Second reading at Dan & Jane's wedding

'Then Almitra spoke again and said
"And what of Marriage, master?"
and he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love,
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous.
But let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of the lute are alone,
Though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each others keeping.
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.'

From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Dan and Jane's Wedding

It was, solemnity of the ceremony aside, a riotous and fun weekend. Dan and Jane were certainly not going to let it get bogged down in too much tradition - just as well, really, as it was baking hot and being forced to wear a suit jacket until told to take it off would've been verging on cruel.

I spoke to guests from all parties, indeed, deliberately avoiding my workmates for the most part as I can get drunk with, and talk to, them five days a week. It's a shame that not all of them saw that point of view, really - I spoke to some interesting people. I also got confetti shoved down my trousers. I've no idea where it went though - there was no sign of the stuff when I got undressed back at the hotel (nor of the confetti that had been inserted into my shirt, either).

It goes without saying that it was a beautiful part of the world, doubly more so in the sunshine (I'm from a similar area, with the added bonus of the sea). At some point, I'll post the photos I took (there are many), but not until the official wedding album has been completed.