Hello everybody, for those who don't know me my name is Georgie and I not only have the great pleasure of being a close friend and a guest of Stu and Carole's at their wedding, but I have also been asked today to perform a humanist based ceremony to celebrate their very special day. I would like to take this opportunity first and foremost to congratulate you beautiful people and I'm sure on behalf of all your guests to thank you for allowing us to share your special day.
Stu and Carole have chosen to solidify their marriage vows with a Rose Ceremony. The ceremony will symbolise the vows they have made today in the ritual giving and receiving of a single rose between husband and wife. Roses are a symbol of love, the giving and receiving of a single long stemmed rose is a clear and unmistakeable way of saying the words 'I love you'. For this reason it is fitting that the first gift this couple should exchange as husband and wife be the gift of a rose. Stu and Carole will exchange roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire married life and will also convey how to use the rose and its symbolism in difficult times.
We have all had the pleasure of watching and being a part of Stu and Carole's wonderful union. It all started in somewhere I think a few of you may have heard of.....the infamous Old Spot! Stu spotted Carole sitting in Jacks corner having a drink with a friend, who he had assumed must be her partner. However, he immediately couldn't keep his eyes off her and unknown to him at the time the attraction was mutual. Carole watched as Stu 'Rocked and rolled' with some friends and let out a giggle which attracted his attention. Left on her own for a while Stu made his way over and was pretty chuffed when he realised the 'boyfriend' was in fact 'just a friend'. Within 5 minutes Carole had sold him an oak dresser (which of course Carole now owns once again but also has the £50 banked...savvy business woman) but more importantly he had her number. Their eyes barely left each others all night and I think we would all agree, they've pretty much remained in that direction ever since!
Following a texting frenzy to organise meeting again Stu invited Carole to join him as his guest at a party at the Badger. It was here that they shared their first kiss.....the first of many!
And from here their feelings and bond grew at a pace neither of them could have expected. The most beautiful element of this amazing couple's relationship is the natural connection. I met with Stu and Carole to discuss this ceremony and after asking one question I had four pages of wonderful stories, relayed to me in unison. Stu and Carole have a very unique and special relationship; they have love, passion, friendship, respect, inspiration and admiration. Their similarities in life and mind are strong and this was one of things that they first recognised in each other as being very special. They share many of the same passions, emotions, likes and dislikes but above all else when they are together they share the feeling that they can and will overcome anything, as long as they are together, a connection that truly cannot be broken.
And so, you now have the most honourable title which may exist between a man and a woman, the title of 'husband and wife'. In the past a rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose has always meant only one thing 'I love you'.
And so I now ask that Carole and Stu, please exchange your first gift as husband and wife.
In some ways it could seem that you have not done anything at all. A moment ago you were holding a rose and now you are again holding a rose. In some ways a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways tomorrow is going to seem no different to yesterday. But in fact, just now you have both given and received one of the most precious gifts of life, one I hope you always remember, the gift of true love within the devotion of marriage.
Stu and Carole I ask that you pick a very special place in your home for roses, so that on each anniversary of this special occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a re-commitment to your marriage and a re-commitment that this will be a marriage based upon love.
In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt and be hurt by those we most love and to feel the pain of those we hold closest. It might be difficult to sometimes find the words to say 'I am sorry, I forgive you' or 'I am hurting, I need you'. If this should happen, if you simply cannot find the words, leave the rose at that special spot, for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
That rose says 'I love you'. The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
Stu and Carole, if there is anything you remember of this ceremony, let it be that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which will make it a glorious union and it is by love that your marriage will be everlasting.
Your Videos from our Wedding Day
Rock in the Church [05:08]
Short Elbow play 'Making Love out of Nothing At All'[Jim Steinmann. Originally performed by Air Supply]
In the beginning there was nothing, then God created light. There was still nothing, but you could see it better!
Well, that has absolutely nothing to do with the reading I was going to give, but it was too good an opportunity to miss! So now I'm going to have to make a few adjustments and a tentative link into my actual reading, so bare with me a moment ...
... Love is a bit like light isn't it? Go with it! We all have periods of darkness in our lives where love eludes us and loneliness is our only companion and we find ourselves in Capone's at 4 in the morning. There are vast tracks of greyness in our lives where we think we might be in love, but we're not: it's just plain old dirty lust. So grey can be fun! And then, if we're very lucky, there are moments of brightness, where love bursts into our lives and slaps us round the face with a large bouquet of flowers.
Stu and Carole have found such brightness. After months of them both frequenting The Old Spot and managing to completely bypass each other, they finally met and a glow lit up in them both. It wasn't just the Old Ric, it was the beginning of something special and a friendship developed. As they got to know each other the glow grew brighter as they found they had so much in common: a well rounded sense of humour, a love of cooking, old films, socialising and drinking and, of course, a passion for DIY. Ask me later, it's filthy! As their friendship blossomed, the brightness between them increased and became annoyingly brilliant as love took them over and it became increasingly clear to those around them that they were made for each other. Just look at them, they complement each other so well like bacon and eggs, gin and tonic, Marks and Spencer's, Terry and June. The brilliance between them is almost visible, the love and respect somehow tangible. Their future is bright and may they carry on glowing together for the rest of their lives.
Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, I'd just like to say, Stu and Carole: rock and roll!
The First Dance [01:11]
The Vibe play 'Cant Stop Me Now'[Queen] capably danced to by Stu & Carole!!! (lol)
(Video courtesy of Warren Fulford)
The Wedding Chillout at The Old Spot [03:51]
The Welcome Parrots play 'A Pint of Old Ric'[K. Lush]
(Video courtesy of Pete Rogers)
The Wedding Chillout at The Old Spot [03:06]
The Welcome Parrots play 'Right Said Stu'[A reworking by K.Lush/J.Veale of the Bernard Cribbins song: 'Right Said Fred']
