I had the honor of going to my dear friend Lyndsey’s wedding this past weekend. She had a completely unconventional, carnival-themed outdoor wedding. Adding to the uniqueness was the format of her ceremony, which was composed of several readings. One in particular got to me (I rarely make it through a wedding dry-eyed). I thought the words were so beautiful I’d share them on here.
Marriage is a promise of Love | By: Edmund O’Neill
Marriage is a commitment to life – to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth no other human relationship can equal, a physical and emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life’s most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other’s best friend, confident, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life.
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.
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Since I generally share photos on Wednesday, I leave you with a fun collage I made composed of both of my sets of grandparents’ weddings and of course, in the center, my own.
Ain’t love grand?! What are your favorite reasons for being married?
What a gorgeous piece, thank you for sharing Lauren. Sometimes we get too caught up in the small petty things to truly appreciate the beauty that is marriage. For me, being married to my best friend is truly the key to our relationship. We still talk, laugh, act silly, discuss world issues, and our love for our son, just cements it all.
Love the wedding photos. Your grandmothers’ dresses were lovely! The way the trains were swept in a circular way, gorgeous.
Aww, I love what you say about your husband – I feel the same way about mine 🙂
Love the reading and completely agree, I love marriage and everything it represents. It is not always easy, but the effort is always worth it!
xoxo
Kristina
@PearlGateway
Totally agree! If it was easy, everyone would do it 😉
Thanks for sharing that! Marriage certainly does make your feelings deeper. It’s hard work, but so very worth it!
I never make it through the ceremony with dry eyes either. 😉
Glad I’m not the only sap. It can be embarrassing – esp if I don’t even know the couple well (i.e. my husband’s co-worker or something)!
That’s beautiful. How special that you have photos of both your grandparents’ weddings!
My favorite reason for being married: my hubby and I share everything: our thoughts, our ideas, our plans, our fears (well, they’re usually mine!). It’s so nice to have no secrets!
Aww, that’s so true Dianna. Secrets are no fun to keep!
I totally channeled you with the pics. I have some really neat ones around my house, so I need to find more ways to incorporate them into posts 🙂
What a beautiful post, Mrs. Weber! The photo collage of your is the icing on the cake! So beautiful.
I’m chiming in because I too, LOVE being married! And just like you said, I can hardly make it through a wedding dry-eyed.
Thanks for sharing the piece. It brought a smile to my heart.
Aw, thanks Mrs. Hoffman 😉 I love bringing smiles to hearts!
That’s such a great reading! I love that both sets of grandparents had pictures taken by staircases. Kind of cool that they had the same backgrounds. Next time you have a friend get married in a carnival setting – I’d like to be your date.
I know – it was super fun! You’d be a fun date. I’ll remember that for next time 😉
I just did this reading at a friend’s wedding last month. I barely made it through without my voice cracking, especially when I made eye contact with the bride and groom. I always cry at weddings too!
Oh no! Never make eye contact – it’s a cardinal rule. Gets me every time! We’re going to be a mess at Nikki’s wedding. Hopefully I can hold it together if I end up standing in the front!
What a beautiful post and timely, since my anniversary is on Friday. I love those pictures, love seeing old pictures, what amazing dresses all of you had.
Thanks, Jessica. And happy early anniversary. Hope you two have something special planned 🙂