#8 Contemporary ReadingsThese readings are beautiful for both the traditional ceremony and the contemporary ceremony. They may be placed in the “optional” reading sections of your outline, or added where you feel appropriate. Sometimes couples like so many different readings that they include some in their programs as well. If you are planning a completely contemporary wedding – the message might be based on one of the readings you have chosen.

1. Table of Contents2. Table of Contents3. A Natural History of Love4. All That is Gold Does Not Glitter5. Art of a Good Marriage, The6. Bridge Across Forever7. Celebration of Marriage8. Chinese Classic from I Ching9. Chinese Poem10.Dance, The11.Design a Home Together12.Friendship13.From this Day Forward14.Gifts of True Love15.Give Love16.Happiness17.How do I Love Thee18. I Am Love19. i carry your heart20. I Fell in Love with You21. If Only22. I Just Want You to Know23. I Love You24. Imagine25. I’m Glad There’s You26. I Must be Dreaming27. Infinite Love28. Inspiration29. In the Moment Love Begins30. In Your Eyes31. I Promise32. Irrational Season33.Keeper of Friendship34.Key to Love35.Kindness36.Let the Song Begin37.Like a Rose38.Love39.Love Happens Without Choice40.Love is a Friendship Caught on Fire41.Love is in the Everyday42.Love is the Source of Life

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43.Love Sonnet44.Magic45.Marriage Advice46.Marriage is Like Two Trees47.Marriage is Love48.Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of It’s Love49.Marriage Means Being In Love for the Rest of Your Life50.Miracles and Rainbows51.Music of Love52.My Hearts Desire53.Mystery of Love54.Newly Wedded55.One Love56.On Love (Excerpt) “The Prophet” by Kahil Gibran57.On Your Wedding Day58.Our Song59.Painting the Canvas of Your Lives60.Photograph61.Princess Bride62.Promise, The (by Heather Berry)63.Promise, The (by Robert Sexton)64.Promise of Marriage, The65.Prophet, The (Excerpt) by Kahil Gibran66.Pyramid, The67.Road Through Time68.Romance69.Some Friends are Forever70.Something Rare and Beautiful71.Sooner or Later72.These Hands73.Thoughts in a Garden74.Time for Love75.Today76.To Love77.Touched by an Angel78.True Love79.Tuesdays with Morrie (Excerpt)80.Two Trees81.Union82.Velveteen Rabbit – Example 183.Velveteen Rabbit – Example 2 84.Victor Hugo – On Love85.When a Man and Woman Are in Love86.When Harry Met Sally (Modified Excerpt)87.Why Marriage?88.Wings

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A Natural History of Love by Diane Ackerman (Excerpt)

Love.What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful.It has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art,cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved,driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fueled national scandals,bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings.

How can love's spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable?Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization,with taproots spreading into deep and mysterious days.The heart is a living museum.In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit,preserved forever like wondrous diatoms,are our moments of loving, and being loved.

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All that is Gold Does Not Glitter Modified poem from Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien(Book 1 - Chapter 10)

All that is gold does not glitter,Not all those who wander are lost;The old that is strong does not wither,Deep roots are not reached by the frost.From the ashes a fire shall be woken,A light from the shadows shall spring;Our vows shall be eternal when spoken,What finer promises can love bring.

Our love has a quiet golden glow,With you I’m lost no longer.I have found my home I knowTime only makes love stronger.Love in our hearts so deep.Will never end or go astray.Friendship has the spark to keepOur passion’s flame to stay.

Our hearts are lit with joy this dayAs we begin our lives as one.Now that we know the wayOur lives have just begun!Our promises are for all time.Bless all who gather that they mayFind a life that’s so sublimeThey share love as we do today!

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The Art of a Good Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.A good marriage must be created.

In the art of marriage, the little things are big things…It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry. It is never taking the other for granted;The courtship should not end with the Honeymoon…It should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other,Not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, But in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciationAnd demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a haloOr the wife to have wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,Understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphereIn which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship,In which the independence is equal,Dependence is mutualAnd the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right person,It is being the right partner.

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Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach (Modified Excerpt) (Keys and Locks)

A soul mate is someone who haslocks that fit our keys,and keys to fit our locks.

When we feel safe enough to open the locks,our truest selves step outand we can be completely and honestly be who we are;

We can be loved for who we areand 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 sharesour deepest longings, our sense of direction.

Then we're like two balloons,and together our direction is up,Then we know we've found the right person.

Our soul mate is the one whomakes life come to life.

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Celebration of Marriage (Author Unknown)

The secret of love and marriage is thatit is the emergence of a larger life.It is the finding of one's self by giving it away.

Such is the privilege of husband and wife –to be each himself, herself and yet another;to face the world strong, with the courage of two.

To make this relationship work,takes more than love, it takes trustIt is to know in your heartsthat you want only the best for each other.

It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so.And it takes faith, to go forward togetherwithout knowing what the future may hold.

While love is our natural state of being,these other qualities are not as easy to come by.They are not a destination, but a journey.The true art of married life is in this inner spiritual journey.

It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities,a mingling of two endowments and talentswhich diminishes neither, but enhances both.

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Chinese Classic from I Ching

When two people are at onein their inmost hearts,they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze.And when two people understand each otherin their inmost hearts,their words are sweet and strong,like the fragrance of orchids.

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Chinese Poem (Author Unknown)

I want to be your friend forever and everWhen the hills are all flatAnd the rivers run dryWhen the trees blossom in winterAnd the snow falls in summer,When heaven and earth mixNot till then will I part from you.

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The Dance Excerpt from Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A good relationship has a pattern like a dance and is built on some of the same rules.The partners do not need to hold on tightly,Because they move confidently in the same pattern,Intricate but gay and swift and free, like a country dance of Mozart’s.

To touch heavily would be to arrest the pattern and freeze the movement,To check the endlessly changing beauty of it’s unfolding.There is no place here for the possessive clutch, the clinging arm, The heavy hand; only the barest touch in passing.

Now arm in arm, now face to face, now back to back – it does not matter which.Because they know they are partners moving to the same rhythm,Creating a pattern together, and being invisibly nourished by it.

The joy of such a pattern is not only the joy of creation or the joy of participation;It is also the joy of living in the moment.Lightness of touch and living in the moment are intertwined.One cannot dance well unless one is completely in time with the music,

Not leaning back to the last step or pressing forward to the next one,But poised directly on the present step as it comes.Perfect poise on the beat is what gives good dancing its sense of ease,Of timelessness, of the eternal.

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Design a Home Together

May you design a home together.Not just a house of stone or wood, but an island of peace. May your home include the beauty of nature.May it reveal the elements of simplicity, beauty, and color.

May your home encompass all your dreams and desires.May it be filled with life, light, music, laughter and most of all love.May your home be completed with hope, joy, passion, and compassion.May trust, faithfulness, respect and commitment always be found there.

May it be a home where companionship and communication is cherished.May your home be a haven from any confusion and chaos the world can create. May it be a place where you gather strength and support.May the love that you create there carry with you throughout your lives.May you find your home in one another’s hearts.

May you always know your home is the best place you could ever wish to be.

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Friendship Judy Bielicki

It is often said that it is love that makes the world go ‘round.However, without doubt, it is friendshipwhich keeps our spinning existence on an even keel.

True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life -it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship,it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony,and it is the calm warm protection we sometimes needwhen the world outside seems cold and chaotic.

True friendship holds a mirror to our faults and failings,without destroying our sense of worthiness.True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments,and encourages us to grow to our best potential.

Groom and Bride came together as friends.Today, they pledge to each other not only their love,but also their strength, warmth and most importantly -the fun of true friendship.

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From This Day Forward by Cokie and Steve Roberts (Excerpt from the Introduction)

Marriage is serious business and hard work.It’s not just becoming roommates; it’s becoming soul mates;it’s not just signing a license, it’s sharing a life.

The words in the marriage ceremony “from this day forward” are scary.At the moment a couple exchanges those vows,they can never know what they really mean,what hills and valleys stretch out in front of them in the years ahead.

But if you take the words seriously, there is no going back.There’s only the future, unlimited and unknowable,and the promise to make the journey together.

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Gifts of True Love

True love brings out our best qualities and talents, and gives us many gifts…

Joy - when you give the best of yourself and receive even more.

Blessings – when love is shared with someone who loves you in return.

Acceptance - of being who you are and all you can be.

Security – when good qualities are appreciated and faults forgiven.

Importance - to the welfare and happiness of one another at all times.

Respect - as you treat each other as you wish to be treated.

Understanding – a tolerant attitude and sympathetic ear.

Communication – to solve problems together and share feelings and goals.

Compromise - instead of needing to win when differences arise.

Empathy - and a shoulder to lean on through life’s trials.

Adjustment - to unexpected and new situations throughout life.

Responsibility – not to look for excuses or place blame.

Forgiveness – when we are sorry for the mistakes we make.

Encouragement – at times of need and to help us flourish.

Good Humor – a positive outlook no matter what happens.

Commitment - to promises kept forever through good times and bad.

Trust – knowing that faithfulness can always be counted on.

Reassurance – that someone is waiting for you at the end of the day.

Knowledge - that wondrous things in life happen because of love.

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Give Love

Strive to show compassion in all you say and do.Be willing to give of yourself without end.Be faithful to those you love.If peace and happiness is what you seek.

Strive to make your soul shine through in peace.Turn away from loud, hurtful thoughts and actions.Share instead thoughtful words and feelings.Then you will find comfort.

When you ask for what you want or needBegin by freely giving the same.Ask for forgiveness when it is neededAnd set an example of how to forgive.

You must forget yesterday to get on with today.What is today, and will be tomorrow, is what is important.Learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat them.Do this, and you will find each new day rewarding.

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Happiness (Author Unknown)

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of others including Love.

One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all prepared their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed.

Love wanted to stay until it started sinking. When Love was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a beautiful boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by "Vanity, please help me!"  "I can't help you Love.  You are all wet and can probably damage my beautiful boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by, so Love asked for help "Sadness, let me go with you."  "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I prefer to go alone!"

Happiness passed by Love too, but Happiness was so happy that Happiness did not listen when Love called!

Suddenly, there was a voice "Come Love, I will take you."  It was an elderly. Love became very happy that Love even forgot to ask the name of the elderly. When they arrived on dry land, Love asked Knowledge who was the elderly. "It was Time."

"Time? But why did Time help me?" Knowledge answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding such a great Love.

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How Do I Love Thee? By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints,I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life!

And, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

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I Am Love (Author Unknown)

Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings.Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim.Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame.

And though you cannot see me, I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces.I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes.I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face.I am your father's shield as he guards your home.

And yet…Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear.Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always.Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless.And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children.

I am woven into the whispers of passion.I am in the blessings of Grandmothers.I embrace the cries of newborn babies.And yet…Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed.

Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them.Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul.And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind.I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night.I am the hug of a child.

I am love.

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i carry your heart by ee cummings (This poet never uses capital letters)

i carry your heart with me.i carry it in my heart.i am never without it.anywhere I go you go, my dear;and whatever is done by only meis your doing, my darling.

i fear no fate.for you are my fate, my sweet.i want no world.for beautiful, you are my world, my true.and it's you who is whatever a moon has always meant;and whatever a sun will always sing is you.

here is the deepest secret nobody knows.here is the root of the root,and the bud of the bud,and the sky of the sky,of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hopeor mind can hide.and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart.

i carry your heart.i carry it in my heart.

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I Fell in Love with You

I fell in love with you.How could anyone not love you?Your life is filled with loving,caring, and giving of yourself.

Your natural desire is to nurture.Your character shows its highest quality asyou treat others with compassion and empathy.You have the gift of making others feel better.

Happiness and satisfaction grow around youlike a lovely well tended garden.Love exudes from you like steam off a cool lakeas a beautiful warm day dawns.

Did you know - your smile makes the sun shine?Just one look from you fills my heart with happiness.Beauty shines like springtime from within your soul.Your strength comes from reaching out to help others.

With each new day your love surrounds me with wonder,like watching snowflakes as they slowly drift from the skyto cover the earth with a glistening blanket.Your love keeps me warm like a fire on a cold winter night.

You are the essence of what is most important in life - love.

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If Only

If only our love could be frozen in time we would always be together.But time would surely be thawed - by the warmth of our love.

If only we could save every precious minute we have together.We could spend the moments over and over again - and never run out of time.

If only there was enough time or words to express our feelings of love.But surely - there will never be the words or enough time.

If only others could find love such as we share with one another.Then the world would know - how precious every moment is.

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I Just Want You to Know (Author Unknown)

I just want you to know…How important you are to me,I know that you care and understand me,And that you trust and believe in me.

I just want you to know…How wonderful it is having you to love,Knowing you are always there for me…That you will always be my friend.

I just want you to know…That I know how wonderful you are,That I care and understand you…I trust and believe in you.

I just want you to know…How much I love you too.

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I Love You by Roy Croft

I love you, not only for what you are –But for what I am when I am with you.I love you, not for what you have made of yourself,But for what you are making of me.I love you, for the part of me that you bring out.

I love you, for putting your hand into my heaped up heart,And passing over all the foolish, weak thingsthat you can’t help see dimly there,and for drawing out, into the light, all the beautiful belongingsthat no one else had looked quite far enough to find.

I love you because you are helping me to makeof the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple.Out of the works of my every day,not a reproach, but a song.

I love you, because you have done morethan any creed could have done to make me good,and more than any fate could have done to make me happy.You have done it with out a touch,without a word, without a sign.

You have done it by being yourself.Perhaps that is what being a friend means after all.

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Imagine

Imagine finding your one true love!

It would like viewing the beautyOf all the flowers in the world at onceRejoicing in their many vibrant colorsBreathing in their delightful fragrance

Imagine feeling such intense happiness!

If every dream of love came trueAll at once for every person everywhereImagine this and you will only begin to knowThe feeling of love we share

Our joy surpasses all imagination!

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I'm Glad There's You (Author Unknown)

I’m glad there's you to smile at meAnd brighten up my dayTo share my thoughts and understandThe things I do and say.

I'm glad there's you to laugh with meAt ordinary thingsTo show me what is special,In everything life brings.

I'm glad there's you to be with,And I think it’s time you knew,Just how happy you have made me,And how glad I am there's you!

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I Must be Dreaming

I can’t believe it.I must be dreaming.Don’t wake me up.Is this happening?This special day.

I’ve waited for this.So very long.And now you’re here.You are the one.You’re meant for me.

And now they enter.That sweet young bride.That nervous groomCould that be me?Could that be you?

I see they areSo much in love.So delighted And so excited.I think I’m dreaming.

They’re holding hands.The room is full.But they’re alone.He looks in her eyes.She looks in his.

They promise alwaysAnd even more.I see a tear.Then with a smileTwo lives are joined.

I must be dreaming.I think it’s me! I think it’s you!Our wedding dayIs finally here!

I’ll stay foreverWithin your arms.We will be happySecure and warm.I’ll cherish your love.

Don’t ever wake me.Don’t even try.Just let me dreamMy whole life throughIf I’m with you.

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Infinite Love by Regina Hill

When two people join together and bond their lives forever because they are certain they have something special that will make their commitment last - this is the first act of faith.Upon this act of faith, these two people will build a life.And as long as their determination stays with them, this life will always be their hope, their dreams, their truth, their being, their inspiration, and their source of strength.

Through their life together, they will hurt and laugh. Together, they will feel all of life’s ups and downs.They will learn and grow through trial and error.The lessons will show them the meaning of true love and the difference between a love that lasts and one that just gives up.

These two people will face each failure together and discover the strength to go on.They will encourage each other’s dreams and forgive each other’s faults through a labor of love.These two will become as one, fighting against the odds and, ultimately, creating a commitmentthat will grow into . . . an infinite love.

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Inspiration

You are each other’s inspirationYou have known since that first sensationWhen you knew your love was trueYou recognized what love can do

Your hearts became one with such easeWith love soft as a summer breezeYour love is strong and will survive any painYour love is sweet as the air washed with rain

You reached down deep within your soulYou showed your love to become wholeThis may have come as a surpriseBut now your love, you can’t disguise

You never thought you would perceiveThe way your love makes you believeThat so much happiness can beIt’s true your love has set you free

You look forward to each new dayBecause in your hearts your love will stayYou have brought each other to this placeNow inspiration – you embrace!

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In the Moment Love Begins

When did our love begin?With a look, a smile, a word, a sigh, a touch?When did the world start to spin?When did being together come to mean so much?

I lost my heart when I met you.It became yours when yours became mine.Precious love like ours is granted to few.A treasure of love that is lasting and fine.

No one could love you more.I know that that my heart winsThat special prize we all search forIn the moment - love begins.

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In Your Eyes

The saying “The eyes are the window to the soul” must be true.In your eyes I see a future full of hopes and dreams - together with you.In your eyes - I see where we are going - I see where we have been.I want to do it all - time and time again.

In your eyes - I see all the best life can hold.We will stretch our sights and be very bold.When life brings us trials - we will have the strength to pass every test.I know that as one - we will always be blessed.

In your eyes I see trust - and that you know our love’s true. So it is - when I look in your eyes - I see love shine from you.I see all this in your eyes - a happy soul that is peaceful, trusting, warm and pure.I give you my heart - my life - all that I am - in your love I am secure.

The sparkle of mischief and joy that shines in your eyesBrings all those around you happiness – it’s no surprise.I am honored that - for you - I am the oneBecause it is the same - for me - or none.

Thank you for opening your soul to me.Gaze into my eyes and you will seeThat from the first look - you brought light to my heartAnd that through all eternity we could never part.

Whatever your eyes express - I will be there.To be sure that you know how much I care.I will cherish your soul for all the days of my life.I see our destiny to become husband and wife.

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I Promise by Dorothy Colgan

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

I promise to respect you as your own personAnd to realize that your interests, desires and needs,Are no less important than my own.

I promise to share with you my time and my attentionAnd to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship.

I promise to keep myself open to you,To let you see through the window of my world into my innermost fearsAnd feelings, secrets and dreams.

I promise to grow along with you,To be willing to face changesIn order to keep our relationship alive and exciting.

I promise to love you in good times and in bad,With all I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how…Completely and forever.

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Irrational Season by Madeline L’Engle (A Selection)

Ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made.Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselvesHow much they hope for as their love grows and deepens,And how much risk they are willing to take.It is indeed a fearful gamble…

Because it is the nature of love to create,A marriage itself is something which has to be created,So that together, we become a new creature.To marry is the biggest risk in human relationsThat a person can take...

If we commit ourselves to one person for lifeThis is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom;Rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom,And the risk of love which is permanent;Into that love which is not possession, but participation…

It takes a lifetime to learn another person.,,When love is not possession, but participation,Then it is part of that co-creationWhich is our human calling.

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Keeper of Friendship (Author Unknown)

In a friendshipWe're free to expose,Parts of ourselvesNobody else knows.But the thing that sustains itAnd sets it apart,Is not something spokenIt's a bond of the heart.True friends are rareIn a lifetime two or three,I'm so glad it happenedBetween you and me!

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Key to Love (Author Unknown)

The key to love is understanding. The ability to comprehendnot only the spoken word.but those unspoken gestures,the little things that say so much by themselves.

The key to love is forgiveness.To accept each others faultsand pardon mistakes, without forgetting,but remembering themfor what can be learned from them.

The key to love is sharing.Facing your good fortunesas well as the bad, together;both conquering problems,forever searching for waysto intensify your happiness.

The key to love is giving.Without thought of return,but with hope of just a simple smile,and by giving in but never giving up.

The key to love is respect.Realizing that you are two separate people,with different ideas;that you don't belong to each other,that you belong with each other,and share a mutual bond. The key to love is inside us all.It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredientsthat will take you to its threshold;it is the continual learning processthat demands a lot of work.

But the rewards are more than worth the effort... and that is the key to love.

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Kindness by Randolph Ray, from “My Little Church Around the Corner”

Kindness is the life’s blood, the elixir of marriageKindness makes the difference between passion and caring.Kindness is tenderness. Kindness is love…But perhaps greater than love…Kindness is goodwill.Kindness says, “I want you to be happy”.

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Let the Song Begin Modified excerpts from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien(Book 6 - Chapter 9 - and Song)

Still round the corner there may waitA new road or a secret gate,And though I oft have passed them by,A day will come at last when IShall take the hidden paths that runWest of the Moon, East of the Sun!

We finally found our path together,Even though we know not whetherWhat the future holds is kind.We will be grateful if we find, A journey there as man and wife.Our hearts and souls as one in life.

Now let the song begin! Let us sing togetherOf sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:Celebrate along with us, as we begin our lives together!

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Like a Rose

Our love is like a roseWith petals soft and fairSo beautiful their colors Their fragrance fills the air

Because we know not everydayCan always be the bestThe thorns remind us thatTrue love passes any test

Our love is firmly rootedNo matter what the seasonIt is planted deep and wellThis is the very reason

A rosebud blossoms fullWith daily care and tending toAnd with a lifetime of commitmentOur love will grow as roses do

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Love by Roy Croft

I love you not only for what you are,But for what I am when I am with you.I love you, not only for whatYou have made of yourself,But for what you are making of me.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out;I love you for putting your handInto my heaped-up heart and passing overAll the foolish, weak thingsThat you can't help dimly seeing there,And for drawing out Into the lightAll the beautiful belongingsThat no one else had looked quite far enough to find

I love you because you are helping me to makeOf the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple.Out of the works of my every dayNot a reproach, but a song.

I love you because you have doneMore than any creed could have doneTo make me good.And more than any fate could have doneTo make me happy.

You have done it without a touch,Without a word, without a sign.You have done it by being yourself.Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.

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Love Happens Without Choice (Author Unknown)

I am convinced that love is one of the few things in life that happens without choice.You can no more choose to be in love than you can choose to reject falling in love.It is something that happens to us... It is our fate…Our destiny. 

A good marriage, on the other hand, must be created. Recognize how fragile each life-story is,then choose to protect the heart, the future,and the life-story that have been entrusted to you.Choose to make this a good and never ending story.

The Irish poet William Butler Yeats said it best,

“Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,I would spread them under your feet,but being poor, I have only my dreams.I have spread my dreams under your feet;Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.”

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Love is a Friendship Caught on Fire by Laura Hendricks

Love is friendship caught fire;It is quiet, mutual confidence,Sharing and forgiving.It is loyalty through good and bad times.

It settles for less than perfection,And makes allowances for human weaknesses.Love is content with the present,Hopes for the future,And does not brood over the past.

It is the day-in and day-out chroniclesOf irritations, problems, compromises,Small disappointments, big victories,And working toward common goals.

If you have love in your life,It can make up for a great many things you lack.If you do not have it,No matter what else there is,It is not enough.

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Love is in the Everyday (A little silly - but serious)

I love you now - I love you bestUpon this knowledge you can restIt is the ordinary things life bringsTrue love - that everlasting sings

Love is in the everyday things we doLike watching movies or going to the zooIt is eating macaroni and cheeseAnd saying thank you - and saying please

It is enjoying fries and soda popWhenever we go out to shopAs long as I can be with youAny ordinary thing will do

Today we might just watch TVWhile eating popcorn - you will seeThat cuddling and holding handsIs always in our daily plans

We love sitting in the SunEven till the day is doneThen gazing at the stars and moonOn a beautiful warm night in June

We walk together in the parkAnd listen to the dogs barkWe whisper secrets after darkOur love has that special spark

Let me tell you – it is trueI never want you to be blueMy love is with you all the whileLet me brighten up your smile

Of love - this is the A B C’sYou should never – ever - teaseYou should know that I will always careA love - that’s true - we’ll always share

I know this is a silly rhymeBut truth will make it known with timeI say this to you so sincerelyBecause I love you - so very dearly

Show your love in every way!Love is in the everyday!

41

Love is the Source of Life

Love is being happy for the other person when they are happyBeing sad for the other person when they are sadBeing together in the good times and being together in the bad timesLove is a source of strength

Love is being honest with yourself at all timesBeing honest with the other person at all timesTelling, listening, respecting the truth ~ and never pretendingLove is a source of reality

Love is an understanding that is so complete ~ you feel as if you are part of the other personAccepting the other person the way they are and not trying to change them to be something elseLove is the source of unity

Love is the freedom to pursue your own desires while sharing your experiencesThe growth of one individual alongside of, and together with, the growth of another individualLove is the source of success

Love is the excitement of planning things together ~ the excitement of doing things togetherLove is the source of the future

Love is the fury of the storm, the calm of the rainbow, the source of passionLove is giving and taking in daily situationsBeing patient with each other’s needs and desiresLove is the source of sharing

Love is knowing that the other person will always be with you ~ regardless of what happensMissing the other person when they are away ~ while remaining near in heart at all timesLove is the source of securityLove is the source of life.

42

Love Sonnet by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never bloomsbut carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;so I love you because I know no other way than this:

Where “I” does not exist, nor “You”,so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

43

Magic

I thought that love was an illusion.Now I’m done with that confusion.Love was hidden but now I see.Your love was waiting there for me.

My heart’s been broken in the past.This time the spell - it has been cast.It only took you to make me believe.I know only truth is up your sleeve.

With magic ropes I have been bound.Because your love - I have now found.I never want to be set free.I always want you here with me.

Love with you is so amazing.It is like a fire blazing.It is not my imaginationI’ve never felt this great sensation.

The magic of our loveFlies freely as the doveThat’s pulled from a hat.It’s as awesome as that!

Our love is fantastic.I’m so enthusiastic.Our love is invincible.It is so sensible.

There are no tricks here.It does clearly appear.It’s so easy to see -It’s magic – between you and me!

44

Marriage Advice by Jane Wells (1886)

Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger.

Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.

Believe the best rather than the worst.

People have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them.

Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.

The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.

Please hand this down to your children and your children's children.

45

Marriage is Like Two Trees (Author Unknown)

A marriage is like two trees rising from the sacred earthThat grow close together, but from different roots Different colors of leaf, different textures of barkDifferent flowers in the spring

Yet the same bees that drink their nectarThe same birds that nest in their branchesAnd sing the spring into their unfolding budsThe same shower of leaves falling in autumnThe same flood of cold bringing winter sleep

And sometimes, two trees may entwine so closelyThat we who watch them see only one treeWith different leaves, and wonder at the miracle,For a miracle it is.

46

Marriage is Love by Gloria Matthew

If two are caring as they are sharing life's hopes and fears.If the music of laughter outweighs sadness and tears.Marriage is togetherness.

If both derive pleasure from the mere presence of each other,Yet when parted no jealousies restrict, worry or smother.Marriage is freedom.

If achievements mean more when they benefit twoAnd consideration is shown with each point of view.Marriage is respect.

And if togetherness, freedom and respect Are combined with a joy that words can never fully define, thenMarriage is love.

47

Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of It’s Love by Edmund O'Neill

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.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 for a 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,and 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 themselveswhich binds them closer than any spoken or written words.Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two peoplewho love each other and it takes a lifetime to fulfill.

48

Marriage Means Being In Love for the Rest of Your Life by Chris Ardis

Marriage is love walking hand in hand together.It's laughing with each other about silly little things,And learning to discuss big things with care and tenderness.In marriage, love is trusting each other when you're apart.

It's getting over disappointments and hurts,Knowing that these are present in all relationships.It's the realization that there is no one else in this worldThat you’d rather be with than the one you're married to.

It's thinking of new things to do together;It's growing old together.Marriage is being in love for the rest of your life.

49

Miracles and Rainbows

Today an unexpected miracle may beJust waiting to set your heart freeYou know that come whateverYou will always be together

Whenever live gets discouragingYou may find it encouragingTo remember the promises of the rainbowAnd that it is rain that makes flowers grow

May it always be understoodWhether times are bad or goodWith true promises you will seeLove lasts eternally

50

The Music of Love

Love plays its song on the strings of your heartsThe music begins as your life together startsTo have the finest of compositionsYou must become excellent musicians

You start out with just one pure noteThen the air is filled with music that begins to floatAs your life is in harmony with a love that is trueEvery day you will play a melody that is new

This single note will become a symphonyAs your love grows into the greatest music that will ever beYour hearts swell with joy and anticipationFor a future filled with music that is your own creation

Some days may be difficult and the music will be hard to listen to or to hearBut with commitment and faith you must hold your love dearAnd the music of your love will grow stronger and sweeter with timePractice makes perfect until your love becomes incomparably sublime

So begin with a song that your souls will completeMusic with rhythm based on your heart’s beatShare your music with feelings and your future will beTo play music orchestrated to last eternally

The music of love is too exquisite for words to define!

51

My Hearts Desire

You are my hearts desire.To be in your presence is to be in a place of peace.This is the place I wish to remain all of my days.I feel secure in your love.

Because we are togetherTroubles pass quickly by.A quiet moment with your arms around meEases any worries or doubts.

You understand me and know my feelings.When you say you love me my spirit soars.When I am down, you show me the way to the light.Your love of life and joy is infectious.

All the old cliché’s such as;“You had me at ‘Hello’”, “Love at first sight”,“You are my other half”, “You are my soul mate”,“With you I am complete”…are so true.

You never know what love is until it happens to you.You never understand how love feels until it happens to you.I just have to say…I’m so glad it happened to us.

52

The Mystery of Love

True love has always been a mysteryThat has intrigued us throughout historyThis is just the beginning of the storyOf what love is in all its glory

The secret to love is encrypted within your heartTo give love to another will be only the startLove will exceed your dreams through every partAs giving love grows into an art

Once you have deciphered love’s codeRecognize it is a gift bestowedYou have found the right roadWhen your soul becomes love’s abode

This mystery must be solved by twoThen everyday starts fresh and newYou’ll gain knowledge of every clueWhen your love is shown in all you do

Love’s secrets are no longer in disguiseWith joy in your heart you now adviseIt becomes simple to surmiseSolving the mystery of love is wise

Love may seem difficult to conceiveBut if we learn to trust and to believeWe are blessed when we perceiveThe many memories love will weave

53

Newly Wedded by Winthrop MacKworth Praed (Excerpt)

Now the rite is duly done,Now the word is spoken,And the spell has made us oneWhich may ne’er be broken;Rest we, dearest, in our home,Roam we o’er the heather:We shall rest, and we shall roam,Shall we not? Together.

54

One Love

You are the other half of meThat’s the way it will always beI come alive with your touchYou know I love you so much

One look and my spirits flewI had no choice but to love youWe will always be there for each otherThere could never be another

When we embraceI see in your faceA love so divineYou’ll see it reflected in mine

The sound of your voiceMakes me rejoiceWhen life takes its tollYou calm my soul

In my heart you dwellSince the first day we fellHead over heals into loveWe will always be in awe of

There will always be that thrillWe will always dream our fillAnd all our wishes will come trueI only need to be with you

You can place in me your trustTill everything has turned to dustSuch a wonderful endeavorTruly our love will last forever

As one heart - one soul – one love

55

On Love Excerpt from “The Prophet” by Kahil Gibran

Think not you can direct the course of love, for love,if it finds you worthy, directs your course.Love gives naught but of itself, and takes naught but from itself.Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed;for love is sufficient unto itself.Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.

When you love, let these be your desires:to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody, to the night.to know the pain of too much tenderness.to be wounded by your own understanding of love; and bleed willingly and joyfully; to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and mediate love’s ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for your beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

56

On your Wedding Day (Author Unknown)

Today is the day you will always remember,The greatest in anyone’s life.You’ll start off the day just two people in love,And end it as husband and wife

It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey,With moments to cherish and treasure.And although there’ll be times when you both disagree,These will surely be outweighed by pleasure.

You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past,When the secrets of marriage were spoken;But you know that the answers lie hidden inside,Where the bond of true love lives unbroken.

So live happily forever as lovers and friends,It’s the dawn of a new life for you.As you stand there together with love in your eyes,From the moment you whisper “I Do”

And with luck, all your hopes and your dreams can be real,May success find its way to your hearts,Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys, But today is the day it all starts.

57

Our Song

Our love’s song such a special thingIt sometimes feels like angels singTogether we will sing out strongAbout our love our whole life long

As our love song fills the airThe notes may take us anywhereOur hearts contain the melodyAs we compose the rhapsody

The genre will make changesAnd our voices find new rangesAs the pages of life turnWith each new challenge we will learn

The music is new day by dayThis will never change the wayWe feel down deep insideOur love we cannot hide

Depending on our moodThe music might includeSome rock n’ roll when we are happyOr some jazz when feeling snappy

As country music does explainAt times we might just feel some painSharing how we love each otherHow there’ll never be another

And if we’re in the mood to danceThe choice may just include romanceSlow dancing closely through the nightClassically will bring delight

The music’s never endingAs our notes just keep on blendingAnd when we feel like having funWe will never be outdone

We’ll improvise if we need toIt keeps our music fresh and newLet the notes take us whereOnly those in love will dare

We will enjoy this great endeavorOur harmony will last foreverAs scores of music we designOur special song we will be so fine

58

Painting the Canvas of Your Lives

Today you will erase the canvas of your former lives.Beginning with this moment, you will start to paint them again.Let your talents flow freely, with the amazing colors of harmony and beautyAs you begin to create an exceptional new life together.

Blend your paintsAs you promise yourself to each other completely.Be a true and faithful friend, lover, and confidant.Show respect and be proud of one other.Cherish the time you spend together.

Strengthen your colorsWhen you provide a tender shoulder to lean onAnd wipe away your partner’s tears with laughter.Overcome pain with compassion and nurturing.Be a solid rock upon which your partner may rest and depend.

Consider the brush marks you leaveBy being close companions as you create marvelous memories.Laugh and smile and dream together. Be there for each other in all that life has to offer youAs you walk life’s pathways from this day forward.

Paint your life with all the love and pleasure you can find.May your life be as colorful as every beautiful sunrise and sunset.May your love be as peaceful as a starry night.May your work upon this canvas last throughout eternityAs your passion for one another vibrantly colors your lives.

59

Photograph

I wish I had a photographOf everything we’ve doneTo capture every momentTo remember all the fun

Our days will be so full and brightAs our love envelopesAll the future life can holdNo matter what develops

You’ll see it in our facesIn scenes we have composed As the camera captures usOur love will be exposed

As our collection is completedThis conclusion may be drawnLove is pictured in our memories As our life continues on

Images of a love so fair and trueAre forever captured in my mindYou will always be a part of meOur two hearts eternally entwined

60

“Princess Bride” Modified Excerpt - Buttercup’s Love for Westley

(Buttercup to Wesley)I love you, I know this must come as something of a surprise…but I have loved you for several hours now, and every second, more.I thought an hour ago that I loved you more than (anyone has loved another)...but half hour after that I knew that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then.

But ten minutes after that, I understood that my previous love was a puddlecompared to the high seas before a storm…How many minutes ago was it? Twenty?I love you so much more now than twenty minutes ago that there cannot be comparison.I love you so much more now than (when we met), there cannot be comparison.

There is no room in my body for anything but you.My arms love you, my ears adore you, my knees shake with blind affection.My mind begs you to ask it something so it can obey.Do you want me to follow you for the rest of your days? I will do that…I will be quiet for you or sing for you…or if you are hungry, let me bring you food…

Whisper that I have a chance to win your love.

Groom and Bride may your love always be such as Buttercup’s was for Wesley - may it remain as strong as it is as today - and may it continue to grow stronger minute by minute - throughout your life together.

61

The Promise by Heather Berry

Within this blessed union of souls,Where two heartsintertwine to become one,There lies a promise.

Perfectly born, divinely created,And intimately shared, It is a place where the hopeand majesty of beginnings reside.

Where all things are made possibleBy the astounding love shared by two spirits.As you hold each other’s handsin this promise, and eagerly lookinto the future in each other’s eyes,

May your unconditional love and devotionTake you to places were you’ve both only dreamed.Where you’ll dwell for a lifetime of happiness,Sheltered in the warmth of each other’s arms.

62

The Promise by Robert Sexton

Across the years I will walk with you –in deep green forests; on shores of sand;and when our time on earth is through,in heaven, too, you will have my hand.

63

The Promise of Marriage (Author Unknown)

Marriage is a promise of companionship,Of having someone to share all of life’s experiences.Marriage does not promise that there will not be any rough times,Just the assurance that there will always be someone who caresAnd will help you through to better times.

Marriage does not promise eternal romance,Just eternal love and commitment.Marriage cannot prevent disappointments, disillusionment, or grief,But it can offer hope, acceptance and comfort.

Marriage can’t protect you from making individual choicesOr shelter you from the world,But it will help to reassure youThat there is someone by your side who truly cares.

When the world hurts you and makes you feel vulnerable,Marriage offers the promiseThat there will be someone waitingTo listen, to console and to inspire.

Marriage is the joining of two people who share the promiseThat only marriage can make…To share the sunshine and the shadows,And experience a richer, more fulfilling life because of it.

64

The Prophet by Kahil Gibran (Excerpt)

True love gives nothing but itself,and takes nothing but from itself,for love is sufficient unto love.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.To awake at dawn and give thanksfor another day of loving.

To rest at noon and meditatelove's ecstasy - to return homeat eventide with gratitude.

And then to sleep with a prayerfor your beloved in your heart,and a song of praise upon your lips.

65

The Pyramid

Pyramids remain one of the great wonders of the world. A pyramid usually has four corners and equal triangular sides that converge into one point at the top. A pyramid is a very stable and monumental structure. The work and the design of the pyramids has lasted through the ages.

If a successful marriage is compared to a pyramid, these four elements would be the cornerstones of its foundation: love, honor, cherish and faithful promises.

Love in marriage means promising to always be there for each other.You treat your partner as you would expect to be treated yourself.Love doesn’t give up when the first disagreement comes along.No one is perfect. True love understands this, and overcomes it.

Honor implores us to acknowledge one another with highest regard.You are proud of the person your partner is, and encourage them to grow.You do not try to change them or insist upon your own way.You communicate openly, honestly, and with respect.

Cherish means treasuring each other, beyond all expectation.It is showing all encompassing love and compassion.It is being considerate of your partner’s feelings, needs, and dreams.It is giving the best of yourself, to enhance your partner’s life.

Promises made as you marry, come from your heart and soul.They ring with honesty, faithfulness and trust.It is imperative that you always remember them, and live by them.Renew your promises with every word and gesture you make.

Work steadfastly to build your life together upon the strong foundation of your love, and the promises made to each other today.

Your love for one another will easily pass the tests of time. Your love will be looked upon and remembered as another wonder of the world.

66

Road Through Time Modified poem from the Lord of the Rings - by J.R.R. Tolkien (Book 3 - Chapter 4)

(Reflects the days of our lives as seasons – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter)

When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,When you will marry me! Marry me! Our love will be so fair!

When Spring is come to earth and field, and corn is in the blade;When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,Marry me! Marry me! For true love is so rare!

When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold,Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,I’ll love you true, and love you long! I’ll give you all my best!

When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town;When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West,I'll linger here beside you dear, to prove true love is best!

When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain,I'll look to thee, and you to me; together we’ll remain!

When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;When broken is the barren bough, and light and our youth is past;I'll look to thee, and be with thee, with promises that last!Time will matter - not at all, with love - that’s unsurpassed!

Together we will take the road that leads through all time as one.And far away we’ll find a land where both our hearts may rest.Each new day - will bring us joy – and will compare to none.I promise this, and so much more - my love - my heart - my best.

67

Romance

You should always choose romanceEvery time you have the chanceIt should always be your goalLet romance live within your soul

You would never want to missThe wonder of your loved one’s kissPledge your love on bended kneeAnd let love set you free

Love is so very fineWords could never defineWonder overwhelms youAs all your dreams come true

Romantic gestures mean so muchA special look, a gentle touchExchange a single roseOr a simple note of prose

Romance will keep your love on fireRemember this and you’ll never tireOf showing love in everywayYour live as one begins today

68

Some Friends are Forever (Author Unknown)

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;Someone who changes your life just by being part of it.

Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.Someone who convinces youThat there really is an unlocked doorJust waiting for you to open it.

This is forever friendship.When you're down, and the world seems dark and empty,Your forever friend lifts you up in spiritand makes that dark and empty worldsuddenly seem bright and full.

Your forever friend gets you through the hard times,the sad times, and the confused times.If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows.If you lose your way, your forever friendguides you and cheers you on.

Your forever friend holds your handAnd tells you that everything is going to be okay.And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete,Because you need not worry, you have a forever friend for life.And forever has no end.

69

Something Rare and Beautiful (Author Unknown)

You share today the joy of a deep commitment and a sacred trust.You have given each other the most precious gift of love,Treasure it, nurture it and encourage it with all the honesty you used in creating it.You are sharing something rare and beautiful.

Always speak the truth and listen attentivelySo that you may understand each others thoughts and intentions.Inspire each other by sharing your accomplishments.Say I love you often to retain the warmth between you.

Laugh a lot too, even when you are angry.Remember you are each other’s best friend.Stand together and for each other alwaysMay each day be a blessing and the fulfillment of your dreams.

70

Sooner or Later (Author Unknown)

Sooner or later we begin to understandthat love is more than verses on valentines,and romance in the movies.

We begin to know that love is here and now,real and true, the most important thing in our lives.For love is the creator of our favorite memories,and the foundation of our fondest dreams.

Love is a promise that is always kept,a fortune that can never be spent,a seed that can flourishin even the most unlikely of places.

And this radiance that never fades,this mysterious and magical joy,is the greatest treasure of all –one known only by those who love.

71

These Hands (This is also included as Blessing of Hands in Blessing Examples)

Groom and Bride, look closely upon each others hands that you hold on this, your wedding day.

These are the hands of your best friend, strong and full of love, holding your hands 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.

These are the hands that through the years, 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 lift your chin as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

(Optional)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 to hold on when you need it.

Throughout the years you will love, laugh and cry together, and share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These hands will continue to tenderly and gently nurture you with love throughout your lives.

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.

May these hands continue to build a relationship founded in care and devotion for one another.

May this couple, these hands, and the wedding rings worn upon them, be blessed, as they symbolize the promises made here today.

72

Thoughts in a Garden by R. Gehrardt

This is a special place, a place where people have brought beautiful living plants, here to establish them, to nurture and care for them - that they may forever surround us with the beauty we now see. And into this place where we stand, you have brought something beautiful - the relationship that is becoming your marriage. Here you are declaring it and pledging it, promising to establish and nurture it. We are aware of the special beauty between the two of you, just as we are aware of the special beauty of this place.

We are with you now in this appropriate place to celebrate your relationship as it is and as it is yet to be; and in doing so we ask only that you remember how your life together will have the same seasons and needs as this garden. There will be growth like spring and loss like fall. There will be giving as the blossoming flower, and rest as the seed beneath the snow. All the seasons will be yours.

But remember, too, that gardens are not just happenings; the more wonderful the garden, the more skilled the gardener. So you will have to care deeply for the life that is yours together, and nurture it. You will have to appreciate and cultivate your differences, and accept that the landscape of your relationship will change with time. You will have to take care of yourself, if for no other reason than out of love for the other. And you will need the support of family and friends to reach full growth.

As you caringly chose this place to declare your marriage, so remember its lessons for your life together through the seasons that are yours to share. And may those seasons bring you and yours joy and happiness.

73

Time for Love

Love is as old as time

There are times that love is as passionate as the stormy seasOther times it is like a soft wind rustling the leaves of treesSometimes love may strike like a bolt of lightningOr love may grow slowly - like a child – without noticingThat time - is passing by

Only the fortunate know - love is not always easy and tameTend to - and feed your love - to have an eternal flameLove requires care – attention - and effort - to lastDeny love this - and it will be - but a memory - of the pastGive love - time

Without love - life is empty and dark.It only takes that certain spark -To bring to life - the glow of love -Promising a future to dream ofTime - knows no end

There is a secret that makes love trueIt is to give as much of yourself - as is given to youWhen everyday feels like the first day you knewThat someone loved you – and you loved them tooTime - is precious

Only true love heals - and brings us joyAll your heart - you must employTo be brave and venture into something realIt is only through faith that you will feelThis is - the time

Create a love that lasts through eternityBy each other’s side – you will always beThrough all of your remaining daysYour souls as one - will find their waysTime – lives in your hearts

74

Today (Author Unknown)

Today…I look into the eyes of my best friend.The one with whom I can share anything with.My deepest hopes and heart filled dreams,Inner fears and sheltered insecurities,My most warming joys and overwhelming triumphs, All future journeys that I have left to encounter,This and more I know I can share with you.

Today…I take pride in my best friend.With admiration I look upon you and smile. For all that you are and all that you do that makes me so proud.Every part of you that I have come to adore, And for those parts I have not yet learned.

Today…I share my soul with my best friend.I give it with the great confidence and trust. Because with you I am at peace,And I know with you it is safe.You give me warmth that I keep with me always.And what else can I give to someone who has given so much. For you have opened my eyes to see love,Which before I was blind to.

Today…I am marrying my best friend.

75

To Love (Author Unknown)

To love is to enter a whole new world -a world of togetherness - a world of sharing all that is dearest and deepest within your hearts.

To love is to remember and keep alive foreverall those unique qualitiesthat drew you to one another in the beginning -those first halting phrases -that wonderful feeling of one-ness when your eyes first met.

To love is to constantly searchfor new ways to bring each other happiness -to make the most of every moment you share together -and marvel at how your feelings for one anotherkeep rising to new dimensions.

To love is to create an oasis of tranquilityfor one another and a quiet place,apart from others, where you need not pretend -where you can be yourselves - And know within your hearts, you will be accepted by one another.

To love is to greet each daywith great anticipation -always eager for another opportunityto share new adventures -and gather up new memories together!

To love is to follow the rainbow through the rain -to be able to laugh at yourselves and be willing to say -."I was wrong and I'm sorry" -To forgive - and more importantly - to forget -and to always believe and trust in one another.

To love is to watch with wonder all the miracles of creation -to find beauty in all the simple things of life -and to find, within yourselves -a deeper appreciation and a new awarenessof how wonderful it is to be alive - to be happy - to be together.

To love is coming together from the pathways of your pastand then moving forward - hand in hand - along the uncharted roads of your future -ready to risk - to dream - and to dare - always believingthat all things are possible with faith and with love.

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Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courageexiles from delightlive coiled in shells of lonelinessuntil love leaves its high holy templeand comes into our sightto liberate us into life.

Love arrivesand in it’s train come ecstasiesold memories of pleasureancient histories of pain.Yet if we are bold,love strikes away the chains of fearfrom our souls.

We are weaned from our timidityin the flush of love’s lightwe dare be brave.And suddenly we seethat love costs all we areand will ever be.Yet it is only lovewhich sets us free.

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True Love (Author Unknown)

True love is a sacred flame that burns eternally,And none can dim its special glow or change its destiny.

True love speaks in tender tones and hears with gentle ear,True love gives with open heart, and true love conquers fear.

True love makes no harsh demands; it neither rules nor binds,And true love holds with gentle hands, the hearts that it entwines."

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Tuesday’s With Morries by Mitch Albom - Excerpt

“Still,” Morrie said, “there are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage:

If you don’t respect the other person, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.If you don’t know how to compromise, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.If you can’t talk openly about what goes on between you, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.And if you don’t have a common set of values in life, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble.Your values must be alike.”

“And the biggest one of those values, Mitch?”

“Your belief in the importance of your marriage.”He sniffed, then closed his eyes for a moment.“Personally,” he sighed, his eyes still closed,“I think marriage is a very important thing to do,and you’re missing a lot if you don’t try it.”

He ended the subject by quoting a poem he believed in like a prayer:“Love each other or perish.”

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Two Trees by Janet Miles

A portion of your soul has beenEntwined with mine.A gentle kind of togetherness,while separately we stand.

As two trees rooted inseparate plots of ground,while their topmost branches come together,forming a miracle of lace against the heavens.

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Union by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glanceof 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 anotherAcquaintance, friend, companion, and even teacher.

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.”

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The Velveteen Rabbit – Example 1 – Longer Story

The Velveteen Rabbit was written by Margery Williams and published in 1922. Though it is a children's story, at the very heart of the book is a message about the strength and power of true love. This is an excerpt from that story.

THERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" 

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." 

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" 

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be shabby, except to people who don't understand." 

That night, and for many nights after, the Velveteen Rabbit slept in the Boy's bed. At first he found it uncomfortable, for the Boy hugged him very tight, and sometimes he rolled over on him, and sometimes he pushed him so far under the pillow that the Rabbit could scarcely breathe. But very soon he grew to like it, for the Boy used to talk to him, and made nice tunnels for him under the bedclothes that he said were like the burrow the real rabbits lived in. And they had splendid games together. And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin and dream, with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long.

Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off, and the pink lining to his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded. He even began to lose his shape, and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more, except to the Boy. To him he was always beautiful, and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about. He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are real, you can’t be shabby, except to people who don’t understand.

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The Velveteen Rabbit - Example 2 - Shorter Story

The Velveteen Rabbit was written by Margery Williams and published in 1922. Though it is a children's story, at the very heart of the book is a message about the strength and power of true love. This is an excerpt from that story.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

“Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

“It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be shabby, except to people who don't understand."

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Victor Hugo - On Love

“You can give without loving,but you can never love without giving.The great acts of love are done by thosewho are habitually performing small acts of kindness.We pardon to the extent that we love.

Love is knowing that even when you are alone,you will never be lonely again.And great happiness of lifeis the conviction that we are loved.Loved for ourselves -

And even loved in spite of ourselves.”

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When a Man and a Woman are in Love by Stephen T. Fader – Modified

When a man and a woman are in love - his life lies within hers and her life lies within his.Each lives as an individual - yet they also live for one another.Each strives for independent goals - but they also work together to achieve their dreams.

They will give to one another what they need to survive - and help fulfill each other’s wants.They will turn one another’s disappointment into satisfaction - and frustration into contentment.They will work as a mirror - reflecting to each other their strengths and weaknesses.

They will work together to build a better understanding of one another.They will learn to lean on each other - but not so much as to be a burden on the other.They will learn to reach out to one another - but not so much as to suffocate the other.

They will learn when it is time to speak - and when it is time to listen.They will be there to comfort each other - and to celebrate together.They will be one another’s friend - guiding each other to the happiness that life holds.

They will be one another’s companion - facing together the challenges that life may present.

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“When Harry Met Sally” Modified excerpt from the movie

Groom and Bride would like to share some modified lines from the movie “When Harry Met Sally” that expresses how they feel about each other. Near the end of the film Harry tells Sally:

I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.

I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.

I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.

It's not because I'm lonely. I am here because when you realize that you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

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Why Marriage? by Mari Nichols

Because to the depths of me -I long to love one person -with all my heart - my soul -my mind - my body.

Because I need a forever friendto trust with the intimacies of me -who won't hold them against me -who loves me when I'm unlikable.

Who sees the small child in me -and who inspires the potential in me.Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the nightwith someone I feel blessed to hold.

Because marriage means opportunity to grow in love and friendship.Because I promise to take full responsibilityfor my mental and physical wholeness.Because I will take half of the responsibility for my marriage.

Together we create our marriage -because with this understanding -the possibilities are limitless.

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Wings

Love is like a butterflySo spread your wings and flyLove’s wings will take you ever so highBut you’ll never know until you try

When you emerge from that chrysalisYou will certainly know thisTrue love can start with just one kissThis chance at bliss - you should not miss

Life’s moments you will shareMore than alone you’d dareWith one who’ll always careNo love will ever compare

That certain flutter in your heartTells you that it’s time to startYour love will be a work of artYou know that you will never part

Trust in all the special thingsEspecially the joy love bringsAnd as the morning singsSpread your beautiful wings!

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