Bill panned the gold for his and Ginny's bands near their home in Alaska. He chose the woven design in her ring because it reminded him of knitting stitches (Ginny is an avid knitter). We told the story in their ceremony just before the ring exchange.
Charlene and James included a ring warming, passing their rings in a bird's nest amongs their guests for blessings.
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I hold in my hand two beautiful rings, symbolic of a binding contract to be given and received as bonds of never ending love and devoted friendship, circles of life and circles of love. These rings are symbols of the beginning of a life long commitment: a journey together filled with wonder, laughter, tears, work and surprise. May God bless these rings and may they remind you of the promises you have made to each other today.
Marriage is a state in which two people come together and create a union that is greater than the mere sum of two individuals. It is difficult to express in words the profound relationship that is love. What emblems do you have of your love and regard for one another? [Rings are handed to officiant.] From time immemorial, the circlet of metal has been an emblem of the sincerity and permanence of a couple's love and regard for one another and their union. As the precious metal turns again upon itself, so does a good marriage turn upon itself for its refreshment and renewal. Take these rings and exchange them in the spirit of love.
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Rings are made precious by our wearing them. They carry our meaning; they say who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. They are a symbol of our truest essence. Your wedding rings are most special because they say that even in your uniqueness your have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are. Your rings carry a dual message: We are individuals and yet we belong; we are not alone. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are, but also the union you are making today. You are demonstrating the fact that through the rest of your lives each of you will be imprinted by the other, yet as yourself remain.
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I will now ask you to seal the vows that you have just made by the giving and receiving of rings. Let us remember the form of the wedding ring is a circle. Like your love, this shape and these rings have no beginning and no end. The gold band has taken on the symbol of the highest significance, the symbol of a marital relationship. Your willingness to wear this symbol bears witness to your marital fidelity.
This is the point in the ceremony where we usually talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings do have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metal is liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees, then molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements. Love is like that. It's hot, dirty work. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It's the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.
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