We have come together here today to witness the joining in the state of matrimony of this man and this woman, according to the order and the custom prevailing and under the authority that has been given and provided by the Government of the Province of British Columbia.

Marriage, as we understand it, is a state that has been ennobled and enriched by a long and honourable tradition of devotion. It is set in the basis of the law of our land, affording each of the two participants an equality before that law, and supporting the common rights of each of the two individuals in this marriage.

You have a desire for a lifelong companionship with the generous sharing of the help and the comfort that a husband and a wife ought to have from one another, through whatever circumstances of joy or sorrow, sickness or health, adversity or prosperity that your lives may experience.

Marriage is, therefore, not to be entered upon thoughtlessly or irresponsibly, but, instead, with a due and a serious understanding, an appreciation of the ends for which it was begun, and of the material, the intellectual, and the emotional factors which will contribute to its fulfillment.

A marriage, by its very nature, is a state of giving, of offering, for a marriage requires the giving of one’s self, in order to support the marriage, the home in which it may flourish, and the children of that home.

It is unto this high and serious state that Matthew Jeffrey Smalley and Elaina Buzzell wish to join today.

I charge and require of you both, in the presence of these witnesses, that if either of you knows of any legal impediment to this marriage, that you do now reveal the same.

Matt:  I solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, Matthew Jeffrey Smalley may not be joined in matrimony to Elaina Buzzell.

Elaina:  I solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, Elaina Buzzell may not be joined in matrimony to Matthew Jeffrey Smalley.

Do you, Matthew Smalley, promise to give to Elaina Buzzell, the love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding? Do you promise to share equally with her of the necessities of life? Do you promise to respect the dignity of her person with her own personal rights? And finally, do you promise to recognize the need for open communication on all matters that pertain either to the present or to the future of this household that you are creating today with your marriage to Elaina Buzzell?

Matt:  I do.

Do you, Elaina Buzzell, promise to give to Matthew Smalley, the love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding? Do you promise to share equally with him of the necessities of life? Do you promise to respect the dignity of his person with his own personal rights? And finally, do you promise to recognize the need for open communication on all matters that pertain either to the present or to the future of this household that you are creating today with your marriage to Matthew Smalley?

Elaina:  I do.

Please, now turn and face one another and join your right hands together. Although you will be repeating these words after me, please do look at and speak to each other, for your marriage vows are words that should be spoken eye to eye, and, more importantly, heart to heart.

Matt:  I call on those present, to witness that I, Matthew Smalley, do take you, Elaina Buzzell, to be my lawful wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward through whatever circumstance or experience that life may hold for either of us.

Elaina:  I call on those present, to witness that I, Elaina Buzzell, do take you, Matthew Smalley, to be my lawful wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward through whatever circumstance or experience that life may hold for either of us.

Matthew and Elaina, the words that you just spoke to one another were indeed your marriage vows, and those words should be written in your minds and in your hearts forever. This these rings are the tangible symbol of those vows, and they will signify to everyone who sees you wearing them, that the two of you have made the ultimate commitment that a woman and a man can make to one another. They should also serve as a beautiful and a gentle reminder to each of you every day, of the commitment you have made to each other here today and all that your marriage and your personal relationship to one another mean to you. Since you have placed these rings before me, I would ask now that they be used and regarded as a seal, an acceptance, and a confirmation of the marriage vows that you have spoken to one another.

Matt:  With this ring, as the symbol of my love, I give myself to you, to be your husband, and I pledge to honour you with all that I am and all that I shall become.

Elaina:  In accepting your ring, I promise to give to you, the truth and the faithfulness of my life in marriage.

Elaina:  With this ring, as the symbol of my love, I give myself to you, to be your wife, and I pledge to honour you with all that I am and all that I shall become.

Matt:  In accepting your ring, I promise to give to you, the truth and the faithfulness of my life in marriage.

The shape of a wedding ring is that of an endless circle, and so also may your lives together be an equally endless circle, of success and happiness, of a warm and a fulfilling friendship and companionship, and, most of all, of a very deep and long abiding love.

In just another few moments, I will be saying what is really a rather remarkably short phrase of words. However short that phrase of words may be, it is going to have an amazing impact on your lives. From today onwards, in the eyes of the law and society in general, but more importantly, in the eyes of those who know and love you, the two of you will have become one. When I speak of the oneness of marriage, it does not mean that you give up being the unique and separate individuals that you have always been, and somehow you blend yourselves together. Rather, each of you retaining all of the qualities that have always been a part of who you are, the two of you now come together into what is a oneness of purpose; the desire to make this commitment to build and to share the rest of your lives together within the partnership of your marriage.

Marriage today does seem to bring with it something of an awesome responsibility, but along with that it also brings an equally awesome potential for growth. First of all, there will be the continued growth of each of you; again as the individuals that you have always been, pursuing your own personal goals, but, at the same time, leaning on each other and helping each other to reach those goals. And in so doing, somewhere in the process, the individual goals end up becoming also shared goals, and, eventually, wonderful triumphs for you to also share when you finally reach them.

Secondly, there will be your growth as a married couple where today you take your place in our society according to a custom that is ages old.

And lastly, but certainly not least, the growth of your happiness, which, I hope, will enhance and enrich your lives for a very long time to come.

And now, for as much as you Matthew Jeffrey Smalley, and you Elaina Buzzell, have consented in legal wedlock, have declared your solemn intention to wed before this company, before these witnesses, and in my presence; and have exchanged these rings as the pledge of your troth to one another; therefore, upon the authority vested in my by the Province of British Columbia, I now pronounce you “husband and wife”.