Kenneth Scott McNiel

We’re here today at the dawn of a new day, and with it the dawn of a new stage in the lives of Desiree and Amanda. This is a time of coming together, sharing mutual promises, offering yourselves to each other. Today we celebrate your joy and your expectations.

May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fall in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say “I love you” and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.

Desiree and Amanda, the covenant that you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your lives to one another, as you commit your lives to one another, I ask that you do so in all seriousness, and yet with a deep sense of joy, with deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support and caring love.

Will you, Desiree, have Amanda to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?

Will you, Amanda, have Desiree to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?

Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.

(Share your personal vows)

Desiree, repeat to Amanda, after me:

Amanda, I have chosen you alone from all the world 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 til death do us part.

Amanda, repeat to Desiree, after me:

Desiree, I have chosen you alone from all the world 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 til death do us part.

May we please have the rings

These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that you promise to each other this day.

Desiree, take this ring and place it on Amanda's finger, and as you do, repeat after me:

I give you this ring

As I give you myself

With love and affection

Wear it in peace always

Amanda, take this ring and place it on Desiree's finger, and as you do, repeat after me:

I give you this ring

As I give you myself

With love and affection

Wear it in peace always

May this be the start of a happy new chapter in life

That's full of moments to share

May it be a continuance of dreams fulfilled

And of hope that still always be there

May it be a continuance of a lifetime of trust

And caring without end

May today be a day that you'll always remember

The day when your hearts legally become one

Now as you've consented in matrimony and have witnessed the same before those of us here, by virtue of the authority vested in me as an officiant and the laws of this state of California, I now pronounce you married.

You may seal your marriage with a kiss.

May you find happiness in your matrimony. May you live faithfully together. May you ever remain compassionate. May your years be rich in the joys of life and your days be long upon the earth.