Chauncy and Christina
August 22nd, 2009 at 4 PM
East Setauket, NY

  We meet here today on August 22, of 2009 to celebrate the marriage of Michael and Christina. And so as we gather here together, we understand that this is not just a private affair but a convention of a very public nature. As we, their friends and family, witness this event, we are the ones that make this day special because it is our acknowledgement of their promise to each other. The observance of love is not unlike a beautiful painting; it must be seen to be appreciated and so we are here today, invited by these two before us, to make real publicly what they already know privately.
I had met Michael and Christina a few months ago and it was immediately apparent to me that not only were they on the same page, but that they've been writing the same book for years. In fact, they probably began to co-authore this book before they even knew it- or knew each other. And so when they asked me to perform this ceremony, I was only too honored to oblige.
  Life is filled with mysteries and unknowns. Chaos and random events fill the universe and as scientists study it more the less they seem to know. But their passion to discover is what fuels their desire. And so too is it with Michael and Christina- their quest with each other will lead them to new discoveries about one another despite their intimate knowledge of one another. Each one fell in love with the other as an individual. And this union does not break their individuality but will strengthen each person individually. It was, after all, the individual that they each fell in love with so it should only be in their best interest to have that individual grow even more. And in doing so, each will cherish unraveling the mysteries of their love for one another. Sure, you could give possibly countless reasons why you love one another but the whole is greater than the parts. That which can't be explained but only experienced is good- it keeps things exciting and interesting. And everyone here, I'm sure, is excited for you both as you peel away the layers, going even deeper every day, to discover more of the person you love most, only to love them more. Although there is excitement in this mystery, fear and discomfort can often creep into our consciousness. We may have a weak moment and doubt ourselves or our love. Patience and understanding is key. In order to make it through these bumpy times, traditions are often used to comfort us.
  We as humans find patterns of behavior to live by. We cherish some traditions and invent new conventions in order to compensate for the large unknown that is most often feared. But what every other married couple here can vouch for is that despite the fear and tension that is present in this world, there is also a beauty, a sublime balance of energies that must be acknowledged in order for them to be realized. And the love between two people can bring this out. One may not know the fate of our sun or the intricacies of sub-atomic particles where nothing is absolute and predictions of possibilities is all that exists- but we can rest assure that our significant other will be with us always. To be married means that an alliance has formed and no matter what happens in the world around us, that these two married people will always have each other to lean on, to love and to cherish. This kind of constant comfort can only come from your wedded partner, your lover, your best friend and your spouse- all wrapped up in one. This marriage will forge that comfort for you both.
  It is important to note that just shy of marriage, there ought to be a general compassion towards all living things. We are all in this together- whether you crawl, walk, leap or fly, we all struggle with the inconsistencies that make life difficult. If you have a passion for life, it should only be natural that you hold COMpassion for your fellow critters because all in all, we're all little critters on this giant planet. Marriage exemplifies the passion between two people and compassion exemplifies the love of all living creatures.
  But right here and right now, we have before us two people who have thus agreed to share their lives together; to help each other grow to their fullest potential. Together with the help of their family, including Noah and Ethan, they will form a family. Their bond within this family starts here at marriage, today right now.
  There are two traditions that they would like to use to sanctify this marriage. One is a celtic tradition of hand-fasting. I have here a rope and by tying their hands together, it symbolizes the union we make here today.
  Knowing full well, that this rope represents the lives that you've led, that it is braided because your lives have become intertwined and have become one and stronger, that this represents a commitment of a lifetime, do you still wish to enter into this ceremony?
If you would then, please hold hands and let me create a physical bond between you two that represents a much deeper bond that you will make in words in moment...

repeat after me... Michael...

I Michael Cone,
choose you Christina Biglin,
to be my wedded wife;
to love and to cherish,
to honor and respect,
in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,
from now and forever more.

And now Christina...

I Christina Biglin,
choose you Michael,
to be my wedded husband;
to love and to cherish,
to honor and respect,
in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,
from now and forever more.

Since it is near impossible to spend the rest of you lives literally tied together like this, allow me remove the rope but "tie the knot" to complete this tradition and to symbolize your relationship.

The second tradition we will use today to join these two people in matrimony are the rings... who holds the rings?

Michael place her ring on her finger and say with this ring, I thee wed.

Christina, place his ring on his finger and say with this ring, I thee wed.

Do you Michael take Christina to be your lawfully wedded wife?

Do you Christina take Michael to be your lawfully wedded husband?

  As all of us are here together, witnessing your promise to each other and with full love and in full support of this marriage, I, all of us together- we, now observe you as husband and wife! Please kiss!!