Wedding Vows

 We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of John and Kia.

Marriage is an honorable state and not to be entered lightly or merely to satisfy man’s carnal lust or woman’s need for a pet slave … although both are pretty good reasons.

A cruising marriage is a binding union where two people agree to sacrifice style in favour of lifestyle; to sacrifice all-inclusive vacations for a luxury-depleted retreat; to sacrifice disposable income in place of flexible time frames.

A cruising marriage is a commitment to curse the wind and charts, and not each other. A willingness to stand by each other as First Mates, and not be tempted to toss the other over the side-rail.

John, will you have Kia to be your Galley Gal? Will you love her, comfort her, and pretend to know how to work the sextant, do the oil changes, fix the heads, and never give her the longest night watch?

Kia, will you have John to be your Maintenance Man?  Will you love him, comfort him, never tell others about his seasickness, commend him on his “fix it jobs” (even if they are continually being re-fixed), write the blog, and always remember where he left his sunglasses?

John, repeat after me: I take you, Kia, as my Galley Gal, First Mate and Best Mate. I affirm my love for you and will do all I can to keep us safe out there.

Kia, repeat after me: I take you, John, as my Maintenance Man, First Mate and Best Mate.  I affirm my love for you and will do all I can to ensure that we have fun out there.

As you leave your homeport further astern and seek adventures across friendly seas, I call upon Neptune to grant Atea safe passage and to deliver her crew safely to exotic shores.

John and Kia – through foul weather and raging storms, through flat seas and balmy weather, through broken engines, expired stores, screeching babies, confined spaces with no escape in sight, through a never-ending to-do list and never-ending wander lust, — may you always arrive safe and sound.

I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.