Andy and Kelly (above video)

31 December 2013

 

Welcome to guests

 

Good afternoon everyone and a warm welcome to you all. We are here at the Briars in Mt Martha on this night, New Years Eve to celebrate the union of Andy and Kelly as Husband and Wife. Before we begin, can we please give a round of applause for the beautiful bride... And Andy, any hesitations this is your last chance. (IT'S A TRAP).

Today is a day of love, joy and laughter

 

I'd now like to ask Kelly's friend Sarah who has travelled all the way from England to join us today to share a reading.

 

1st reading

 

Union by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all 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 that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my husband. This is my wife.

 

 

Traditional ritual -  Tying of the knot

 

Kelly and Andy, I need you to clasp your left forearms together, your pulses are touching, therefore, your heartbeats are together. Now this simple ancient Celtic marriage ceremony was used to symbolise a loving couple’s commitment

to each other, so Kelly, Andy, as we tie this true love knot, you may slip your hands from the knot. It remains tied forever. This rope close entwines two hearts in love together, friendships, dearest pledges made in joy forever. United you shall walk through life, sharing both pain and pleasure and hand in hand you shall strive for achievement in life together. Should the path be rough and thorny, let love sustain and guide you and should the path be strewn with roses, let the joys of life embrace you.

 

In ancient times, this simple ceremony you have just witnessed was in fact enough to join a man and woman as husband and wife. Kelly, Andy what you have just done is truly ‘tie the knot’.

 

I'd now like to invite Andy's mate Sam to share some wisdom.

 

2nd reading

 

As your lives together get busier, and when 24 hours in a day doesn’t seem enough, think of this jar.

You might say this jar is full. However if I add some smaller pebbles.  Now would you say it’s full? Pour sand into jar, shake so it falls between cracks. Okay so now it’s full

 

Now, I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The large rocks are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

 

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the larger rocks. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

 

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the shower, fix the leaking tap and wash the car. Take care of the large rocks first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. Sam then produces a Beers from under the table and pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. And the beer you ask? I'm glad you asked. The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with friends. Cheers!

 

Exchanging of Vows

 

My name is Josh Connelly and I am a civil celebrant. As a Civil Celebrant, I am duly authorised by law to solemnize marriages according to law. Kelly and Andy, before you are joined in marriage in my presence, and in the presence of these witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter. Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

It is now time to exchange your marriage vows. These are the personal promises that you make to each other.

 

Kelly, please repeat after me:

Andy, I declare my love for you.  I call upon the persons here present  to witness that I, Kelly Shae Henderson,  take you,

Andrew Ryan Nisbet to be my lawful wedded husband.  I will be kind, unselfish and trusting.  I promise to encourage and inspire you,  to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I will share in your

dreams and support you as you strive to achieve all that you can. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.

 

Andy please repeat after me:

Kelly, I declare my love for you. I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, Andrew Ryan Nisbet # take you, Kelly

Shae Henderson# to be my lawful wedded wife. I will be kind, unselfish and trusting. I promise to encourage and inspire you, # to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I will share in your dreams and support you # as you strive to achieve all that you can. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, # from this day forward # for as long as we both shall live.

 

Do you Kelly take Andy to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?

Kelly: I do

 

Do you Andy take Kelly to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health. Will you stand beside and protect her as you face the hoard together when the zombie apocalypse arrives.

Andy: I do

 

Exchanging of rings

 

Circles have no beginning and no end and so in the long and sacred tradition of marriage, rings have come to symbolise eternal love and endless union of body, of mind and of the spirit. Andy place the ring at the top of Kelly's finger.

 

Andy, will you please repeat after me: Kelly, with this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a pledge of my love and as a symbol of all we share. I give you this ring to be mine forever and I yours. Andy, you may now place the ring on Kelly's finger.

 

Kelly, please place the ring at the top of Andy’s finger and repeat after me:

Andy, with this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a pledge of my love and as a symbol of all we share. I give you this ring to be mine forever and I yours.

 

Andy and Kel, your journey has brought you here, to this place and time today and now you begin the next phase of your lives together. So before your family and friends I have the pleasure and privilege of pronouncing you husband and wife.

You may now kiss the bride!!!

 

Ladies and gentlemen the signing of the register will now take place.

Ian Nisbet and Cassie Henderson to come forward to witness.

 

Presentation of newly married couple

 

Please join me in congratulating the newly married couple, Mr and Mrs Andy and Kel Nisbet!!!