Michael And Rochelle's Site We're crazy (in love) and we want to share it with you!
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Events Our Wedding

Wedding Ceremony We wrote our own wedding ceremony, using pieces we liked from a slew of other ceremonies we found in books, as well as a lot of our own words. This is the "as envisioned" version; you'll have to wait for the video to be posted to see the "as built" ceremony, which was quite a bit different. 1. Processional Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash) 2. Welcome MINISTER: Friends, we are gathered here to witness and to celebrate the coming together of two separate lives. It is one of life's richest surprises when the accidental meeting of two people leads them to desire to spend the rest of their lives together. We are here so that Michael Andrew Alderete and Rochelle McCune may make this important commitment, the acceptance of another person in their entirety, as lover, companion, and friend. This is a decision that was not entered into lightly, but with much thought, mutual respect, amazement and joy. It is fitting and appropriate that you, their family and friends, witness and participate in their wedding. The humor, good nature, and understanding they bring to their marriage have their roots in the love, friendship and experience you have given them. When we look at a flower, we see clouds, sunshine, time, earth, and everything that brought the flower into being. Though its blossom is beautiful, it has no independent, individual existence. The accolades belong to all that contributed. Just so are Michael and Rochelle. They are the sum of their experiences and interactions with family and friends, who have influenced them to be two people that can come together in love, understanding and compassion. The contributions of their family and friends started at the very beginning of their relationship, creating the tenuous link that lead to their meeting. Michael's sister's husband's classmate's best friend was lured by conspiracy to attend a Fourth of July party in Oakland, instead of a party in Sepastapol. Thus only by chance did Michael and Rochelle attend the same party, held one year ago today. For that chance, that happy coincidence that brings us all together this morning, they owe a debt to Michael's sister and her husband, and Hilda Senseney and her husband and co-conspirator, yours truly. 3. Address to the Couple Michael and Rochelle, through your love and consideration for each other, you can make your wedded life come alive. The future is unknown and unknowable. It is a tribute to your faith in each other that you are willing to face this uncertainty together. May your love never fail, but grow deeper and surer every year you spend together. Your love for one another and your willingness to accept each other's strengths and weaknesses has created the foundation for a strong and lasting marriage. As you enter this marriage, your desire for an equal partnership, with common and individual goals, hopes, and dreams, will give your lives special meaning and fulfillment. Share yourselves with each other. Cherish the intimacy and understanding that comes with the passage of time. 4. Recognition of Family and Guests GROOM: We thank everyone for coming today. Your presence makes this ceremony more meaningful and this day more special, for both of us. BRIDE: We especially want to thank our parents -- not just for being here today, but for being there for us so many times in the past. MINISTER: As they come before us to be married, Michael and Rochelle wish to acknowledge and thank their parents for the love and support they have given. The flowers they give to their parents represent these feelings of gratitude. This day marks a major change in their lives, which they could not have reached without the constant caring and guidance given to them by their parents. [ Present Flowers ] MINISTER: Will the parents of Michael and Rochelle please affirm their blessings, support and encouragement? Michael and Rochelle are here to become one. Therefore I ask you: Do you offer your blessings and loving support of this marriage? PARENTS: We do. MINISTER: I now ask everyone to rise. All of us who have come here today comprise this couple's community. I invite you to promise your positive involvement and support of Michael and Rochelle, to encourage their dreams and support their growth together, each in your own way, to help them achieve a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment together. I ask your affirmation of all these things for Michael and Rochelle by saying with me, Amen. GUESTS: Amen. MINISTER: Thank you. You may be seated. 5. Seven Blessings Today, we are privileged to share with Michael and Rochelle a moment of supreme joy in the new life they now begin together. It is not our hour of exultation, but theirs. Yet we speak of our hopes for them with seven blessings bestowed by family and friends: We, your family and friends, wish for you the special joy of being a couple, making decisions together, sharing ideas, hopes and dreams, celebrating life's joys and confronting life's difficulties hand in hand. We, your family and friends, bless you with our promise of continuing friendship and love to support you, encourage you and enrich your lives. We, your family and friends, wish for you the strength to celebrate your uniqueness, honor your individuality, and complement each other in your differences. We, your family and friends, bless you with days and nights filled with the things that are special to you -- fun, laughter, great food, mind-expanding experiences, and friends to share them with. We, your family and friends, wish for you the wisdom to remember the community around you, to share the richness of your lives with others. That is, don't abandon us! We, your family and friends, wish for you the freedom to explore, to imagine, to create. And we wish for you the discovery of the world's treasures as well as the vision to appreciate the treasures of yourselves. We, your family and friends, bless you with a life filled with pleasure and warmth, humor and beauty, peace, friendship and love. 6. Homily/Remarks Love is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can have, and it can add depth of meaning to our lives. The sensual part of love is one of life's greatest joys and when this is combined with real friendship, both are infinitely enhanced. The day-to-day companionship -- the pleasure in doing things together, or in doing separate things but in delighting to exchange experiences -- is a continuous and central part of what two people who love each other can share. Deep knowledge of another is not something that can be achieved in a short time, and real understanding of the other's feelings can develop fully only with years of intimacy. This wonderful knowledge of another person grows out of truly caring for the other so much that one wants to understand as completely as possible what the other is feeling. It is possible to share not only joys and successes, but also the burden of sorrows and failures. To be known in this way is a priceless thing, because such understanding and acceptance makes it easier to live with our problems and worries. But, while marriage is the intimate sharing of two lives, it can -- indeed, it must enhance the differences and individuality of each partner. Michael and Rochelle, in loving one another, see the value of one so different from themselves. In many ways, Michael and Rochelle could not be more different people. It is those differences, rather than their similarities, that give them such joy in the other. We must all learn to celebrate our differences. The inability to let what is different from ourselves exist in the world is one of humankind's perennial tragedies. It is a sign of great strength, rather than weakness, to let other people be and not interfere with the choices they make. 7. Marriage Vows MINISTER: Of all the men and women you know, you have chosen each other as partners in your life's journey together. Are you ready to be married? BRIDE AND GROOM: We are. MINISTER: Before all of your gathered family and friends, do you now vow to love each other endlessly? MICHAEL: [IMPROVISE] You're a cute chick, let's get married. ROCHELLE: [IMPROVISE] Boo-boo, I love you. 8. Blessing and Exchange of Rings MINISTER: An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending. These rings represent the enduring love the binds you together as husband and wife. In the years that come, they will remind you of the overwhelming joy that you give to each other. May you always be as happy together as you are today. Will each of you repeat after me, I give to you this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor and respect you. You are my beloved, and you are my best friend. BRIDE: I give to you this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor and respect you. You are my beloved, and you are my best friend. [ Ring ] GROOM: I give to you this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor and respect you. You are my beloved, and you are my best friend. [ Ring ] 9. Application of Tattoos MINISTER: While your wedding rings express the solemn and eternal nature of your commitment to each other, you do not want to lose sight of your sense of fun. Both of you delight in irony and the absurd. [ Start the passing out of tattoos, one plate on each side of church ] The tattoos you now exchange express in an ephemeral way the undying nature of your love for each other. Apply them now, and let us all laugh at the absurdity of the word “forever” in a temporary tattoo. [ Tattoos ] Though these tattoos will wear off in a few days, and the words will disappear from your arms, you will remember them always, as will we all. And there are 750 more tattoos left, for all the anniversaries in your future. 10. Pronouncement of Marriage Michael and Rochelle, having witnessed your vows of love and faith to each other, by the power vested in me, it is my joy and personal privilege to pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. 11. Kiss [ Smooch-o-rama ] 12. Presentation of Couple May these two people, now married, keep this covenant they have made. May they be a blessing and a comfort to each other, share in each other's joy, console in each other's sorrows, help each other in all they set out to achieve. May they, trusting each other, trust life and not be afraid. Yet may they not only accept and give affection between themselves, but also together have affection and consideration for others. We who are present, and those who are absent, thinking of these two people, hope that the inspiration of this celebration will not be forgotten. May they continue to love one another forever. I present to you Michael Andrew Alderete and Rochelle McCune, two strong and unique individuals who have chosen to become one amazing couple. 13. Recessional Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Dwight Yocum)