Handfasting |
Here are the vows we exchanged when our year and a day was up. We choose to follow up our year and a day with an exchange for a lifetime. In for a penny, in for a pound. Morgan wrote the first half of this, the opening speech, its been a year of change for Morgan, and I think what he wrote and said was beautiful. Madi wrote most of the actual vows, I added a little bit. Morgan officiatated at the ceremony, and Aveline did the binding and the wine. Megan and Neef witnessed. This is the most serious decision, and promise I have made in my life, this is me taking a chance at happiness, and who knows, if we try hard enough it will work. Morgan - This is a very odd time for me to be doing what I'm doing, all things considered. My point of view is very different to the one I held when I first brought these two people formally together a year and a day ago. Despite this, I know that there is only one thing in this world worth fighting for, worth striving for and worth weeping for. I have known Madi, and I have known Renee. I like to think that I know both of them pretty well. I know 'Madi and Renee' better, however. I've watched them grow as a couple, I've watched them quarrel, I've watched them cry and I've watched them gaze into each others eyes in wonder. I've watched them love one another. Yet love alone is not enough, without the strength of conviction to fight for that love. To carry on and refuse to let love fall by the wayside. To place love formost in your heart and soul and go apace from there. It is not easy to love. It is not straightfoward, and love alone will not lift you up and carry you down the path to happiness. Love merely lights the way, and it is up to you to be strong enough to walk that pathway together. Without love, it is a dark and difficult road. However, more importantly it is a road without end. Walk it as long as you desire, travel as far as you will, the pathway extends forever in both directions. The only reason to walk that road is the hope that somewhere along the line you will meet someone else travelling the other way, and walk together for a time. It has been my honour and my pleasure to walk with you both for a time, and I know that I've taken a fork along the way. Our paths will continue to cross, yet I know that whenever and where-ever they do so, you will be together. May your strenght never waver, may your love never fade, and may you look into each others eyes every day and never forget what it is that makes you remarkable. Morgan: It has been a year and a day since your vow - that vow has ended now and if you wish, you can walk away from what you have. You also have the choice to continue your life together. Before you make your final decision, think about this. You have lived together for this long. It hasn't always been good. You have fought. You have been angry with each other. There are times when each other's company was the last thing you wanted in the world. But you always came back. You sought each other. You mended the wounds. You laughed. You shared what you could with each other. There have been tears but there have also been moments of great happiness. There has been anger but there has also been love Morgan: Hold out your hands. Aveline: (unties their hands) Morgan: You are now released from your vow of a year and a day. Aveline: (hands round alcahol) Morgan: This is a toast to the last year and a day. Now you have to make the decision, will you continue this? This is not a game, you can no longer walk away easily. Are you ready to stand here, in front of these witnesses, and declare your intention to stay with each other for as long as you both live? To share your lives, your hurt, your happiness. To stay together through the hardship, and share the joy with each other? Are you ready to make that commitment? Madi & Renee:(affirm - hopefully!) Morgan Face me and repeat after me:
Morgan: Now face each other Madi & Renee:(face each other) Morgan: And after me: I promise to spend my life with you. I promise to give all that I can to you. I promise to not be afraid to take what you offer. I promise to honour and respect you. I promise to love you. Morgan: Hold out your hands. Aveline: (ties their hands) Morgan: You have said to me that you wish to spend your life married to each other. Are you still willing to promise that you will make a statement of permanence? Madi & Renee: Yes Aveline: (passes round the booze) Morgan: As people drink, remember that they have witnessed your promise. Go from here, now. You have stated your intentions to be together from now. Go from here as one. Blessed be. |