Reader Bjorn recently got married!
(He’s the dapper fellow on the right in the pic below.)

He and his wife Jeannette had a Humanist wedding ceremony in all of its aspects, and he has now helpfully written about his experience, which I suspect may be helpful to a number of you who want to do something similar in the future.
It’s definitely helpful to me. So far, the only thought I’ve put into my future wedding is that it will be catered by Chipotle and Cold Stone Creamery.
Bjorn writes about who performs the wedding, what they did for a ceremony, and whether the families should be informed of the unique, religion-free nature of the festivities.
You may wonder: What do the bride and groom say if they don’t thank God for each other? What were their vows?
That deserves special mention:
Bjorn:
Where is peace?
It is in your smile.
How do I cope?
Your hand steadies my nerves.
Why do I wake?
Because you are there with me.
Why should I be better?
It’s you I impress.
Why do I cook?
Your happy tongue is worth it.
Why should I learn?
The things we teach each other help us grow.
Why should I love?
Never have I missed or have been missed more.
Why should I marry?
When together, I find myself.
You find my faults and strengths. I couldn’t be who I am without you. You are my first thought and my last. No force affects me more then your smile or your tears. You are my future. You are my home. Your compassion and love can see past my flaws. With you, I am as best as I can be. I can give so much more with you beside me then alone. You are my reason for doing. All I can give, I give to you. I give you my promise to love and respect you. We are different and equal. Together we are more then two. I know pledging to love you is right. Nothing makes more sense to me. Gravity is less certain to me. Each day with you is like a holiday.
I, Bjorn, choose you, Jeannette to be my wife. I will respect you, care for you, and grow with you, through good times and hard times, as your friend, companion, and partner, giving the best that I can, to fulfill our lives together.
…
Jeannette:
You are my best friend. We are friends who fell in love with each other. We are friends who have shared some incredible moments together. We are friends who laugh and cry together. We are friends who have a mortgage and bills together. We are friends who will grow old together. I’m so lucky to get to spend everyday with such a wonderful and caring person. Any words I say can’t do justice to how much I really love you. I feel the same bliss of my childhood. It may not be as carefree, but I feel as happy and safe as I did when I was little, and know I know I’ll feel that bliss everyday for the rest of our lives.
I, Jeannette, choose you, Bjorn to be my husband. I will respect you, care for you, and grow with you, through good times and hard times, as your friend, companion, and partner, giving the best that I can, to fulfill our lives together.
How wonderful is that 🙂
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