Samuel P Sharp

The Welcome

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

We are gathered together here to join Cameron Thomas Dempster and Rebecca Christine Lindsey in the ageless union of marriage. Cameron was born on February 16th, 1994 at the Perth Royal Infirmary in Perth, Scotland. Becky was born on November 5, 1993 in Galveston Island, Texas. They were born worlds apart, but fate has always meant for them to be together.

The Charge

To Cameron and Becky, I charge you to always remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home. However, love is the major key in a lasting and joyous marriage. The apostle Paul expressed this kind of love as he penned these beautiful words...

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of [the Creator's] secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

The Vows

Cameron and Becky will now share their vows with one another. (To the bride and groom) Please join hands.

Cameron, please repeat after me: “I Cameron, take you Becky, to be my wedded 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, till death do us part, I give you my promise.

Becky, please repeat after me: “I Becky, take you Cameron, to be my wedded 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, till death do us part, I give you my promise.

The Expression of Intent

The contract of marriage is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. So, I ask in front of these witnesses:

Cameron, do you take Becky to be your lawful wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of marriage? And do you promise love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her, as long as you are both still living?

*(Wait for Groom Confirmation)* "I do."

Becky, do you take Cameron to be your lawful wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of marriage? And do you promise love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him, as long as you are both still living?

*(Wait for Bride Confirmation)* "I do.”

The Pinning of the Tartan

(The chosen individuals will come at this time and sachet the bride and groom.)

The Ring Ceremony

Cameron and Becky will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

Now you are privileged to further seal these vows by giving and receiving the wedding rings. This golden circle from time immortal has been a symbol of wedded love. It is made of pure metal and should always symbolize the purity of the love which binds your hearts together.

As an endless circle it should remind you of the unending love that unites your lives. May these rings be worn with great honor and be a reminder of this moment when your lives were united. And may you always endeavor to keep your vows ever before you.

Cameron, will you now take this ring, place it on your bride’s left ring finger, and repeat after me: “With this ring I am wed to you, and as we are united by our hands and hearts, I proclaim that all I am and all I have now belongs to you.”

Becky, will you now take this ring, place it on your groom’s left ring finger, and repeat after me: “With this ring I am wed to you, and as we are united by our hands and hearts, I proclaim that all I am and all I have now belongs to you.”

The Handfasting

Handfasting is a traditional Celtic ceremony that signified the intent to marry. Five hundred years ago, people who could conduct legal weddings were few and far between. It was quite inconvenient if you were young and in love. So, the law was created allowing couples to be bound together by family using tartan or cloth as a symbol that you had made a commitment to live as family and be legally married as soon as possible. Life was much simpler in Ye Olde Times.

(The minister will wrap the cloths 2 1/2 times around the joined arms of the bride and groom from hand to hand.)

Proclamation of Legal Marriage

What has been joined together, let no one separate. By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife!

(The couple will gently pull their hands through the Handfasting loops to tie the strands into a knot. The cords will be passed to the minister to hold.)

(To the groom) You may kiss the bride.

Presentation of Bride and Groom

And now it is my privilege to present to you officially for the very first time Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Thomas Dempster.