Union by Robert Fulghum — a Wedding Reading

Union

by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquain­tance to this point of com­mit­ment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been mak­ing com­mit­ments in an infor­mal way. All of those con­ver­sa­tions that were held in a car, or over a meal, or dur­ing long walks – all those con­ver­sa­tions that began with, “When we’re mar­ried”, and con­tin­ued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “some­day” and “some­how” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspo­ken mat­ters of the heart. All these com­mon things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The sym­bolic vows that you are about to make are a way of say­ing to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remem­ber this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquain­tance, friend, com­pan­ion, lover, danc­ing part­ner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a thresh­old of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my hus­band. This is my wife.

Source: My Twin Cities Wed­ding. Author Robert Ful­ghum