Romantic Readings
In contemporary wedding ceremonies, romantic readings can take the place of prayers and scripture readings.
Your officiant can do the reading or you can choose to have a loved one or close friend do the reading; it’s a very nice way to allow someone special to participate in your ceremony. Please select one or two readings for your ceremony. One will be read at the beginning of your ceremony and the other will be read near the end.
A Beautiful Journey by Donna Fargo.
"A great marriage begins with two people joined together in love as partners and best friends.
It's a commitment to always be on each other's side, sharing everything.
When two people become one in spirit, every joy is doubled, and every disappointment is diminished. They live their lives in an attitude of cooperation with each other. They plan on togetherness. They listen. They hope. They dream. They make mistakes. They understand. They forgive. And they move on … together. They're loyal to each other and steadfast in their pledge to be there for each other forever; through sickness and health, poverty and wealth. For these two people, love is the magic that keeps them together and guides them on their journey, enhancing their lives and assuring their happiness."Thank You by Led Zeppelin
“If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.
My love is strong, with you there is no wrong.
Together we shall go until we die.
And so today my world—it smiles,
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done,
For you, to me, are the only one.”An excerpt from captain corelli’s mandolin by louis de bernieres
“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches, we found that we were one tree and not two.”
FOR THOSE WITH US IN SPIRIT ONLY
As we gather to celebrate this union of hearts, we are mindful of those who are no longer with us in body but remain forever in our hearts. We lift up their memory and the love they brought into our lives. May their spirits surround us today, a gentle presence that reminds us of the love that transcends time and space. We are grateful for the joy they added to our lives and the memories we hold dear. In this moment of celebration, we acknowledge their absence and hold them close in our thoughts. We are comforted knowing that they are watching over us, and their love lives on in the stories we share and the bonds we cherish. In their honor, we continue this journey of love and celebration, knowing that they are with us in spirit.
an excerpt from the AMber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
“I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment. And when we do find each other again, we’ll cling together so tight that nothing and no one’ll ever tear us apart. Every atom of me and every atom of you… we’ll live in birds and flowers and dragonflies and pine trees and in clouds and in those little specks of light you see floating in sunbeams… and when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me, we’ll be joined so tight…”
IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
“We said we'd walk together, darling, come what may.
That come the twilight should we lose our way,
If as we're walkin', should a hand slip free,
I'll wait for you, should I fall behind, wait for me.Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true,
Oh, but you and I know what this world can do,
So let's make our steps clear, so the other may see,
And I'll wait for you, and if I should fall behind, wait for me.
Now, there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead,
There near the oak's bough soon we will be wed,
Should we lose each other, in the shadow of the evening trees,
I'll wait for you, should I fall behind, wait for me.”A History of Love by Diane Ackerman
"Love. What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful. It has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art, cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved, driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fueled national scandals, bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings. How can love's spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable? Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization, with taproots spreading into deep and mysterious days. The heart is a living museum. In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit, preserved forever like wondrous diatoms, are our moments of loving, and being loved."
A Marriage by Mark Twain
“A marriage...makes two fractional lives a whole.
It gives two purposeless lives, a work,
and doubles the strength of each to perform it.
It gives two questioning natures, a reason for living,
and something to live for.
It will give a new gladness to the sunshine,
a new fragrance to the flowers,
a new beauty to the earth,
and a new mystery to life.”an excerpt from jane eyre by charlotte bronte
“I have for the first time found what I can truly love — I have found you. You are my sympathy — my better self — my good angel; I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my center and spring of life, wraps my existence about you — and kindling in purse, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one."
a Reminder for the One I Love by Rachyl Taylor
We say 'I love you' just about every day. Sometimes the words are whispered as we fall asleep at night; sometimes they're spoken at the end of a phone conversation or accompanied by a quick kiss as we rush out the door. The words are always there, but sometimes we forget to think about how much they really mean.
Every time you hear me say those three little words, I want you to remember that they're coming from the bottom of my heart. I want you to remember that I love you for everything you are and for everything I am with you. I want you to remember that you're the best person I've ever known, and I feel so lucky to have you in my life.
I want you to remember that true love is forever and there is no love truer than the love I feel for you. I want you to remember that you're the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me, my happy ending my dream come true, my friend and my love all wrapped up in one.”Excerpt from The Art of a Good Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson
“A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the "little" things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person -- it is being the right partner.”A Wonderful Gift by Douglas Pagels
“Always remember the wishes and the romance and all the reasons your love came to be.
Never forget that love can see you through anything: all you have to do is just let it.
Never turn away from the sweetness of sharing. You're both so incredibly lucky: never forget it. Never let the important things go unspoken. The dreams you have together are guideposts in your days; never forsake them. The roads you walk together will lead to a deepening joy; go hand-in-hand as best friends on your way.
Never forget that many people search all their lives for the kinds of smiles you have been blessed with. Be sure to remember that love will always be life's most beautiful gift.
Share, support, speak from the heart and listen with your very souls. Know that there will be times when you may disagree; nothing could be more natural. Simply remember that when you see things from two different perspectives, you need to give and make a compromise. The longest-lasting and most loving unions in the worlds all have moments when their journeys have uphill climbs. But the secret they share is knowing beyond any clouds that come along, the sun will keep on shining above.
As you continue on your path together, you will come across more joys than you'll ever be able to count. And you'll keep on discovering that the 'forever' kind of love is the very best thing there is.
May you always and forever be lovingly blessed with this exquisite and wonderful gift … because you deserve to have all the joyous rewards ... of a truly great relationship.”YOU ARE THE BUBBLES by rachel bright
“Together, you are the bubbles in one another’s champagne, the morning sun through the window, the breaking of a smile.
Together, you are the one doughnut in the bag with more jam than any of the others, that photo where everyone looks great, the know-it-all-sing-out-of-tune-at-the-top-of-your-voice chorus of a favourite song.
Together you are the beginnings of a big idea, the twinkly bits that hang in the sky after the firework goes bang, the cold think air at the top of a mountain, the only two people in a crowded room.
Together you are that unforgettable day of a holiday, an accidental adventure, a chocolate chip, pages ninety-eight to ninety-nine of a well-thumbed Mills and Boon, a BBQ with friends, the spray of the sea, the nose of the cheese, a hug, a kiss, a hold-my-hand, a decision which, looking back, will seem to be the most excellent you ever made.
Together you are bubbles, the un-burstable bubbles of the very best things in life, the only things any of us ever need.”
Advice for a Marriage by Carol Howard
“Treat each other with respect and kindness. Be open-minded, so that you may see each other's point of view. Listen to your heart and with your heart. Be patient when things don't go right; eventually, they'll be replaced by good things. Be loving, especially when the other is hurting over something. Be honest and don't hold back your feelings. Laugh a lot at yourselves and with each other.
Enjoy the good times and think of them more often than the bad ones. Be there for one another at all times. Make yourself, as well as your spouse, happy, and let them find their own happiness, too. Share all things; learn new things. Always remember the times when you first fell in love and all the special moments. Keep making every year special and always love one another.”Blessing For A Marriage by James Dillet Freeman
“May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding.
May you always need one another -- not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete. The valley does not make the mountain less, but more. And the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another,
May you succeed in all-important ways with one another and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.
If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you have the good sense to take the first step back.
May you enter into the mystery that is the awareness of one another's presence -- no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love and may you find it loving one another.”Falling In love - author unknown
“Falling in love is like being first to discover the most beautiful thing in the world or finding something so lovely that no one else had ever noticed. It is like glimpsing the first evening star or the rainbow that unexpectedly appears in the midst of a storm. Love often starts in little ways. It comes quietly with a smile, a glance or a touch, but you know it's there because suddenly you're not alone and the sadness inside you is gone. Love means finally finding a place in this world that shelters you and is your very own - where you feel you have been forever.”
Friendship by Judy Bielicki
“It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel. True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life-it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic. True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential. (Name) and (Name) came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.”
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity - in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern. The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even. Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now. Relationships must be like islands, one must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits - islands, surrounded and interrupted by the sea, and continually visited and abandoned by the tides.”
To My Friend by Anonymous
“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself.”
I Will Be Here by Steve Curtis Chapman
“If in the morning when you wake, and the sun does not appear,
I will be here.
If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand and have no fear,
I will be here.
I will be here, when you feel like being quiet, when you need to speak your mind, I will listen.
Through the winning, losing, and trying we'll be together, and I will be here.
If in the morning when you wake, and the future is unclear, I will be here.
As sure as seasons were made for change, our lifetimes were made for years, I will be here.
I will be here, and you can cry on my shoulder, when the mirror tells us we're older.
I will hold you, to watch you grow in beauty, and tell you all the things you are to me.
We'll be together and I will be here. I will be true to the promises I've made to you and to the one who gave you to me.
I will be here.”I am Love - author unknown
“Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings. Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim. Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame. And though you cannot see me, I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces. I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes. I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face. I am your father's shield as he guards your home. Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear. Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always. Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless. And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children. I am woven into the whispers of passion. I am in the blessings of Grandmothers. I embrace the cries of newborn babies. Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed. Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them. Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul. And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind. I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night. I am the hug of a child. I am love.”
In Marriage by Susan Polis Schutz
“In marriage you make the most beautiful commitment in life - to love each other forever. You will share work and play, happiness and sadness, goals and values, family and friends, excitement and boredom. You will build a life which is stronger because you are now part of a team - a team which should go through life holding hands, always cheering for each other. In marriage you make the most beautiful commitment in life - two people in love joining together to become one forever.”
In Your Life Together by Jon Peyton
“In your life together... you'll have times of laughter when the sun comes to rise in your hearts, and everything is perfect. You'll also have to hold on to each other and make it through times that challenge who you are and what you mean to each other. You'll experience moments that will live forever in your minds. Your marriage will be a shining example of what two people can achieve when their hearts are in tune and their spirits are set free by trust and support to follow their dreams. Most of all, you will learn what it means to truly love - to dedicate your hearts to the commitment, sacrifice, and awareness it takes to make love last forever.”
Love Means by Michele Weber
“Love doesn’t mean that you will never feel pain or live a life free from care. It doesn’t mean that you will never be hurt or that your life will be perfect, with every moment consumed by happiness. Love does mean that you will always have a companion, someone to help you through the difficult times and rejoice with you in your times of celebration. Love does mean that each argument is followed by a time of forgiveness, and each time of sorrow is far outweighed by all the tender moments spent in each other’s arms. Love is the miracle that can take two lives and mold them into one, take two souls and bind them for life, take two hearts and fill them with enough passion and tenderness to last a lifetime. Love is a blessing that will lead you down life’s most beautiful path."
Love Endures by Douglas Pagels
“There are few miracles in this universe as amazing as love. When it is true and real and lasting, it forms an unbreakable bond between two very fortunate people. It lets one know that it is always there, always caring. It lives in the deepest part of the heart, but it sneaks out as often as it can... to inspire a grin on the face, a smile in the eyes, a serenity in the soul, and a quiet gratitude in the days. Love is giving and forgiving, taking and partaking of the sweetest joys and most comforting reassurances imaginable. Love can work wonders. It can travel a thousand miles in the span of one second, and it can take every hope and well-wishing along with it on the journey. Love can feel at home no matter where it is, as long as it knows that it has a companion there by its side to make each place, each day, and each moment a space and a time of sharing. Love is amazing, precious, and beautiful. It's there for the giving, here for the receiving. Love is what I want to give to you and what I pray that you will always share with me. Love endures, and love will make sure that we're as happy as two people can be.”
loving you brings me such happiness by donna fargo
“Loving you means I'm happy. It means I'm with the person that I want to spend the rest of my life with. It means there's no one else who matter more to me. Loving you gives me the confidence to believe that nothing is impossible for us and together we can get through any challenge we face.
Loving you means I am loved by the person I care most about. It means I'm satisfied and excited about life and I am blessed beyond anything I could imagine. Loving you means everything to me.”Marriage Advice From 1886 by Jane Wells
“Never go to bed angry.
Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is easier to bend a little than to break.
Believe the best rather than the worst.
People have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
The person you chose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindness you bestow on your friends.”Marriage Is by Barbara Cage
“Marriage is a commitment. Its success doesn't depend on feelings, circumstances, or moods - but on two people who are loyal to each other and the vows they took on their wedding day.
Marriage is hard work. It means chores, disagreements, misunderstandings, and times when you might not like each other very much. When you work at it together, it can be the greatest blessing in the world.
Marriage is a relationship where two people must listen, compromise, and respect. It is an arrangement that requires a multitude of decisions to be made together. Listening, respecting, and compromising go a long way toward keeping peace and harmony.
Marriage is a union in which two people learn from their mistakes, accept each other's" faults, and willingly adjust behaviours that need to be changed. It's caring enough about each other to work through disappointing and hurtful times, and believing in the love that brought you together in the first place.
Marriage is patience and forgiveness. It's being open and honest, thoughtful and kind. Marriage means talking things out, making necessary changes, and forgiving each other. It's unconditional love at its most understanding and vulnerable - love that supports, comforts, and is determined to triumph over every challenge and adversity.
Marriage is a relationship of two unique people who bring out the very best in each other and who know that even though they are wonderful as individuals... they are even better together.”Marriage Means by Jan Peyton
“On your wedding day, you will take the first step by promising to love, honour and cherish each other for the rest of your lives. From this moment on, you will travel together - sometimes side by side and other times apart, yet always connected by the feelings in your heart and your commitment to the journey. Along the way, you have learned love's greatest lessons: how to become one as a couple while remaining strong and independent individuals; how to meet challenges to your relationships in constructive ways; and how to forgive, forget, and move on to create greater levels of trust, passion and closeness. Remember to cherish each other, every day, and celebrate your life together as you walk hand in hand on your way to forever.”
Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds,
Admit impediments. Love is not love,
Which alters when it, alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh no, it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark.
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken
Love’s not time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”Sonnet XLIII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use.
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose.
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.Sooner or Later - author unknown
“Sooner or later, we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines, and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favourite memories, and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all -- one known only by those who love.”
Take it One Day at a Time by Julia Escobar
“Cherish each other in big ways and in small ways, and never forget the magic of those three little words "I love you"... Remember, it is the little things, that make the difference... Don't forget the birthdays and the anniversaries. An occasional note means a lot. Share each other's life - even the small details - for too often we forget that day-after-day becomes year-after-year, and then it's gone.
Give each other room to grow... we all need our time alone. Keep strong your faith in each other; time has a funny way of testing us, and it is faith that gets us through.
Respect one another… this world could always use more of that. Speak your mind honestly, openly, but with kindness, for angry words are scars that may never heal. Trust each other; let your trust be your rock. Most of all, each day... be sure to hold each other and fall in love all over again.”Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog by Taylor Mali
“On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and
breathes and makes funny noises.
Love can wake you up all hours of the night with its needs.
Love can give you a sense of security.
When you’re walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on
love, ain’t no one gonna mess with you.
Love needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love does not like being left alone for long,But come home and love is always happy to see you.
Love may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there. Love makes messes.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper and swat love on the
nose, but then love gives you big kisses, and you laugh at the little things.
Sometimes love just wants to play, running you around the block, leaving you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once, or winds around and
around you, until you’re all wound up and can’t move.
And love brings you together. People who have nothing in common but
love, stop and talk and greet each other on the street.
Most importantly, love needs love, and lots of it.
And in return, love, loves you and loves you, and never stops.”On Marriage by Kahlil Gibran
“You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.”On Love (an excerpt) by Kahlil Gibran
“When love beckons to you, follow him.
When his wings enfold you yield to him,
When he speaks to you believe in him,
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn, he gathers you unto himself.
He sifts you, to free you from your husks.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed.
For love is sufficient unto love.
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness,
To wake at dawn with a winged heart,
and give thanks for another day of loving,
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy,
To return home at eventide with gratitude,
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”The Greatest Commitment of All by Barbara Cage
“It's always exciting when two people are so much in love they willingly pledge to spend the rest of their lives together. Anyone who has ever lived with someone else for more than a week knows that such a commitment takes a whole lot of patience, self-control, compromise, and a sense of humour, as well as open minds, hearts and doors.
Fill your time together with love and laughter. Don't take life too seriously; make time to have fun. Listen to and care about each other's feelings, opinions, problems, and dreams. Look for the best and the good and let go of those things that disappoint or anger you. Learn to communicate in ways that uplift each other. Choose peace, happiness, and love. Make up your minds that your marriage is going to be the best in every way... and it will be.”The Keys to Love by Robert M. Millay
“The key to love is understanding... the ability to comprehend not only the spoken word, but those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves.
The key to love is forgiveness... to accept each other's faults and pardon mistakes, without forgetting - but with remembering what you learn from them.
The key to love is trust... though dark doubts lie in hollowed thoughts; it must shine brightly on with reassuring radiance that suppresses fear with faith.
The key to love is sharing... facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together; both conquering problems - forever searching for ways to intensify your happiness.
The key to love is giving... without thought of return, but with the hope of just a simple smile and by giving in, but never up.
The key to love is respect... realizing that you are two separate people with different ideas, that you don't belong to each other, but that you belong with each other and share a mutual bond.
The key to love is inside us all... it takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients that will take you to its threshold; it is a continued learning process that demands a lot of work... but the rewards are more than worth the effort.
And you are the key to me.”The Promises of Marriage by Bettie Meeks and Douglas Pagels
“Marriage is the joining of two people who share the promise that only marriage can make - to share the sunshine and the shadows and to experience a richer, more fulfilling life because of it.
A marriage is one of life's most wondrous blessings. It involves taking the words of two life stories and weaving them together on the same page. Every year, in a thousand special ways, the words that will be written in this remarkable story will reflect the strength and the joy and sorrows.
A marriage is the precious, reassuring comfort of having a kindred soul care about your day, every day and each tomorrow, your whole life long.
A marriage is the making of a home that seems so meant to be... between a special people. A marriage is a beautiful journey along life's road with two people smiling as they go, lovingly... hand in hand.”The True Meaning of I Do by Lisa Crofton
“There was a time when being married for a lifetime was the rule, not the exception. Today, too many couples believe “I Do” means until times are tough, they grow tired and impatient with each other, or until they find somebody better. Couples who reach the milestone of each anniversary know better. They know “I do” means honouring each other even when they don't understand each other. It means respecting each other even when their opinions differ. It means entrusting each other with their hearts, dreams and lives. It means holding tight when grief, illness or worry threatens to pull them apart. It means fighting with fortitude to stay together during life's most difficult times. Perhaps most important of all, it means pledging to be dearest friends all the days of their lives.”
The Web of Marriage by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“It is made of loyalties, and interdependencies, and shared experiences. It is woven of memories of meetings and conflicts, of triumphs and disappointments. It is a web of communication, a common language, and the acceptance of lack of language, too; a knowledge of likes and dislikes, of habits and reactions, both physical and mental. It is a web of instincts and intuitions and known and unknown exchanges. The web of marriage is made by propinquity, in the day to day living side by side, looking outward and working outward in the same direction. It is woven in space and in time of the substance of life itself.”
Real Love by The Beatles
“All my little plans and schemes,
Lost like some forgotten dreams,
Seems that all I really was doing,
Was waiting for you.
Just like little girls and boys,
Playing with their little toys,
Seems like all they really were doing,
Was waiting for love.
From this moment on I know,
Exactly where my life will go,
Seems that all I really was doing,
Was waiting for love!
Thought I'd been in love before,
But in my heart, I wanted more,
Seems like all I really was doing,
Was waiting for you!”What is a Marriage by Collin McCarty
“It is the most beautiful thing that can happen between two people in love. A marriage is more than just two people. It is a bridge which allows the love of two very special people to give meaning and worth and wonder to life. It is a continual process of building, of shaping; of communicating; and caring. It is the deepest and sweetest understanding. It is sharing todays and tomorrows together and making each one more treasured and more complete than anyone could make them alone. A marriage is a home interwoven with hopes and memories and dreams. The thankfulness and love; it can bring have no comparison. Being happily married is the most beautiful thing that can happen... to anyone.”
Together in Marriage by Susan Polis Schutz
“Together in marriage you will bring out the best in each other. You will learn from each other and grow from your differences. You will be two individuals living your own lives with each other as one.
Together in marriage you will be stronger, more sensitive, more aware, more knowing and more at peace than you are individually. You will be better people.
Together in marriage your love will give understanding to all that you do because you will share your ideas, goals and frustrations. And you will always have someone to support whatever you say and do.
Together in marriage you will be able to achieve all that you want in life.”Touched By An Angel by Maya Angelou
“We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave.
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love which sets us free.”To Love Is Not to Possess by James Kavanaugh
“To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one's self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one's self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another--and to one's inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves,
Receding and returning gently or passionately,
Or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon's own predictable harmony,
Because finally, despite a child's scars
Or an adult's deepest wounds,
They are openly free to be
Who they really are--and always secretly were,
In the very core of their being
Where true and lasting love can alone abide.”An excerpt from The Fault in our Stars by John Green
“I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”
An excerpt from The Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (Khaleesi and Khal Drogo's Wedding Vows)
“As you are the Moon of his life, he shall be your Sun and Stars. Your love shall be as ever present as those two celestial bodies... even though they are sometimes hidden from one another's sight. Your love will be the guiding force that charts the course of your tomorrows, holds your world together in difficult times and will make life itself shine bolder and brighter than we human beings have a right to dream of.”
LOVE IS A FRIENDSHIP CAUGHT FIRE BY LAURA HENDRICKS
Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future and does not brood over the past. It is the day-in and day-out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you do not have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough.”
WHAT IS LOVE? - AUTHOR UNKNOWN
“Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favourite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all – one known only by those who love.
I LOVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE BY CARL SANDBURG
I love you for what you are, but I love you yet more, for what you are going to be. I love you not so much for your realities, as for your ideals. I pray for your desires that they may be great, rather than for your satisfactions, which may be so hazardously little. A satisfied flower is one whose petals are about to fall. The most beautiful rose is one hardly more than a bud wherein the pangs and ecstasies of desire are working for a larger and finer growth. Not always shall you be what you are now. You are going forward toward something great. I am on the way with you and therefore I love you.
WHY MARRIAGE? BY MARI NICOLS-HAINING
Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person, with all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body…
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me, who won’t hold them against me, who loves me when I’m unlikable, who sees the small child in me, and who looks for the divine potential of me…
Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night with someone who thanks God for me, with someone I feel blessed to hold…
Because marriage means opportunity to grow in love in friendship…
Because marriage is a discipline to be added to a list of achievements…
Because marriages do not fail, people fail when they enter into marriage expecting another to make them whole…
Because, knowing this, I promise myself to take full responsibility for my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me. I take half of the responsibility for my marriage.
Together we create our marriage because with this understanding the possibilities are limitless.BLESSING OF THE HANDS
“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.”
(Optional: 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 _______ and ________ find in each other’s hands, healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name. Amen.)
A LOVE POEM BY WHITNEY HANSON
They say that sometimes love starts with a spark,
and that might be true,
but if I were to wish you a love,
I wouldn’t wish fire for you.
You see fire is powerful. It burns bright then it’s gone.
It’s beautiful and warm, but it doesn’t last long.
So instead of wishing you a love that burns,
I wish you love like a river that twists and turns.
It changes and flows. It is powerful and free.
But it consistently finds its way back to the sea.
And so, like the water,
I hope your love is ever-growing, ever-changing.
I hope your love is powerful and free.
and may you always find each other like the river finds the sea.
THE BEAUTY OF LOVE BY ANONYMOUS
“The question is asked: “Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young couple clasping hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?” And the answer is given: “Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. it is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled but still clasped; their faces are seamed but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired but still strong with love and devotion. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love.”
i carry your heart with me by e e cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)