Sunday, June 7, 2015

Renewal of Vows Ceremony, celebrating 50th Wedding Anniversary

Vlady:              Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve been invited to celebrate with Paul and Mary their fiftieth wedding anniversary. With the help of their children, it will be celebrated in a very special way.
Fifty years ago, Paul and Mary exchanged their wedding vows. Today, they are going to renew those vows.

Wishing Stones
Vlady:              Before we begin the ceremony, I’d like everyone here to select a wishing stone and hold it in your hand throughout the ceremony.

During the ceremony you might like to mark it in some way to symbolise your affection for Paul and Mary, and your commitment to continue to support them in the future as you have done in the past.
At the end of the ceremony, you can place the wishing stone in the container which Paul and Mary will take home to be reminded of this day, when they renewed their wedding vows on their fiftieth wedding anniversary surrounded by the people who love and support them.

Entrance Music played by Grandson

             On behalf of Paul and Mary I’d like to welcome you all to their Renewal of Wedding Vows Ceremony. It is not only a very important occasion it is also a very happy one.

Present with them today is their son Adrian, with his wife Jane and their son Mark who have travelled from interstate to be here today, as well as their daughter Cynthia, her husband David and their two sons James and Philip. Stephen, their fourth grandson is unable to be here today, but I’m sure he is with his grandparents in spirit wishing them a happy wedding anniversary celebration.

Also with us today are members from Paul and Mary’s original wedding party, Groomsman Eric, Bridesmaids Ann and Kathy and Flower girl Patty.

Paul and Mary, you are about to make promises to one another, as you did on your wedding day 50 years ago.

Your vows represent your intentions towards each other.

You’ve already found that living your vows over the years, investing your time, your love and your commitment to one another, the happy times of your life became twice as joyous, because there was someone to share those joys with.

And when life got tough, it was only half as bad, because there was someone by your side to help carry the burden.

For those times in the future, when life presents all of us with challenges, remember that prayer for serenity - God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Prayer on behalf of the family by COUPLE'S  daughter

Renewal of Vows
Vlady:              Paul and Mary, 50 years ago you took each other for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death.
                        Today do you repeat that promise?
Together:         I do.

Vlady:              Paul and Mary, do you now take each other to continue to be your lawfully wedded spouse; to continue to love and be loved for who you are; to celebrate your similarities and to rejoice in your differences; to approach your future years with the same joy as you approached the past fifty years?
Together:         I do.

Vlady:              Surrounded by your family and friends, in grateful appreciation for what has gone before, and in loving anticipation of the years ahead, do you reaffirm the promises you have made on your wedding day to love, honour and   respect each other?
Together:         I do.

Vlady:              Paul and Mary will you now repeat after me these promises to each other
Together:         I give to you all that I have been, all I am now, all I will be.

Vlady:              May your children and grandchildren bless you, your friends console you, and all people live in peace with you.

Words of appreciation by the three Grandchildren
Support from Guests
Vlady:              Over the past fifty years Paul and Mary have been fortunate and grateful for the many relationships they have formed, and which has been a strength and support to them.

As they celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, by renewing their own commitment to each other, I would like everyone present to be aware of how important they are to Paul and Mary and their hope that you will continue to be involved in their lives.

So now I ask you, as family and friends of this couple and their children, will you continue to support the union of Paul and Mary and their family?

Guests:             I will.

Candle Lighting Ceremony by Son and Daughter

Community Blessing
Vlady:              Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a blessing for Paul and Mary on this their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Everyone:        May the road rise up to meet you,
             May the wind be always at your back.
             May the sun shine warm upon your face,
             The rains fall soft upon your fields.
             And until we meet again,
             May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
             May green be the grass you walk on,
             May blue be the skies above you,
             May pure be the joys that surround you,
             May true be the hearts that love you
             May God be with you and bless you;
             May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings,
             May you know nothing but happiness
             From this day forward.

Paul and Mary, as you have renewed your wedding vows, all of us present wish for you continuing happiness as husband and wife.

As on your wedding day, continue to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together you may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely.

And with the passage of time, may you find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship.
May the home you are reaffirming today truly be a place of love and harmony.

We, your relatives and friends, bless you with our wishes and hopes for your continuing happiness and love.

Paul and Mary, today you have renewed the promises and vows you made to each other on your wedding day.
You have symbolized the renewal of the marriage union by the joining of hands, and exchanging of vows.
It is with pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing the vows of marriage that joined you and forever binds you as     husband and wife. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a sign of affection….a Kiss.

Certificates
Vlady:              Paul and Mary, to commemorate this special day in your life, I‘d like to present you with two certificates.

One commemorates your renewal of vows, the other tells a little about the events that took place in the year in which you were married.

Vlady:              Now I would like everyone to come up and congratulate the couple for remaining the loving husband and wife they are.

Bring the stones, with and place them in the special container provided for them.
The number of stones in the container will be a constant reminder to Paul and Mary of the people who shared with them the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary and who will continue to bless them with their support in the years to come.




In the Year Paul and Mary married

¨ Mr Robert Menzies was Prime Minister

¨ Joe Hockey, current Treasurer, was born

¨ Mini skirts became fashionable

¨ Graham Kennedy was a noted Personality

¨ The Seekers sang ‘I’ll never find another You’

¨ Tom Jones sang ‘It’s not Unusual’

¨ Most popular film was ‘The Sound of Music ‘

¨ Homicide was the most popular drama

¨ Light Fingers won the Melbourne Cup

¨ Britain banned cigarette advertising  on TV

¨ The Maple leaf became Canada’s flag

¨ In Brisbane Women chained themselves at the Regatta Hotel protesting  laws banning women from pubs