CEREMONY

The Old Mill Chapel

Saturday, December 1, 2007

11:00 AM

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Before the ceremony a garland on a tray will be placed somewhere at the front of the chapel.

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Gordon (Officiant) walks down the aisle and takes his place at the front.

Andrew escorts his parents down the aisle, to their seats at the front, and takes his place to the right of the officiant.

Processional music (‘Here Comes the Sun’ by the Beatles) begins playing.

Susheela walks down the aisle (holding the garland she will give to Andrew), escorted by her parents.

Nathan takes the garland from the tray, places it around Andrew’s neck, and returns to his position next to Susheela.

WELCOME

GORDON:

On behalf of Andrew and Susheela, I would like to welcome you and thank you for being here today to share in this special time with them.

We are assembled here today because love gathers us. We have come to do all those things, old and new, appropriate to such an occasion -- To say solemn words; to confirm a covenant; to recognize in this event the place of family, friends, and community; to laugh and to cry, to come together and celebrate; and, above all, to rejoice in love and its possibilities.

BLESSING AND SUPPORT

GORDON:

Will the parents of Andrew and Susheela please stand and answer me?

Nathan and Rany are already standing. Brent and Linda stand.

Do you Brent, Nathan, Linda and Rany pledge to honour and support Andrew and Susheela now and throughout their lives together?

All parents answer, “We do,” and take their seats.

GARLAND EXCHANGE

GORDON:

To mark the beginning of this new phase of their lives together, and to signify their choice and acceptance of one another, the couple will exchange wedding garlands.

Andrew places the garland he is wearing around Susheela’s neck. Susheela places the garland she is holding around Andrew’s neck.

READING #1

GORDON:

Now, let us consider these words on the nature of love by American author and poet Diane Ackerman.

Arabhi stands to read.

ARABHI:

Love. What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful that it has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art, cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved, driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fueled national scandals, bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings. How can love’s spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable? Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization, with taproots stretching deep into dark and mysterious days. The heart is a living museum. In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit, preserved forever like wondrous diatoms, are our moments of loving and being loved.

ADDRESS #1

GORDON:

What is love? Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on Valentine’s Day and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favourite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams.

READING #2

GORDON:

But, now, let us turn our attention to the matter at hand: Marriage. Consider these thoughts on marriage by German poet Rainer Maria Rilke.

Laura stands to read.

LAURA:

The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner 
appoints the other to be the guardian of his solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust. A merging of two people is an impossibility, 
and where it seems to exist, it is a hemming-in, a mutual consent that robs one or both parties of their fullest freedom and development. But once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side-by-side can grow for them, if they succeed in loving the expanse between them, which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole against an immense sky.

ADDRESS #2

GORDON:

In marriage, take the time to give each other more. Take the time to be gentle; remember that words harshly spoken trouble the spirit. Take the time to talk to each other; the secret to all understanding is in open communication. Don’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind, and listen wisely. Take the time to remember that you chose one another to learn and to grow with; you each have something valuable to offer. Be a good teacher and a good student. Take the time to be alone. Gather your innermost thoughts and share them with each other. Take the time to make it the way you want it. If change is needed, do it gracefully. Take the time to be loving; it is the only thing everyone needs. Always, in marriage, take the time to give each other more.

READING #3

GORDON:

Before Andrew and Susheela exchange their marriage vows, let’s take a look at what they really mean. Here are some thoughts from American author Robert Fulghum.

Mera stands to read.

MERA:

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed - well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another - acquaintance, friend, companion, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.

VOWS

GORDON:

Andrew will you look to Susheela and repeat after me…

Susheela, I will be a light for you,

(repeat)

And support you in all that you do and dream.

(repeat)

I will share my life with you.

(repeat)

I will maintain the honesty, respect, and trust between us

(repeat)

By expressing my needs and honouring yours.

(repeat)

I will strive to provide comfort and peace in our life together

(repeat)

So that our marriage will be a place of health and security,

(repeat)

All the days of our lives.

(repeat)

And Susheela will you look to Andrew and repeat after me…

Andrew, I will be a light for you,

(repeat)

And support you in all that you do and dream.

(repeat)

I will share my life with you.

(repeat)

I will maintain the honesty, respect, and trust between us

(repeat)

By expressing my needs and honouring yours.

(repeat)

I will strive to provide comfort and peace in our life together

(repeat)

So that our marriage will be a place of health and security,

(repeat)

All the days of our lives.

(repeat)

INTRODUCE RINGS

GORDON:

This is the point in the ceremony when I usually talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings do have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metal is liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. Hot metal is poured into a mold, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements.

Love is like that. It’s hot, dirty work. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there were once only the makings of possibility.

With that in mind, Asokan, may I have the rings?

Asokan stands and hands the rings to Gordon.

RING EXCHANGE

GORDON:

Andrew, please place this ring on Susheela’s finger and repeat after me…

Susheela, I give you this ring as my pledge to honour you with all that I am and all that I shall become

(repeat)

And Susheela, please place this ring on Andrew’s finger and repeat after me…

Andrew, I give you this ring as my pledge to honour you with all that I am and all that I shall become

(repeat)

PRONOUNCEMENT

GORDON:

Marriage is a wonderful journey that you make together. In marriage, walk the path together, side-by-side whenever possible. Remember to hold each other when it is cold, but if the air becomes too close, make a little space so each can breathe. When the path is narrow, pick one to go first. Always be willing to follow; don’t be afraid to lead. Trust your partner, trust yourself, for marriage is a journey that can lead to an even greater love.

Andrew and Susheela, you have pledged your love and commitment to each other here today before your family and friends, therefore by the authority given to me by the Province of Ontario, I, Gordon Kushner, pronounce you, Andrew and you, Susheela, to be husband and wife!

THE KISS

GORDON:

Andrew and Susheela, you may now seal your vows with a kiss!

‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’ by The Beatles begins playing.

Andrew and Susheela kiss and exit to much petal throwing!

Nathan & Rany exit.

Brent & Linda exit.

GORDON:

The bride and groom have left to sign the register and license. You may all proceed to the Humber Room downstairs where the reception will begin.

Gordon exits.

Andrew, Susheela, Gordon, Brent, Nathan, Linda, Rany, and Calla (photographer) will proceed to a room TBD to sign the register and license, while all other guests proceed to the Humber Room where the reception will commence.