In case anyone's interested, this was the ceremony:
"Mawwage! Mawwage is what brings us together today. Mawwage, that blessed awwangement, that dream within a dream." In all seriousness, we are here today to celebrate love! Love is what we all share. It's the great unifier — our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we're doing right. That's why you both are standing here. That's why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity. Today we celebrate and unify the love of Moose and Cortney, whose mutual love of science, silliness, and Pi (the number and the dessert) make them the unique and beautiful couple you see standing before you.
Cortney and Scott, we're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It's not one moment — not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged — but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, binge-watching Netflix shows, getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience. And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love — it's meant to be felt, not described.
But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.
So today, we have some words about what love is, coming from some of the people who love you the most.
Readings: A lovely Love Story by Edward Monckton, and Scientific Romance by Tim Pratt
Cortney and Scott have prepared their own special vows for each other.
(Vows go here)
Will you, Scott, keep Cortney as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day? (You will!)
Will you, Cortney, keep Scott as your favorite person — to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day?
(You will!)
May we now have the rings?
The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. Pi is the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter, and a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will remain the same. The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness, and may your love be as constant as Pi.
Repeat after me as you place the ring on Cortney/Scott's finger:
" I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
In chemistry, a chemical reaction is defined as a new compound being formed by two or more separate compounds. Each is unique with their own chemical formula and physical properties.
For this ceremony, we have chosen to perform a very simple chemical reaction. Two different compounds, Acetic Acid, and Sodium Bicarbonate will be introduced together in a vessel. When mixed, these two unique compounds break apart and combine to form several different, new compounds. The gas that is released is Carbon Dioxide, necessary for plants to convert sunshine into energy, Sodium Acetate, a compound with many uses, from sealing concrete to hand warmers, to the salt and vinegar flavor on potato chips, and Water, a compound necessary for life on this Earth. All this is a metaphor for marriage. Two disparate souls coming together and forming something stronger as the sum of their parts. Like Science, there is also chemistry in love.
(Volcano unity ritual goes here)
You have promised your love to each other, formalizing the existence of the bond between you, and you have exchanged vows and symbols of love before your friends and family. From now on each of you will see your own experiences in a new light as your life together unfolds May these two loving people be a blessing and inspiration to each other and to all those close to them. May they share each other’s joys, sorrows, achievements and dreams in their life’s adventure and journey together.
Ok, here we go: the short shortened version. Do you? Do you? Good! You're married! Kiss her!
(You kiss!)
Ladies and gentleman, presenting for the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Arafys!
_________________ Holy shitsnacks!
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