Thursday, September 20, 2012

Rob and Jocelyn Marry at Elodie Farms in Rougemont


I had the pleasure of marrying Jocelyn and Rob on May 19 at Elodie Farms which is a comfortable, quiet, lovely laid back goat farm and B and B setting in Rougemont.  It's not far from Durham, though so check it out.  It's such a peaceful yet festive atmosphere, I just love to go there.  Rob and Jocelyn were married on the lawn until an arch.  I'd only married folks on the steps to the house before.  This provided another beautiful setting.

Thank you to Jason Arthurs, our wonderful professional photographer, for his wonderful photographs.  Jocelyn created her own bouquets from hyacinths.  Whole Food provided their cake, Smokey Dave's barbecue catered their reception and Swift Creek was the Blue Grass band that played for their reception which began with their recessional, 'May The Circle Be Unbroken.'  It was a beautiful late spring day, even cool for NC, and the band started the very relaxed joyful outdoor reception.


Rob and Jocelyn had an especially unique and lovely Declarations of Intentions section of their ceremony:     Bind me as a seal upon thine arm, As a seal upon thine heart; For love is as strong as death, Mightier than the grave. The darts of love are darts of fire, furious flames; Many waters cannot quench love, Nor floods devour it.’ 

Marriage is not a condition to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but with due reverence, and a sense of ultimate concern for the welfare of each person involved, and with a spirit that transcends the bonds of the past. Now is it with such an intention that you both come here to celebrate your marriage? [Both together: "It is."]

We also created a wonderful and very personal thanks to their parents:
'I invite the parents of Rob and Jocelyn to stand.  Jocelyn and Rob have special words of appreciation for you.  Between you, both sets of parents have 72 years of good marriage as a guide for Rob and Jocelyn’s lives.  And Rob’s grandparents have been married for 64 years.  These are powerful examples of love that grows and matures in marriage.  Jocelyn and Rob are grateful for your love and appreciate all you’ve done for them.  Without your love and unstinting support, they wouldn’t be who they are, and they wouldn’t be here today. Thank you.  Please be seated.'

A friend read Mysteries, Yes” by Mary Oliver:

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.

And we wrote a special blessing for their marriage that also included a Blessing for the banquet that would take place for their reception.  

Jocelyn and Rob, we celebrate your marriage and offer blessings that your love, joy and friendship is renewed daily.  May you continue to turn to each other, appreciate each other, and grow together in the dynamic process that life offers us.  May the flow of your love help brighten the face of the earth. May the source of all love touch and bless us and grace our lives.

We thank you, God, for bringing together this beautiful and wonderful company of family and friends to share your wedding and your upcoming wedding banquet together.  May you begin your future as one family, blessed in the abundance of your love for them, and the love they have for you.  We thank you for the food (abundance) that has been brought and prepared for this day.   May it nurture us in body and in spirit, so that we may live your love all the days of our lives.  Amen.

I loved taking their ideas and framing them into words that expressed all the love they share.  They are a grounded mature loving couple.  They make my heart smile.




I so appreciated their Thank You note to me:
Hi Robin,  Rob and I are so appreciative of how special you made our wedding day. We've gotten our photos back from our photographer and are glad to attach two here for your blog and other purposes.   Thank you for your advice and for all of the time that you put into making our ceremony meaningful.  All the best,  Jocelyn




No comments:

Post a Comment