THE WEDDING CEREMONY (written October 28th-ish)

Now it's time to get ready for the wedding. Since we were staying in the same room, we had to both get ready at the same time...sort of. I kinda took my time with my makeup until he finished and left so he wouldn't see me completely dressed. After he was ready he went downstairs to wait while I got ready, and to take pictures. He wanted to take pictures of the downstairs the night before but I felt weird tiptoeing around their home. So he got a chance to take pictures of how they had it decorated for the wedding.

This is his boutineire after multiple pin stabbings.

I spent forever trying to do my hair, which turned out a real mess. It looked so good when I did it here at home, but I just couldn't do it there. At around 5:45 the hostess brought me my bouquet, and it was gorgeous but so heavy!

I tried working on my hair some more, but time ran out so I had no choice but to spray it as it was and go...they started the music and I completely forgot to be worried that my heel would get caught in my dress and that I would go tumbling down the stairs. She had told me to walk slow, but I don't know if I did or not. haha I can't remember. I do remember him standing at the lower landing waiting for me, and I remember smiling at him all the way down the stairs. And thankfully I didn't tumbled down them, as I'd feared. In fact, I'd decided not to even walk down the stairs because I'm too clumsy to have not had a tumbling accident, but I changed my mind. He was waiting for me at the bottom landing...

I took his arm and we walked toward the minister where he would perform the ceremony in front of the fireplace.

It was such a pretty ceremony. They sent me a copy ahead of time so I knew what he'd be saying:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is instituted by God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be held in honor among all men. It is therefore, not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined.

Opening prayer

_____________ and ____________, the covenant which you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness and with a deep sense of joy. With your vows, you are committing yourselves to a growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and caring love.

_________________ and ________________, you have made a very serious and important decision in choosing to marry each other today. You are entering into a sacred covenant as life partners in God.

The quality of your marriage will reflect what you put into it. You have the opportunity to go forward from this day to create a faithful, kind, and tender relationship. We bless you this day and it is up to you to keep the blessings flowing in your lives together. We wish for you the wisdom, compassion, and constancy to create a peaceful sanctuary in which you can both grow in love.

__­___________, do you understand and accept this responsibility, and do you promise to do your very best each day to create a loving and happy marriage? Groom: I do
. _____________, do you understand and accept this responsibility, and do you promise to do your very best each day to create a loving and happy marriage? Bride: I do.

__________ please hand your flowers to someone, turn and face each other and join hands.

You will now say your vows to each other

In the name of Jesus,
I ____________ take you, __________,
to be my (husband/wife),
to have and to hold, from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
for as long as we both shall live.
This is my solemn vow.

EXCHANGING OF RINGS

May I have the rings please?

The daughter of one of the witnesses acted as ring bearer. She was so cute and so sweet.

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul you will exchange rings.

Groom _____________, as you place the ring on your brides finger, please repeat after me
I give you this ring as symbol of my love faithfullness to you
And with all that I am,
And all that I have,
I honor you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Bride: "_________, as you place the ring on your groom’s finger, please repeat after me

I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you,
And with all that I am,
And all that I have, I honor you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Unity Candle Ceremony

“___________ and ___________, the two outside candles have been lighted to represent your separate lives, separate families and separate set of friends to this moment. There are two distinct lights, each capable of going their separate ways.

(Bride & Groom move to candles)

(Spoken as they move) As you join now in marriage, I ask that each of you take one of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle.”

(Spoken as they light) “As the Bible says ‘On this account a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall be one flesh.’

(Spoken as they return) The single light represents the joining of two families and two lives. May the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives and may your union be forever blessed.”
Short Closing Prayer

Before he did the "pronouncement" he read some Irish blessings that we'd put together and sent to him:

May your hands be forever clasped in friendship, your hearts be forever joined in love. May God grant you many happy years and always be near to calm your fears as He holds you in His grace and love throughout the years.

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow, the soft winds freshen your spirit, the sunshine brighten your heart, the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you, and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.

May God give you…for every storm, a rainbow, for every tear, a smile, for every care, a promise, for every sigh, a sweet song, for every trial a blessing, and for every prayer an answer.

May our gracious God hold you both in the palm of His hands. And, today, may the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts and home. Amen

Then we said "I love you forever" in gaelic to each other, and then he did the prononouncement...

For as much as _____________ and ____________ have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and these witnesses, and thereto have pledged their faithfulness each to the other, and have pledged the same by the giving and receiving each of a ring, by the authority invested in me according to the laws of the State of North Carolina, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those that God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

You may now kiss your bride

We had to kiss several times so she could get a picture of it.

(Ask bride to take her flowers and turn as a couple towards assembled group and say)

It is my distinct honor to present to you Mr. and Mrs. _________________

... and we were married. :)

We had our first dance to "Unbreakable" by Westlife, and it was so sweet and romantic. At one point he said something funny (private joke that is too embarrassing to repeat here) and I told him to "kiss my ass" in gaelic. :) After the dance ended we went to cut the cake while the rest of our wedding music played in the background. The cake was so pretty.We were nice and didn't smush it in each other's faces.

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The minister gave a nice Irish toast...or tried to. Neither of us can remember what he said, but I know it was very nice. We were able to entertwine our arms and take a sip without spilling it on each other. :)

She took more pictures of us and then we left to go get something to eat since we hadn't eaten since breakfast.

The rest of the night shall remain private. ;)