love is a gift that you have chosen to share with one another, share it well and be happy.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, it gives me the greatest pleasure to present to you – the newlyweds, Mr and Mrs Yankovski!
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The Sassy Marriage Celebrant 