Chapter 5 – The Wedding Ceremony
I do not own these characters, save one, they belong to Channel 7.
AN : The wedding vows have come from Wedding Sample Ceremony - Rev Susan Taylor and The World Light Fellowship.
Charlotte couldn't stop smiling. Once again Caitlin had surprised her big time but to actually plan a wedding without her even getting a sniff of it, was extraordinary in itself. She must remember to murder Terri when they got to the reception. Charlotte was suddenly brought back down to earth as she heard the Vicar:
Let us begin.
With the horizon our only walls, the sky our only ceiling, and the earth our floor we meet here in nature to affirm our love.
Caitlin and Charlotte welcome you, their family and friends. Each of you has given something of yourself into their lives. It is fitting then that you share in this celebration commitment to each other and to their lives joined in marriage.
Do you Caitlin, choose to marry Charlotte? To speak the words that will join you with her as your wife for the rest of the days of your life?
"I do"
Do you Charlotte, choose to marry Caitlin? To speak the words that will join you with her as your wife for the rest of the days of your life?
"I do"
Caitlin and Charlotte, as you have come here today of your own free will in the presence of witnesses to declare your love for each other, we ask that you both be honoured and expanded by the promises you are about to make, by the expressions of love you are about to share, by the marriage you are about to create. May love be always in your midst!
Caitlin takes Charlotte's right hand.
"Charlotte, I choose you to be my wife.
I promise freely from this day forward
To be worthy of your trust and deserving of your confidence;
To be generous with my time, my energy and my love;
To be patient with you and with myself,
To return love, tolerance, and generosity to your colleagues who are your family.
To trust you;
To be devoted to you and our life together.
These things I pledge before you, myself, our friends, and our family."
Charlotte takes Caitlin's right hand.
"Caitlin, I choose you to be my wife.
I promise freely from this day forward
To be worthy of your trust and deserving of your confidence;
To be generous with my time, my energy and my love;
To be patient with you and myself,
To return love, tolerance, and generosity to your family and to my colleagues who are mine.
To trust you;
To be devoted to you and our life together;
These things I pledge before you, myself, our friends, and our family."
The Vicar continues :
From the earliest times the circle has been a symbol of completeness. And, the wedding ring has long been a symbol of love and devotion that, like a circle, is unbroken and has no beginning and no end. It represents unity, wholeness, oneness, and eternity. The rings that Caitlin and Charlotte are exchanging are made of metal that will not tarnish, metal that is enduring. These rings are symbolic of a union that will endure time.
I ask everyone here to please silently join me in this prayer over the rings :
Dear God, spirit of divine love, please bless the giving of these rings so that they who wear them may go on living in your peace and continue in your grace. May these rings be a life-long symbol of the unity and love between Caitlin and Charlotte. May these rings serve as a constant reminder of the vows set forth here today. Amen.
What pledge do you offer in symbol of these vows?
"These rings" respond Charlotte and Caitlin
May these rings remind us well of our vows to each other.
"Charlotte, I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity, love, respect and trust"
"Caitlin, I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity, love, respect and trust."
Your two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, may you return to one another… in togetherness. May you dare to dream, and plan and create together. May you greet each other's sorrow with compassion, and fulfill each other's need with the sureness of love. May the years bring you joy and contentment. May you share a life of affection and devotion. May you have happiness. May you have peace
By the power vested in me I now pronounce you wife and wife.
Hearing this, the congregation burst into laughter but neither Caitlin nor Charlotte was aware of it as they were locked in a deeply passionate embrace. Charlotte and Caitlin eventually came up for air and stood in front of their family of friends taking the applause from everyone and Charlotte was never more proud of her lover, as on the day they became one. She was looking forward to greeting everyone at the reception and then spending the time alone with her new wife. The fact that none of Charlotte's family had turned up to the wedding was no surprise to anyone and as far as Charlotte was concerned, she was glad to be able to enjoy her day without it being ruined by her idiotic family.
On the walk back to the hotel, Charlotte couldn't stop looking at Caitlin. Never in her wildest dreams did she think this would happen so soon after the proposal. Well, just like any normal married couple she was going to make sure that their wedding night would be something very special indeed.
Chapter 6 to follow