Three by Three - our Program Introduction

In Celtic tradition, three is a sacred and mystical number,
reflected in all aspects of life from the three elements of earth, sea and sky
to the unity of head, hand and heart in the Claddagh ring.
It echoes through centuries of Celtic practices and beliefs.
All things of great import or good fortune came in threes.
These beliefs were so pervasive that they reflect in modern society;
"third times the charm", and "all good (or bad) things come in threes.
To incorporate this ancient and powerful influence,
we have crafted our ceremony as an echo of ancient practice - all things in threes -
three spiritual elements carried out three times each.

We have carefully selected three readings that we feel speak to our marriage and our ceremony.
While these are not the traditional wedding quotes you may be familiar with from other wedding ceremonies,
they are uniquely ours.

We will share three drinks from the Loving Cup -
one for the joining of life and purpose,
one for the joining of mind and spirit and
one for the joining of heart and faith.
Like the symbols of the Claddagh, our three times of sharing bring
the physical, the mental and the emotional into one whole.

We will also exchange three sets of promises to each other.
The first comes with the first drink from the cup, with words
derived from the old, traditional Celtic wedding vows.
The second promise is the words we share during the Handfasting part of the ceremony,
written to revitalize all the aspects that tie two lives together.
The third promise is the wedding vows we have written to each other

Three readings that share our thoughts,
three drinks we hand to and hold for each other and
three promises made from the heart -
and the circle of our Claddagh is complete.

The Wedding Ceremony

Prelude

Cannon and Gigue for 3 violins and continuo in D major - Johann Pachelbel, Triad: St. Patrick, Cú Chulainn, Oisin - Enya, Hashivenu - Faith & Disease and other selections

Seating of the Mothers (and immediate family) - Sinfonia by Johann Sebastian Bach

Party Processional - Brian Boru's March performed by Áine Ní Dhubhghail

Wedding Couple Processional - Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke

The Ceremony

Welcome and Opening Blessing by Reverend Gita Beth Bryant

The Loving Cup
Celtic tradition includes a shared drink from the loving cup, called the quaich in Scottish or cuach in old Gaelic. Different versions of the loving cup include the traditional quaich, shaped like a 2-handled bowl and often having a inlaid Celtic design. The purpose of the loving cup ceremony is for the wedding couple to share their first drink together and to show the coming together of two families. The cup is then passed down from generation to generation, ensuring happiness and good fortune to all who drink from it. This is a special moment for the couple to toast their love, devotion, and friendship.

The Shared Cup is an ancient tradition practiced amoung many cultures, such as the Irish, the Scottish, and the French. As Tia and Lori share this drink, that sharing becomes a symbol of their unity and of the joining of two families. During the ceremony this evening, they will share three drinks from this cup. Celtic traditions held all trinities as sacred and offered prayers such as this at the beginning of all unions.

The Mighty Three
My protection be
Encircling me
You are around
My life,
My love,
My home,
Encircling me
O Sacred Three
We ask the maker
Of the sky,
Of the earth,
Of the water,
To encircle this couple,
May the Lord surround them with sacred love
And protect them today and every day
As they stand together in holy unity

First Reading " Whenever I Leave You ", from the Harris Papyrus, 500 Song Cycle 2, 15th Century BCE, Egypt. Read by Mr. Glenn Hauman.

Garland Dedication
Garlands of twigs wound with flowers and ribbons are an ancient Celtic tradition honouring the dearly departed. On 2 November each year, All Soul's Day, it is an old Irish custom to light a candle for the deceased to guide their way back home. The wreaths and candles we dedicate here are in loving memory of the fathers of the wedding couple, Wilford Goldey and Joel Lebowitz.

[Randi and Barbara come forward. Randi and Barbara have the wreaths,
Jennie-Anne should stand for her reading during the lighting of the candles]

[Randi presents her wreath]
Heaven's joy is an unending miracle, truly reflected in earthly moments like this day that give us a glimpse into the eternal love of the spirit. Those we have loved and cherished who have gone on are never really any further away from us then the memories we hold in our hearts and in the reflection of their love in our souls. Not all of our loved ones could be with us today.

[Barbara presents her wreath]
And while we may be sad that they have passed on, we know they are still present in our hearts and our spirits, sharing our joy and happiness in this celebration of life and love. These wreaths we dedicate to the memories and living spirits of Wil and Joel, to lovingly welcome their presence here and their sharing in this wedding celebration.

Interlude Music: "Deora ar mo chroí", "Book of Days", "Lothlórien", and "Fairytale" - by Enya

Special Presentation by Tia and Lori

The Rose Presentation

Gita: Tonight is a celebration of love and life, and in honour of those who have given life and shared love, Tia and Lori will make a personal dedication to their mothers.

[Tia and Lori make private, personal gifts and dedications to their mothers, and then rejoin one another beneath the chuppah]

Second Reading "The Light Within", a compilation from many sources by Lori. Read by Mr. Brit Zane.

Lighting of the Unity Candle

(end of interlude music)

Reaffirmation of Wedding Vows - Reverend Gita Beth Bryant-
All married couples are invited to stand and join us at this time to receive a blessing upon their marriage vows

Binding (Handfasting) Cord Ceremony
The Binding (Handfasting) Cord is a time-honoured tradition practiced all the way back to ancient Egyptian and Celtic unions. We have chosen to incorporate this lovely and deeply spiritual practice into our ceremony, believing that the symbolism of binding the hands together represents the bonds of matrimony and our unbreakable commitment to each other. At this time the wedding couple will also share a second drink from the Loving Cup.

Third Reading "Let My Love Love Me Best ", from the Turin Papyrus, in the Ramesside period circa 1100 BCE, Egypt. Read by Ms. Kris Burger.

Declaration of Intent
The Exchange of Rings and Vows
At this time the wedding couple will share the third and final drink from the Loving Cup.

Ringing of the Truce Bell
The Truce Bell is an echo of St. Patrick's Bell of Will; a bell that is blessed during the wedding ceremony and then presented to the wedding couple. The couple is then asked to give the bell a good hardy ring while thinking lovely thoughts of each other and, most importantly, of their future together. After the wedding, the bell is kept at home as a reminder of the wedding vows and meant to conjure up the happiest memories from the wedding day as an end to strife.

Breaking of the Glass
The breaking of the glass is probably the best-known part of the Jewish wedding. It comes right at the end of the ceremony and is followed by festive shouts of "Mazel-Tov" and the couple's first married kiss. For us, we include this tradition to represent shattering the bonds of our old life, leaving the broken and irreparable behind us, and to symbolize the beginning of our new life together without the ties of a broken past holding us back, as well as having a reminder that all life and relationships are fragile and need care and nourishment to survive.

Final Blessing and Presentation

Recessional - King of the Faeries" performed by Áine Ní Dhubhghail

Postlude - "Molly on the Shore" by Kim Robertson, the "Titanic Set" by Gaelic Storm and other selections