Pura Vida Wedding
The Ceremony
Entrance
[Music: Buddhist Chant - Great Compassion Mantra]
Processional
[Music: Johnny Cash - 25 Minutes to Go]
[Enter Terry and the Ladies]
[Music: Live Sitar and percussion]
[Enter Kia and Father]
Relief: The Impresive Clergyman
(Copied from: The Princess Bride)
(Read by: Kia, Bridesmaid)
[When everyone is in place, Niece Kia jumps up front like she's running the show]
[Speaking as The Impressive Clergyman]
Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday.
Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...
And wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you foweva...
So tweasure your wuv.
[Bride pulls Niece Kia back into place]
Welcome and Statement of Intent
(Written by: Kia, Bride)
(Read by: Shirley, Matron of Honor)
Namaste. Namaste is a way to universally honor other sentient beings as a welcome, farewell, and general form of compassion. The reverence demonstrated towards others is an extension of how highly you hold yourself. In all things we are connected to one another and should consistently demonstrate this respect with high regard. Kia and Terry wish to share values of compassion and respect with you today at their wedding as well as through the life of their marriage. They ask that you reciprocate and support their marriage with kind words and actions through the years to come.
Namaste.
Christian Reading
(Written by Robert Louis Stevenson)
(Read by: Nancy, Mother of Groom)
"Wedding Prayer"
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen
Buddhist Readings
(Read by: Kit, Wing Girl)
The Buddha's sermon at Rajagaha; verses 19-21
"Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere. Do not be angry nor bear secret resentments; for as a mother will risk her life and watches over her child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind and mild.
Cherish good will right and left, early and late, and without hindrance, without stint, be free of hate and envy, while standing and walking and sitting down, what ever you have in mind, the rule of life that is always best is to be loving-kind.
Gifts are great, founding temples is meritorious, meditations and religious exercises pacify the heart,comprehension of the truth leads to Nirvana, but greater than all is lovingkindness.
(Written by: Paul Carus)
(Read by: Kit, Wing Girl)
From "The Gospel of the Buddha" 1915
In the future, happy occasions will come as surely as the morning.
Difficult times will come as surely as the night.
When things go joyously, meditate according to the Buddhist tradition.
When things go badly, meditate.
Meditation in the manner of the Compassionate Buddha will guide your life.
To say the words 'love and compassion' is easy.
But to accept that love and compassion are built upon patience
and perseverance is not easy.
Non-Religious Reading
(Written by: e e cummings)
(Read by: Cheryl, Dear Friend and Rock Star)
Love Is More Thicker Than Forget
love is more thicker than forget
more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet
more frequent than to fail
it is most mad and moonly
and less it shall unbe
than all the sea which only
is deeper than the sea
love is less always than to win
less never than alive
less bigger than the least begin
less littler than forgive
it is more sane and sunly
and more it cannot die
than all the sky which only
is higher than the sky
Modified Hands Blessing
(Copied from: The Internet)
(Modified by: The Bride and Groom)
(Read by: Shirley and Kit)
(Couple's Hands Tied by: Kia and Emily, Nieces)
Please face each other and hold hands, so that you may feel the gift that you are to one another.
[As Kia and Emily wrap our hands in ribbon, Shirley and Kit read, alternating lines]
These hands holding yours are the hands of your best friend:
strong and full of love as we promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These hands will work alongside yours as we build our future together.
These hands will passionately love you and cherish you through the years.
These hands will hold you when fear and grief surround you.
These hands will wipe tears from your eyes -- tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These hands will tenderly love our children.
These hands will help you hold our family as one.
These hands will give you strength when you need it.
These hands, even when wrinkled and aged, will still reach for yours giving you the same unspoken tenderness.
May these hands always be held by one another.
May they have strength to hold on through the storms of stress and the darkness of disillusionment.
May they be tender and gentle as they nurture each other in love.
May these hands build a marriage founded in faith, rich in caring, and reaching together to bring forth the very best in both.
These rings are symbolic of the sentiments in Kia and Terry's hand blessing
Placing the rings on each other's fingers is a symbol of your commitment to each other.
Kia do you accept Terry's commitment to you?
[Kia responds affirmatively (thank goodness)]
Terry do you accept Kia's commitment to you?
[Terry responds affirmatively as well]
Legal Stuff
(Read by: Rafa, Lawyer)
(Interpreted by: Mr. Robles, Guest)
[Insanely long legal document including full names and passport numbers, and of which I do not yet have a copy.]
Broom Jump
(Read by: Emily, Niece)
Our couple will now jump the broom, a ritual with convergent roots in Mother Africa and Celtic Europe. As the bride and groom jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. Traditionally, jumping the broom was also a means of sweeping away any evil that may come into their paths. Therefore, in honoring this ritual, Kia and Terry issue a hope and a prayer of sweeping away any hatred or prejudice between people of different colors, beliefs, or traditions. Namaste.
[hop]
Kissy Face
The sealing of the vows with a kiss is certainly worthy of its own section.
Cocktail Hour and Photos
[Dan will hold who he wants for formal photos and release the other guests to get silly and have fun.]
Recessional
[Music: Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire]