Such beautiful symbolism here! A little bit Jewish tradition, a little bit Serbian tradition, a little nerdiness and a whole lotta love. This has a wonderful example of a dual-presentation (both partners being presented to each other). I've left in the processional so you can get a good idea of the logistics of the thing.
Igor Avramovic & Rachel Trimble Ceremony
Processional and Music
- The officiant walks down the aisle.
- Groomsmen walk down the aisle.
- Groom walks down the aisle with parents.
- Father lights the Unity Candle on one side.
- Bridesmaids walk down the aisle.
- Rachel walks down the aisle with mother and father.
- Mother lights the Unity Candle on the other side.
Opening Remarks and Welcoming
Parents, friends, and family: We assemble today to witness the wedding vows of Rachel Trimble and Igor Avramovic.
Rachel and Igor welcome you today, in gratitude for the important roles you have played in their lives.
You have each played a part in the wonderful people they have become.
Your love and support has enabled them to grow, and to be able to share their love with each other here today.
They seek to continue the commitment, which does not begin today, but which began some time ago when they found love in each other.
There are many stages and kinds of commitment among persons in our culture, but this one is the deepest, the most sacred that comes out of the clear choice of two people.
It is said that love is the communication of the good life.
When we find a person who communicates the good life to us, and whose answering resonance tells us that we have been sharing something significant together, then we may make the decision to continue sharing permanently.
Rachel and Igor have found much to share and much to enrich their lives together.
Circling
In Jewish tradition, the bride circles the groom seven times, symbolizing the creation of a new family circle and forming a "wall" of protection for the groom.
Today, Rachel and Igor are adapting this ritual by each circling the other three times and then circling once together.
This symbolizes the creation of a new and protective home and the intertwining of their lives.
Rachel circles around Igor 3 times. Igor circles around Rachel 3 times. Rachel and Igor circle 1 time together.
Acknowledging Different Traditions
Rachel and Igor have created this ceremony.They have woven from threads of two traditions, a fabric that represents who they are together.
Out of two different and distinct traditions, they have come together to learn the best of what each has to offer, appreciating their differences, and confirming that being together is far better than being apart from each other.
Explanation of Symbols
Chuppah:
We are here at a time of happiness to celebrate Rachel and Igor’s love and commitment they have made to marriage.They stand under a chuppah.
It represents the promise of the home they will create together.
Its four sides are open, symbolizing the importance of community and participation in each other’s lives.
Together, Rachel and Igor will weather their storms, and their love will grow stronger as a result.
The members of their families stand at the wall and corners of their symbolic home; they are the foundation upon which the structure of their lives rests.
Friends and family fill the home.
The roof symbolizes the importance of what is beyond ourselves and the presence, in our hearts, of those who we love who cannot rejoice with us today.
Rosemary:
In Slavic tradition, Rosemary symbolizes the welcoming of you, Rachel and Igor’s wedding guests. The plant is an evergreen symbolizing everlasting love and favor. Rachel and Igor give these Rosemary sprigs to you so that you too may share their love, wishes, and luck.Blessings
May they build a life together that is bright with the laughter of children and the smiles of friends and family.
May their home be a haven from the tensions of our time and wellspring of strength;
may it be the one place where they most want to be.
And may the years deal gently with them.
Walking together, may they find much more in life than either would have found alone.
There is a very special prayer that is said upon reaching a joyous occasion, called the Shehechyanu.
The Shehechyanu is said when a baby is born, when a baby learns to walk, upon celebrating religious and educational milestones, at important holiday celebrations, and on the union of two people who join together in the sacred bond of marriage.
The Shehechyanu expresses our gratitude for being able to be with Igor and Rachel on this very special occasion.
Cantor:
“Blessed are you, creator of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and permitted us to celebrate this joyous occasion.”
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam Shehecheyanu Vekeeyamanu Vehigeeyanu Lazman Hazeh.”
Remarks by the Officiant
Omitted here.
As you share this cup of wine, you undertake to share all the future may bring.
May you find life’s joys doubly gladdened, its bitterness sweetened, and all things hallowed by true companionship and love.
Two cups are before you.
By your choice, only one of the cups is reserved for the two of you alone.
You decided to share the first cup with those who have been partners in your lives thus far, the ones who have helped to make you the individuals you are.
This cup of wine symbolizes the gratitude Rachel and Igor have for the loving care and teaching of parents, the ties of heart and mind and memory that link brothers and sisters, and for the friendships that fill this cup to overflowing.
Cantor:
“Blessed are you, creator of the universe, who has given us the fruit of the vine. “
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam boray p’re hagoffen.”
Rachel and Igor drink from 1 cup. Parents drink from the other cup.
It is a Jewish custom to sign a ketubah, or wedding contract, as part of the wedding rituals.
The ketubah is traditionally signed before the ceremony.
It is a written promise they make to one another, in front of their families and friends as witnesses.
They will display the ketubah in their home as a reminder of their love and commitment for one another.”
Rachel Trimble and Igor Avramovic entered into a mutual covenant as husband and wife, loving and supportive companions in life and said to each other:
This ring symbolizes our free decision to create this ceremony which joins us and is prompted by the love that we have for each other.
We will honor each other’s culture as we link customs to form a trusting relationship.
We will protect, support and encourage each other as we create a loving future together.
May our lives be intertwined forever and be as one in faith and in hope.
This love provides us with the determination to be ourselves, the capacity to surrender and the push to live life to its fullest.
It gives us the courage to hope and the ability to make our dreams a reality.
Our purpose in joining together is to nurture that love in each other and, as best we can, give it to others.
We promise to try to be ever open to one another while cherishing each other’s uniqueness, to comfort and challenge each other through life’s sorrow and joy,
to share our intuition and insight with one another,
and above all to do everything within our power to permit each other to become the person we are yet to be.
I will be your loving friend as you are mine.
We also pledge to establish a home for ourselves and our children shaped by our respective heritages; a loving environment dedicated to peace, hope and respect for all people;
a family filled with love and learning, goodness and generosity, compassion and integrity.
Let our home be built on truth and loving-kindness, rich in wisdom and reverence.
May we always keep these words in our hearts as a symbol of our eternal commitment to each other:
I give you my hand and my love. I promise to share my life openly with you, to care for and comfort you, and to be your ally in good times and in troubled times from this day forward.
After having spoken the words and performed the rites which unite their lives Rachel and Igor become husband and wife,
married in the eyes of God and according the laws of the State of Washington.
In Jewish mysticism, the number seven symbolizes creation and completion.
As a man and woman join together in love and marriage, they help each other feel more complete, more whole than they ever felt alone.
For their ceremony, Rachel and Igor have chosen these seven contemporary blessings that reflect their own hopes and feelings for each other that symbolically sanctify this day and this marriage.
Reader:
May you work together to build a relationship of substance and quality.
May the honesty of your communication build a foundation of understanding, connection and trust.
May you respect each other’s individual personality and philosophy, and give each other room to grow and fulfill each other’s dreams.
May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship.
May you understand that neither of you is perfect: you are both subject to human frailties; and may your love strengthen when you fall short of each other’s expectations.
May you be ‘best friends,’ better together than either of you are apart.”
And may you continue to be best friends, better together than either of you are apart.
May your marriage be as sweet as the fruit of the vine.
Cantor:
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam boray p’re hagoffen.”
Together, you bring all of these strengths into your marriage.
Individually, you now receive the flame from your own candles, which your Families have lit for you. Together you will now light your Unity Candle. This shared light symbolizes the beginning of your new life together, and the family you are creating together.”
Rachel and Igor jointly light the Unity Candle, and return to face each other
May the strengths of family, friends, tradition, and love nurture your commitment, and may the beauty of your relationship light your way.
I will respect you, honor you,
and live my life openly with you.
Through my love for you,
I pledge to work to increase your happiness
and to diminish your sorrows.
I promise to cherish and protect you
in good fortune and in adversity
from this day forward.
They are tokens of your union, symbols of enduring loyalty.
May they ever remind you that your lives are to be bound together by devotion and faithfulness.
As you (Rachel/Igor), place this ring upon the finger of your bride/groom, speak to her/him these words.
Igor/Rachel: I give you this ring
as a symbol of my commitment to you
and to our partnership in life.
You have my heart always.
Rachel/Igor (in unison): I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.
And now that you have spoken the words and performed the rites that unite your lives, I do hereby declare you, Igor and Rachel, husband and wife.
May wisdom’s light shine upon you
May your journey bring you peace, shalom.
The custom of “breaking the glass” has a number of interpretations.
Some say it is a symbol of the love that will remain in good times, and in sorrow.
The permanence of the broken glass represents a permanent change in the lives of this couple, as well.
Just as glasses are broken and cannot ever be exactly the same as they once were, their lives will never be quite the same.
Rachel and Igor, our wish for you today is that the innumerable pieces of the glass beneath your feet will be a reminder of the innumerable ways you will love each other in the years to come.
Igor, you may now break this glass and kiss your wife!
Blessing of the Wine (2 cups)
This cup of wine is symbolic of the cup of life.As you share this cup of wine, you undertake to share all the future may bring.
May you find life’s joys doubly gladdened, its bitterness sweetened, and all things hallowed by true companionship and love.
Two cups are before you.
By your choice, only one of the cups is reserved for the two of you alone.
You decided to share the first cup with those who have been partners in your lives thus far, the ones who have helped to make you the individuals you are.
This cup of wine symbolizes the gratitude Rachel and Igor have for the loving care and teaching of parents, the ties of heart and mind and memory that link brothers and sisters, and for the friendships that fill this cup to overflowing.
Cantor:
“Blessed are you, creator of the universe, who has given us the fruit of the vine. “
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam boray p’re hagoffen.”
Rachel and Igor drink from 1 cup. Parents drink from the other cup.
Ketubah
It is a Jewish custom to sign a ketubah, or wedding contract, as part of the wedding rituals.
The ketubah is traditionally signed before the ceremony.
It is a written promise they make to one another, in front of their families and friends as witnesses.
They will display the ketubah in their home as a reminder of their love and commitment for one another.”
Reading of the Ketubah
Read by: Rev. Mark
On the Seventh day of August, Two Thousand and Eleven, 7 Av, 5771,Rachel Trimble and Igor Avramovic entered into a mutual covenant as husband and wife, loving and supportive companions in life and said to each other:
This ring symbolizes our free decision to create this ceremony which joins us and is prompted by the love that we have for each other.
We will honor each other’s culture as we link customs to form a trusting relationship.
We will protect, support and encourage each other as we create a loving future together.
May our lives be intertwined forever and be as one in faith and in hope.
This love provides us with the determination to be ourselves, the capacity to surrender and the push to live life to its fullest.
It gives us the courage to hope and the ability to make our dreams a reality.
Our purpose in joining together is to nurture that love in each other and, as best we can, give it to others.
We promise to try to be ever open to one another while cherishing each other’s uniqueness, to comfort and challenge each other through life’s sorrow and joy,
to share our intuition and insight with one another,
and above all to do everything within our power to permit each other to become the person we are yet to be.
I will be your loving friend as you are mine.
We also pledge to establish a home for ourselves and our children shaped by our respective heritages; a loving environment dedicated to peace, hope and respect for all people;
a family filled with love and learning, goodness and generosity, compassion and integrity.
Let our home be built on truth and loving-kindness, rich in wisdom and reverence.
May we always keep these words in our hearts as a symbol of our eternal commitment to each other:
I give you my hand and my love. I promise to share my life openly with you, to care for and comfort you, and to be your ally in good times and in troubled times from this day forward.
After having spoken the words and performed the rites which unite their lives Rachel and Igor become husband and wife,
married in the eyes of God and according the laws of the State of Washington.
7 Blessings
Historically, brides and grooms have been blessed with seven wedding blessings.In Jewish mysticism, the number seven symbolizes creation and completion.
As a man and woman join together in love and marriage, they help each other feel more complete, more whole than they ever felt alone.
For their ceremony, Rachel and Igor have chosen these seven contemporary blessings that reflect their own hopes and feelings for each other that symbolically sanctify this day and this marriage.
Reader:
May you work together to build a relationship of substance and quality.
May the honesty of your communication build a foundation of understanding, connection and trust.
May you respect each other’s individual personality and philosophy, and give each other room to grow and fulfill each other’s dreams.
May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship.
May you understand that neither of you is perfect: you are both subject to human frailties; and may your love strengthen when you fall short of each other’s expectations.
May you be ‘best friends,’ better together than either of you are apart.”
And may you continue to be best friends, better together than either of you are apart.
May your marriage be as sweet as the fruit of the vine.
Cantor:
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam boray p’re hagoffen.”
Unity Candle
“Rachel and Igor’s your marriage not only brings together two individuals who are very much in love, but two faith traditions, and two sets of friends and families.Together, you bring all of these strengths into your marriage.
Individually, you now receive the flame from your own candles, which your Families have lit for you. Together you will now light your Unity Candle. This shared light symbolizes the beginning of your new life together, and the family you are creating together.”
Rachel and Igor jointly light the Unity Candle, and return to face each other
May the strengths of family, friends, tradition, and love nurture your commitment, and may the beauty of your relationship light your way.
Vows
Igor/ Rachel: I give to you my hand and my love.I will respect you, honor you,
and live my life openly with you.
Through my love for you,
I pledge to work to increase your happiness
and to diminish your sorrows.
I promise to cherish and protect you
in good fortune and in adversity
from this day forward.
Ring Ceremony
In keeping with the declaration you have made, you give and you receive these rings.They are tokens of your union, symbols of enduring loyalty.
May they ever remind you that your lives are to be bound together by devotion and faithfulness.
As you (Rachel/Igor), place this ring upon the finger of your bride/groom, speak to her/him these words.
Igor/Rachel: I give you this ring
as a symbol of my commitment to you
and to our partnership in life.
You have my heart always.
Rachel/Igor (in unison): I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.
Pronouncement
Your friends and family, all of us here, celebrate in your happiness and wish that this day marks only one of many more blessings you will share in the days and years ahead.And now that you have spoken the words and performed the rites that unite your lives, I do hereby declare you, Igor and Rachel, husband and wife.
Closing Remarks / Blessing
May your way be blessedMay wisdom’s light shine upon you
May your journey bring you peace, shalom.
Explanation of Breaking the Glass(es)
The custom of “breaking the glass” has a number of interpretations.
Some say it is a symbol of the love that will remain in good times, and in sorrow.
The permanence of the broken glass represents a permanent change in the lives of this couple, as well.
Just as glasses are broken and cannot ever be exactly the same as they once were, their lives will never be quite the same.
Rachel and Igor, our wish for you today is that the innumerable pieces of the glass beneath your feet will be a reminder of the innumerable ways you will love each other in the years to come.
Igor, you may now break this glass and kiss your wife!
