Please share your

graysquirrel

Readings or songs to be sung during the ceremony. Will they have a vintage feel?

I want to incorporate this old song as a reading (since it is a little over the top operatic). It is from an old Robin Hood play and was in Anne of Avonlea, so I think it will do for Victorian.

"Oh Promise Me"

Oh promise me that someday you and I,
Will take our love together to some sky.
Where we can be alone and faith renew,
And find the hollows where those flowers grew.
Those first sweet violets of early spring,
Which come in whispers thrill us both and sing
Of love unspeakable that is to be,
Oh promise me, oh promise me.Oh promise me that you will take my hand,
The most unworthy in this lonely land.
And let me sit beside you in your eyes,
Seeing the vision of our paradise.
Hearing God's message while the voices roll,
They're mighty music to our very souls.
No love less perfect than a life with thee,
Oh promise me, oh promise me.

dizzinea

ours is loves philosophy by Percy shelly

Read the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley.
More E-texts

Love's Philosophy

by Percy Bysshe Shelley
(1803-1822)

The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever,
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle;--
Why not I with thine?

See! the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven,
If it disdained it's brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;--
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?

AmberMarieTX

this is what I have so far... my favorite is the closing

Things I'm considering-

Opening
Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal. It is a physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.

Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent or child.

Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly.

Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.

When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words.

Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfill.

AND/OR

“A Marriage” by Mark Twain

A marriage makes of two fractional lives a whole;
It gives two purposeless lives a work,
And doubles the strength of each to perform it.
It gives to two questioning natures a reason for living
And something to live for.
It will give new gladness to the sunshine,
A new fragrance to the flowers, a new beauty to the earth
And a new mystery to life.

Blessing of hands:

Amber and Josh, please face each other and hold hands, so that you can see the gift 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 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 fills your mind.

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.

And lastly, 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.

CLOSING
ClosiCLOSINGASDFng of thASDFASe Ceremony:
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 have just made 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 have said 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.

rikachika

Apache Blessing

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for each other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other.

Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before.

Go now to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your life together.

may your days be good and long upon the earth.

amazonx42

Wow!  Hey greysquirrel - I've sung that song before! 

LOL - it was at a wedding themed tea party for older women.  I sang O Promise me and like 6 of those women cried because it was their wedding song!

Yes, its old fashioned and  - well more art-songy than operetic.  A very authentic and classic choice!

ledalia

Ooooh... Anne of Green Gables was my absolute favorite series when I was younger! I always think of her everytime I see pearl rings. :-D

We haven't picked a reading. We aren't religious and want to keep the ceremony short and sweet so we will probably just forgo this.

graysquirrel

I love the Apache blessing! How beautiful.

That is so funny that you sang that song, amazon! I'd love to have someone sing it but I am not musical enough to tone it down