The wedding of
Karen and Julian
Monterosso, July 27, 2013
Jo's–
opening words:
Welcome and
thank you all for coming together at this time and at this place, in this
country, to witness, acknowledge, and support Julian and Karen's commitment to
share their lives together. Marriage is
a sacred covenant of physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual
joining. The wedding ceremony itself is
the sharing of a couple's feelings of love and commitment with loved ones who
will support them in their journey together.
May both your lives and theirs be enriched by your presence here today. Because Julian and Karen have chosen this
occasion to begin this new life together as a married couple, they will make
special promises and vows to one another in your presence. We ask that you bear witness to these vows
and promises and help Julian and Karen to uphold them.
It is one of
life's richest surprises when the meeting of two lives leads them to proceed
together along a common path as husband and wife, and it is one of life's
finest experiences when a friendship grows into a permanent bond of love. It is
in honor of this meeting and this bond that we gather today.
Julian and Karen,
With this wedding, I wish to join your lives in a special ceremony. You take these vows today with love,
excitement and respect in your hearts and mind. This ceremony marks the
beginning of a grand adventure in life and love, and I am honored to be a part
of it.
Such is the
privilege of husband and wife, Julian and Karen, to be each himself, herself
and yet another; to face the world strong with the courage of two. You gave
yourself, your life and love, into the hands of the one you love. You did so trustingly and generously. By the same token, each of you received a
gift – the life and love of the other.
When we love, we
see things other people do not see. We
see beneath the surface, to the qualities that make our beloved special and
unique. To see with loving eyes, is to
know inner beauty. And to be loved is to
be seen and known, as we are known to no other.
One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only
they could give us. The true art of married life is an inner spiritual journey.
The love of
which we speak is a growing and dynamic relationship. It is a mutual
enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two
endowments, which diminishes neither, but enhances both. Julian and Karen, you
made a wish. And as one of your dreams comes true today, with this wedding in
Italy, you are reminded that the world and all its delights are there for you
to share as you go forth, providing strength, love and support to each other. Your dreams will come true because of the
love in your hearts and passion in your souls.
Julian and
Karen, this marriage of hearts is a promise to share your lives, your love,
your passion and honor the commitment you have already made in your minds and
in your hearts. Remember, you do not do
this alone and you will never be alone throughout your lives. You are joined today in spirit by those who
are joyful knowing you met someone very special to love, care for and with whom
you can move forward in life to make each other happy and to help fulfill each
other’s dreams.
Julian and
Karen, your partner will always be the most important person to you. You will love this person through the good
and the bad, through the joy and the sorrow.
You should be understanding, and trust in your partner completely. You should be each other’s best friend, respect
and support each other, be patient with each other, work together to achieve
those things that are important to you, and accept each other unconditionally. Together you will face all of life's
experiences and share one another's dreams and goals.
Jo's surprise!!
love and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together,
Karen replied: we began to fall in love immediately. Julian would describe me in this way “there is nothing to add, and nothing to take away”. He is such a simple, quiet, unpretentious, calm, gentle man! Very smart! very handsome! how could I not fall in love with him! Julian loves and accepts my sons as they are. He encourages me to go to them whenever I need to! He is very much “true to himself”, he has a special connection to his feelings, and he follows them. I think that is very unique. And special! In the first days of our relationship Julian made me promise, he always wanted to know if I was sad or afraid or upset. He assured me that my emotions, feelings, tears, thoughts, were ALL of great importance, and I should always share with him how I feel, WOW!! I loved him for that very generous gift!! That feeling of such safety in a man’s heart and arms where I could be vulnerable and completely myself. I knew I had found my life partner. He is a very happy, optimistic man. He is very open in his heart and his mind. He is kind, generous and friendly. AND he has some rare talents, not worrying about tomorrow, and focusing on today, the present moment. He just completely fills my heart and soul with everything I could ever hope or dream of having in a partner! I feel so loved and safe and desired and appreciated and wanted by this man. He has put me up on a pedestal, like a princess! And I have put him on a pedestal like MY Prince, It’s beautiful! He has given me something I have never felt before, a safe place to be vulnerable, and be myself, and know I am perfect and loved as I am. Julian has brought out the best in me.
Julian said: I
fell in love more and more as we met more often. I always told her she should
not fall in love with me because I had my Vietnamese daughter and no time for
her...so I fell in love with her :) and she also with me, but I think I was so
sure from the beginning that she is so special and perfect. I wanted her :) the
more we saw each other the more sure I was! When she came back from the 4 months in
Canada last year, we talked a lot and sorted out our differences and promised
each other to always be honest and open and we live that way. It was
absolutely amazing and I really really really knew then that she is the one I want
to be with the rest of my life :) We are completely honest, open, in love,
happy; we respect each other and have a lot of love for each other’s situations
and kids :) She is just the best! I love the way she talks, the way she treats
people (me included), how easy she is, and she is just beautiful and sexy!.I
love her touch, even if it’s just her little finger or her leg or anything. I
love her because she is the best woman for me; she has all the qualities I
love. she is open minded, easy, honest, true to herself, hot, a great mother,
loves my kid, respects everyone, is never unfair, can face her own fears! She
moved to Germany, travelled with me to China, gives me a place to cry, wants to
marry me, kisses me like no one before, is happy around me. She showed me to be
more myself in life, to respect people the way they deserve it, taught me how
important complete honesty is, and showed me the lovely side of bad days!
First reading – Julian’s Mom
The Declaration of Intent
Karen and Julian, you are just beginning your journey together as
partners for life, best friends, and as husband and wife.
Karen and Julian, will you please hold hands while I read your vows?
Do you, Karen and Julian, promise to give the best of yourselves and to
ask of each other no more than you can give?
Do you promise to respect your partner as their own person and to
realize that your partner’s interests, desires and needs are no less important
than your own?
Do you promise to share with your partner your time and attention, and
to bring joy, strength and imagination to your relationship?
Do you promise to always give each other the time, and a safe, loving
place to speak the truth.
And when something is on your mind, do you promise to allow yourself to
be vulnerable and to keep yourselves open to one another, to let your partner
see through the window of your world into your innermost fears and feelings,
secrets and dreams?
Do you promise to grow along with your partner, to be willing to face
the changes in order to keep your relationship alive and exciting?
Do you promise
to love unconditionally and equally Ian, Justin and Anna filling
their lives with love and happiness, always providing them with a peaceful
family home where they feel safe, happy
and loved, and to encourage them to always be true to themselves and reach for
the sky?
Do you Karen and
Julian promise, while giving so much of yourselves to your children, to always remain
united and grounded by the love of each other.
And finally, do
you, Karen and Julian, promise to love each other in good times and bad, with
all you have to give and all you feel inside in the only way you know,
completely and forever?
Kare and
Julian: “We do”
Second reading – Julian’s sister
Hands of the
bride and groom:
Karen please face Julian and hold his hands, palms
up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and
strong and full of love for you,
that are holding yours on your wedding day 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 tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will passionately love you
and cherish you through the years,
and with the slightest touch will comfort you like
no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or
grief takes hold of your mind.
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.
Julian please hold
Karen’s hands palms up so you may see the gift they are to you:
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of
love for you,
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 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
when you need it.
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.
The exchange of the rings
As everything in
life is a circle, so is your love. There
is no beginning and no end. This ring is
a circle and a circle is the symbol of the sun and the earth, of the universe
and peace. The ring you give and receive
this day is a symbol of the circle of shared love into which you enter together
as husband and wife.
Julian, as you
place the ring on Karen’s finger please repeat after me: I take you to be my
best friend, my faithful partner and my one true love. I promise to encourage
you and inspire you and to love you truly through good times and bad. I will
forever be there to laugh with you, to lift you up when you are down and to
love you unconditionally through all of our adventures in life together.
Karen, as you
place the ring on Julian’s finger please repeat after me: I take you to be my
best friend, my faithful partner and my one true love. I promise to encourage
you and inspire you and to love you truly through good times and bad. I will
forever be there to laugh with you, to lift you up when you are down and to
love you unconditionally through all of our adventures in life together.
Julian and
Karen, let these rings be a symbol of your commitment to each other, an
unbroken circle symbolizing the loving bond you have made with each other here
today. This is a lifelong bond, made to
be held through both the triumphs and the trials that lie ahead. Just like the ocean, marriage has its waves
of turbulence and storm, but also its moments of peace and serenity. May you
rejoice in the ever-changing, ever-beautiful tapestry that is your marriage.
When you look at your rings, be reminded of the loving promises you have made to
each other here today.
The Blessing
As we stand here
in the warm embrace of the Mediterranean Sea, and surrounded by the beauty of The
Cinque Terre, we are reminded of the bounty and beauty of life, and of the joy
and comfort of being embraced.
Karen and
Julian, may you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as
to help each other know your fullness.
May you embrace
one another, but not encircle one another.
May you succeed
in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces.
Look for things
to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults.
May you have
happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy.
May you have
love, and may you find it in loving one another.
May you be in
harmony with the rhythms and elements of nature and express your gratitude for
having each other in your life every day.
Just as the sun
is gracing us now with light and warmth, may your union be full of light and
your love be deep and warm.
From this day
on, you have chosen each other as partners in life; to live with and to laugh
with; to stand by each other’s side and rest in each other’s arms.
The Signing of the Parchment
The Pronouncement
Karen and
Julian, on this beautiful day in Cinque Terre embraced by the love of your
children, family and friends, you have promised trust, love and commitment to
each other. It is my pleasure to now
pronounce you husband and wife.
Ich erkläre Euch hiermit zu
Mann und Fau.
Julian you may
kiss your bride!
