Love Stories

The stories that follow are real. Names have been changed for reasons of privacy.

THE STORY OF ALEXANDRA AND ROBERT

Celebrant: We’re here to have fun, to see what the magic has done, to listen, love and sing and dance. Two people, two lovers, two friends have come together at a transforming event called a wedding. So now, family and friends, please sit back, open your hearts and listen to the story of how Alexandra and Robert fell in love.

The internet, Dunkin’ Donuts, and a Barnes and Noble bookstore all played critical roles in how Alexandra and Robert met for the first time.

A little explanation is in order. First, they met online at Friendster.com. Robert was intrigued by this cute girl with an unusual writing style. He emailed her. This is what he said: “What kind of stuff do you write? I am a writer by trade also.” Alexandra answered, “What do you write? And who do you write for?” Their love of writing launched their relationship.

They frequently chatted with one another but they didn’t meet for several months—Alexandra wanted to be sure she actually wanted to meet Robert in person. They finally met after three months of phone conversations. One day she happened to mention that she was going to Dunkin’ Donuts to get a caramel swirl latte. Robert asked if he could meet her there.

When Alexandra met Robert, she was delighted by his vivid blue eyes, and how relaxed and how comfortable she felt being with him. Bookworm Alexandra was then swept away when Robert volunteered to go to the Barnes and Noble bookstore with her. So, Alexandra and Robert have to thank the internet, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Barnes and Noble for bringing them together.

If you loved that story, then please listen to how the proposal happened. It was 2005, during the Christmas holidays on Wall Street in New York City.

Not strange so far. Now imagine Alexandra and Robert in Santa Claus outfits. They were celebrating at a unique happening called Santacon during which people dress as Santas, spread good cheer, and enjoy toasting one another in one fine New York pub after another.

Alexandra’s best friend, Robert asked her to become his “Mrs. Claus.” She was pleasantly surprised and simply said, “Okay.” Alexandra says that she has been in shock, in a wonderful way, ever since then. Did I say it was a Merry Christmas? It was a very, very Merry Christmas!

STORY OF ALEXANDRA AND MARK

Celebrant: I would like to tell you a bit about the bride and groom. Mark tells the story of their meeting for the first time: “When I stepped into the room, she was the first person I noticed.” Lauren says that for her it was like there was no one else in the room. “I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.”

Lauren soon knew she wanted to be with Mark always. She says, “For the first time in my life I wanted to be with this person all of the time. I wanted him to be the first and last person I saw every day of my life.”

For Mark, Lauren is his perfect complement. She is passionate about life, whether it’s work or play. Mark says, “What you see is what you get; it’s 100% Lauren.” And for Mark that is a fabulous thing.

Lauren and Mark work hard at balancing their hectic careers and loving each other. Their love is based on a deep understanding of each other. So is fun. Mark speaks for both of them when he says they make each other laugh and smile. And laughing together grounds them. Humor is a strong bond. So is playful wrestling and goofing around! “He knows exactly how to make me laugh,” says Lauren. Mark says, “I try to make the most out of life and enjoy it. I work hard and I play harder.” Lauren feels the same way.

Now, I would like to tell you about how Mark proposed to Lauren. If there are any cynics here, now is the time to leave because this is an incredibly romantic story.

The setting was a frozen lake in Colorado during the holiday season. It was early evening. Lauren and Mark bundled up and went ice skating around a Christmas tree. Like the hockey player he is, Mark twirled Lauren round and round. He told Lauren “The only thing that would make me truly happy…is for us to be together forever.” According to Lauren, it seemed for a moment that he was falling forward on the ice. She then realized he was getting down on one knee. Mark recalls, “Right before I got down on one knee, the clouds parted and the sun shone down on us.” Mark pulled out a little black box and Lauren opened it to find “the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.” Lauren said YES and that’s why we are all here to celebrate today.

Buddhists say that nothing happens without a cause. They believe that the union of a man and woman does not come about accidentally. The Chinese have a story about love. It goes like this. The marriage of a man and woman is ordained in heaven. At birth they are connected by a very long red thread that ties them together. As the years go by they are drawn closer by the thread until they meet and marry. The thread then disappears because it is no longer needed. Love is the reason it disappears. Is anything ever really an accident?

In the years to come as husband and wife, you will find that love wears many faces. Your marriage will endure if you allow your love to grow and change into what you need for now and tomorrow. The promises you make today will endure if you have faith in yourselves and each other.

I am no expert on marriage but I do believe these words written by Daphne Rose Kingma: “For it is in loving, as well as in being loved, that we become most truly ourselves. No matter what we do, say, accomplish, or become, it is our capacity to love that ultimately defines us. In the end, nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another.”

THE STORY OF ANNIE AND MICHAEL

Who would think that a scavenger hunt at medical school would bring Annie and Michael together? Well, that’s how Annie and Michael first met on the first day of orientation. It was the start of beautiful friendship that culminates today in their marriage.

Annie remembers feeling instantly comfortable around Michael. She says, “I think I knew right away that we would be friends.”

Michael says Annie was genuinely his best friend before they started dating, “She is still my best friend, and also the love of my life. Her happiness is my happiness, and making her happy is the number one thing in my life,” declares Michael.

Annie has a long list of reasons why she loves Michael. First, he has such a kind, generous soul. She loves that they can talk about nothing for hours. She is endlessly impressed that Michael will do anything to make her happy. She admires the fact that he is an amazing storyteller and extremely patient. Annie loves that Michael is outgoing and reserved at the same time, serious and lighthearted in the same breath. For Annie, these traits are not contradictions, but rather are all part of the unique soul that is Michael. Finally, Annie says, “I love that he has the loudest and jolliest laugh I have ever heard and is never afraid to let it loose.”

What does the groom love about the bride? “I love everything about Annie. I love her smile, her sense of humor,” says Michael. Annie’s childlike fascination with cartoons makes him laugh. Michael declares, “She’s my support, and I’m her support.”

Annie and Michael had explored the idea of getting married but Michael wanted Annie to be surprised when he proposed. Michael tells the story: “I wanted to do something unique and special for her as part of the proposal, something that fit her personality and interests. Annie loves ballet and the theater, and I finally decided that I would propose at the NYC ballet. I found an upcoming performance that would be perfect. I bought the tickets and made all the arrangements. I told her of my plan to take her to the ballet. At first she said that she was tired from working so much and wanted to just stay at home but luckily she finally agreed.”

When the big night came, everything went pretty much as planned. Annie did not suspect anything although she wondered why Michael was carrying his jacket everywhere (he had the ring in his pocket) and why he was being especially affectionate. During intermission Michael escorted Annie to a balcony overlooking the fountain at Lincoln Center.

Annie was stunned about the proposal. She tells the story this way: “And when he got on one knee and pulled out a huge box, I was still so surprised and clueless that I kept saying “What are you doing?” Luckily, I remembered to say “yes”! Probably, the funniest part of the proposal was when a stranger who saw the entire proposal told Michael “good job, buddy!” as he passed by us.

And that’s how we came to celebrate today.

>> Back to the Homepage