Here's an excerpted video -- it's still 5 minutes long, but the whole ceremony was about 20 minutes.

Full text of the wedding ceremony:

Welcome. We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Millicent and Cordell, a spiritual union that embodies love’s most profound possibilities.
Let us take this moment to release the cares of everyday life and be truly present in the Here and Now.
Let us take this moment to rejoice and feel gratitude for all the many blessing in our lives, and for all the varied paths that have lead us to this place.
Let us be present in this moment and bear witness to the transforming power of love.
Let us take this moment to join our hearts together in a circle of love and sanctuary for these two brave souls as they declare their commitment to each other.
Let us give thanks for the love that has gathered us together and completed many circles.

For Cordell and Millicent, this moment is a high point in the great cycles of their lives, a moment in which they have come full-circle. For Millicent and Cordell, this moment of commitment is both a completion and a beginning in the endless cycle of life. They are completing the spark that ignited their friendship into a full blown romance.
When they first met, it was as if they had been long-lost friends getting re-acquainted. Over the months, through their endless deep and philosophical conversations, Cordell became increasingly enchanted with this bright woman, so full of life, positive energy, and regal beauty.
Millicent began to think of Cordell as her Buddha because he was so calm, wise, and grounded. They shared the experience of deep loss and also the experience of healing. And then, in a moment, the fire started and may it never go out.
Today they are also completing the circle of their family. The love they share has brought little Colton into their lives, and today they celebrate that as well, as they formalize their commitment to be a family in all ways.
And today they welcome their family, many generations both here and in spirit, to share in the joy of this commitment. Their marriage unites their families into a new partnership, a new beginning.
John, please rise. Do you willingly and lovingly entrust your daughter Millicent to a loving partnership with Cordell? [John answers “Her mother and I do.”]

Invocation of Spirit
Divine Spirit, in whose presence we gather with Gratitude, we invite You to join us in this ceremony binding the lives and destinies of Millicent and Cordell. As they speak and we hear the words that will forever join them, allow the intention they declare here today to stand true in time and run deep as the singing river through the landscape of their lives.
In this sacred and joyful moment we call upon The Divine Light within Millicent and Cordell
- that illuminates our hearts and gives life to each cell of our being,
- that always knows what is truly for our highest good,
- that gives and asks the best of us.
For them we ask every Blessing of this moment;
- great happiness on the path before them;
- kindness and compassion as they walk upon it together;
- grace and peace through each step of their journey;
- and beloved family and friends to support them.

Reading: SABA from Kahlil Gibran, “Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself…”

Cordell and Millicent, I invite you now to be truly present in the Here and Now.
Be present in this moment with gratitude for all the many blessing in your lives, and for all the varied paths that have lead you to this place.
Be present in this moment in the illumination and transforming power of love.
Be Here Now as you join your hearts together in a circle of love and sanctuary in which you can truly be alive.

Expression of intent
Do you Millicent choose Cordell to be your honored and cherished husband,
- do you promise to love and hold him always,
- to stand beside him in good times and in bad,
- to nourish him with your gentleness and uphold him with your strength,
- to grow with him through all the changes of your journey together,
- to experience gratitude each day for the love you share, NOW and from this day forward?[I do.]
Do you Cordell choose Millicent to be your honored and cherished wife,
- do you promise to love and hold her always,
- to stand beside her in good times and in bad,
- to nourish her with your gentleness and uphold her with your strength,
- to grow with her through all the changes of your journey together,
- to experience gratitude each day for the love you share, NOW and from this day forward?[I do.]
Now is the moment for you to say out loud the words your hearts are already singing, your pledge to each other:

Cordell’s vows
“Millicent, I love you. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth. Where my life was dark, you have brought light. I pledge before our assembled family and friends to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always love, honor, cherish and respect each other. For our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work — together.”
Millicent’s vows
“Cordell, I love you. You are my chosen lifemate. Before our assembled family and friends, I give myself to you in marriage to be your wife from this day forward. I promise to love, honor, cherish and respect you. Because of you, I am fully alive. Because of you, I know the joy of being a mother. Because of you, I look forward to all that life has for us. I will always be the person you can trust, talk to and who will always understand. I will make my home in your heart. I commit to the miracle of making each day work with you.”

Blessing of the rings
Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love. Your wedding rings are special because they say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are.
Cordell, repeat after me:
- Millicent, take this ring as a sign of my faith and commitment.
- Our love has given us strength and our journey is blessed today.
Millicent, repeat after me:
- Cordell, take this ring as a sign of my faith and commitment.
- Our love has given us strength and our journey is blessed today.

Reading: NICOLE from Apache Prayer, “Now you will feel no rain…”

Unity Candle ceremony
[light the tallest candle] As your friendship ignited with the spark of love, so now we ignite this candle of the Divine Light.
Each of you is alive with the Divine Light, and now your two bright flames shall make a single beacon, as in love we are all illuminated.
[They light their candles, and then light the unity candle together]

Reading: TANYA, "Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves."

Pronouncement of Marriage
And now, because you have chosen one another, honored each other with the precious gift of your rings and your pledges to love each other for all the days of your lives, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss.

Benediction
May the Divine Spirit, that has given them the gift of healing and the miracle of the love they share, give them also peace of heart and strength of spirit so they may honor the vows they make here today.
May the promises they make inspire and instruct each one of us who celebrates with them.
May the Divine Light within them be the guardian of their well-being and fill their days together with gratitude and happiness.
It is my great honor and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Cordell Page Olive Jr.!
Go now in peace, and live in joy.

In addition to writing the ceremony, we also created a wedding symbol that was used throughout the wedding in a variety of creative ways by the wedding planner.

The invitation was designed by Maeve Heald, using the wedding symbol as a coin tied around the invite with ribbon.

We also designed a bookmark that was given to the wedding guests as a memento.

next »

to start planning your wedding, email us at weddings@smartloftstudio.com

Millicent and Cordell Wedding Ceremony
October 12, 2008

Here's an excerpted video -- it's still 5 minutes long, but the whole ceremony was about 20 minutes.

Full text of the wedding ceremony:

Welcome. We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Millicent and Cordell, a spiritual union that embodies love’s most profound possibilities.
Let us take this moment to release the cares of everyday life and be truly present in the Here and Now.
Let us take this moment to rejoice and feel gratitude for all the many blessing in our lives, and for all the varied paths that have lead us to this place.
Let us be present in this moment and bear witness to the transforming power of love.
Let us take this moment to join our hearts together in a circle of love and sanctuary for these two brave souls as they declare their commitment to each other.
Let us give thanks for the love that has gathered us together and completed many circles.

For Cordell and Millicent, this moment is a high point in the great cycles of their lives, a moment in which they have come full-circle. For Millicent and Cordell, this moment of commitment is both a completion and a beginning in the endless cycle of life. They are completing the spark that ignited their friendship into a full blown romance.
When they first met, it was as if they had been long-lost friends getting re-acquainted. Over the months, through their endless deep and philosophical conversations, Cordell became increasingly enchanted with this bright woman, so full of life, positive energy, and regal beauty.
Millicent began to think of Cordell as her Buddha because he was so calm, wise, and grounded. They shared the experience of deep loss and also the experience of healing. And then, in a moment, the fire started and may it never go out.
Today they are also completing the circle of their family. The love they share has brought little Colton into their lives, and today they celebrate that as well, as they formalize their commitment to be a family in all ways.
And today they welcome their family, many generations both here and in spirit, to share in the joy of this commitment. Their marriage unites their families into a new partnership, a new beginning.
John, please rise. Do you willingly and lovingly entrust your daughter Millicent to a loving partnership with Cordell? [John answers “Her mother and I do.”]

Invocation of Spirit
Divine Spirit, in whose presence we gather with Gratitude, we invite You to join us in this ceremony binding the lives and destinies of Millicent and Cordell. As they speak and we hear the words that will forever join them, allow the intention they declare here today to stand true in time and run deep as the singing river through the landscape of their lives.
In this sacred and joyful moment we call upon The Divine Light within Millicent and Cordell
- that illuminates our hearts and gives life to each cell of our being,
- that always knows what is truly for our highest good,
- that gives and asks the best of us.
For them we ask every Blessing of this moment;
- great happiness on the path before them;
- kindness and compassion as they walk upon it together;
- grace and peace through each step of their journey;
- and beloved family and friends to support them.

Reading: SABA from Kahlil Gibran, “Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself…”

Cordell and Millicent, I invite you now to be truly present in the Here and Now.
Be present in this moment with gratitude for all the many blessing in your lives, and for all the varied paths that have lead you to this place.
Be present in this moment in the illumination and transforming power of love.
Be Here Now as you join your hearts together in a circle of love and sanctuary in which you can truly be alive.

Expression of intent
Do you Millicent choose Cordell to be your honored and cherished husband,
- do you promise to love and hold him always,
- to stand beside him in good times and in bad,
- to nourish him with your gentleness and uphold him with your strength,
- to grow with him through all the changes of your journey together,
- to experience gratitude each day for the love you share, NOW and from this day forward?[I do.]
Do you Cordell choose Millicent to be your honored and cherished wife,
- do you promise to love and hold her always,
- to stand beside her in good times and in bad,
- to nourish her with your gentleness and uphold her with your strength,
- to grow with her through all the changes of your journey together,
- to experience gratitude each day for the love you share, NOW and from this day forward?[I do.]
Now is the moment for you to say out loud the words your hearts are already singing, your pledge to each other:

Cordell’s vows
“Millicent, I love you. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth. Where my life was dark, you have brought light. I pledge before our assembled family and friends to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always love, honor, cherish and respect each other. For our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work — together.”
Millicent’s vows
“Cordell, I love you. You are my chosen lifemate. Before our assembled family and friends, I give myself to you in marriage to be your wife from this day forward. I promise to love, honor, cherish and respect you. Because of you, I am fully alive. Because of you, I know the joy of being a mother. Because of you, I look forward to all that life has for us. I will always be the person you can trust, talk to and who will always understand. I will make my home in your heart. I commit to the miracle of making each day work with you.”

Blessing of the rings
Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love. Your wedding rings are special because they say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are.
Cordell, repeat after me:
- Millicent, take this ring as a sign of my faith and commitment.
- Our love has given us strength and our journey is blessed today.
Millicent, repeat after me:
- Cordell, take this ring as a sign of my faith and commitment.
- Our love has given us strength and our journey is blessed today.

Reading: NICOLE from Apache Prayer, “Now you will feel no rain…”

Unity Candle ceremony
[light the tallest candle] As your friendship ignited with the spark of love, so now we ignite this candle of the Divine Light.
Each of you is alive with the Divine Light, and now your two bright flames shall make a single beacon, as in love we are all illuminated.
[They light their candles, and then light the unity candle together]

Reading: TANYA, "Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves."

Pronouncement of Marriage
And now, because you have chosen one another, honored each other with the precious gift of your rings and your pledges to love each other for all the days of your lives, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss.

Benediction
May the Divine Spirit, that has given them the gift of healing and the miracle of the love they share, give them also peace of heart and strength of spirit so they may honor the vows they make here today.
May the promises they make inspire and instruct each one of us who celebrates with them.
May the Divine Light within them be the guardian of their well-being and fill their days together with gratitude and happiness.
It is my great honor and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Cordell Page Olive Jr.!
Go now in peace, and live in joy.

In addition to writing the ceremony, we also created a wedding symbol that was used throughout the wedding in a variety of creative ways by the wedding planner.

The invitation was designed by Maeve Heald, using the wedding symbol as a coin tied around the invite with ribbon.

We also designed a bookmark that was given to the wedding guests as a memento.

next »

to start planning your wedding, email us at weddings@smartloftstudio.com