Our Wedding Ceremony
Cousin Sandra--not only the best looking licensed minister on the planet (Universal Life Church alumni, '10)--is also a great writer and extremely talented artist. She knows and loves both of us, and it shows in the beautiful words she chose to use on our wedding day. We are thankful and proud that she married us, and that we have the opportunity to share her words with you:
Delivered by Cousin Sandra on September 4, 2010 at The Central Park Conservatory Gardens. New York, NY
Welcome everyone! Bienvenue!
Thank you for getting gussied up and gathering with us today
in a celebration of Love and to celebrate Violet & Scott.
Let us lift our hearts & thoughts today together as one
in joyous celebration
of the marriage union we are about to witness
between Violet & Scott
As they enter into
the sacred & joyous covenant of marriage
we are blessed to witness
the magnificence of their love
their open hearts
and their vibrant & willing spirits
So Inspired by their love
let us rededicate ourselves
to the loving relationships within our own lives
May we all be enriched
for having shared this day together.
There is a Chinese folklore, a belief that when a person is born they are born with an
invisible red thread that connects their soul, to every individual, present & future that
will play role in their life.
As each year passes, this thread shortens & tightens, bringing closer two soulmates
who are fated to be together. The thread can tangle along the way sometimes but it can
never be broken.
When two people are connected by this Red Thread, they are destined, they've been
fated, regardless of time, place or circumstances to be together.
And according to this same belief, they say that this relationship has been cultivated for
at least 500 yrs, across many lifetimes, before it blossoms.
They believe this because it's symbolic of a relationship that has always been and a
relationship that will always be, a connection that has withstood the test of time before
you’ve even met....
So here we are after 500 yrs, And we're all still looking pretty good and we've found the end of this thread.
And who knew that when this Chinese folklore was written, that it would end up here, today in New York City here between a very detail oriented American-Chinese girl and a sweet white guy from Minnesota...
But here we are because there was, is and always will be a Red Thread connecting Violet & Scott..... and all of us as family & friends.
Scott, this is a just fancy Chinese way of saying, Welcome to the Family!!
You are marrying Violet today but I hope you know that you are also getting us as your family. No backsies, no refunds or exchanges.
And Scott, if you are really in the long haul with us & Violet, I think you should know what our family philosophy is. Which is, "Life is What Happens Between Meals". We looooove food.....and if you really
love us you will dazzle us with your mad chop stick skillz AND! eat everything that is presented to you...head, feet & all!
And Violet, today you are marrying the love of your life but you are also getting a wonderful new family.
But anyone who knows and loves you, knows that you are an absolute Dog person. So you should know that you are marrying a family of Kitty people.
So to match Scott's mad chop stick skillz, you should learn to love kitties as much as you love dem puppies.
And aspire to appreciate the wit, humor & comedic genius of cats speaking Engrish on LOL cats.
So, Violet & Scott,
Today we all form a circle of love around you guys
as you enter into marriage.
Because Today we have come together
to celebrate the love you have found with each other.
By being here with you,
each of us is declaring our support
for your decision to join together in marriage.
As families and friends,
you form the community of support
that surrounds Violet & Scott.
Each of you, by your presence here today,
is being called upon
to uphold them in honoring and loving each other.
So always stand besides them, never between them.
Offer them your love and support,
And never your judgement and crappy advice.
Instead encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts,
and honor this marriage
into which they both have come to be joined today.
Violet & Scott
your marriage will no doubt, be filled with many surprises.
Some of which you will welcome
while others will test the strength and flexibility
of your bond.
Your life together will present many opportunities
to refine and deepen your love
and to explore the profound depths of your beings.
So be compassionate with each other
and nurture each other
And care for this union with love & care.
And may your love create a safe haven for you both
on the journey that lays ahead of you.
Lead with your hearts
and take the time to do the simple things
that will nurture your bond.
And don’t forget to deeply listen to each other--
to your dreams & especially your frustrations.
And Be committed in finding ways
to give your love anew to each other every day & every way.
Let your love be an inspiration to others
to reach for what is good within all of us.
May your love be so abundant, so over flowing,
that you will have plenty to share with all of us as well.
Because remember that It is your love
that has brought us all here today
(and me waking up at 4AM to catch a 7AM flight from San Francisco with only 2 hrs of
sleep,....just sayin’)
So may your bond grow deeper and sweeter
with each passing year.
These wedding rings symbolize
the wholeness, perfection and peace
that is available to you in your marriage.
They are symbols of love, friendship, and faithfulness
that you share.
As circles, they have no beginning or end.
They are round like the sun, the moon, earth and the universe.
Just as these rings have no points of weakness,
may your union be strong,
and may you be blessed with joy
as you journey through life together
surrounded by the circle of your love....
Violet & Scott,
on behalf of your loved ones
who are here today
We wish for you a love
that is rich, deep and powerful enough
to inspire poetry, songs, spin-offs, canal street knock offs, the occasional earthquake AND! world peace
and we wish to support you both
in bringing forth the best that is within you and within us.
May you lavishly love one another (don't be stingy with the love!)
and love being loved by one another
today, tomorrow, on game days & always.
We wish for you the kind of home
that is better than a rent controlled apt in Manhattan
the kind of home that will be a haven for you both, a sanctuary
a place of peace, freedom, vitality, growth & humor.
And in this very clean and very well organized home,
we hope that you are blessed
with healthy, cuter than ewok, Amerasian kids.
May the life you share
be peaceful, healthy, prosperous
filled with blessings and joy
great hair days
and rock star parking.
Finally, we wish that at the end of your lives
you will be able to look back with a coupla Chinese words you picked up here and there
and smile with no regrets upon the life that you have made & shared together,
pleased, proud, satisfied, and fulfilled beyond your biggest dreams.
As the Apache Wedding Blessing declares:
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter to the other;
Now you will feel no cold
for each of you will be warmth to the other;
Now there will be no loneliness;
for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now there are two persons,
but there is one life before you.
Now go! to your dwelling place
and enter into the days of your togetherness,
And may your days be good & long upon this earth
And now by the power vested in me by www.universalifechurch.net
and the State of New York
I am proud & honored to witness and affirm your union of love
and I now pronounce you husband and wife!
You may now kiss your lovely bride!
Delivered by Cousin Sandra on September 4, 2010 at The Central Park Conservatory Gardens. New York, NY
Welcome everyone! Bienvenue!
Thank you for getting gussied up and gathering with us today
in a celebration of Love and to celebrate Violet & Scott.
Let us lift our hearts & thoughts today together as one
in joyous celebration
of the marriage union we are about to witness
between Violet & Scott
As they enter into
the sacred & joyous covenant of marriage
we are blessed to witness
the magnificence of their love
their open hearts
and their vibrant & willing spirits
So Inspired by their love
let us rededicate ourselves
to the loving relationships within our own lives
May we all be enriched
for having shared this day together.
There is a Chinese folklore, a belief that when a person is born they are born with an
invisible red thread that connects their soul, to every individual, present & future that
will play role in their life.
As each year passes, this thread shortens & tightens, bringing closer two soulmates
who are fated to be together. The thread can tangle along the way sometimes but it can
never be broken.
When two people are connected by this Red Thread, they are destined, they've been
fated, regardless of time, place or circumstances to be together.
And according to this same belief, they say that this relationship has been cultivated for
at least 500 yrs, across many lifetimes, before it blossoms.
They believe this because it's symbolic of a relationship that has always been and a
relationship that will always be, a connection that has withstood the test of time before
you’ve even met....
So here we are after 500 yrs, And we're all still looking pretty good and we've found the end of this thread.
And who knew that when this Chinese folklore was written, that it would end up here, today in New York City here between a very detail oriented American-Chinese girl and a sweet white guy from Minnesota...
But here we are because there was, is and always will be a Red Thread connecting Violet & Scott..... and all of us as family & friends.
Scott, this is a just fancy Chinese way of saying, Welcome to the Family!!
You are marrying Violet today but I hope you know that you are also getting us as your family. No backsies, no refunds or exchanges.
And Scott, if you are really in the long haul with us & Violet, I think you should know what our family philosophy is. Which is, "Life is What Happens Between Meals". We looooove food.....and if you really
love us you will dazzle us with your mad chop stick skillz AND! eat everything that is presented to you...head, feet & all!
And Violet, today you are marrying the love of your life but you are also getting a wonderful new family.
But anyone who knows and loves you, knows that you are an absolute Dog person. So you should know that you are marrying a family of Kitty people.
So to match Scott's mad chop stick skillz, you should learn to love kitties as much as you love dem puppies.
And aspire to appreciate the wit, humor & comedic genius of cats speaking Engrish on LOL cats.
So, Violet & Scott,
Today we all form a circle of love around you guys
as you enter into marriage.
Because Today we have come together
to celebrate the love you have found with each other.
By being here with you,
each of us is declaring our support
for your decision to join together in marriage.
As families and friends,
you form the community of support
that surrounds Violet & Scott.
Each of you, by your presence here today,
is being called upon
to uphold them in honoring and loving each other.
So always stand besides them, never between them.
Offer them your love and support,
And never your judgement and crappy advice.
Instead encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts,
and honor this marriage
into which they both have come to be joined today.
Violet & Scott
your marriage will no doubt, be filled with many surprises.
Some of which you will welcome
while others will test the strength and flexibility
of your bond.
Your life together will present many opportunities
to refine and deepen your love
and to explore the profound depths of your beings.
So be compassionate with each other
and nurture each other
And care for this union with love & care.
And may your love create a safe haven for you both
on the journey that lays ahead of you.
Lead with your hearts
and take the time to do the simple things
that will nurture your bond.
And don’t forget to deeply listen to each other--
to your dreams & especially your frustrations.
And Be committed in finding ways
to give your love anew to each other every day & every way.
Let your love be an inspiration to others
to reach for what is good within all of us.
May your love be so abundant, so over flowing,
that you will have plenty to share with all of us as well.
Because remember that It is your love
that has brought us all here today
(and me waking up at 4AM to catch a 7AM flight from San Francisco with only 2 hrs of
sleep,....just sayin’)
So may your bond grow deeper and sweeter
with each passing year.
These wedding rings symbolize
the wholeness, perfection and peace
that is available to you in your marriage.
They are symbols of love, friendship, and faithfulness
that you share.
As circles, they have no beginning or end.
They are round like the sun, the moon, earth and the universe.
Just as these rings have no points of weakness,
may your union be strong,
and may you be blessed with joy
as you journey through life together
surrounded by the circle of your love....
Violet & Scott,
on behalf of your loved ones
who are here today
We wish for you a love
that is rich, deep and powerful enough
to inspire poetry, songs, spin-offs, canal street knock offs, the occasional earthquake AND! world peace
and we wish to support you both
in bringing forth the best that is within you and within us.
May you lavishly love one another (don't be stingy with the love!)
and love being loved by one another
today, tomorrow, on game days & always.
We wish for you the kind of home
that is better than a rent controlled apt in Manhattan
the kind of home that will be a haven for you both, a sanctuary
a place of peace, freedom, vitality, growth & humor.
And in this very clean and very well organized home,
we hope that you are blessed
with healthy, cuter than ewok, Amerasian kids.
May the life you share
be peaceful, healthy, prosperous
filled with blessings and joy
great hair days
and rock star parking.
Finally, we wish that at the end of your lives
you will be able to look back with a coupla Chinese words you picked up here and there
and smile with no regrets upon the life that you have made & shared together,
pleased, proud, satisfied, and fulfilled beyond your biggest dreams.
As the Apache Wedding Blessing declares:
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter to the other;
Now you will feel no cold
for each of you will be warmth to the other;
Now there will be no loneliness;
for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now there are two persons,
but there is one life before you.
Now go! to your dwelling place
and enter into the days of your togetherness,
And may your days be good & long upon this earth
And now by the power vested in me by www.universalifechurch.net
and the State of New York
I am proud & honored to witness and affirm your union of love
and I now pronounce you husband and wife!
You may now kiss your lovely bride!
