Caitlin looked down at her single rose as Celena and Lucky followed her outside into the hallway. They walked to where the chapel was. Caitlin took a deep breath before she walked into the chapel, when "Here Comes the Bride" started playing from a piano. Celena and Lucky were right behind her.
Caitlin looked up toward the altar where the minister was with Boss standing on his right. Boss had a big grin on his face that said, "That's definitely my ham gal." Celena was displaying her trident as she flapped her wings and flipped her hair, but no one was watching her. Everyone's attention was on Caitlin who was now glowing with sparkly stars around her, thanks to a special effect Lucky was making. Boss's baby blue eyes were sparkling with love and desire as Caitlin made her way to the altar. Celena and Lucky stopped where the aisles stopped and sat down in the front aisle. Caitlin stood to the left of the minister as she looked into Boss's baby blue eyes with her sapphire blue eyes.
The minister watched the couple as he said, "You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in all the world whom you love best. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and to share love.
"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?
"I should like at this time try to speak of some of the things which many of us wish for the both of you. We wish for you a home, not a place of stone and wood, but an island of peace, a place from which you will receive strength and support that stays and carries with you throughout your daily lives. We hope that your home encompasses the beauty of nature, that has within it the elements of simplicity, beauty, silence, and color, in concordance with your dreams and aspirations. We wish for you a home of books, poetry, and music, a home with all the things which represent the highest of both men and women.
"Marriage is the most important of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature. Marriage is a gift of God, given to comfort the sorrow of life and magnify the joys. Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasures in other people's sins but delights in the truth, it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.
"Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of hearts, the union of two lives as one. Your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the state nor by the words of the minister, but by the strength of your love and the power of faith in each other and in God.
"It should never be said of either of you that you show more concern for a friend than you do for each other. More kindness, gentleness, and concern needs to be shown in the privacy of your own home than anywhere else. Indeed, your home should be a haven from all the confusion and craziness the world will create. And faithfulness to each other in every way is the primary ingredient that will keep all those aforementioned virtues in order and produce the joy you seek at this altar.
"May this man and this woman be a blessing and comfort to each other, sharers of each their dreams, consoler to each others sorrows, helpers to each other in all life's vicissitudes. May they encourage each other in whatever they set out to achieve. May they trust each other, trust life, and be unafraid. May they love each other and offer love and support to those around them.
"May your marriage bring you all of the exquisite excitement a marriage should bring. And may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.
"Marriage is not only a commitment between lovers, it is also an agreement between two friends. Allow each other time to be an individual, respect each other's wishes as well as their dreams.
"Boss and Caitlin, nothing is easier than saying words and nothing is harder than living them day after day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and decided again tomorrow, and tomorrow after that and the tomorrow after that.
"Marriage is for more than an exchange of vows. It is the foundation of the family, mankind's basic unit of society, the hope of the world, and the strength of our country. It is the relationship between ourselves and the generations to follow.
"A marriage which really works is one which works for others. Marriage has both a private face and a public importance. If we solved all our economic problems and failed to build loving families, it would profit us nothing, because the family is the place where the future is created good and full of love—or deformed.
"Those who are married live happily ever after the wedding day if they persevere in the real adventure which is the royal task of creating each other and creating a more loving world. This is true of every man and every woman undertaking marriage.
"Boss and Caitlin, you are about to make promises to one another. Today, these vows are beautiful words representing even more beautiful intentions. But you will find that as you live these vows over the years, investing your time and your love and your commitment to one another, the happy times of your life will be twice as joyous because there will be someone to share those joys with. And when life gets tough, it will only be half as bad because there will be someone by your side to help carry the burden. For those times when life presents all of us with challenges, I would like to offer you the serenity prayer to remember: God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
"Caitlin, please face Boss and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you."
Caitlin continued facing Boss as she held his paws in her paws with his palms up. She smiled as the minister began talking again.
"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
"These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
"These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he, too, feels his child stir within you.
"These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
"These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.
"These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
"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 comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.
"These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you."
The minister then turned toward Boss. "Boss, please hold Caitlin's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you."
Boss nodded as he held Caitlin's paws with her palms up.
"These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young, and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
"These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go.
"These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you've both had a long hard day.
"These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
"These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.
"They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
"These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.
"These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized."
The minister looked around the chapel. "Let's bow our heads and pray." He then began praying: "God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May Boss and Caitlin see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide. We ask this in your name, Amen."
The minister looked back at Boss and Caitlin and continued. "Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, now please join your hands."
Caitlin joined her soft paws with Boss's strong and at the same time gentle paws.
The minister turned toward Boss. "Boss, do you take Caitlin to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both shall live?"
Boss whispered with a joyful grin, "I do."
The minister then turned toward Caitlin. "Caitlin, do you take Boss to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
Caitlin looked into Boss's baby blue eyes as she whispered, "I do."
The minister then continued on talking. "Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other.
"You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman, the title of 'husband' and 'wife.' For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.
"In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing: It meant the words 'I love you.' So it is appropriate that for your first gift—as husband and wife—that gift would be a single rose.
"Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife."
Caitlin lifted up her rose and gave it to Boss. Boss handed Caitlin his red rose.
"In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose, and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life—one I hope you always remember—the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
"Boss and Caitlin, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future, whether it be a large and elegant home or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.
"In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
"That rose says the words: 'I still love you.' The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
"Boss and Caitlin, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure."
The minister took a breath before continuing. "The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. It is a seal of the vows Boss and Caitlin have made to one another. Bless O God these rings, that Boss and Caitlin, who give them, and who wear them, may ever abide in thy peace. Living together in unity, love and happiness for the rest of their lives."
The ring bearer walked over with the two rings on the fancy ring pillow: one for Boss, one for Caitlin. Boss's was a simple golden ring just like his love is how Caitlin described his ring. Caitlin's was a golden ring with a large sapphire surrounded with tiny diamonds just like her beautiful sapphire colored eyes is how Boss described the ring. Boss took the ring for Caitlin into his paws. He took a deep breath before saying anything.
"Caitlin, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."
Boss took Caitlin's left paw into his paw that wasn't holding the ring gently. He slipped the ring onto her ring finger as he smiled brightly. Caitlin smiled joyfully as she took the ring for Boss into her paws. She, too, took a deep breath before talking.
"Boss, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."
She carefully took his strong left paw into her paws gently as she slipped the ring onto his ring finger. The couple then looked into each other's eyes.
The minister displayed a bright smile on his face as he continued. "In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love, and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder." The minister then looked up at Boss. "Boss, you may kiss your bride!"
Caitlin looked up toward the altar where the minister was with Boss standing on his right. Boss had a big grin on his face that said, "That's definitely my ham gal." Celena was displaying her trident as she flapped her wings and flipped her hair, but no one was watching her. Everyone's attention was on Caitlin who was now glowing with sparkly stars around her, thanks to a special effect Lucky was making. Boss's baby blue eyes were sparkling with love and desire as Caitlin made her way to the altar. Celena and Lucky stopped where the aisles stopped and sat down in the front aisle. Caitlin stood to the left of the minister as she looked into Boss's baby blue eyes with her sapphire blue eyes.
The minister watched the couple as he said, "You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in all the world whom you love best. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and to share love.
"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?
"I should like at this time try to speak of some of the things which many of us wish for the both of you. We wish for you a home, not a place of stone and wood, but an island of peace, a place from which you will receive strength and support that stays and carries with you throughout your daily lives. We hope that your home encompasses the beauty of nature, that has within it the elements of simplicity, beauty, silence, and color, in concordance with your dreams and aspirations. We wish for you a home of books, poetry, and music, a home with all the things which represent the highest of both men and women.
"Marriage is the most important of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature. Marriage is a gift of God, given to comfort the sorrow of life and magnify the joys. Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasures in other people's sins but delights in the truth, it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.
"Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of hearts, the union of two lives as one. Your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the state nor by the words of the minister, but by the strength of your love and the power of faith in each other and in God.
"It should never be said of either of you that you show more concern for a friend than you do for each other. More kindness, gentleness, and concern needs to be shown in the privacy of your own home than anywhere else. Indeed, your home should be a haven from all the confusion and craziness the world will create. And faithfulness to each other in every way is the primary ingredient that will keep all those aforementioned virtues in order and produce the joy you seek at this altar.
"May this man and this woman be a blessing and comfort to each other, sharers of each their dreams, consoler to each others sorrows, helpers to each other in all life's vicissitudes. May they encourage each other in whatever they set out to achieve. May they trust each other, trust life, and be unafraid. May they love each other and offer love and support to those around them.
"May your marriage bring you all of the exquisite excitement a marriage should bring. And may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.
"Marriage is not only a commitment between lovers, it is also an agreement between two friends. Allow each other time to be an individual, respect each other's wishes as well as their dreams.
"Boss and Caitlin, nothing is easier than saying words and nothing is harder than living them day after day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and decided again tomorrow, and tomorrow after that and the tomorrow after that.
"Marriage is for more than an exchange of vows. It is the foundation of the family, mankind's basic unit of society, the hope of the world, and the strength of our country. It is the relationship between ourselves and the generations to follow.
"A marriage which really works is one which works for others. Marriage has both a private face and a public importance. If we solved all our economic problems and failed to build loving families, it would profit us nothing, because the family is the place where the future is created good and full of love—or deformed.
"Those who are married live happily ever after the wedding day if they persevere in the real adventure which is the royal task of creating each other and creating a more loving world. This is true of every man and every woman undertaking marriage.
"Boss and Caitlin, you are about to make promises to one another. Today, these vows are beautiful words representing even more beautiful intentions. But you will find that as you live these vows over the years, investing your time and your love and your commitment to one another, the happy times of your life will be twice as joyous because there will be someone to share those joys with. And when life gets tough, it will only be half as bad because there will be someone by your side to help carry the burden. For those times when life presents all of us with challenges, I would like to offer you the serenity prayer to remember: God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
"Caitlin, please face Boss and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you."
Caitlin continued facing Boss as she held his paws in her paws with his palms up. She smiled as the minister began talking again.
"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
"These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
"These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he, too, feels his child stir within you.
"These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
"These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.
"These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
"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 comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.
"These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you."
The minister then turned toward Boss. "Boss, please hold Caitlin's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you."
Boss nodded as he held Caitlin's paws with her palms up.
"These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young, and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
"These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go.
"These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you've both had a long hard day.
"These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
"These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.
"They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
"These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.
"These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized."
The minister looked around the chapel. "Let's bow our heads and pray." He then began praying: "God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May Boss and Caitlin see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide. We ask this in your name, Amen."
The minister looked back at Boss and Caitlin and continued. "Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, now please join your hands."
Caitlin joined her soft paws with Boss's strong and at the same time gentle paws.
The minister turned toward Boss. "Boss, do you take Caitlin to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both shall live?"
Boss whispered with a joyful grin, "I do."
The minister then turned toward Caitlin. "Caitlin, do you take Boss to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
Caitlin looked into Boss's baby blue eyes as she whispered, "I do."
The minister then continued on talking. "Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other.
"You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman, the title of 'husband' and 'wife.' For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.
"In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing: It meant the words 'I love you.' So it is appropriate that for your first gift—as husband and wife—that gift would be a single rose.
"Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife."
Caitlin lifted up her rose and gave it to Boss. Boss handed Caitlin his red rose.
"In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose, and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life—one I hope you always remember—the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
"Boss and Caitlin, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future, whether it be a large and elegant home or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.
"In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
"That rose says the words: 'I still love you.' The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
"Boss and Caitlin, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure."
The minister took a breath before continuing. "The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. It is a seal of the vows Boss and Caitlin have made to one another. Bless O God these rings, that Boss and Caitlin, who give them, and who wear them, may ever abide in thy peace. Living together in unity, love and happiness for the rest of their lives."
The ring bearer walked over with the two rings on the fancy ring pillow: one for Boss, one for Caitlin. Boss's was a simple golden ring just like his love is how Caitlin described his ring. Caitlin's was a golden ring with a large sapphire surrounded with tiny diamonds just like her beautiful sapphire colored eyes is how Boss described the ring. Boss took the ring for Caitlin into his paws. He took a deep breath before saying anything.
"Caitlin, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."
Boss took Caitlin's left paw into his paw that wasn't holding the ring gently. He slipped the ring onto her ring finger as he smiled brightly. Caitlin smiled joyfully as she took the ring for Boss into her paws. She, too, took a deep breath before talking.
"Boss, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."
She carefully took his strong left paw into her paws gently as she slipped the ring onto his ring finger. The couple then looked into each other's eyes.
The minister displayed a bright smile on his face as he continued. "In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love, and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder." The minister then looked up at Boss. "Boss, you may kiss your bride!"