Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.
Electric word life, it means forever and that’s a mighty long time, but I’m here to tell you there’s something else.
Mawwiage, mawwiage is what bwings us togefer today.
Mawwiage. That blessed event. That dweam within a dweam…

And so started my first official duties as a reverend when I married my two close friends Ted Sawyer and Tara Byler on August 9th.

We worked on the ceremony together with Tara pulling out all the stops to create the most memorable marriage ceremony I have ever seen. One that truly and completely captured who they are as individuals and as a couple. I was honored, honored beyond words, to marry my two close friends.

I don’t remember the exact moment when I thought of introducing Ted to Tara… probably because there was no need to over think it… the whole thought process you usually go through before you introduce friends – will they hit it off? do they have anything in common? seemed unnecessary.

Both artistic, both passionate, both grounded in tradition (their own interpretation of it of course). Both a little bit stubborn. Both had lived in Italy and were now embracing Portland as their new home.

So it was a typical fall evening and I had driven up from Eugene to visit Portland for the weekend. In much the same way that I didn’t have to over think the idea of introducing them, I didn’t want to overproduce their first meeting. It would be casual and informal and up to them. LIke I said, they each have a bit of a stubborn streak and I know how they each love to “discover” their own paths in life… so why would this be different? Of course they’d want to discover their love. So I just extended an invitation to the both of them (and a few other friends so it wouldn’t be obvious) to have drinks at the Heathman.

Now what would a first meeting be without a little drama, which Tara provided in this case. We’d been at the bar for an hour or two. The party was about to break up and I had a sense Ted was getting ready to leave, but Tara hadn’t yet arrived. I had thought this would be perfect, but it wasn’t unfolding like I’d imagined. I started thinking that I’d just have to try again next time I was in Portland… when Tara entered the bar in a beast fur coat.

I didn’t look at Ted. I didn’t have to.
I knew exactly what he was thinking and that my work was done.

Congratulations Ted and Tara! I love you dearly and will always cherish our friendship.