In idle dreams of long ago,

I imagined my true love;

A perfect match, a soulmate,

An angel from above.

Now you’re here, and now I know

Our love will stay and thrive and grow.

Love is giving, not taking, Mending, not breaking,

Trusting, believing, Never deceiving,

Patiently bearing And faithfully sharing

Each joy, every sorrow, Today and tomorrow.

Love is kind, understanding, But never demanding.

Love is constant, prevailing, its strength never failing.

A promise once spoken for all time unbroken,

Love’s time is for ever.

When the one whose hand you’re holding is the one who holds your heart,

When the one whose eyes you gaze into gives your hopes and dreams their start,

When the one you think of first and last is the one who holds you tight,

And the things you plan together make the world seem just right,

When the one whom you believe in puts their faith and trust in you,

You’ve found the one and only love you’ll share your whole life through.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

You will be the clouds and I will be the sky.

You will be the ocean and I will be the shore.

You will be the trees, and I will be the wind.

Whatever we are, you and I will always collide

"As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound

Woven into these ribbons, into the very fibres,

is all of the love of your family and friends.

In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound.

As a couple you are now entwined in love,

bound by commitment, joy and sadness,

suffering and victory, anger and reconciliation

all of which brings strength to this union.

Remember it is not these ribbons but what they represent that will keep you together"

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance

between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond

of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between

the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from

one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat

not from 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

though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each

other’s 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.