Ladies and gentlemen – welcome to this beautiful location on the occasion of Nathan and Sarah’s wedding. Following the vows that they will shortly make, they will exchange these rings as a symbol of their love for each other.  As we continue with this ceremony, I would like you to warm these rings by passing them between you.  As you hold them in your hands, make your wishes for this couple and their future before passing them to the next person.  They will be retrieved by Peter in time for the ring exchange.

Nathan and Sarah thank you for your presence here today.  Many of you have known them either together or as individuals for a long time, and your love, friendship and support to each of them has been valued, both in their old lives and now in this commitment to each other which they have chosen to make before you.

Successful marriages are not made easily.  They need practice, patience and understanding, a lot of love and above all, a sense of humour!  You have the opportunity to work together in developing your own future, creating a story that is uniquiely yours.  Its unfolding lies in your hands.

Nathan and Sarah have had time to reflect on the commitment that they are making, and the following words by Victor Hugo reflect the philosophy with which they approach their union.

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.  The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.  We pardon to the extent that we love.  Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again.  And great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.  Loved for ourselves.  And even loved in spite of ourselves.
                                                 Victor Hugo.

This is not just another relationship; this is the consequence and fulfilment of all that has gone before, and the promise of so much to come.  With the love and trust that you have in each other, strengthened by a truly genuine friendship, you are poised on the brink of a rewarding life together.

Marriage, according to law in Australia is the union of a man and a women, voluntarily entered into with the intention that it is a lifelong partnership.  As an authorised celebrant, I am pleased to be able to ratify that commitment. 

Nathan, do you take Sarah to be your wife and partner in life and in love?  Will you hold her above all others and support her in life and friendship, with honesty and sincerity, no matter what the future holds?  I do.

Sarah, so you take Nathan to be your husband and partner in life and in love?  Will you hold him above all others and support him in life and friendship, with honesty and sincerity, no matter what the future holds?  I do.

Facing each other, repeat after me:

Nathan: I, Nathan take you Sarah, to be my lawful wedded wife.  I will be your safe harbour and your friend, respect you in your own right and love you through good fortune and adversity as long as we both shall live.

Sarah:  I, Sarah take you Nathan, to be my lawful wedded husband.  I will be your safe harbour and your friend, respect you in you own right and love you through good fortune and adversity as long as we both shall live.

Do you have the rings?  Placing this ring on Sarah’s finger, repeat after me:

Nathan: Sarah, I give you this ring as a token of my love and commitment.

Sarah:  Nathan, I give you this ring as a token of my love and commitment.

In the words of George Eliot,

What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labour, to rest on each other in sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting.

                                 George Eliot

Nathan and Sarah – may your love grow strong; may you live long and happily in one another’s arms.  Now that you have shown us the example of your love and celebrated your union with great joy and happiness, I pronounce you husband and wife.  You may seal your marriage with a kiss.