Le Mariage de Christophe et Shannon
The vows I wrote for our romantic ceremony at the Chateau later that
day.
 | Bill: (To the group…) We are assembled here today because
several years ago a simple twist of fate offered Shannon and Christophe an amazing
opportunity for happiness. What is even more amazing than the opportunity itself is the
fact that this unlikely couple recognized it and decided to accept the challenge. In spite
of the many cultural differences they know they will face in their life together, they
bravely advance towards their ideal relationship protecting themselves with the deepest
feelings of love, integrity and respect for one another. Today, they wish to acknowledge
their commitment to friends and family through the exchange of personal vows, wedding
rings, and the lighting of a unity candle. We will let them commence with their vows, but
first let me ask, who gives this woman away? |
| Marv: Her mother and I do.
(Marv places my hands in Christophe’s and steps aside by my mother.) |
| Bill: (To us…) Shannon and Christophe, the vows you
are about to exchange serve as an affirmation of the love you pledge to each other. It is
not the words you speak today which bond you together as one, but rather the love and
commitment that each of you feels within your soul.
 | Shannon, if you are ready, please repeat after me.
I, Shannon Leigh Adamson,
Take you Christophe Delsol,
to be my husband,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish always.
Until death do us part. |
|
| Christophe, if you are ready, please repeat after me:
| I, Christophe Delsol,
Take you, Shannon Leigh Adamson,
to be my wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish always.
Until death do us part. |
|
| (To the group…) The wedding ring is an unbroken circle which symbolizes
unending and everlasting love. It is also a symbol of the constant cycle of life and the
renewal of all things. It serves as a visible reminder that in spite of life’s
constant state of change, the structure of life itself remains the same. In this same way,
the love Shannon and Christophe share will also change, yet the foundation it was built on
will remain constant and un-bendable. Shannon, what would you like to say to
Christophe in offering your ring?
| Shannon: Christophe, what I admire most about you is your sense
of humor and your constant optimism. When you look at this ring, I hope you will remember
that I will always be grateful to you for bringing these things into my life. I promise to
do everything within my power to keep our marriage as humorous and as positive as we both
feel at this moment! (Slips the ring on his finger) |
|
| Bill: Christophe, what would you like to say to Shannon in
offering your ring?
| Christophe: Shannon, what I admire most about you is your
strength, your warmth and your friendship. I love you and hope that when you look at this
ring, you will remember that I will always appreciate these things about you. I promise to
do everything in my power to support our marriage and keep our relationship as strong and
warm as it is at this moment. (Slips the ring on her finger) |
|
| Bill: (To the group…) In addition to the wedding
bands Shannon and Christophe now wear, they wish to symbolize their union with the
lighting of their unity candle. Alain and Saundra, if you would please light the outer
candles now. (Alain and Saundra each light a candle.) |
| Alain and Saundra are lighting the two outside candles to represent Shannon’s and
Christophe’s lives within separate families up to this moment. The lights represent
the support, wisdom and love Christophe and Shannon have received from their parents. Out
of these two families, a new one will be created. One generation passes to the next all
that they have learned with the hope that the younger will achieve even more through the
lessons learned before them. |
| Christophe and Shannon, if you would each now take your parent’s candle and light
the candle of your new family. (We light the center candle with the smaller ones. Then
we blow out the smaller ones.). |
| (To us…)This light symbolizes the union of your lives. It burns brighter
than those you had before as encompasses the light of all the experiences you have each
lived up to now. As one light burns undivided, so shall your love. From now on your
thoughts will be for each other, rather than for your individual selves. Your plans will
be mutual, your joys and sorrows will be shared alike. This is what Jesus meant when he
said, "On this account, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined with
his wife, and the two shall be one." |
| In remembering the spirituality of this moment, let us take a moment to pray: |
| May the souls of these two people be blessed and their love be bonded in heaven as it
has been done here on earth. May they be wrapped in positivity and protected from the
negative forces they will encounter in their journey through life together. Let us pray
that through the guidance and the support of their family and friends, they will live and
prosper together as a united soul in matrimony. Amen. |
| Finally, Shannon and Christophe, we have all heard your promise to join your lives in
marriage. We respect the commitment you have made. It is not the witnesses standing before
you that makes your marriage real, but rather the honesty and sincerity of your love for
one another. On behalf of all present, I acknowledge that you are husband and wife.
Christophe, you may now kiss your bride! |
(Lift the veil and kiss!)
| Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Delsol! |
(Andre starts exit music - Yanni's Aria - and people started blowing bubble.
Sniff, sniff...it was beautiful!) |
