Eddie told me this morning, “You realize we’ve been together for almost 10 years?”
That’s probably the fastest decade ever for me.
Shortly after we got married, I intended to create a post with our wedding vows. I never got around to it.
The vows are a hodge podge based on stuff the real estate agent / wedding officiant sent us for inspiration and plagiarism.
It seems like a good time to finally post them since I was just talking about it last night. My sister was over along with my step-daughters and they were talking about a large rat and I said, “ROUSs? Rodents of Unusual Size, I don’t think they exist.” Which cracked Lisa up and we started talking about The Princess Bride. And then I said to Emily (step-daughter #2), “I snuck a Princess Bride quote in the wedding vows!” She had no idea but she was 11 at the time and pretty much in a state of shock. Let’s see if you can find it:
Wedding Vows
Marriage. Marriage is what brings us together today!
Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Donna and Edward in the bonds of Matrimony. A perfect marriage is first a spiritual union. This wedding ceremony becomes the public uniting of two souls who are already one spirit.
Donna and Edward, the relationship that you have nourished together stands for love that will blossom and grow with each passing day. Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of hearts, the union of two lives as one. Marriage is caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as your own. It is looking outward in the same direction together. Marriage makes burdens lighter because you divide them. It makes joys more intense because you share them. It makes you stronger so that you can be involved with life in ways you dare not risk alone.
To make your relationship work will take love. It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want the best for each other. It will take dedication, to stay open and honest with one another – and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you both promised today to share together. An intimate and secure relationship is based on trust, respect, faithfulness, and the ability to forgive. A lasting marriage is based on all of these, bound together by love.
Who presents this woman to be married? [Her mother replies, “I do.”]
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Edward, do you take this woman, whose hand you hold, choosing her alone from all the world to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her and honor her, to share with her your visions and your dreams and to cherish her for all your life?
(Groom replies, “I do.”]
Donna, do you take this man, whose hand you hold, choosing him alone from all the world to be your husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him and honor him, to share with him your visions and your dreams and to cherish him for all your life?
(Bride replies, “I do.”)
Edward, repeat after me:
In your eyes, I have found my home.
In your heart, I have found my love.
In your soul, I have found my mate.
With you, I am the best version of myself.
You make me laugh. You let me cry.
I promise to appreciate how lucky I am to have you.
I will continue to stand by you, hold you close, support you, and encourage you.
I will always be honest and faithful.
I will surround you with my love for all the days of my life.
Donna, repeat after me:
In your eyes, I have found my home.
In your heart, I have found my love.
In your soul, I have found my mate.
With you, I am the best version of myself.
You make me laugh. You let me cry.
I promise to appreciate how lucky I am to have you.
I will continue to stand by you, hold you close, support you, and encourage you.
I will always be honest and faithful.
I will surround you with my love for all the days of my life.
HAVING SHARED THIS AGREEMENT, DO YOU EACH TAKE THE OTHER AS HUSBAND AND WIFE?
[Both say I DO]
RING EXCHANGE
What symbol do you bring to your love?
Bride and Groom reply “These rings”. They then give them to the Minister
These rings, by their shape, are a symbol of eternity in that a circle has no beginning and no end. The rings are a true emblem of the eternal love that shall exist between you both.
As metal, they represent strength even in adversity. And by their beauty, they signify that which is unique and precious about each of you.
May the seamless circle of these rings be for you always a symbol of your endless love and remind you of the covenant you have entered into today. May you be blessed with joy as you continue your journey through life together surrounded by the circle of your love.
EDWARD, repeat after me:
DONNA, this ring symbolizes the unending union of my life with yours. Your dreams are my dreams, your hopes are my hopes, your love is my blessing.
DONNA, repeat after me:
EDWARD, this ring symbolizes the unending union of my life with yours. Your dreams are my dreams, your hopes are my hopes, your love is my blessing.
EDWARD and DONNA, today you are joined as husband and wife. The bond that we have witnessed is forged in love and tempered in harmony. Let today, October 12th, be for you always a joyful memory and a reminder of your continued commitment to the Love that you share.
SAND CEREMONY
DONNA and EDWARD, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other and honor MEGHAN & EMILY. Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand; one, representing you, DONNA and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, one representing you EDWARD, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be and a container each for MEGHAN & EMILY.
There are children who will share in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have a deep influence upon them. We realize that in order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding between the children and the adults being married.
As you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one family. You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the children and bride and groom into one.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage and your family be.
BENEDICTION
DONNA and EDWARD,
God bless you and guide you in your faithful commitment to one another.
God defend you and shelter you in your tender love for one another.
God uphold you in all life’s challenges, and shower you with all life’s rewards,
That you always find strength and delight in each other, and grow in love until your life’s end.
Amen.
EDWARD, you may kiss your Bride
It is now my pleasure to present EDWARD and DONNA as Husband and Wife!