We had a great time!
Here's a bit of what happened.
Photos
We've set up a photo-sharing site on SmugMug so people could contribute photos and view everyone's photos in one place! To view, follow the link below. We're keeping the albums private, so you'll also need the password, which you should have in an email from us. That email also explains how to add photos without needing to set up an account or anything.
Readings
We were lucky to have some great readings from our friends.
Nick
Griffith's Quantum Physics, ch. 5, p. 177 and 182.
“The wave function of a two-particle system is a function of the coordinates of particle one (r1), the coordinates of particle two (r2) and the time: Ψ(r1, r2, t). Its time evolution is determined (as always) by the Schrödinger equation: iħ(dΨ/dt) = HΨ”
…
“Suppose one particle is in state ψa(x), and the other is in state ψb(x), and these two states are orthogonal and normalized. If the two particles are distinguishable, and number 1 is the one in state ψa(x), then the combined wave function is ψ(x1, x2) = ψa(x1)ψb(x2).”
Erin and Jose
Us Two by A. A. Milne
Sam and Kirsten
(Sam) If you look for wedding and marriage quotes, you find sentiments like the following:
(Kirsten) "Two love birds built this nest"
(Sam) "And you must place your parter's needs before your own"
(Kirsten) "So they are no longer two, but one flesh"
(Sam) In our opinion, you don't marry to subsume yourself into another person. (Kirsten) You choose to marry because you feel you can be your whole self with that person. (Sam) You enjoy experiencing life with them and finding joy in your moments together. (Kirsten) They inspire you to be brave and vulnerable, and to venture into the world with courage as yourself.
(Sam) However, you are still two individuals with different preferences - of course there are going to be disagreements. (Kirsten) Sometimes it's "You forgot to pick up milk", or "You don't like camping??" (Sam) And sometimes, “I feel like I don't get to see you enough. I feel like I'm not a priority for you.” (Kirsten) In those moments, when it feels like the relationship is caving in, or when you're just plain irritated, the best thing you can do is pause. (Sam) For a marriage to thrive, each partner has to give the other a safe space to connect, mature and develop. (Kirsten) This means really listening to them, instead of angling to be right. (Sam) It means being compassionate, encouraging them and their happiness. (Kirsten) You realize that your partner cannot meet all your needs, and you learn to give them space to meet their own needs and engage the world.
(Sam) Today, you're acknowledging a partnership greater than its independent parts. (Kirsten) May each of you support the other in future adventures and in living to the fullest extent of your potential.
Kristin
“A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise. Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we’re two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we’ve found the right person. Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life.”
- The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach
Phil
Marriage is not unlike the art of gardening.
(1) Gardening enables many firsts.
Reimagine the very first taste of
success you had with gardening. The
hours of effort and meticulous
preparation. And the joy that was
unchained by your first success of
unlocking a simple, beautiful
creation. In marriage, it is the wonder
of sharing those moments of first
experiences – together – that brings
to life a whole new dimension of joy.
(2) Gardening hones and rewards
patience. In many ways marriage can
file down one’s rough edges. Love, it
turns out, can soften and shape. It is
both a source of passion and
forgiveness. And it is a river that truly
never runs dry.
(3) Gardening is one expression of a
perfect complement in nature.
Marriage has an amazing way of
uncovering the blessing of having a
partner in life that truly complements
you. Over time, find ways to notice
that blessing and to nourish your
appreciation for all that your partner
does. And when you find yourself in a
moment of darkness or uncertainty,
the very knowledge that your partner
has become your eyes and ears will
calm your heart.
(4) Gardening is a beautiful expression of
what nourishment, care and
commitment can create, perhaps a
master set. Love, too, requires much
nourishment, care and commitment.
(5) A wedding marks the beginning of an
amazing adventure. Today is your key
to unlocking a journey full of
laughter, adrenaline filled moments
of metaphorically running from
security, and more than a lifetime of
nourishing a shared love.
Julie
Prayer for a Marriage by Steve Scafidi
Sandy
From Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
“Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger of falling in love, and were it not for his considerable skill in the deadly arts, that he should be in danger of being bested by hers — for never had he seen a lady more gifted in the ways of vanquishing the undead….”
[later]
“Elizabeth and Darcy happened upon a herd of unmentionables… and for a moment, resolved to keep walking — as the zombies had failed to take notice of them. But, sharing a glance and a smile, the pair realized they had stumbled onto their first opportunity to fight side by side. And so they did.”
Tina's Vows to Tucker
Tucker,
You have become the bedrock of my life and always will be.
You help me see the difference we can be in the world
You are my quiet in the storm
my sunbeam in the shadows
I love you and love you forever --
Every part of me will cherish every part of you:
my heart is your heart
my life is your life
through the good times and the bad
I promise to hear what you have to say and to share what I have
To honor our differences and respect who you are
I promise to have new adventures with you
in time and space
within and without
I am eager to join your family and to make yours mine.
My older self wants to discover you
I promise to support you and lead you
And give you my true and honest self
Through every day
For the rest of our lives
Tucker's Vows to Tina
Tina, I have always loved you.
I only realized this about three years ago,
but the core of what I have always called me,
and the core of what I have come to see is truly you,
have always been two beautifully compatible things.
I promise an enduring friendship and a dedicated partnership in building a home for learning, exuberance, hard work, and quiet reflection.
I promise wine full of questions
and nights full of the rustle of leaves.
I promise too space when you need it
and, when we are different,
to embrace the strange and different things you do.
I promise to have you and hold you,
in sickness and in health,
in good times and hard,
and in all the things we have to discover together.
We were friends the moment we met,
and we will be for as long as we both shall live.
Music
Procession
J. S. Bach - Bist Du bei Mir
Massenet - Meditation from Thais
Handel - La Rejoissance
Tina's Song
Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up (Edit)
Dances
John DeVilbiss - De Todo Corazon (Edit)
James Taylor - Copperline
Mix
BT - Laptop Symphony