RumBelle Wedding Vows

If only in my imagination.  In case you're wondering who the pastor/priest is, it is Morgana le Fay, my Fairytale Land identity.  Tell me what you think, Dearies.

May the gods bless and keep those who could not be with us today.

Dear friends, we are gathered here today to witness that act that is the most sacred and lovely that can be shared between two people.  I speak, dear friends, of the holy vows of matrimony, a pledge to honor, love, and keep one's true love forever and always.  Before we begin, I ask that if there is someone with a reason this man and this woman should not be wed, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

*wait a few moments, and if no one says anything, continue*

Princess Belle, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?  *wait for answer*
And do you, Rumpelstiltskin, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?  *wait for answer*

Now, I ask that you each take a candle from the stand and use to light the large candle in the center.  *wait for the candle to light*  The coming together of the two separate flames to light one large candle symbolizes the passion of two hearts coming together to create a fire so warm, beautiful and passionate, only the coldness of death may extinguish it.  *move the candle to one side, and take out a flower pot, filled with dirt, a dish of seeds, and a pitcher of water*

I ask now that you each take a seed from the ceremonial dish and place it in the pot in front of me.  *wait for them both to do so, then pour water over the seeds and help them grow into a flower*  The deposition of these seeds into the earth symbolizes the risks you will take and the unknown things you will explore as you journey through life together.  The flower represents the rewards that such risks may yield and also the hopes that your own fortunes will prosper, whether it be with children, money, or perhaps something more.  Remember, there is no happiness without sacrifice and no risk without reward.  *put the flower to one side, and take out a fan*

Before I go on, I would ask that the bride and groom each close their eyes.  *wait for them to do so*  I want you to feel the air around you.  It is filled with the good thoughts and well wishes of your friends and family.  Those which you have known for years; those you have only recently met; and, most importantly, those you have yet to meet.  I will help impart those happy thoughts to your minds so that the goodness in those thoughts will abound in your life together.  *fan the fan a few times at eye level, then put it down; take out a silver goblet*

You may open your eyes now.  *show the chalice to the crowd, then pour some red wine into it; give it to the groom*  Marriage is a merging of two souls.  Sharing this glass of wine symbolizes the secrets of one soul being shared with another.  Let there be no secrets, large or small, between these two so that their lives will always be happy and filled to bursting with love.  *take the goblet back and place it on the table beside the fan*

Fire, Earth, Air, and Water have been called upon to bless and keep this marriage, but there is still the matter of Spirit.  To invoke this element, there shall be vows given and vows exchanged.  However, I must ask for the rings before we can begin.  *get one golden ring each from Baelfire and Henry, and hand them to the bride and groom*  Now please face each other, place the rings on one another's fingers and repeat after me.  *wait for them to do so*

(Slashes indicate places to pause and wait for repetition.)  I, Rumpelstiltskin/ take you, Belle/ to be my wife/ in sickness and in health/ for richer, for poorer/ to protect and keep you/ to love and to cherish/ to respect and honor/ and to rekindle the fire/ when your soul's light has gone out/ so your heart may shine forever.

I, Belle/ take you, Rumpelstiltskin/ to be my husband/ in sickness and in health/ for richer, for poorer/ to protect and keep you/ to love and to cherish/ to respect and honor/ and to rekindle the fire/ when your soul's light as gone out/ so your heart may shine forever.

As we began this ceremony, so shall we end it.  I ask now the same question I asked at the beginning.
Do you, Princess Belle, take this man, Rumpelstiltskin, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, to respect and honor, for better or for worse, until death do you part?  *wait for "I Do"*
And do you, Rumpelstiltskin, take this woman, Princess Belle, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, to respect and honor, for better or for worse, until death do you part?  *wait for "I Do"*

Then by the power vested in me by the Goddess, and by the Goddess that lives inside of us all, I now proclaim you to be husband, and wife.  Rumpelstiltskin, you may kiss your lovely bride.

*leave the audience to cheer and clap as red rose petals fall and True Love's Kiss works its magic, yet again*