Taking the vows.
More vows.
Eventually pronounced 'Husband and Wife'.
and then back down the aisle for the festivities to begin!!
After the couple have gone.
(l-r) Sue, Vic, Keith, Will, Grandad, Helen, Barbara and Pétur.
The ceremony was held at the Pavilions of Harrogate and we tried to make it as simple as possible.
Like all good weddings we started about 15mins late, which only added to the Wills nervousness, before Helen eventually made her entrance to Durufle's "Ubi caritas et amour" from "Quatre motets sur des theme Gregoriens" sung by a 7 piece choir. Alas the photos don't do justice to how stunning she looked. I'm afraid, and those who were able to be there will attest to this, it was a case of being there. The whole service was extremely emotional with very few dry eyes in the room even before the Registrar started the formalities.
There were two readings during the service: Firstly Sam Ellis read Elizabeth Barret Browning's "How do I love thee", before Pauline Williams read a passage from "The Prophet", by Kahil Gibran.
And so we were married.
|
|
Taking the vows. |
|
More vows. |
|
Eventually pronounced 'Husband and Wife'. |
|
and then back down the aisle for the festivities to begin!! |
|
|
|
After the couple have gone. |
|
(l-r) Sue, Vic, Keith, Will, Grandad, Helen, Barbara and Pétur. |
The Readings
How do I love Thee by Elizabeth Barret Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhoods faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! And, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
From "The Prophet" by Kahil Gibran
"The Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying: You were born together and together you shall be for evermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter you days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be space in you togetherness. And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love on another, but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each others cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not of the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, even as the strings of a lute are alone although they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each others keeping, for only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together, for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."
