M&M Wedding, me officiant

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mitch and Mei Greene. Wed on Friday, July 20, 2007, approximately 11:15 AM, at Oregon's International Rose Test Garden.

I, yep, officiated and solemnized the ceremony.

What started as a thumbing of the nose at my old boss's going to seminary school to become a missionary turned out to be the joining of my friends in the lovely garden of roses.

It was a bit of work to come up with the words, and I have to admit that my knees were shaking a bit when we started. But it turned out well. The weather was leaking a bit, but when we started all rain disappeared. It was as it should be. Everything went without a hitch.

What did bother me a bit is, aside from the 20 or so people attending (much more at the reception), there were another 20 or so spectators. Strangers who just wanted to see a wedding at the garden. Couple of them were taking photos. One of them video taped the whole thing.

Who happens upon wedding and film the thing in entirety?

I had wrote a couple of different scripts lasting from 5 minutes, 15 minutes, to about 30 minutes. We went with the middle version. I had a version that spoke of marriage only in fiscal responsibility and legal (pros and detriments) terms, but that was deemed not appropriated by everyone.

It was good. I wish the best for Mitch and Mei.

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Mei & Mitch's Wedding

WELCOME

Dearest friends and family of Mei and Mitch, today is a day of celebration and thanksgiving. We are here to witness the commitment that Mei and Mitch have made to each other. As each of you has given something of yourself into their lives, each of you has a role to play in this marriage. Mei and Mitch greatly appreciate your love and support, not only today, but as you go forth from here into your individual lives. Marriage is also a time for each of us to renew our own commitments of love, so it is our hope that you will all find meaning and renewal in this celebration of love.

STATEMENT OF MARRIAGE

Mei and Mitch come together from different backgrounds and experiences. In the covenant of marriage, they do not leave those behind, but instead build on them to broaden the circle of love in this world. Their pledge to be a family and their confidence in the future brings them before us today.

Marriage is also a time to enjoy. Remember to do the simple and beautiful things that will make your love a treasure: play together; fight productively; communicate effectively with each other; make time for and enjoy what is important to both of you; treat each other as equals, being respectful and loyal along the way. Live in the lives of each other, feeling the other's joy and troubles as if they were your own. Remember that love is to be nurtured, to be lived out to the fullest-- in the simple activities of shared daily life, in realized hopes and long deferred dreams, in a quality of emotional exchange and spiritual communion toward which your whole life has been leaning.

EXCHANGE VOWS

Mitch, will you take Mei to be your wife? Will you honor and cherish her? Will you trust and respect her? Will you be her best friend, always there to listen and to offer support? Will you be dedicated to nurturing this relationship, to helping it grow, and to sharing the adventure of life? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only to her as long as you both shall live?

Mei, will you take Mitch to be your husband? Will you honor and cherish him? Will you trust and respect him? Will you be his best friend, always there to listen and to offer support? Will you be dedicated to nurturing this relationship, to helping it grow, and to sharing the adventure of life? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep only to him as long as you both shall live?

EXCHANGE RINGS

[Mitch]

With this ring, I pledge my life to you, my constant faith, my eternal love. It is with this ring that I marry you today and forever.

[Mei]

With this ring, I pledge my life to you, my constant faith, my eternal love. It is with this ring that I marry you today and forever.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Mei and Mitch, you have declared your love and solemn vows to one another in the presence of your family and friends; I now pronounce you husband and wife.

*sob*