Our Wedding Ceremony

Chris and Ponzi, I greet you. And to all of you, dearest family and friends, and on behalf of Chris and Ponzi, I welcome you as well.

Let your presence be welcome, let your hearts be glad, for everything there is a season, and a time and a purpose. And this is the time and this is the place to celebrate the wedding of Chris and Ponzi - and we are happy and we are grateful!

A wedding is a wonderful occasion. It is an important ritual filled with hopes, dreams and excitement… and one that celebrates the lives of two people and those they love… and one that celebrates different cultures and friends and beliefs from all around the world. We are here today to celebrate the love that Chris and Ponzi have for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to journey forward in their lives as marriage partners.

Let us open our wedding ceremony by blessing this sacred space and with a blessing for Chris and Ponzi: May our couple, Chris and Ponzi, be blessed now and forevermore; may their love be nurtured by each other and all their friends and family, always and forever; may this marriage be cradled in their hands and nurtured by their love and devotion; may this man, Chris, grow strong in the arms of this woman, Ponzi; may this woman, Ponzi, grow glorious in the love of this man, Chris; may the earth be brought closer to heaven through this love; may all the world be blessed hereby.

For some time now, Chris and Ponzi have known and loved each other. They have been strengthened by their love and have received many blessings through its beauty and tenderness. Today and with conscious choice and great joy, Chris and Ponzi enter into the sacred partnership of marriage, vowing to be partners through the triumphs and trials - the ups and downs - of their shared life.

For those of us blessed by a true partnership of love, we feel safe in the presence of our loved one. There is no need to hide any part of ourselves for fear of being judged or rejected. We can just be together from moment to moment, fully recognizing that by freeing one another to be truly who they are, we are loving each other more.

Marriage is a reflection on our histories as well as on our future, on our losses as well as our hopes and possibilities. And so, as Chris and Ponzi wed, it is worthwhile to contemplate that they could not and would not be standing here today if they had not followed their own star home and done what they needed to do to deliver themselves to this point in their lives.

A true marriage is the ultimate relationship because it offers the opportunity of limitless intimacy between two people. It is a great and challenging adventure into the depths and heights of caring, affection, trust and understanding.

A true spiritual marriage is a journey of transformation. In marriage, we do not give ourselves to another, but rather surrender into something greater while maintaining our well-being as individuals. A truly sacred marriage union is a vehicle that allows us to know our true selves by reflection through our loved one.

And so, we celebrate with you, Chris and Ponzi, as you begin your precious, sacred and unique marriage journey as husband and wife. As life partners, your relationship is lovely in its innocence, mighty in its strength and abundant with possibilities. On behalf of your loved ones here this evening, our dearest wish for both of you is that you have the great good fortune to share happy marriage, and that you continue to light up the room for each other, for the rest of your lives.

Chris loves you very much, Ponzi, and he is so proud to become your husband this evening. From your very first meeting to all of your time together as your relationship has grown and matured… Chris is very confident in his choice of you as his life partner. In Chris’s words: “We met each other online - what more could a geek want? Ponzi always has my best interests at heart, both personally and professionally. She is my soul mate.”

And Chris, well, you are indeed one lucky guy! This wonderful woman standing before you loves you dearly and Ponzi is so honored to become your wife this evening. As Ponzi shared with me, “I love Chris most when he’s just being himself - original, intelligent, lovable and silly. He never ceases to amaze and excite me with his passion. He makes me laugh and reminds me not to take life so seriously - something I unintentionally do. He’s my perfect ‘other half.’”

Chris and Ponzi, you give us hope and we are so delighted to be your witnesses tonight. We are touched by your happiness; we are moved by the courage of your love. And It gives us great joy to celebrate your wedding day with you.

I now turn to the parents of our groom, Joe and Judy - I know you take great pride in your son, Chris.and the love and respect you have for him he also feels for you. Chris and Ponzi are grateful to you both for raising Chris to be the man he is today and thank you for your part in their marriage. May we have your blessing on this occasion?

I now turn to the parents of our bride, Sam and Phyllis - I know that you take great pride in your daughter, Ponzi, and the love and respect you have for her, she also feels for you. Ponzi says that she got her sense of adventure from her mother and her sense of strength from her father.and perseverance from both. Chris and Ponzi thank you for your part in their marriage. May we have your blessing on this occasion?

Chris and Ponzi are absolutely delighted that all of you, their dearest family and friends, could be here tonight to share this special moment with them. They have asked me to thank each and very one of your for your love, appreciation and support… and for sharing this most special and intimate of moments with them, their wedding day. In Ponzi’s words: “It’s a dream to have all of you here to celebrate with us. I’m humbled by the love and friendship we have in this room. There are no words that can express the great fortune we have in the community you create for us to love and be loved in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this special day with us.”

I know that some of you have traveled far to be here this afternoon.Chris and Ponzi would especially like to acknowledge and welcome Ponzi’s Grandmother, Bobbie Jo for making the trip here from North Carolina to be here this evening - welcome, Bobbie Jo.

And so, in your best voices, and with the words, “We Will,” I now ask all of you, family and friends, if you are willing now and always to sustain and strengthen this marriage by upholding both Chris and Ponzi with your love and support.

Now I, Annemarie Juhlian, a non-denominational Celebrant, am duly authorized by law to officiate this, your marriage, according to the laws of Washington State.

Chris and Ponzi, since it is your intention to join in marriage..will you now please join your hands as well as your hearts?

Chris, will you have Ponzi to be your beloved wife, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope and love? Will you listen to her deepest thoughts, be tender-hearted and kind and wise in your daily care of her, and stand faithfully by her side in sickness and health? Choosing Ponzi above all others, will you undertake to care for her well being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?

Ponzi, will you have Chris to be your beloved husband, to live together in the covenant of faith, hope and love? Will you listen to his deepest thoughts, be tender-hearted and kind and wise in your daily care of him, and stand faithfully by him side in sickness and health? Choosing Chris above all others, will you undertake to care for his well being of mind and body and spirit, as long as you both shall live?

And now, Chris and Ponzi will say the most powerful, most loving words two people can say to each other. They will take their wedding vows. And Chris and Ponzi have each written their vows that they will now share with each other and all of us.

[ My Wedding Vows / Her Wedding Vows ]

So we come, Chris and Ponzi, to the presentation of the rings by which you symbolize and bind your love for each other. Your rings are adornments, carefully chosen for their beauty and simplicity. They quietly sit on your fingers, reminding you of the power of love and the pledge of your partnership and love.

And when you have been together for a long, long time, you will look at your rings, and you will feel the indentation they have made on your fingers. And you will know that these rings contain all of the memories of what your lives and your relationship have been.

Robert, may I have the Bride’s ring, please?

Chris, please slip Ponzi’s ring on her finger and repeat these words, phrase by phrase, after me… “Ponzi, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow to you. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.”

Maryam, may I have the Groom’s ring, please? “Ponzi, please slip Chris’s ring on his finger and repeat these words, phrase by phrase, after me… “Chris, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow to you. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.”

In ancient traditions, the signing of a marriage certificate symbolized the joining together of not only the couple but two families. In celebration of the vows that Chris and Ponzi have taken this evening, our couple along with their two witnesses, Robert and Maryam, will sign their marriage documents.

So as the marriage documents are signed, I invite all of you to send Chris and Ponzi and invisible wish, prayer or good thought as we launch them into their married life together…

Chris and Ponzi, on this sacred day, your wedding day, we ask that the love you share give you strength.

May the dreams you share bring you hope.

May the beliefs you share bring you peace.

And wherever you are in your journey through life, may your hearts always find their way home.

And as I am so very privileged to bring you together in marriage today, I have a personal wish for both of you. My wish is that many, many years from now you are able to look back on your life together - pleased, satisfied, and fulfilled - and that you are able to look at one another and be able to say: “Because of you, I have lived the life I’ve always wanted to life - because of you, I have become the person I always longed to be.”

Chris and Ponzi - by the love that has brought you here today.by the vows you have exchanged and by the integrity of your commitment… in the presence of your dearest family and friends.it is my pleasure and my honor to pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your marriage with a kiss!