Bryan and Lea at Krippendorf Lodge

I recently performed a very unique wedding for Bryan and Lea. What a great wedding and reception.
First, the Bride and Groom are very much into nature so they chose the Cincinnati Nature Center in the Krippendorf Lodge. The Lodge is the former home of the Krippendorf family. They were a prominent Cincinnati family who enjoyed living in the forest and grew many different types of flower bulbs. According to the history of their home they would give any one who visited a bag of flower bulbs to plant in their own yard.
Every once in a while I get a couple that I feel especially close to and this couple, with their love of life and for each other, fit that bill. They were so involved in their ceremony and came to the table with ideas that were really neat.
I have included their ceremony below so please read through it and enjoy it.
The evening of the wedding it was just a little bit cool with a crystal clear sky that was loaded with stars. The ceremony started with the seating of the Bride’s Mother by the Groom. The Groomsmen and Groom’s Ladies were all ready in the front as the Bridesmaids made their way to the front. After they were in place the Groom and his Mom made their way to the front. The Bride was on the arm of her Dad and with smiles on everyone’s face she met her Groom to begin the ceremony.
The Grooms Mom read a poem that was written and read originally by his Grand Mother at his Mother’s wedding. It was a very memorable way to remember the previous generations and what great way to hear the thoughts of people that have gone before us.
What a great evening!!!!!
Good Luck and God Bless………Rev. Ben




Bryan and Lea Wedding Ceremony


WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER:
Hello, On behalf of the bride
and groom and their families I would like to welcome
you as we begin the wedding ceremony
of Bryan and Lea. What a beautiful
and sacred place to hold this
wedding ceremony.
We are gathered
in the sight of God and these
witnesses to join this couple
In holy Matrimony
We are all very happy for you
and thank you for including us to
celebrate with you today.


I have a question for you
Both and I ask that you answer
IT IS
Is it your intention that you come
Here freely and with out
Reservation to be joined
As husband and wife?


Cherokee Wedding Blessing:
Loving God,Please protect the ones we love.We honor all that you createdAs we pledge our hearts and lives together.We honor Mother Earth --And ask for our marriage to be abundant,And to grow stronger through the seasonsWe honor fire --And ask that our union be warm and glowing with love in our hearts.
We honor wind --And ask that we sail through life safely and calm as in our father's arms.We honor water --To cleanse and soothe our relationship that it may never thirst for love.With all the forces of the universe you created,We pray for harmony and true happinessAs we forever grow young together.








Message
Today is the one day in your lives that you will look on and remember with fondness and love. This is the day that truly begins the rest of your lives.
This is a day full of excitement with beautiful clothing, flowers food and drink - but none of that really matters when you think about the real reason we are all gathered here today. We are gathered here to celebrate the joining of two very special individuals in the most sacred of unions. Joining two very separate lives into one life long partnership.
You have chosen each other to be with the rest of your lives. You have each chosen the one person in the whole world who makes you the happiest. The one person in the world that you will grow with - in the good times and the not so good times. You have chosen this one person to be your life long best friend, your lifelong confidant- the one person who will know all of the secrets of your heart and soul. You have chosen the one person that you will grow old with, You have chosen your one true love.


REFLECTIONS ON GROWTH:
At this time I would like to invite
Terrie and
Bob to the front
Who have some special words
To share.
Terrie , Lea’s mom
Bob , Bryan’s dad

REFLECTIONS ON LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP: Pat and Susie
Bryan and Lea have many friends but they are especially close to Pat and Susie. I would like to invite them to join us in the front to also share their thoughts with us.

SONG:
Longer, sung by Caren, Lea’s sister.

I would like to invite
Jan, Bryan’s Mother to read a poem
For us.
Poised, read by Jan, Bryan’s mom * Jan will introduce this selection *

SIGN OF PEACE: (Mike plays a musical selection).
As we prepare for a celebration of unity between Bryan and Lea, we would like to acknowledge the unity that exists among all of us here. So, with that in mind, I invite you to greet those around you with a sign of peace.


BREAD CEREMONY: Air, Bach (Ben will introduce).
During this marriage ceremony, it is very important for Bryan and Lea to give a gift to you, the community of people who gather here as witnesses to their love and union. They thank you for your presence today and for the love and support you have given them and will continue to give them in their lives. Bryan and Lea have baked sweet bread as a reminder of the joy and sweetness in their relationship and in the love they share. They want to share this bread that they have created with all of you, as a symbol of the community of which we are all part.


(Bryan breaks off a piece of bread and hands it to Lea. Lea breaks a piece of bread and hands it to Bryan. Bryan then takes the basket, breaks off a piece and hands It to Caren. Lea takes the other basket, breaks off a piece and hands it to John. The baskets will be then passed among the bridal party and then to the first row of people. It will continue to be passed until everyone has broken a piece for the person next to them and shared from the loaves).

VOWS:
Lea and Bryan’s Wedding Vows:
Lea, From this moment forth, I accept our union as total and eternal.
I accept you wholly and unconditionally.
I vow to always be faithful to you, to myself and to our relationship.
I will cultivate our fidelity, spirituality, faith and growth -
Both as individuals and in unity.
I offer my strength and my weakness and I accept yours.
I will walk with you through life and when I lack the strength to persevere,
I will find comfort in my vulnerability because you will be there to guide me back home to us.


Bryan, From this moment forth, I accept our union as total and eternal.
I accept you wholly and unconditionally.
I vow to always be faithful to you, to myself and to our relationship.
I will cultivate our fidelity, spirituality, faith and growth -
Both as individuals and in unity.
I offer my strength and my weakness and I accept yours.
I will walk with you through life and when I lack the strength to persevere,
I will find comfort in my vulnerability because you will be there to guide me back home to us.


RING CEREMONY:
“My heart smiles
every time I see my wedding ring”
Today you will exchange rings,
a perfect circle with no
beginning or end. An outward
symbol to the world that
you have pledged your
love to one person.
A gift from your best friend who has become your spouse today. A cherished ring that will mean more to you than any other possession.
When you look at your wedding ring think of that one person who makes you the happiest and your heart will smile.
I give you this ring
And with it
I give you my love

HAND-FASTING CEREMONY:
Bryan and Lea have chosen to incorporate the ancient ritual of Handfasting into their wedding ceremony today.
Traditionally this ceremony was performed to invoke the energies of the four natural elements -- earth, fire, wind and water -- to create a sacred circle in which the couple are joined as embodiments of god and goddess. Handfasting is a very powerful declaration of intent, where bride and groom clearly state that they are marrying of their own free will.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Lea and Bryan have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.
And as you enter this marriage, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

Lea and Bryan,
Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?
We will… (First cord is draped over the couples’ hands)
And so the first binding is made.

Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
We will… (Second cord is draped over the couples’ hands)
And so the second binding is made.

Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
We will…
And so the third binding is made.

Will you share the burdens of each other so that your spirits may grow in this union?
We will… (
And so the fourth binding is made.

Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
We will…
And so the fifth binding is made.

Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?
We will…
And the sixth binding is made.

*Tie chords together while saying: *

Lea and Bryan, the knots of this binding are not formed by these cords, but by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. May you see your four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.
As your hands are bound together, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.


PRONOUNCEMENT: )
Bryan and Lea, It is with great
Pleasure that by the
Power vested
In me by the
Great State of Ohio
I now pronounce
That you are
Husband and wife.
It is my pleasure to present to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Lea and Bryan

You may kiss the bride
:
Horn Pipe, Handel