Our Wedding Day
Saturday : 19 : November : 2011
The Ceremony
Our ceremony was held at Lake Leschenaultia, Chidlow, Western Australia. Our wonderful and inspiring Celebrant was Joyce Tasma. We wanted a ceremony that was relaxed but heartfelt, relected who we were and involved family and friends. We chose small roles for our closest, but had no formal bridal party. I walked down the aisle to Sarah McLachlan's version of Lennon/McCartneys 'Blackbird'.
Here is our ceremony in words...
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
My name is Joyce Tasma and I am honoured to have been invited by Michelle and Stuart to be their marriage celebrant and it is with great pleasure that I welcome you from near and wide to celebrate this wonderful occasion...in this beautiful location beside Lake Leschenaultia
This marriage between Stuart John Harrison and Michelle Charles, or better known to you as Stuart and Michelle, is a very public and binding way of saying that together they will face the world, together they are stronger…bringing into the union all those qualities they have and can share with each other.
PRESENTING THE PARENTS
The importance of the role of parents is not often acknowledged publicly but on the occasion of this wedding it does present the opportunity for this dedication and love to be credited.
Today Michelle stands before us with her mother, Janet, and Step father Bruce, and they are ready to see her into the next stage of her life...and I ask them
“Who brings this woman to be married to this man?’
They reply: “We do”
Janet and Bruce does Michelle come with your love and support for this union with Stuart? ,
They reply: “Yes she does.”
Stuart, do you promise to Michelle’s parents that you will love, respect and care for their daughter always?
Stuart replies: “I do.”
Bruce and Janet to welcome Stuart into your family I ask you to give him a hug/handshake ...then they sit down
Thank you...
I would like to ask Stuart’s parents, Robert and Diane, to come forward please...
Diane and Robert does Stuart have your love and support for his union with Michelle?
They reply: “Yes he does”
Michelle do you promise to Diane and Robert that you will love and care for their son always?
Michelle replies: “Yes I do”
Diane and Robert would you like to give Michelle a hug to welcome her into your family....Hugs for both and then they sit down
It is fitting that we have come here to this bush setting...as both have a strong and abiding passion for nature and the outdoors.
Today’s ceremony will give this place a new significance as it becomes a spiritual and treasured place where they publicly declare their love for one another and their choice to live together as husband and wife and to grow together in a shared future.
You have seen this relationship grow over the past years and you are the family and friends who form the loving and supportive community that strengthens their relationship.
Marriage is all about family and the generations that have passed and those yet to come.
Grandparents have played their roles as well in shaping these two people and we acknowledge with love Joe and Jack who are no longer with us but their love and support of this union is still felt by Michelle and Stuart.
Marriage brings two families together to create a new one...shared histories and lives joined forever by virtue of the vows that will be made today.
Since Stuart and Michelle have been together they know that they can rely upon each other no matter what comes.
They began their friendship at work through their mutual love of the outdoors.
They have faced their various life challenges and they have come to accept themselves and know what they want out of life...both with different interests but able to come together on common ground.
Stuart and Michelle understand each others’ complexity, and accept one another’s imperfections; always openly and freely communicating ideas, hopes and dreams.
They share a love of life and having fun. Friends as much as lovers, they bring respect and tolerance of each other’s individuality and most importantly they make each other happy.
These words are for Michelle and Stuart and I would like to ask Caroline to come forward...
“You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point you decide to marry. From that moment 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 began with “ when we’re married” and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will”....all those late night talks that include ‘someday’ and ‘somehow’ and ‘maybe’... and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things and more are the 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 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 be quite the same. For after today you shall say to the world ‘this is my husband’ and ‘this is my wife’....”
CELEBRANT AUTHORITY
I am duly authorized by the Attorney General to solemnize marriages according to Australian law.
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
It is a commitment made with all the desire and intention that it last a lifetime….and here today before your family and friends, we are honoured to witness this important moment in your lives.
THE ASKING AND THE VOWS
Saying vows to each other is a very important part of this ceremony…
They are the promises you make to each other for the rest of your lives and are the invisible threads that will keep your marriage strong and enduring.
Speak them with love and conviction, and a belief they will last forever.
I ask you both to face each other and hold hands…
“Do you come here freely and without reservation to commit to each other in marriage?”
Michelle and Stuart reply: “We do.”
Will you be honest with each other, be open to communication, sensitive to each other’s needs and support each other, for the rest of your lives together?
They reply: “We will.”
Marriage is a precious gift- a life long dedication to love. Marriage is a precious teaching- a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely. With this understanding I now ask you to say your vows to one another...
Stuart and Michelle could you please repeat after me...
Stuart
I promise to give you the best of myself,
And ask of you no more than you can give.
Michelle
I promise to accept the way you are.
I fell in love with you for the qualities and abilities,
And outlook on life that you have.
Stuart
I promise to respect you as a person,
With your own interests, needs and desires,
Which may differ from my own.
Michelle
I promise to share with you my time,
My close attention,
And bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship.
Stuart
I promise to keep myself open to you,
To let you see through the window of my personal world,
Into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.
Michelle
I promise to grow along with you,
To be willing to face life’s challenges,
And keep our relationship alive and exciting.
Stuart
And I finally promise to love you as your husband, and I, Stuart Harrison, ask those present to witness that I take you, Michelle Charles, to be my lawful wedded wife.
In good times and in bad with all I have to give,
And all that I feel inside,
In the only way I know how,
Completely and forever.
Michelle
And I finally promise to love you as your husband, and I ask those present to witness that I, Michelle Charles, take you, Stuart Harrison, to be my lawful wedded husband.
In good times and in bad with all I have to give,
And all that I feel inside,
In the only way I know how,
Completely and forever.
I would like to ask Andrew to come forward with the ring chosen for Michelle...
Please hold the ring over Michelle’s left hand and repeat after me...
Stuart: “Michelle, I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and future life together”
I would like to ask Bradley to come forward with the ring chosen for Stuart
Michelle could you please hold the ring over his left hand and repeat after me...
Michelle: “Stuart I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and future life together.
I now invite Brenda to come forward with a Blessing of the hands
BRENDA....
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day 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 and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands 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 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 when you need it.
And lastly, 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 one touch.
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
Ladies and Gentlemen, family and friends, Michelle and Stuart’s love has spoken...they have declared before all of us that they will live together in marriage and symbolized this by the joining of hands and with the giving and receiving of rings.
May you find enjoyment in simple things, the beauty in nature, a walk on the beach or watching a sunset
May you look for things to praise to cheer, to encourage, and often say “I love you”.
The sincerity of your promises to each other gives confidence that you will continue to develop a partnership that supports and enhances you both separately, and together.
We wish you every happiness both today and throughout your marriage.
It now gives me great pleasure by the power vested in me to declare you husband and wife...
Stuart you may kiss your beautiful wife...
Stuart and Michelle share a kiss and everyone claps and cheers.
THE SIGNING OF THE REGISTRY
Stuart and Michelle have one more formality to complete before they are legally married…the signing of the Marriage Registry with their witnesses
Tina Charles and Grant Walker.
This may take a few moments and I ask you be patient and take lots of photos until we return to present the married couple.
Jack Johnson sings ‘Better Together’ as Stuart and Michelle sign the following documents:
*The Presentation Marriage Certificate
*The Marriage Registry Book
*The Certificate of Marriage (for the registry office.)
Many photos are taken.....
The bridal party reassembles for the Presentation of the married couple.
THE PRESENTATION
Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, I am honoured to have the great pleasure in presenting to you
Mr and Mrs Stuart and Michelle Harrison
I would like to invite the grandmothers….Vera and Winifred to be the first to congratulate the newlywed
I invite you all to come forward and give them your personal congratulations
Prepared and Presented
By
Joyce Tasma
Authorised Marriage Celebrant
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