The morning of the wedding I woke up early. It was strange not having the babies to tend to. I had all my maids around me and the girls doing my hair. The time went so fast and we were only just ready, yet arrived at the church with plenty of time to spare. The vicar joked that I was the first ever bride to arrive not just on time but early and before any of the bridesmaids had got there.

As the music for the service began I could barely breathe, but I was ready as I took the first nervous steps toward my new husband, my new life and my new name!!

The Wedding of David and Jennie. 10th September 2011

Groom’s Song
Hotel Yorba, The White Stripes
“Let’s get married
In a big cathedral by a priest
Cause if I’m the man that you love the most
You could say I do at least”

Bridesmaids’ Entrance
Going to the Chapel, The Dixie Cups
“Today’s the day we’ll say I Do!”

Bride’s Entrance
At My Most Beautiful, REM
”I’ve found a way to make you smile.”

Welcome and Introduction

Opening Prayer

Welcoming Hymns

Hymn – Sing Hosanna

Hymn – Praise Him

On Your Wedding Day
Author Unknown
Read by Steven Nairn
Today is a day you will always remember
The greatest in anyone’s life
You’ll start off the day just two people in love
And end it as Husband and Wife

It’s a brand new beginning the start of a journey
With moments to cherish and treasure
And although there’ll be times when you both disagree
These will surely be outweighed by pleasure

You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past
When the secrets of marriage were spoken
But you know that the answers lie hidden inside
Where the bond of true love lies unbroken

So live happy forever as lovers and friends
It’s the dawn of a new life for you
As you stand there together with love in your eyes
From the moment you whisper ‘I do’

And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real
May success find it’s way to your hearts
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys
But today is the day it all starts.

The Preface and Declarations

Old Testament Reading
Ruth Chapter 1: 16-17 Commitment to one another
Read by Clare Chembalipuram
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

The Talk

Union
Robert Fulghum
Read by Michele Stapeley
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 promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks – all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- 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 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, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife.

The Vows

Blessing of the Hands
Author Unknown
Read by Carolyn Nairn
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 that will hold you 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 a touch.

The Giving and Receiving of Rings

The Blessing

Hymn – He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

New Testament Reading
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans
Read by Moira O’Sullivan
Think of God’s mercy, my friends, and worship him, I beg you, in a
way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering yourselves as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.

Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil.
Love each other as much as brothers and sisters should, and have a profound
respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with
great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you
cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of
the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should
make hospitality you special care.

Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow, Treat
everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real
friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.
Never repay evil with evil but let everyone see that you are interested
only in the highest ideals. Do all you can to live at peace with
everyone.

Hymn – Make me a Channel of Your Peace
(During this hymn Jennie and David ask that we remember those who cannot be with us today.)

Prayers
WEDDING PRAYER – Adapted
Robert Lois Stevenson (1850-1894)
James Wyles
Lord, behold our family and friends here assembled
We thank you for this place in which we celebrate
For the love that unites us
For the peace accorded to this day
For the hope with which we dream
For the health, the work, the food,
And the bright skies that make our lives delightful
For our friends and family in all parts of the earth.
Amen

Celebration
Rev. Carl Thitchener 2003
Laura Watson
We celebrate the love that brought you to this day.
With love that deepens through many years, may you know its meaning and its mystery-how we become truly one in sharing ourselves with one another, and yet, remain truly two in our own uniqueness. May your house be a place of happiness for all who enter it, a place where the old and the young are renewed in each other’s company, a place for growing, a place for music, a place for laughter. And when shadows and darkness fall within its rooms, may it still be a place of hope and strength for all who enter it, especially for those who may be entrusted in your care. May no person be alien to your compassion. May your larger family be the family of all humankind. And may those who are nearest to you and dearest to you constantly be enriched by the beauty and the energy of your love for each other
Amen.

The Signing of the Registers
Witnessed by Clare Chembalipuram and Sarah Selway

I’ll Stop the World, The Cure
One Day Like This, Elbow
“It’s looking like a beautiful day!”

Hymn – One More Step Along the World I Go

Tony Norfolk
Chapter One of One Thousand
By O.J.Preston
For two people this dawn brought on a magical day
Now husband and wife they head on their way
As a boat setting sail may their journey begin
With calmest of waters, most helpful of wind
And if they should stumble upon turbulent sea
May it pass them unharming – leave them be.
For here are two people whom love has well bitten
Here opens their book which has yet to be written
As the first page unfolds and their life inks its path
May it write a true story where forever love lasts
Let their journey be happy till death do they part
Of one thousand chapters may this be the start.

Final Blessing and Farewell

Bride and Groom’s Exit
Elevation, U2

The Way — Unknown origin
The way is long — let us go together
The way is difficult — let us help each other
The way is joyful — let us share it
The way is ours alone — let us go in love
The way grows before us — let us begin

Please join us, the new Mr and Mrs Henley, as we celebrate our new beginning.

Thank you x