[Music – J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #5, 1st movement.]
Michael Mast (best man), followed by Patrick Mast (bubble boy), followed by Russell Mast (groom).
[Music – Sally Potter & David Motion: "The Maze" from Orlando.]
Audrey Maker (matron of honor), followed by Samantha Mast (flower girl), followed by Amy Emerald Immel (bride).
Mayor Jim (officiant) speaks:
Mawwiage.
Mawwiage is what bwings us togever, today.
Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement,
the dweam, wifin a dweam.
And WUV, twue wuv, will fowwow you fowever…
We are here today to witness and celebrate the wedding of these two people, Russell Dean NobodobodoN Mast, der Bubbelmacher, and Amy Emerald Kristelle Immel, the Queen of Everything. They have invited me to lead their wedding ceremony, which they have written themselves. As many of you know, I have no legal power to marry them. In fact, according the state of California, they were legally married Thursday morning. However, a marriage is much more than a legal contract. This ceremony today marks the true beginning of their marriage. Their marriage is the joining of their lives and journeys, the beginning of a shared journey, and a commitment to one another. This commitment is the taking of each other, in entirety as lover, partner, companion and friend. Their legal marrige is a contract to one another in the eyes of the state of California. Their true marriage is a promise to one another in the eyes of their community as well as the Divine.
They have gathered their community of family and friends here. We will have a brief moment of silence to invite Divinity to be present at this ceremony and in this marriage. Russell and Emerald are inspired by the words of Tegh Bahadur.
Why do you go to the forest in search of the Divine?
The Divine lives in all, and abides with you, too.
As fragrance dwells in a flower, or reflection in a mirror,
so the Divine dwells inside everything;
seek therefore in your own heart.
[ring bell]
[silence – 60 seconds]
[ring bell]
[Russell & Emerald get flowers from altar and give to family members, families stand]
While this marriage celebrates the love of two people for one another, it also touches the family and friends who support and contribute to the relationship. You, standing now, are the families from which Russ and Amy have emerged. You have played a large role in shaping who they are as people. Listen to the following vows, and afterward, signal your agreement by saying together "We Do".
Do you commit today to support Russ and Amy in their life together? Do you vow to teach what you know about love, and to learn what they have to teach you, to thank them for the gift their partnership has given you in expanding your circle of family, and to watch with pride and assist with love as they create their own family?
Families: "We Do"
Will everyone stand. [Everyone stands.] You are the community of family and friends of Nobody and Emerald. Each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. Just as these two as individuals are part of the community, so too will their marriage be a part of the community. Listen to the following vows, and afterward, signal your agreement by saying together "We Do".
Do you commit today to support Nobody & Emerald in their life together? Do you vow to be there for either or both of them in their times of trouble as well as in their times of joy, to rejoice that their love has added to the love in your own lives, and to strive as you are able to strengthen and uphold their marriage?
Everyone: "We Do".
[Either now, or at the end of the other people's participation, Mayor Jim says a few words if he wants to.]
They now invite anyone who would like to share something to come forward. It could be words about the bride or groom, your thoughts on marriage, your feelings at the moment, a song, a reading, whatever you would like to contribute to this wedding ceremony.
[People come forward.]
Now Russell and Emerald will share their responses.
[Russell responds.]
[Emerald responds.]
And now the vows that Russell and Emerald make to each other.
[Mayor Jim reads the vows, line by line, verbatim, quietly to Russell first and then Emerald, who repeat each line after Jim.]
I promise
to be your life partner on our journey together,
to use my strength to help us follow the right paths,
to support you, and to turn to you for support,
to take care of you, and to take care of myself,
to be your humble student and your generous teacher,
to listen to you and to talk to you,
to trust you and to forgive you,
to have faith in you and in myself,
to be open to growth and change,
to share laughter and tears,
and to love you forever.
I make these vows to you, to bring us both joy.
Will the ringbearers come forward. [Caution & Sodium come forward, display rings.]
A ring is a circle. The line of a circle is never-ending, but a circle does not have just one side. It has an infinite number of sides. These rings are made of platinum, a metal which is extremely strong, precious, and beautiful.
[Sodium gives Emerald's ring to Russell.]
Russell: "With this ring I marry you, and join my life to yours."
[Caution gives Russell's ring to Emerald]
Emerald: "With this ring I marry you, and join my life to yours."
Just as Russell and Emerald's lives are being woven together, now let their hair be woven together.
[Anita comes forward and begins reading: "Married Love" by Kuan Tao-Sheng.]
You and I
Have you so much love
That it
Burns like a fire,
In which we bake a lump of clay
Molded into a figure of you
And a figure of me.
Then we take both of them,
And break them into pieces,
And mix the pieces with water,
And mold again a figure of you,
And a figure of me.
I am in your clay.
You are in my clay.
In life we share a single quilt.
In death we will share one bed.
[During reading, Jiggys come up – get stools, prepare hair, start braiding hair.]
[Anita is done reading, hair is braided.]
So that the braid may stay together, and as a sign of their devotion to one another, now let their hair be cut.
[Eric Hiris and Tim Eggert come forward and cut hair.]
May this braid serve as a symbol of their union.
[If the braid seems strong enough, Mayor Jim holds it up and presents it, maybe even walking the aisle showing it. Afterwards, braid is placed gently upon the altar.]
This event marks the beginning of a new family. This new family will have a new name. They have chosen a name to reflect what they strive for in life. The name they have chosen is Mystiek (pr. Mystic). It's spelled MYSTIEK, which is the Dutch word for "mysticism". Mysticism refers to direct experience of the Divine, an experience which is beyond ordinary understanding. They want to have an inspired sense of mystery and wonder in their lives. They are choosing the Dutch as a nod to Russell's cultural heritage. So, from this day forward, their names will be Russell Dean Mystiek, but you can still call him NobodobodoN, and Amy Emerald Kristelle Mystiek.
Now as their first act as a married couple, they will share water. Water is the essence of life. [Speaking to Russell and Emerald:] Drink now, and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full to overflowing.
[Russell pours glass of water from pitcher on altar.]
Russell: May you always drink deep.
[R hands water to Emerald.]
Emerald: I drink deep of you.
[E drinks.]
Russell: May you never thirst.
[Emerald pours glass of water from pitcher on altar.]
Emerald: May you always drink deep.
[E hands water to Russell.]
Russell: I drink deep of you.
[R drinks.]
Emerald: May you never thirst.
[Russell returns his glass to the altar.]
With the power you have given me, I now invite you to pronounce yourselves married.
Russell & Emerald: "We are husband and wife."
So kiss.
[R&E kiss.]
I present Mr. and Mrs. Mystiek!
[Music - Vivaldi: "Spring" 1st movement, from The Four Seasons.]
[Mr. & Mrs. Mystiek walk up the aisle, and go into yichud (seclusion).]
[Mayor Jim or Holly Parrot announce that the reception has begun and invite people to move their chairs into the shade and drink up or chow down.]
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