Weddingbee Blog

Last time I told you a little about our ceremony plans. Now I’d like to share our selected readings and our vows. For us this required lots of on-line research. We chose two readings — one my mother will read, and the other we’ll be asking Mr. Onion’s mother to read.First, here are some pictures of our beautiful church:

Reading for Mr. Onion’s mother:

“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 choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindness you bestow on your friends.This reading actually had another line at the end that I just didn’t love, so we’re leaving it out. It read “Please pass this on to your children and their children’s children. The more things change the more they are the same.” It just doesn’t speak to me and we’ve included a mention of children in the vows and the hand ceremony.

Reading for my mother:

My True Loveby Sir Phillip SydneyMy true love hath my heart and I have his,
By just exchange one for another given
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,
There never was a better bargain driven
My true love hath my heart and I have his.
His heart in me keeps him and me in one,
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides
He loves my heart, for once it was his own,
I cherish his because in me it bides
My true love hath my heart and I have his.

This poem really spoke to me because Mr. Onion and I have this cute thing (stop reading now if you aren’t very gushy) where he and I say we’ve traded hearts — I keep his with me and he takes care of mine. Anyway — this was just perfect for us!

The Vows:

I Mr/Miss Onion take you Mr/Miss Onion to be my wife/husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. I will cherish our marriage and love you more each day. I give you my promise to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow.

I promise to trust and respect you, laugh and cry with you, support and honour you and love you unconditionally. I promise our children will know a home where differences are celebrated, where dreams are shared, and where imagination reigns supreme.* I give you my hand, my heart and my love from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.

These vows are a combination of something I found on-line and really liked, and a line about children from a NY Knottie’s ceremony that I just LOVED. It was written by the beautiful BethanyBez for her ceremony this past May. Thanks Bethany!!

Photo by Kenny Pang

Check out her beautiful knot bio with stunning photos from NYC Photographer, Kenny Pang. She put so much thought into her wedding ceremony and reception with SO many personal touches — she’s an inspiration for every bride.

Some resources I came across on-line as I was searching for ceremony ideas:

1) The Knot Library

– Share your readings

– Share your vows

2) Elegant Vows

Elegant Vows (2)

3) Wedding Ceremony Readings

4) Wedding Ceremony Readings (another site)

5) Create your own wedding ceremony

How did you plan your ceremony? Did you write your own vows? Did you rely on your minister/officiant? I sent a draft to our minister today and I hope to hear back from her soon. 24 days and counting….eeeehhhh  I’m ok now!