The invitation read:
Please join William and Noel Giger as they celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary with a throw-back to the golden age of Hollywood, Swing Music and Big-band Supper Clubs. Period attire is optional, but encouraged!
Here is the vow renewal wording that we used. We modified a hand-fasting ceremony because we loved it!
Renewal of Vows:
Today we are celebrating William and Noel’s tenth wedding anniversary. In honor of this occasion, they have decided to renew their wedding vows. William and Noel, will you please step forward and face each other.
William, will you take Noel to be your wife? Will you promise to love, comfort, honor and cherish her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, stay true to her, as long as you both live?
William answers “I will”
Noel, will you have William to be your husband? Will you promise to love, comfort, honor, cherish and obey him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, stay true to him, as long as you both live?
Noel answers “I will”
Please repeat after me:
I, William take you Noel, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death separates us. Because of that, I offer you my hands.
Noel, please hold William’s hands palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, still young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on this day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you continue to build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief engulfs your heart.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
Noel, this man whose hands you hold is your husband. He depends on you. He will lean on your life, your love and devotion for strength and inspiration. He is going to look to you for encouragement, for cheerfulness and confidence. No matter what the world may say or think, people may forget him, lose confidence in him, and turn their backs upon him, but you must not. May your life and your love be the inspiration that will constantly lead him and encourage him to be all that he wants and is capable of being.
Now, Noel, please repeat after me
I, Noel take you William to be my Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death separates us. Because of that, I offer you my hands.
William, please hold Noel’s hands palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on this day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
These are the hands that massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will care for you and make your home a haven, where trust, love and laughter are abundant.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.
Lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
William, this woman whose hands you hold is your wife. She has given you one of the most sacred things under heaven: a woman's love. You may bring her great joy or cause her deep sorrow. It is not what you bring her in a material way that will make true happiness--riches without love are nothing. The gift without the giver is bare. As her husband, continue to practice those same virtues that you have shown her up to now, and they will keep her heart won to your heart.
In 1 Corinthians 13: verses 4-9, the Lord tells us: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
And in Psalms 127:3, the Bible tells us “Don't you see that children are GOD's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
God has blessed Noel and William’s marriage with 3 children, one is still being formed, and the other 2 are already here celebrating with them.
Now, Noel and William, please hold Calvin & Jordan’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your children that you are holding on this day, each a gift from God. These are the hands that will love and respect you all the days of your life.
These are the hands that will fill your life with laughter and make you proud that you are their parents. These are the hands that will share in making your house a home filled with happiness.
These are the hands that will often challenge you as they search for independence, but will always respect you as they grow into maturity.
These are the hands that will reach to you for guidance and will honor you by growing into respectful and caring adults.
These are the hands that will learn to parent from you.
These are the hands that will care for you when you are old and let you know that you have not been forgotten.
These four hands represent a family that is a blessing from God. This family places its trust in God and will continue to grow in His Love.”
It is my pleasure to re-introduce to you, the Giger family, Mr. & Mrs. William Giger and their children Calvin and Jordan.
That morning I had lost my best friend, Laura Belt. The portions about grief were especially poinent. 2 days later I lost my grandmother, then 9 short months later, our son Ian passed away. Little did I know how true these words would ring.
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, and I hope that you remember to be thankful for the family and loved ones that you have!
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