(In the Rose Ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a
Rose. Two roses are all that is necessary. The Rose Ceremony is
placed at the end of the ceremony just before being pronounced
husband and wife. In the old language of flowers, a single red rose
always meant "I love you". The Rose ceremony gives recognition to
the new and most honorable title of "Husband and Wife". )
"Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your
wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of
your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your
commitment to each other.
You now have what remains the most honorable title which may
exist between a man and a woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a
single rose.
In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single
rose always meant only one thing - it meant the words "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as husband and wife -
that gift would be a single rose.
Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. In some ways
it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago
you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one
small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In
some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday.
But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one
of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you
always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the
devotion of marriage.
JOHANN and IVY, I would ask that where ever you make your
home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a
small and graceful one - that you both pick one very special
location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly
wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a
recommitment to your marriage - and a recommitment that THIS
will be a marriage based upon love.
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