Marriage

Gordon and Margaret were married on New Year's Eve 1999-2000, outdoors, in a park, beneath a starry sky and two stately old trees, at the edge of a frozen, snow-covered lake.  Because they were both rather shy, they decided to elope.  They informed a few family members of their arrangements, ahead of time, and received their blessings.  Gordon was a very sentimental person; he asked the official presiding over the nuptials to declare he and Margaret husband and wife at 7 p.m. EST, which was the stroke of midnight in Gordon's homeland of Scotland.

What follows is the text of Gordon and Margaret's wedding service, which they chose together:

This ceremony of Marriage, in which you come to be united, is one of the oldest and most beautiful ceremonies in the world, and this it will be if you have it in your hearts to beautify and sweeten it by your tender mindfulness of each other, and your patient efforts to enhance your life together.

Gordon and Margaret, if you are both free and willing to be married, please demonstrate that desire to me and your witnesses by joining your right hands.

YOU WILL BE TOGETHER FOR EVERMORE,
BUT LET THERE BE SPACES IN YOUR TOGETHERNESS,
AND LET THE WINDS OF HEAVEN DANCE BETWEEN YOU.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER, BUT MAKE NOT A BOND OF LOVE;
LET IT RATHER BE A MOVING SEA, BETWEEN THE SHORES OF YOUR SOULS.

SING, DANCE AND BE JOYOUS, BUT LET EACH ONE OF YOU BE ALONE,
EVEN AS THE STRINGS OF A LUTE ARE ALONE,
THOUGH THEY QUIVER WITH THE SAME MUSIC.

STAND TOGETHER BUT NOT TOO NEAR TOGETHER,
FOR THE PILLARS OF THE TEMPLE STOOD APART,
AND THE OAK TREE AND THE CYPRESS
GROW NOT IN EACH OTHER'S SHADOW.

Gordon, will you look to your Bride and repeat the following vow after me.  "I Gordon take thee Margaret, to be my Wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, all the days of our lives; and thereto I pledge you my love."

Margaret, will you look to your Groom and repeat the following vow after me.  "I Margaret take thee Gordon, to be my Wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, all the days of our lives; and thereto I pledge you my love."

(To one of the witnesses) Will you give the Groom the Bride's ring.

Gordon, will you place that ring upon Margaret's finger.  Gordon, will you now say to Margaret, "with this ring I thee wed."

(To one of the witnesses) Will you give the Bride the Groom's ring.

Margaret, will you place that ring upon Gordon's finger.  Margaret, will you now say to Gordon, "with this ring I thee wed."

FROM THE ELEMENTS OF THE EARTH, THROUGH WORK AND FAITH, WERE TAKEN THE MATERIALS FOR THESE RINGS.  JUST AS FROM THE ELEMENTS OF LIFE AND EMOTION CAME YOUR DESIRE FOR THIS MARRIAGE.  MAY THESE GOLDEN CIRCLES, EMBLEMS OF AN UNTARNISHED ETERNITY, BE THE SIGN, THE SEAL, OF A PURE AND UNPERISHABLE LOVE, NOW MUTUALLY PLEDGED.

(An American Indian Wedding Prayer)
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 TO THE OTHER.
NOW YOU WILL FEEL NO LONELINESS
FOR EACH OF YOU WILL BE COMPANIONSHIP TO THE OTHER.
NOW YOU ARE TWO PERSONS
BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE LIFE BETWEEN YOU.
GO TO YOUR DWELLING PLACE
TO ENTER INTO THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE TOGETHER.

For as much as Gordon and Margaret have consented in Matrimony, have witnessed the same before you, have given their vows each to the other, and have declared the same by the giving and receiving of rings, and by the joining of hands; now by the authority of the Province of Ontario, I pronounce you to be HUSBAND and WIFE.  Long life and happiness.