Joe and Jessi's Wedding Ceremony Script, Sanctuary on Penn - and Weird Al Yankovich

Joe and Jessi got together because they both love Weird Al Yankovich.  I LOVE my job!  These stories are awesome!  Needless to say, that had to included somewhere in their wedding ceremony script.  We incorporated it into their unity glass ceremony.  They were married in the Cocktail Plaza room at The Sanctuary on Penn.  It was the perfect intimate setting for this wedding ceremony. 

Unplugged Ceremony
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Victoria welcomes everyone and announces that it’s an “Unplugged” ceremony and ask guests to turn off their ringers and to refrain from personal photography, as there are professionals doing that. 
 
Victoria:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Please stand for the bride. 

The Presentation
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Victoria: Who presents this woman to be married?  Dom:I do
 
Victoria, to all: Please be seated. 

Victoria:  We would like to begin today with a reading from Kristin 

Poem
by Kathy R. Jeffords

Once upon a time, a boy met a girl, she gave him her hand & he held it tight. Together, they set off down the unknown path in front of them. Sometimes they walked slowly; sometimes at a quicker pace. Sometimes they ran so fast it felt kind of like flying. Whenever he lost his footing, she steadied him and whenever she tripped, he helped her back up. Whenever she grew weary, he’d carry her. Sometimes they didn’t know which direction to go, but though they would occasionally lose their way, they never lost each other. They wandered contentedly and lived happily, forever and always side by side.”

Welcoming Words
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Welcome!  We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Joe and Jessi in marriage. They promise to love, trust in that love, and honor one another as individuals, and anticipate with joy spending the rest of their lives together. They, are surrounded by you - their friends and family.   Thank you for gathering here to witness their marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion. 

Moment of Silence
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At this time, we’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Those who couldn’t make it and those who are no longer with us.  We know that they are here with us in spirit. We especially remember Names.  

(Brief moment of silence)

Words about Love and Marriage
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Jessi and Joe, Today, as you two are joined in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. The possibilities and potentials of your married life are great. We join with you in hoping you make real your dreams!  That you are reborn in each other as you share your loves and dreams, wants and desires and together are enriched by them.

Through your commitment to each other, may you grow and nurture a love that makes both of you better people, a love that continues to give you great joy, and also a passion for living that provides you with energy and patience to face the responsibilities of life.
There was a time when your lives were two separate paths.  Gradually, they were joined as you grew closer together. Today, you proclaim to the world your choice to stay on the same path together.  May you be enriched by the unique view of the other!

Readings
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Victoria: And now here is a reading from:

The Bridge Across Forever
by Richard Bach

A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we're pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person, we're safe in our own paradise. Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person. Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life."


(From "Union"   by Robert Fulghum) Jessi and Joe, you have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" - those late-night talks that included "someday and somehow and maybe"- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word." Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife”

Declaration on Intent
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Jessi and Joe, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?
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Jes and Joe:  We have.

Will you honor each other as partners for the rest of your lives?

Jes and Joe:  We will.

Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?

All:  We will.

Do you, Joe, take Jessi to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?

Joe:  I do.

Do you, Jessi, take Joe to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?

Jessi:  I do.

Marriage Vows
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Now, Jessi and Joe would like to share the vows they’ve written for each other. 

Meaning of the Wedding Rings
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The rings are the universal symbols of marriage.  They mean many things. From now on you will wear these rings and they will remind you...  They will remind you of the endless circle that they are. Like love, there is no beginning and no end.  They will remind you daily that you are married. Sometimes they will remind you of the commitment that you have made - for better or worse.  But, may they always remind you that there is one other person in the world that has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have.

Ring Exchange
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Joe, please repeat after me:  Jessi, I give you this ring, with all that I am and all that I ever will be.  Wear it and know that I love you.With this Ring, I thee wed. 

Jessi, please repeat after me:  Joe, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be.  Wear it and know that I love you. With this Ring, I thee wed. 

The Unity Glass Ceremony
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Jessi and Joe have decided to perform a glass ceremony.  Here, you can see they have three vessels that Vivian placed up here at the beginning of the ceremony.  Two of them are filled with colored glass. The third is the vessel into which they will pour the glass.  Each of their vessels of glass represent who they are as individuals. Who they are today and everything before this day that makes them who they are today.  This includes their families, their upbringings, and all of you here today, who by your friendship and kindness have helped make them who they are. Jessi and Joe have been together for 10 years, so they have also helped make each other who they are too.  There is a little bit of Joe’s burger in Jessi’s vessel, and a little of Jessi’s sushi in Joe’s vessel. There is definitely some Weird Al Yankovic in both of their vessels! When they pour their glass together, they will make art. Once they pour the glasses together there is one thing we can definitely say, and that is, they can never separate the two again.  Now, as you know, this marriage is not a sudden decision. They didn’t meet last week. They have been building their relationship over the last decade. They are definitely sure about their relationship and their commitment to a marriage to last the rest of their lives. So, this is actually a very special glass that will be sent to a glassblower. The glassblower will melt the glass and create a beautiful memory for them to keep forever.  But don’t worry you two, it’s just a metaphor, you will still be you! Only better, because you complement one another.


Jessi and Joe pour the glass together (10-20 second song clip TBD)

Pronouncement
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Before the big pronouncement, I want to give everyone some quick instructions… 
In a moment, I am going to pronounce Jessie and Joe Married! They are going to give each other that first kiss they’ve been waiting for.  And then, they are going to walk down the aisle. After that, I ask that you follow them, pick up some bubbles, and then, head out the side doors for the traditional send off as they exit the building.  No worries though, you don’t need to go anywhere, when you’re done, you can follow the outdoor steps downstairs to continue the evening with the reception.


Jessi and Joe:
Life and love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity.

May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.

May you want one another, but not out of lack.

May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence.

May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of all.

It is my great pleasure to acknowledge your union as “Husband and Wife.”

You may now seal your marriage with a kiss!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Jessi and Joe are married!!



       

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