MARRIAGE VOWS

We are gathered here in the presence of witnesses for the purpose of uniting in matrimony ____________ & _______________.

The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities.

Please remember that love, loyalty and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring relationship.

No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to pledge.

Please face each other and join hands.

Do you _______ take ________ to be your spouse for life.

Do you promise to love and comfort each other, honor and keep each other in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or for worse and be faithful to each other as long as you both shall live?
(Repeat)

Place the ring on her finger and repeat after me to her.

I give you this ring in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With this ring, I thee wed (repeat).

Now that you have joined yourselves in matrimony, may you strive all your lives to meet this commitment with the same love and devotion that you now possess.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you spouses for life.

“Square Dancing Is Friendship Set To Music”

This is one of the first saying we each heard when we joined square dancing and for us one of the truest. First of all we met through square dancing. Secondly it has been a major part of our 12 year long relationship. We have made friends and shared many memorable moments with other square dancers in our own club and other clubs throughout the country. The yearly conventions help us to stay in touch without the expense & time of traveling to see each person individually. This is one of the things we hope to do when we retire. We want to take a map & travel the country going from one Fly-in to another sightseeing, visiting & dancing.

Thus the theme of our window represents our relationship and what square dancing means to us. First of all, the window’s size is 13” x 31cm which corresponds to the date each of us were born. The window is finished off by 4 pink triangles. The outer shape is eight sided to represent the number of people in a square. The background represents Yosemite. It was on our first square dancing trip to Yosemite that we made our commitment to each other. The inner shape is the infinity sign representing the endless possibility of friendship and the future of our relationship. Within the one side of the infinity sign is a red & white rose. The roses are positioned as abstract female dancers. They stand for true friendship in general, as well as, for the two of us. In the other side of the infinity sign are two notes representing the music of square dancing. They are positioned to represent two male dancers. The background is a rainbow musical staff. This represents the gay/lesbian community where we have loved and danced. We hope to continue to experience each other & our friends for many years to come.