Our good friend Steve Perez officiated over our ceremony in Lake Tahoe. We did not write our vows, they were tailored for us by Steve and they worked well. We did add the bit about snacks…
The Vows
Opening Remarks by Steve Perez
We are gathered here today to celebrate that the lives of Merelyn and David, braided together by a growing love will now be joined in marriage. Up to this point their love has been nurtured privately. In many ways, that deepest connection is private and between them alone, but today, the promise of that bond is made public. Each of you present brings the special gifts of family and friendship. This was not an event to be celebrated alone by Merelyn and David. Each of you represents an essential reality in their lives. This group is bound by shared memories of those that are not with us today – those who have let us travel down the corridors of time without them. In particular, many of you are bound by the shared memories of David Creech Senior, David’s father and my friend. These are strong and permanent ties.
So when Merelyn and David thought of gathering people together, they wanted to see not only the faces of the individuals they have loved over the course of their lives, the wanted to bring you together, to form a whole – a single solid entity – a group that will witness the declaration of their union. They believe that the strength of this group will reinforce and protect their private union. And in return, they have a promise for you.
With their home as a resource – a place to bring friends and family – they promise to do their part to nurture long-standing relationships and forge new connections between those gathered here. It is their hope that this will continue as we share a walk, a drink, a toast, a meal and a dance…
Marriage Vows
Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, now join your hands and face me.
Do you, Merelyn, offer yourself wholly and joyfully, and do you choose David as the person with whom you will share your life, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, loving what you know of him and trusting what you do not know yet? And do you offer to do so with cheerful cooperation?
(she did)
Do you, David, offer yourself wholly and joyfully, and do you choose Merelyn as the person with whom you will share your life, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, loving what you know of her and trusting what you do not know yet? And do you promise to provide Merelyn with plenty of snacks to facilitate her cheerful cooperation?
(I did)
There was kissing…