Our wedding day: The ceremony (Part 2)

See part 1 of our ceremony here.

After Linae's reading, Mark continued:

Chardonnay and James I also know you trust one another, hold the same values, and know how to care for and depend on one another. Every great love begins with friendship. But what did they see in each other that lead these two friends to marriage?

Chardonnay had met a big hearted generous man who treats her and those he loves with consideration and understanding. A romantic man with a passion for life, with a great sense of humor and but who also knows how to be serious. A man she greatly loves and respects because of his faithfulness, integrity, and strength.

James had met beautiful and honest woman {except here he accidentally said "man," which was funny - the picture of me laughing above is at that moment} who understood him, shares his values and who fully accepts and loves him for who he is. Chardonnay has an amazing combination of compassion, understanding, and trustworthiness. She brings joy and beauty to her family and to the world around her but gives her very best to the one she loves the most.

You have heard it said behind every successful man there is a supportive wife. But with Chardonnay and James it is more than that. Neither is behind the other. Rather, beside each other, they will walk together supporting and encouraging one another. Their mutual support of each other’s dreams began through their trust of and commitment to one another.

We all rejoice with you today to see the love, respect, patience, kindness and commitment in your lives. And we have the highest hopes for you as you set out on your journey together and to see the places you will go.

As we just heard the journey is filled with great sights and high heights but also weather that is fowl, enemies that prowl and Hakken-Kraks that howl. But that is okay. Because, despite every obstacle, you two will accomplish wonderful things.

Despite the hard times you have a great future together because you will face that future together.

Chardonnay and James from this day on you will face the world, celebrate accomplishments, withstand pressure, endure difficulty, enjoy the passing of time as and commemorate life’s milestones together as husband and wife.

At this point we turned toward each other to hold hands, and I gave my bouquet to Rose.

You stand here today not only to make a promise to each other, but to declare to the world your intent to stand by each others’ side in marriage.

James, do you choose Chardonnay to be your wife and partner for the rest of your lives, to support and accept her in good times and bad? Do you promise to always remain honest, loving, and faithful to her?

I do.

James if it is your intention to be married to Chardonnay then please read your letter which you have kept secret until this moment.

{Yes, we had secret vows that we shared with no one, which I love. A lot of my friends told me that James' made them cry big time. They were so perfect.}

To my wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward.

I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before.

I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully regardless of the obstacles we may face together.

I promise to give you the best of myself and ask of you no more than you can give.

I promise to accept you for who you are.

And finally, I promise to love you in good times and bad, with all that I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how - completely and forever.

{OMG is my husband not the sweetest?! I still have that handwritten paper he read his vows from, and I'll cherish it forever!}

Chardonnay, do you choose James to be your husband and partner for the rest of your lives, to support and accept him in good times and bad? Do you promise to always remain honest, loving, and faithful to him?

I do.

Chardonnay, if it is your intention to be married to James, then please read your letter which you have kept secret until this moment.

{I wrote my vows months before but was continually making changes until the week of the wedding. I cried when I wrote them!}

James, I want you to always know how happy and thankful I am to have you as my friend, partner and now finally my husband.

Since the day you came into my life you've treated me with respect and compassion, and never failed to make me laugh.

The support and love I receive from you is something I vow to return every day of our marriage and life.

I promise to love you with my whole self for the rest of our lives, through our joys, changes, sorrows and challenges.

I accept you for who you are and will encourage your dreams. I will share my love with you without hesitation, and vow to always be honest and faithful to you.

I will always remember the vows we exchange today and strive to keep our relationship happy and healthy as we grow together and face exciting and sometimes difficult experiences.

I will laugh with you and cry with you, and always hold your hand. I love you.

The best man, Bob (who is James' stepdad), gave Mark our wedding bands.

In every culture in the world rings of some sort are exchanged in marriage.

I know that both of you are going to be very proud to wear these rings. They communicate to the whole world that you already have a life long covenant with another. That you are taken and off limits.

Wear this ring as a reminder of the vows you have just taken and as a shield protecting the sanctity of this marriage. James please repeat after me as you place this ring on Chardonnay's finger.

I, James K,

take you, Chardonnay P

to be my wife

to share my friendship and support

and to be loyal to you

for the rest of my life.

I give you this ring

as a physical reminder

of my unconditional love for you.

I ask that you wear it always

and remember the vows we have shared today.

Chardonnay please repeat after me as you place this ring on James' finger.

I, Chardonnay P,

take you, James K

to be my husband

to share my friendship and support

and to be loyal to you

for the rest of my life.

I give you this ring

as a physical reminder

of my unconditional love for you.

I ask that you wear it always

and remember the vows we have shared today.

I’d like to conclude your marriage ceremony with an Apache Native American wedding blessing.

Now you will feel no rain,

for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold,

for each of you will be warmth for the other.

Now there is no more loneliness,

for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons,

but there is one life before you.

May your days be good and long upon the earth.

James and Chardonnay in the sight of these witnesses you have exchanged vows and rings. You have professed your love and dedicated your lives to one another. It is my honor and my delight to now pronounce you, husband and wife.

You may now kiss each other!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you for the very first time Mr. and Mrs. K!

For the recessional, I asked the guitarist to play an instrumental version of Bob Marley's "High Tide or Low Tide," which is what my blog is named for! Again, I didn't hear any of it because I was a little distracted!

The introduction of our ceremony was written by our officiant, whose website you can visit here. James and I wrote the vows portions of the ceremony together. You can visit our guitarist's website here. Photos are by Photography by Tammynize - view her website here. Visit our day-of coordinator's website here.