Introduction

Good Morning! I’d like to say a few words before we begin the actual ceremony. The groom is in place, the beautiful bride, I believe is not far away. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the emergency doors are the doors behind you on your right and at the top of the room on your left.

David and Leah have asked me to say, please let them be the first to post on social media. And could I ask that you please put your phones on silent. Thank you. Now, I’d like to invite you to stand as the Bride is about to enter.

Bride enters to music. When she joins the Groom, she will stand to the right of me by prior arrangement.

David and Leah, I invite you to be seated. And I invite all of you to also take your seats.

 

Opening Welcome

Good Morning Everybody! Buenos Dias y Bienvenido especialmentepara nuestros amigos Espanoles. On behalf of David and Leah and their two families, I welcome you.

My name is Frank Houlihan and I am an accredited Celebrant with the Irish Institute of Celebrants

Today is a very special day in the lives of David and Leah. It’s a day they have been dreaming of for quite a while and one for which they will always have the fondest of memories. It’s the day they profess their love and commitment to one another in ceremony; it’s their wedding day. That most special of days. And what a beautiful day it is to be here in the magical location that is Smock Alley.  And David and Leah are very happy, and indeed privileged, that you could be with them.

I’d like to take a moment to honour those who couldn’t travel to be with us here today. We think of Leah’s grandmother Reanna who was unable to travel and who is very much here with us in spirit.

We have lit a candle in honour of those who have departed, we remember them and we know they are smiling down upon you here today.

When looking for a wedding venue, David and Leah came across Smock Alley and because they both love the arts, they were quite taken with the fact that Smock Alley first opened its doors as a theatre in 1662. It was the first Theatre Royal outside London City. Smock Alley has had quite a chequered history and David and Leah also liked the fact that at various times it has been a church of both Catholic and Protestant denomination. And today it is the special place of David and Leah’s wedding.

Marriage is wrapped in a wonderful ribbon of love, commitment and family. You are their family and you are their friends and their hope is, you will be with them in love today and always, in the good times and in the times when they might need you more. They ask that you celebrate with them, say a little prayer for them, and to use Leah’s words; just chill

 

Love Story

I met with David and Leah sometime ago. We chatted, they told me their love story and now I am going to share it with you.

David and Leah were both confirmed singletons. They were happy in their own company, travelling here and travelling there. Ironically,it was because they were such independent free spirits they found each other one warm sultry night in Madrid. Let me bring you back to the start.

Leah works in Toledo, that beautiful city in Spain. David worked in Dublin, that beautiful city in Ireland. Though both their families live near each other and both David and Leah are committed Dubs, often cheering the boys in blue on Hill 16, their paths never crossed.  By the way, both David and Leah have asked me to say, the best of luck to the Dubs later on today! It was another passion that brought them together. That passion was jazz.

Just last year, in late April, David was leafing through Jazz World and saw that the Madrid Jazz Festival was scheduled for the second weekend in May. A spur of the moment decision and Ryanair flights were booked. He was heading to Madrid! At around the same time, Leah saw that she had a freelong weekend in May and knew the Madrid Jazz Festival was scheduled for that same weekend. Wonderful! She knew that festival; she had been there before, she’d go again. Toledo is less than an hour away from Madrid but she decided she’d stay over. She’d savour it all.

It was a Friday, May 13th 2016. David was strolling in Plaza Santa Ana, he stopped at the bronze statue that is of Federico Garcia Lorca, the great Spanish playwright. There he was admiring the figure. What he didn’t know was that he in turn was being admired. Yes! Leah was having a café con leche on the terrace Bar El Toro Santa Ana. She was people watching and spotted this tall handsome man. He appeared to be in a world of his own. He’s not half bad looking says Leah to herself. In fact he’s ‘Guapo!’ Looks like a Basque. Independent. Strong. David drifted away and Leah reluctantly let him drift from her thoughts.

Later that night, David was in The Café Central, the popular Madrid jazz venue. The jazz ensemble was playing a Chet Baker tribute. He was savouring an oloroso. The Central isn’t a big venue and it was packed that night. Leah comes in and spots some space to squeeze into.  Leahsat down and looked at the man who was next to her. She couldn’t believe it. The Federico Lorca hombre! The Basque! And he’s sipping a sherry. A man who likes the finer things in life. She was impressed.

David had seen Leah enter. Couldn’t believe his luck when she appeared next to him. ‘She’s nice!’ He’s thinking fast. First lines are important. He turned to Leah and whispered, ‘Chet Baker!’ ‘Yes,’ said Leah, ‘he’s dead 28 years today’. ‘And it was also a Friday.’ Wow, he thought, she’s lovely and she knows her stuff. They say there is no such thing as chance. Well, how about two Dublin jazz enthusiasts meeting by chance on a hot sultry night in Madrid. And on a Friday 13th!

At the break they talked and laughed. Leah introduced David to Daniela, her friend from Toledo who was the drummer in the band. David was having a ball. The vibe was good. Very good! There’s the smallest of dance space in the Central, and they danced. They danced to ‘My Funny Valentine’ and ‘There Will Never Be Another You’. Each knew that it was love at first sight. In the twinkling of an eye, the band was playing their last number, it was ‘Love Me or Leave Me’. They both knew the significance of the words.

Madrid doesn’t sleep and neither did David and Leah. A sherry in La Venencia. More jazz. Chats. Tapas. And laughs. Lots of them. And the weekend was only beginning. And David and Leah were only beginning.

The weekend passed. They spent every precious jazz moment together. They found themselves back in La Venencia on Sunday night. Leah was now a sherry aficionado! As David brought Leah her Amontillado, he says ‘this is for you.’ Leah recalls, he leaned forward,looked softly in my eyes and gave me the gentlest and sweetest kiss, and he said. ‘Love me or leave me. Will you marry me?’ Leah’s head was spinning but she was so cool. It seemed the most natural thing in the whole world to say: ‘I will,’Hurricane David and Hurricane Leah all rolled into one!

To take the words describing Grover Washington’s ‘Mister Magic,’ their love was smooth jazz that was anything but smooth; they created a wave and they’re riding on it all the way to sunset.

David went back to Dublin, Leah went back to Toledo. Each hopelessly in love with the other. There were challenges to overcome. David moved to Toledo and found work. From being confirmed singletons to being a couple is a journey. A journey with its twists and turns, ups and downs. With commitment and love anything is possible. A little more than year later and David and Leah are as independent and as free and easy going as ever but they are now together in that independence and very much in love. They know that together they are stronger. David and Leah, all of us here today, wish you a long and happy life together.

 

Ceremony Enhancement

Celebrant:  We come, now, to the ceremony enhancements that David and Leah have chosen; the first being the lighting of the Unity Candle

Celebrant:  I’d like to invite Daniela, Leah’s good friend in Toledo, up to light both individual candles.  Gracias, Daniela, gracias, por favor sientate.

Celebrant:  I’d now like to invite Leah and David to light the unity candle.

Celebrant:  David, take this light as a symbol of your spirit.     David lights the taper.

Celebrant:  Leah, take this light as a symbol of your spirit.       Leah lights her taper.

Celebrant:  Now, bring your individual flames together and light the unity candle.   They light the centre candle. Take the tapers.

Celebrant:  This united flame symbolises the spirit of your union and the new greater flame of your marriage. Silently commit to tend the spirit of this union and though there may be difficult times, it’s the commitment to this union that will make it stronger.

Celebrant: I’d now like to invite Leah and David to stand here before me, facing each other.You can hold hands. We are about to have the vows.

 

Vows

Celebrant:  David and Leah, you have come together as free and independent individuals. On this day, you wish to commit to each other your love and your care.

We now come to the words David and Leah wish to say to each other…the words they have chosen together for their vows of marriage. .

David and Leah, please face each other, you can hold hands.

Vows to each of the couple, to be repeated by them.

Celebrant:  David, you may say after me:  Leah/ I thank you for your love and I will cherish it. I promise to commit to you/ to love you today, tomorrow and always.

Celebrant:  Leah, you may say after me:  David/ I thank you for your love and I will cherish it. I promise to commit to youto love you to today, tomorrow and always.

 

Rings

Celebrant:  The exchange of rings. Wedding rings are a symbol of commitment and love. The rings are circular, like love, they have no beginning and no end.  Couples wear their wedding rings as a symbol of their love.

Invite Daniela up to present David and Leah their rings

Celebrant:  I inviteDaniela to present the rings.

Daniela will present first the ring to David. And then, at my invitation to Leah.

Celebrant:  Thank you, Daniela, you may take your seat.

Celebrant:  Please take Leah’s left hand.  David, you may repeat after me: Leah/ this ring I give to you as a token of my love and commitment. / With this ring / I marry you and join my life to yours.

Celebrant:  Please take David’s left hand.  Leah, you may repeat after me: David/ this ring I give to you as a token of my love and commitment. / With this ring / I marry you and join my life to yours.

 

Ceremony Enhancement – Handfasting

Celebrant:  Handfasting!  David and Leah have chosen to enhance their ceremony with the Celtic tradition of Handfasting.

Celebrant:  David and Leah, please face each other. You may hold hands.

Celebrant ties the bond. As the Celebrant wraps the bond, he says …

Celebrant:  David and Leah have chosen the colours of Dublin and of Spain for their handfasting ritual. Firstly the Dublin colours, then the Spanish. They are now interwoven.

The celebrant puts his hand under David and Leah’s and says …

Celebrant:  David and Leah your hands are bound together now. You bring your independent spirits to this union of love, commitment and trust. You hold in your own hands the fate of this union remembering always that together you are stronger.

Put one hand on their hands and say …

Celebrant:  Love each other. Commit to each other.  May you live your lives together fully and joyfully.

Pronouncement:  It now gives me the greatest pleasure to say the words you have been waiting to hear. I now pronounce you husband and wife.