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Marcus & Teresa
 
Wed
05-28-2011
Ceremony
officiated by Rev. Stacey K. Miles
"Working with Stacey was a
dream! She provided so much information to us and
walked everyone through the entire ceremony and the
day of it went like clockwork! I would not have
done anything differently with our ceremony it was
perfect! Our ceremony went Amazingly
Smooth! Everyone knew where to be even our 5 and 7
year old knew what to do! Our guests were amazed
with the ceremony everyone complimented on the
wordings of it and said it described us perfectly! I
would most definitely recommend Stacey to anyone
that needs officiating for anything! ...we were so
very pleased with the way our ceremony went you were
truly a blessing to have as a part of our special
day and it could not have went better! Thank You so
much for everything you did and all of your help!
You were AMAZING and the way you wrote the ceremony
could not have been any closer how it happened, it
almost felt like we were reliving those moments as
you spoke!! Thank You again so much for being a part
of our perfect day!" ~Teresa
Location-
Bennett Gardens in Hermiston, OR
Photography by Collen Hoke
The Ceremony:
We are here today to celebrate a great moment in the
lives of Teresa and Marcus, and their children.
Today we join together to give recognition to the
worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes
to Marcus and Teresa as they unite in marriage.
Teresa and Marcus have come to love each other
deeply and sincerely. Three years ago when Marcus
first saw Teresa at their place of employment, he
couldn’t speak, or even think correctly. He felt
something he’d never before experienced, couldn’t
even utter a ‘hello.’ From that moment on, each time
Marc saw Teresa, he would smile, no matter how the
day had treated him, and he eventually even managed
to find his voice. Teresa saw that smile each and
every time and became intoxicated by his blue eyes
and his ‘hey you’ greeting. She knew there was
something special about Marcus. I think she was
right and I bet she has butterflies in her stomach
right now, just as she got in those early days of
their courtship.
I’d like to begin with a poem by Suzanne Heinz
Teresa selected to share on this special day, a poem
that speaks of the love in Teresa & Marcus’ hearts.
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"You and I are connected in a way that goes
beyond romance,
beyond friendship,
beyond what
we've ever had before.
It has
defied time, distance,
and changes
in ourselves
and in our
lives.
It has
defied every explanation.
Except one:
Pure and simply, we're soul mates.
I can't
explain, I just feel it.
It's there
in the way my spirits lift
whenever we
talk.
The sound of
your voice brings me home,
in a way I
can't explain.
It's in the
delight I feel, when we laugh
at exactly
the same things.
When I'm
with you,
it's like a
tiny piece of the universe
shifts into
place.
A place it's
supposed to be,
and all is
right with the world.
These things
and so many more,
have made me
understand
that this is
a once in a lifetime,
forever
connection.
A connection
that could only exist
between you
and me.
And deep in
my soul,
I know that
our relationship
is a rare
gift.
One that
brings us
extraordinary happiness
all through
our lives." |
Marc and Teresa, your relationship will take more
than love. It will take trust, to know in your
hearts that you want only the best for each other.
Dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn
and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And
faith, to go forward together without knowing what
the future holds for you both. While love is our
natural state of being, these other qualities are
not as easy to come by. They are not a destination,
but a journey. The true art of married life is in
this- an inner spiritual journey. It is a mutual
enrichment, a give and take between two
personalities, a mingling of two endowments which
diminishes neither, but enhances both.
Marcus, if you are ready to begin this journey, I
ask now, Do you take Teresa to be your lawfully
wedded wife? Do you promise to commit your love to
Teresa; to respect her individuality; to go through
life’s changes; and to nurture and strengthen the
love between you; to share your life with her, and
do you pledge that you will love, honor and tenderly
care for her in all the varying circumstances of
your lives?
Teresa, if you are ready to begin this journey, I
ask now, Do you take Marcus to be your lawfully
wedded husband? Do you promise to commit your love
to Marcus; to respect his individuality; to go
through life’s changes; to nurture and strengthen
the love between you; to share your life with him,
and do you pledge that you will love, honor and care
for him in tenderness through all the varying
experiences of your lives?
Having this love in your hearts, you have chosen to
seal your vows by the giving and receiving of rings.
May I have your rings please?
From the earliest times, the circle has been a
symbol of completeness. It is unbroken and
never-ending. Look for it, but you will find no
beginning and no end, much like Teresa and Marcus
committed love. Rings are made precious by our
wearing of them. They become us; they reflect us.
They are a symbol of our love, and of the words that
you speak today. May these rings be, from this day
forward, your most treasured adornment, and may the
love they symbolize, be your most precious
possession. As you wear these rings, may they be
constant reminders of these glad promises you are
making today.
Teresa, please repeat after me:
With this ring, I give to you my promise.
From this day forward you will not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter,
And my arms be your home.
With this ring,
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I will do my best.
I will always try.
I feel honored to call you my husband.
I feel blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
Marcus, please repeat after me:
With this ring, I give to you my promise.
From this day forward you will not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter,
And my arms be your home.
With this ring,
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I will do my best.
I will always try.
I feel honored to call you my husband.
I feel blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
 Vows
to Children
With children present, marriage is more than the
union of two people. It is the proclaiming of a new
family and a lifetime of caring for one another.
Teresa and Marc, do you pledge to Joseph and Tucker
to be the best parents you can be, to there for them
in times of need and want, to challenge and teach
them, to embrace their uniqueness for all the days
of your lives? If you will please give the boys the
token of your love and promises made here today.
(The boys were given dog tags with the wedding date
etched onto the back. They loved them!)
Family Hand Ceremony
As an expression that your hearts are joined
together in love, I ask that you all hold hands, so
you may feel the precocious gift that you are to one
another as a family. [Everyone holds hands]
Each of you holds the hand of
your best friend, brother to brother, mother to
father.
Each hand in yours is full of love for you.
These hands will help you hold your family as one.
They will work alongside yours as
you each build your future.
Hands that will comfort you like
no other.
Hands that, even when wrinkled
and aged, will still be reaching for yours,
welcoming you home.
Unity Candle
Teresa and Marcus from this moment forward you will
never be alone. You will carry with you always the
love of another person, giving you a completeness
and renewed lightness. You have chosen to affirm
this love by the lighting of a unity candle.
It is said, ‘From every human being there rises a
light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two
souls are destined for each other and find each
other, their streams of light flow together and a
single, brighter light goes forth from their united
being.’ (by Baal Shem Tov)
If you will please take your family’s candle and
together light the center candle symbolizing the
unity of your hearts and families, and repeat after
me, [Light candle and repeat in unison]
From this day forth,
my soul flows with your soul.
I have found in you the one to light my days
and warm my nights.
You are my love for all my life.
Marcus and Teresa, may your life together be
immersed in love and excitement. May it deepen your
knowledge of each other and of existence. May you
strive to enrich each other and yourselves in every
possible way. And may you work to bring the peace
you find to the world.
Marcus and Teresa, by the authority vested in me,
it is my honor and delight to now pronounce you
husband and wife.
Let us end with a prayer,
Dear God,
Please bless this couple. Grant them a peaceful
home. May it be a refuge for their love, a harbor
for their deepest prayer. May they come to flourish
within safe walls, growing ever nearer to You. May
they be blessed with laughter and grace, and
surprised by the comfort of kinship. And when
darkness falls, find them wrapped in each other,
ever warm. May they live each day in light of time,
realizing that their love is a gift from You. For to
love for the sake of being loved is human; but to
love for the sake of loving? This is divine.
Amen.
From this moment on, you will forever be Mr. and
Mrs. Marcus and Teresa Hopkins. Marcus, you may kiss
your bride!
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