Hannah and Beni’s Wedding

Welcome, family, friends, and loved ones. We are gathered today to celebrate the wedding of Hannah and Beni. You have come here to offer your love and support to this union, and to witness the formal commitment they make to one another. Hannah and Beni thank you for your presence here today, and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support.

A wedding ceremony does not create a marriage. It is simply the official affirmation of the choice you make to stand together as life mates and partners. Only the two of you can take the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships and turn it into a successful marriage. Through love and patience; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through kindness and tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive yourselves and each other; through dedication and perseverance and old-fashioned stubbornness; through learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. Through not just putting up with your differences, but learning to appreciate those differences. Through remembering, always, why you fell in love.

Will you, Beni, take this woman to be your wedded wife?

Beni: I will

Will you, Hannah, take this man to be your wedded husband?

Hannah: I will

Hannah and Beni wanted to express their love of music and the importance of strong friendships through a modern interpretation of the Seven Blessings from a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. Seven friends will read a blessing and use an excerpt of a song lyric to illustrate the meaning.

Blessing One:
Blessed are You, God, Source of the world, who creates the fruit of the vine.

From God Causes All Things To Grow
By Steve Green

God causes all things to grow
Through every season we know
He will guard the life
That He’s planted in our souls
And when we feel the cold winds blow
We’ll hold to what we know
God causes all things to grow

Blessing Two:
Blessed are You, God, Light of Life, who created everything for your glory.

From Wedding Song (There is Love)
By Noel Paul Stookey

Oh the marriage of your spirits here
Has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you
Are gathered in His name
There is Love
There is Love.

Blessing Three:
Blessed are You, God, Spirit of all things, who has created the human being.

From Anniversary Song
By Michael Timmins

And I don’t know how I survived those days
Before I held your hand
Well I never thought that I would be the one
To admit that the moon and the sun
Shine so much more brighter when
Seen through two pairs of eyes than
When seen through just one.

Blessing Four:
Blessed are You, God, Foundation of every life, who fashioned humanity in Your likeness, from one generation to the next and for all eternity.

From Forever Young
By Bob Dylan

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young

Blessing Five:
Blessed are You, God, who makes the hearts of this couple rejoice.

From Maybe I’m Amazed
By Paul McCartney

Maybe I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you
Maybe I’m amazed at the the way you pulled me out of time
And hung me on a line
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you

Blessing Six:
Blessed are You, God, Source of the universe, who has created each of these two people.

From Just The Way You Are
By Billy Joel

I said I love you and that’s forever
And this I promise from my heart
I couldn’t love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

Blessing Seven:
Blessed are You, God, who brings joy to the hearts of this couple.

From How Long Will I Love You
By Ellie Goulding

How long will I give to you
As long as I live through you
However long you say
How long will I love you
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I may
We’re all traveling through time together
Every day of our lives
All we can do is do our best
To relish this remarkable ride

Thank you, friends. All the songs from the ceremony will be played by the DJ at the reception later.

Beni and Hannah, you have stood before your friends and family and declared your love and commitment for each other. This is the point of your ceremony where you will say your vows to one another. These sacred vows must be kept, not because of any religious or civic law, but out of a desire to love and be loved by another person fully, without limitation. If you do this, then the life and home you create together will be a place in which you both will grow.

Please read the vows you have written for each other.

Hannah: Beni, you have been my best friend and my greatest challenge. Most importantly, you are the love of my life and you make me happier than I ever imagined. I never thought there was anyone like you, someone who understands me so well; who makes me feel so loved; who makes me feel so safe and grounded. You have made me a better version of myself. I love you today, tomorrow and always.

Beni: Hannah, I want to share my life with you and build our dreams together. I want forever with you, good times and bad times. I promise to give you respect, love, and loyalty, through all of the trials and triumphs of our lives together. I promise to honor you for all that you are and will become, taking pride in who we are together and separately. I love you today, tomorrow and always.

May I have the rings, please? (Handing each ring, one at a time) Please exchange rings.

Let these rings be a daily reminder of your love for one another.

By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Please seal it with a kiss.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Benavidez!