The ushers (Sean's two younger brothers, Michael and Daniel) assisted the guests in their placement for the ceremony so that they formed a circle around the edge of the deck. (This was easily facilitated by the natural curve of the deck's railing.) Each guest was given a white taper candle for lighting during the ceremony. When all the guests were present, Michael and Daniel took their places (right and left of the aisle so that once all were present, they could close the circle) and the Officiant, Rev. Dr. Carolynne Fairweather assumed her stance at the head of the altar. The attendants, Autmn (Bridemaid) and Damon (Groomsman) proceeded down the aisle to the altar to light the God/dess candles (silver and gold tapers rolled from pressed beeswax sheets) (photo at right). Once the candles were lit, the attendants turned to face the aisle and stepped slightly away from the altar (to make room for the Bride and Groom).

Sean proceeded down the aisle to the altar unescorted. Gwen was escorted to the final turn before the aisle by her brother, Eric, who then left her to remain at the head of the aisle as he approached the altar to light the candle of their ancestors/family (Gwen's parents were, still are, as a matter of fact, deceased). He then took his place amongst the guests. The Bride made the final approach to the altar and her Groom unescorted (photo at left). (At 32, I felt the right, the privelge even, to approach the altar unescorted, especially since my parents had crossed over so many years ago.) Gwen and Sean moved around their respective sides of the altar, followed by their attendants, then lit their own candles from the God/dess candles, silently calling dieties in the process (photo at right). The Bride then lit the quarter candles and, together with Her Groom, they made another silent call to the elements before turning to face the Officiant.

"We have gathered here together to witness and celebrate the joining of Gwen and Sean in Sacred Marriage.

"Marriage is a promise to love, a pledge to respect, and a commitment to a life together. It is not a singular event but rather a never-ending process to which Gwen and Sean betroth themselves today. To marry is to unite two separate individuals in the creation of a greater whole. In marriage, there is no "other" half; each partner is a whole and complete individual. It is the bonding of these two wholes, the bonding of Gwen and Sean -- their similarities as well as their differences, their strengths as well as weaknesses, their common ground reached from separate histories -- that makes this marriage, this new creation, greater than the sum of its parts.

"The marriage of Sean and Gwen has called us together because their union touches each one of us. Through this union, a new family is established. Let all hearts rise and take flight as we encircle them with love and blessings.

"As we create the circle of light, please only light the candle of the person on your left."

The attendants each lit their candle from the respective God/dess candles then moved to the East (Damon) and West (Autmn) to pass on their flame(s), each guest lighting his/her candle from the previous guest on his/her right (photo at right). Once the circle (two semi-circles, really) had been completed, Autmn and Damon touched flames with the last guest(s) to receive the flame, thus closing the circle. The attendants then returned to their places center circle.

Carolynne then queried the Bride and Groom.

"Do you, Gwen, come here of your own freewill?"

The Bride replied: "I do."

"And is it your wish to be joined with Sean in the sacred bonds of marriage?"

"It is."

"And do you, Sean, come here of your own freewill?"

To which the Groom replied: "I do."

"And is it your wish to be joined with Gwen in the sacred bonds of marriage?"

"It is."

Sean and Gwen each took up their respective candles and joined their flames to light the Unity candle (photo at left). Carolynne continued.

"In the endless dark of the unborn world, there came two flames becoming one fire. Let their flames burn in your hearts and bring light and warmth to the night of your soul."

The Bride and Groom returned their individual candles to the altar.

"As a spider weaves its web in the dew covered dawn of a new day, so love weaves its web between the hearts and lives of two souls. The web is fashioned of the crystalline light threads of love, but it is spun from many kinds of love: romantic love, a slow-growing devotion, a constantly rippling companionship. It is made of loyalties, interdependencies, and shared experiences. It is woven of memories, of meetings and conflicts, of triumphs and disappointments. It is a web of communication, a common language, and the acceptance of lack of language, too; a knowledge of likes and dislikes, of habits and reactions, both physical and mental. It is a web of instincts and intuitions, of known and unknown exchanges. The web of marriage is made of propinquity in the day to day living side by side, looking outward and working outward in the same direction. It is woven in space and in time of the substance of life itself, and extends beyond space and time with the interconnectedness of all things.

"Today's celebration is the outward sign of a sacred and inward commitment. Such a union can only be created by loving purpose, maintained by abiding will and renewed by human feelings and intentions.

"Above you, the stars. Below you, the stones. As time does pass, remember... Like a star, your love should be constant. Like a stone, your love should be firm. Be close, yet not so close that you restrict one another. Possess one another, yet grant each other freedom to grow. Be understanding and compassionate. Have patience with each other, for though storms may come, quickly they shall pass. Be free in giving warmth and affection; make love often and with each other be sensuous. Fear not, lest the ways and words of the unenlightened give you dis-ease, for Spirit is with you now and present it shall ever be."

The attendants placed their candles back on the altar. The Bride handed her bouquet to Autmn then turned to face her Groom. They joined hands and Sean spoke first.

"I, Sean, son of Robin Schofield and Terry Patrick, do take you, Gwen, to be my wife, my lover, my partner in life. As we come together this day starting our lives together I offer you all I was, am, and will be. I promise you a love as stable as earth, but with a fluidity like that of water, a passion as rampant as fire but as gentle as a warm spring breeze, a love as unconditional as that of the Great Spirit. Whether in joy or sorrow, passion or anger, I give you my heart - to live together, love together, learn together from now until the end of time. No hurdle will be to great for us to jump, nor wall to great to climb in our life together. Heart to heart, hand to hand, united by Spirit, we are as One."

In turn, Gwen spoke.

"I, Gwen, daughter of Joan Karth and Robert Brynjulf, do take you, Sean, to be my husband, my lover, my partner in life. To you, I offer all that I am, all I have ever been, all I shall ever be - body, mind, and Spirit. I promise you ever-lasting unconditional love. Together or apart, my heart shall ever be entwined with yours. When you cry, I shall feel your sorrow and dry your tears. When you laugh, I shall feel your joy and join you in flight. Though fear may strive to push us apart, I will accept, with love, our differences. When there is only love, there is no end. Heart to heart, hand to hand, united by Spirit, we are as One."

Carolynne again queried the Bride and Groom.

"Do you bring tokens of your love that are symbolic of your union?"

The attendants presented the rings to Carolynne who accepted them and offered a blessing (photo at right).

"These rings are an earthly symbol of your love and faith in one another. This day will pass into memory, but these rings will travel with you into the future. We ask the Creator to bless these bands of silver. May they be a comfort to you both and a signal to the world that you are "joined," heart and soul."

Carolynne handed the Groom's ring to Gwen, who placed the ring on Sean's finger. She then prompted the Bride to repeat after her.

"With this ring, I thee wed. Let this circle of silver reflect the circle in which we stand to be a constant reminder of my pledge to you. Let it remind you daily of the wheels of life and the unbroken cycles of eternity."

Carolynne then handed the Bride's ring to Sean who placed the ring on Gwen's finger. She then prompted the Groom to repeat after her.

"With this ring, I thee wed. Let this circle of silver reflect the circle in which we stand to be a constant reminder of my pledge to you. Let it remind you daily of the wheels of life and the unbroken cycles of eternity."

The Bride and Groom again joined hands and turned to face the Officiant (left).

In the presence of your family, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Sean lifted Gwen's veil and they kissed (right).

The Bride and Groom, with hands joined, walked to the North Gate and stood facing outward (photo at right). The Officiant offered the following (written by the Bride and intended as a Benediction and a realease of Dieties and Elements by the Bride and Groom):

"My love and I
We did walk to the East
Where we whispered to each other
With the breath of life.
My love and I
We did walk to the South
Where we kissed each other
With the passion of life.
My love and I
We did walk to the West
Where we embraced each other
in the dream of life.
My love and I
We did walk to the North
Where we supported each other
On the foundation of life.
My love and I
We stood center circle
Neither above nor below
Nor before or behind
And there we proclaimed
Our love for each other
and thus our fates entwined.
We jumped the broom
And swept away the past
Leaving only the future ahead.
With the exchange of rings
In the circles of life
We were lovingly and dutifully wed.
Now my love and I
We lay side by side
Curled beneath the covers
Husband and wife
Throughout this life
Partners, friends, and lovers."

Gwen and Sean turned to face the center of the circle and their guests. Carolynne presented the couple.

"May I present Gwen and Sean Dwyer."

Gwen took her Husband's arm and they walked out of the circle and back up the aisle. Damon and Autmn attended to the altar, seeing that all the altar candles were properly snuffed (photo at left), then attended to the guests and collected all the circle candles.