At a wedding ceremony, the officiant delivers blessings and wisdom to the bride and groom during a crucial moment. Here are the essential elements and ways to add heartfelt emotion to craft a meaningful speech.

May you dedicate yourselves to each other and sacrifice for one another to build a beautiful family

In this early winter, as we patiently await the new spring, I sincerely congratulate Mr. ○○○ and Ms. ○○○ on their marriage.
Today, surrounded by many guests blessing your future, we stand witnessing the bride and groom at the starting point of their new life. On either side of the front of the wedding hall, candles lit with devotion by both mothers stand side by side. The groom and bride now stand before these candles. Lighting candles for such a sacred and meaningful wedding ceremony carries significance beyond mere decoration.
Candles hold value beyond simple light. They symbolize devotion and sacrifice, burning themselves to illuminate others, and contribution and service to society and community. I believe these candles lit by the two mothers embody a deep wish that their children will devote themselves to each other, sacrificing for one another to make each other shine even brighter. It is also a hope that they will build a family that extends beyond their own happiness to warmly influence those around them and society.
Reflecting on this meaning, I would like to share with you today a passage that the Navajo people recite to the bride and groom at their wedding ceremony.

“Now the two shall kindle one fire.
This fire shall never go out,
and the two shall have one flame symbolizing love, understanding, and wisdom.
This fire signifies a new beginning.
It is a departure toward a new life, a new home.
This fire must burn forever,
and the two shall remain together forever.
Now the two have lit the fire for their new life.
This fire shall never be extinguished until old age separates you.”

I believe that holding hands and kindling a single flame together is the very essence of marriage and the foundation of a family. Understanding and respecting each other, never letting go of hands in joy or sorrow—that is the beginning of a beautiful family.
To all seniors, juniors, colleagues, family, and friends gathered here today, I earnestly ask this. Please send warm encouragement and heartfelt prayers for the path these two will walk together, and offer them generous advice and support so they may build a happy and exemplary family.
With sincere wishes that these two, with wholehearted devotion and shared purpose, may vigorously embark on their new journey in life, I conclude my officiating remarks.
Thank you sincerely.

May a bright future be filled with blessings for this beautiful couple

Good day.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the guests from both families who have joined us for this meaningful occasion today. And to the young and beautiful bride and groom, the stars of this day, I offer my deepest congratulations. I stand here today with a heart as joyful and full as yours.
Having shared a long-standing relationship with the bride, Ms. ○○○, my heart feels much like that of a father sending his own daughter off to marriage. It is both a tremendous honor and a deeply moving experience to officiate before so many guests after such a long time.
The bride’s family is a devout Christian household, and Ms. ○○○ was baptized in her childhood, growing up within the faith. As a long-time friend of the bride’s father and her godfather, I have watched her grow from childhood.
From a young age, ○○○ has been beloved by many for her neat appearance and sincere, upright character. She especially charmed everyone with her respectful and polite demeanor towards elders. Seeing her today, married to such a wonderful husband and starting a family, I feel deeply moved, as if the character she has cultivated over the years has finally borne fruit. I have faith that this couple’s future will be truly bright and happy.
Ladies and gentlemen, what is a married couple? I believe they are ‘people who stand in the same place and look in the same direction’.
In life, unexpected difficulties and trials come to everyone. Married life is no exception. However, if a couple unites their hearts within those difficulties and navigates them with faith and love for each other, they will come to understand what true happiness is.
In that spirit, as someone who has walked the path of married life before you, I would like to offer a few words of advice.
First, trust in each other. We are all different people, with different personalities, different backgrounds, and different life paths. Marriage is precisely when two such people meet and commit to spending their entire lives together. It’s difficult to fully know another person’s innermost thoughts, and disagreements and misunderstandings are bound to arise even between spouses. At such times, the most important thing is the heart that trusts the other person. When trust is the foundation, conflicts diminish, and even if misunderstandings arise, they can be resolved through conversation. Especially when a suspicious situation occurs, it’s necessary to make an effort to listen to the other person’s story until the end, rather than being swayed by emotions.
Second, avoid comparing each other to others. One of the most common sources of conflict in marriage stems from comparisons with others. Rather than developing unnecessary dissatisfaction by looking at other families’ financial situations or lifestyles, it’s crucial to focus on what kind of home you want to build together with your spouse. Recognizing and supporting each other is far more valuable than comparing yourselves to others.
Third, strive to be a couple who positively influence each other and grow together. As a couple living day by day, you are the people who face each other most closely. Therefore, it’s necessary to make an effort to discover each other’s strengths rather than weaknesses. Not holding back praise for small things and offering each other words of encouragement become the seeds that nurture happiness in married life.
If you keep these three things in mind and practice them, the two of you will be able to continue a peaceful and stable life together. One day, you will suddenly look at each other and feel, “Meeting you was the best choice of my life.” That love will grow stronger with time, and you will live as a good husband and a good wife. I am confident that this example of a couple will also serve as a model for your children, making your entire family an example to those around you.
I sincerely congratulate the beautiful couple whose presence graces this occasion today, and I wholeheartedly wish that bright, warm sunshine always fills your lives from now on.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude once again to all the guests who have listened to my words, and with that, I conclude my wedding speech.
Thank you.

Groom, be the one who yields to your wife alone

It rained yesterday, and rain is forecast for tomorrow, yet this afternoon is unusually clear and bright. I can’t help but think that today’s protagonists, the groom and bride, are truly blessed. The weather itself seems to cheerfully support their future together. Even without special words of blessing from me, the officiant, I have faith that these two will live well together.
However, rather than speaking from the official position of officiant or advisor, I wish to share words I feel compelled to convey as someone who married a few years before them and has lived life a bit longer.
First, be healthy.
Health is the foundation of everything in life. If you have dreams you wish to achieve together, above all else, you must be healthy. Only then can you build a happy everyday life together. Health isn’t simply given; it’s maintained through effort and investment. Take care of each other’s health, exercise together, and cultivate healthy habits in your daily lives.
Next, I have one crucial request for the groom.
To this one person in the world, please let them win. That person is your wife.
We live in a competitive society. At school, at work, and in countless social relationships, we strive to win. But in the special relationship of marriage, you don’t have to fight to win. In fact, the person who knows how to lose will ultimately gain greater love and trust. You may feel reluctant to lose to anyone in the world, but for this one person, please have the grace and warmth to willingly concede. That person is your wife. Then both of you can be happier.
And one more thing: make sure to create a hobby you can enjoy together.
Before marriage, you each had your own hobbies, but now you have more time to spend ‘together’. If you have different hobbies, find a new one you can enjoy together. Whether it’s fishing, hiking, or watching movies, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is creating a ‘shared joy’ where you can laugh and talk together while spending time. If one person becomes too absorbed in their own hobby, the other may feel lonely. Loneliness creeps in quietly but lingers long. I hope you build a life where you make time for each other and enjoy things together.
Finally, I’d like to conclude with a saying I hold dear.
Long ago, a king asked a wise sage for a favor. “Create a phrase,” he said, “that will keep me from pride during good times and help me regain strength quickly during hard times.” After much thought, the sage presented a single line:
“This too shall pass.”
Indeed. Everything passes. Enjoy good times with gratitude and humility, without pride. When hardship strikes, rise again believing ‘this too shall pass.’ Together, you will laugh, overcome, and move forward.
I sincerely congratulate you both on your marriage.
I deeply wish your future together be filled with love and happiness.

Love your wife, respect your husband

A man got married. Before marriage, he was the one who spoke and she was the one who listened. But after marriage, she became the one who spoke and he became the one who listened. Then, after three years of marriage, the husband and wife ended up shouting at each other so loudly that the neighbors could hear.
How can you avoid becoming like the protagonists in this humorous story? I sincerely hope this couple getting married today avoids that fate. With heartfelt wishes for them to build a happy home together, I, as the officiant, would like to share a few words of advice.
First, I ask the groom.
Don’t try to ‘understand’ your wife. This isn’t a misunderstanding. The harder you try to understand her, the more likely you are to get lost in a maze. Why? Frankly, with your current abilities, you simply cannot understand your wife. So, let go of the effort to understand her. The more you try to understand, the more you risk building up unnecessary and misguided misunderstandings.
So what should you do? The answer is clear: ‘Love.’ Love your wife. Understanding begins with love. There may come a day when you feel, ‘I simply don’t understand my wife at all.’ Precisely at such times, love her even more deeply. Then, at some point, your wife will gradually begin to make sense to you.
The Talmud says this: “A woman’s jealousy has only one cause.” What is that cause? The moment a wife feels unloved, she begins to feel insecure. Another Talmudic saying goes: “Jealousy has a thousand eyes, yet not one sees rightly.”
This means that once a woman starts feeling jealous, the situation can become increasingly complicated and serious. So, to prevent your wife from feeling jealous, clearly express your love and make sure she feels it. That love will protect her heart.
Now, I also ask of the bride.
Above all, build up your husband’s ‘spirit’. A husband lives off his wife’s respect. Nothing wounds a husband more fatally than being ignored by his wife. Do you want to make your husband suffer? Then ignore him. Conversely, do you want your husband to succeed? Then build up his spirit to the fullest.
Men battle countless stresses outside the home. In society, they get pushed around, forced to bow their heads, or silently endure many situations. Why? For their family. For their wife, and for their children.
So at least when he comes home, let him stand tall. Uplift him with respect and support. No matter how much he is disrespected outside, if his wife acknowledges and respects him, he can rise again. But even a husband respected by the whole world will eventually close his heart and drift away if his wife disregards him. What achievements can a man expect outside if he cannot even earn his wife’s respect?
Right now, the person you have chosen is each other. Husbands, love your wives deeply; wives, respect your husbands sincerely. If you uphold this well, whether the groom and bride came from Mars or Venus, they can build a happier home than anyone else.
Marriage is only the beginning. And the first step to making that beginning beautiful is love and respect.
I sincerely wish you a happy married life. Thank you.

The harmony of thread and needle—herein lies the secret to marital harmony

Today, we sincerely congratulate the groom, Mr. ○○○, and the bride, Ms. ○○○, as they celebrate their happy wedding ceremony at this new starting point in life, together with all the guests gathered here. We also extend our deepest condolences and congratulations to the parents of both families, who raised and nurtured these two with such devotion, enabling them to reach this joyous occasion. And to all the guests who, despite your busy schedules and braving the cold weather, have graced us with your presence to bless this precious moment for the bride and groom, I extend my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of both families.
Here, as someone who has walked a little further along life’s path, I wish to present two ‘formulas for happiness’ and four ‘rules for married life’ as a wedding gift, based on my experience.
First, the two happiness formulas. The first formula is ‘2 + 2 = 4’. This means ‘understanding + understanding = love’, signifying that only when you understand each other’s thoughts and positions, and understand them again, does the fruit of love bear.
The second formula is ‘5 – 3 = 2’. Misunderstandings inevitably arise between spouses. This formula embodies the wisdom that if you endure just three times with the mindset of ‘I’m taking the loss’, misunderstanding can soon turn into understanding.
The bride and groom are independent individuals who grew up in different environments and with different values. Now, they will spend their entire lives together, encompassing not only themselves but also each other’s families. While love is the beginning of this journey, the power that protects that love is ‘understanding’. May you always keep in your heart the truth that only when backed by sincere understanding can true love and eternal happiness be possible.
The ‘Four Laws of Married Life’ presented next are pieces of wisdom that will be of great help in real life.
The first is the ‘Law of Thread and Needle’. A married couple is like thread and needle—they must move together. If the needle moves too fast, the thread snaps; conversely, if the needle moves too slowly, the thread becomes tangled. Furthermore, if the thread tries to forcefully pull the needle, they will only move apart. Just as thread and needle must match each other’s speed and rhythm to create beautiful stitching, it is crucial for spouses to respect each other and achieve harmony. True marital unity lies within this harmony.
The second is the ‘Law of Swimming’. No one learns to swim before entering the water. Most jump in first and learn to swim afterward. Marriage is the same. You don’t marry because you perfectly understand love; you learn the meaning and depth of love through marriage. Only by acknowledging each other’s immaturity and committing to grow together can you develop the patience and consideration needed.
Third is the ‘Law of the Tire’. When a vehicle gets stuck in sand in the middle of the desert, one way to free it is to deliberately let some air out of the tires. This is because losing air increases the tire’s surface area, creating traction. Similarly, when a couple is stuck in the sandy desert of conflict, they need the wisdom to deflate the ‘air’ of pride and stubbornness. When you prioritize caring for your partner over asserting your own feelings, you can navigate that crisis together.
The fourth is the ‘Law of the Mirror’. A mirror always reflects things as they are. However, you cannot blame the mirror if you dislike the image it reflects. Instead of trying to change only your partner because they don’t meet your expectations, the reflection that leads to a mature marital relationship is the ability to first look inward at your own image. Husband and wife are each other’s mirrors. When I smile, my partner smiles; when I frown, my partner frowns.
The bride and groom standing here today are a beautiful couple, so well-matched that everyone envies them. They say the greatest art in life is ‘marriage’. Art is the process of harmoniously blending different colors to create new beauty. May your marriage also be such an art, harmonizing your differences.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to all the guests who took time out of your precious holiday to join us for this meaningful occasion. Though I have much more to say, I will conclude here, following the common wisdom that wedding speeches are best kept brief.
I wish health and happiness to always accompany the lives of the bride and groom, their families, and everyone present here today.
Thank you.

Be a husband who listens to every word your wife speaks

Last winter was exceptionally cold. But just as the warm spring sun awakens all things, today’s wedding feels as bright and warm as a blessing candle illuminating the couple’s future. On behalf of both families, I sincerely thank all the guests who have joined us here today. Furthermore, I extend my deepest respect and gratitude to the parents of both families who raised this wonderful groom and beautiful bride with such care and guided them with love. I sincerely hope this occasion becomes a warm moment of joy celebrating the couple’s new beginning.
On this meaningful day, I am deeply honored to officiate before the elders, relatives, friends, and many guests of both families. Truthfully, this is the first time in my life I have officiated a wedding. Nevertheless, seeing how lovely and admirable these two are, I accepted the role without hesitation and with great joy. So today, standing here, I wish to cautiously share some thoughts I have as someone who has walked this path before, and let those words serve as my officiant’s address.
The two standing here today must have decided to marry because they believed they could love and cherish each other for a lifetime. Now, as husband and wife, they begin the journey of life together. Moving forward, they must trust each other more deeply and protect their family with love that remains unchanged over time. Living together as a couple will certainly bring many good times and joyful moments, but sorrow and hardship are also inevitable. However, even in those moments, if they cherish and understand each other more, holding hands and overcoming challenges together, all that time will only strengthen their love.
Differences of opinion may arise in married life. Yet, precisely then, the wisdom to step back, understand each other, and sometimes forgive is needed. Living as a married couple is not merely an exchange of emotions, but a life shared with patience, consideration, and responsibility. Here, there is a story I truly wish to share with you.
It’s about a young couple whose marriage began to crack. Unlike their honeymoon days, frequent arguments and a growing distance troubled the husband. He sought help from a respected teacher. After hearing the whole story, the teacher offered a very short piece of advice.
“Listen to everything your wife says.”
The husband took those words to heart and returned home. It wasn’t easy, but he made a conscious effort to listen carefully to even his wife’s smallest remarks. A month later, he visited the teacher again and said, “Our arguments have noticeably decreased lately. I want us to return to the days when we trusted and loved each other as before. What should I do?”
To that question, the teacher smiled and quietly replied.
“Then now, listen to what your wife doesn’t say. Love is a constant effort toward understanding and empathy.”
This story is precisely the message I wish to share with today’s bride and groom. Now that you two have become one under the name of marriage, I hope you will love each other more deeply, listen sincerely to each other’s feelings, and gain the wisdom to read hearts deeper than words. Love must be expressed constantly, and empathy is built through unceasing effort.
May all of us gathered here today warmly bless the beginning of this couple’s journey and cheer them on for the road ahead. I sincerely wish that they will respect and cherish each other, filling each day with gratitude and love.
Thank you.

May you lead by example and build a wonderful family

To all our esteemed guests who graciously made time to attend this wedding despite your busy schedules, we extend our deepest gratitude for honoring us with your presence. On behalf of the groom, Mr. ○○○, the bride, Ms. ○○○, and both sets of parents, we express our heartfelt thanks.
First, we offer our deepest respect and gratitude to both sets of parents for raising such wonderful individuals with such fine character and hearts, and for warmly guiding them to build this new family.
Standing here today, I am less the officiant and more a senior in life, wishing to offer a few heartfelt words of advice to the couple.
Marriage is the beginning of two loving individuals, strangers who meet, becoming lifelong companions who share joy and sorrow as partners in life. A husband and wife are more than mere companions in daily life; they are a single entity sharing a common destiny, bound to walk life’s journey together. That is why we imbue marriage, this major turning point in life, with such profound meaning.
At weddings, we often hear words of encouragement like: “Accumulate virtue, serve your parents with devotion, and let your marriage be bound by love. Approach your social life with patience and humility.” All these words are truly wise and serve as guiding principles for married life. However, today I wish to focus a little more on two specific themes: ‘filial piety’ and ‘health’.
We pour all our devotion and love into raising our children. Sometimes we suffer heartache and distress because of them. But when we pause to reflect, we realize our own parents must have cared for us with the same devotion and heart. When we truly understand and empathize with this heart, gratitude and filial devotion naturally sprout within us.
And that heart is ultimately passed on to our children, becoming the foundation for another generation’s filial devotion. This is the very ‘root of filial piety,’ and it is through this that families become harmonious and society can stand morally upright. Filial piety transcends being merely a family virtue; it is the starting point for creating a healthy society.
Another virtue I wish to emphasize is ‘courage.’ Courage is the driving force of our lives and the inner strength to overcome difficulties. And the source of that courage is health. When a couple is healthy, peace settles into the home, vitality enters daily life, and wisdom to wisely overcome life’s hardships and adversities springs forth.
If health is lost, courage and strength also weaken, and the will to live gradually fades. This causes worry not only for oneself but also for family, parents, and those around you, and one may lose the center of their life. Therefore, I urge you: no matter what adversity comes your way, do not be defeated. Do not lose the courage and physical strength to overcome it.
To put this attitude toward life into practice, the determination of the bride and groom alone may not be enough. That is why the warm concern, constant encouragement, and generous advice from the relatives, family, and colleagues gathered here today are even more crucial. I ask you to send your love and support so that this couple can move forward with courage and wisdom at every turning point in their lives.
Finally, may the groom and bride always keep today’s vows close to their hearts. May they never lose their original resolve in any situation, become each other’s steadfast support, lead by example as a couple, and serve as a beautiful model of family life. As time passes and they look back on this day, I sincerely hope they can say, “We have guided our family well, keeping the spirit of that day alive.”
Though my life experience is limited, I express my gratitude once more to all of you for listening to my humble thoughts. May love and blessings always accompany the groom, Mr. ○○○, and the bride, Ms. ○○○, in their future. With this, I conclude my officiating speech.
Thank you.

May you be a couple who leads by example and sets a standard for all

Amidst the profound care of the great nature, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the groom, ○○○, and the bride, ○○○, who are pledging their lifelong union today.
I also extend my deepest congratulations to the parents of both families for raising such kind-hearted and trustworthy sons and daughters.
On behalf of the bride and groom and both families, I extend our gratitude to all relatives and guests who graciously joined us today to celebrate their marriage despite busy schedules.
In this clear, late autumn season when all things ripen, on this meaningful day, as we witness two beloved individuals become one, I, as an elder in life and a senior mountaineer, I would like to offer a few words of advice to the bride and groom, their parents, and everyone gathered here today.
First, I hope you share wise love for a happy family.
Love does not simply bloom on its own. True love begins to sprout from mutual care, respect, and forgiveness. Once that seed of love sprouts, each of you must reach out first, water it wholeheartedly, fertilize it, and tend to it with devotion. Only through such diligent care can it blaze into an unquenchable flame of love. It cannot be sustained by a few formal words or a few coins. Only sincere actions will be the true strength that upholds genuine love.
I earnestly urge the bride and groom: Never envy another’s family. Comparing yourself to others is a sure path to squandering your own life. Protect each other with the resolve that even if the sky falls, ‘my husband’ remains, and even if the earth crumbles, ‘my wife’ endures. This is the essence of wise and mature love. May the bride and groom standing here today love and cherish each other like this until their hair turns white.
Secondly, while disagreements may arise between spouses, I hope you do not let those disagreements linger.
Minor misunderstandings or emotional rifts can easily arise in daily life. However, if you let those disputes linger, they become a poison that drives you apart. Disputes ultimately stem from selfishness, and in most cases, they can be easily resolved if you take just one step back and see things from your partner’s perspective. The effort to understand each other with a spirit of empathy is the true wisdom that preserves love.
The groom’s mother and the bride’s parents, gathered here today, are likely feeling joy while holding back tears deep within their hearts. Their son, who had caused them worry by not marrying, finally stands here with a beautiful and sincere bride. Their daughter, who once thought only of painting and never of marriage, now stands here holding the hand of a dignified and strong groom. How could they not be filled with joy?
I believe that through this marriage, which begins today with the blessings of all present, the groom, Mr. ○○○, and the bride, Ms. ○○○, will become each other’s warmest friends and live as a couple beloved by all. I earnestly hope you will deeply engrave the words of advice I offer today as your officiant in your hearts and live your lives reflecting on their meaning as time passes.
Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to all who have gathered today to celebrate this beautiful wedding. I pray that the bride and groom’s future be filled with boundless love and happiness.
Thank you.

May peace fill the future of this lovely elderly couple

Good day.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all the distinguished guests who have joined us for this meaningful golden wedding anniversary celebration. The clear, sunny weather makes this occasion feel even brighter and warmer, filling all our hearts with excitement and joy today. Seeing the beautiful sight of the two of you who have walked together through so many years, I too feel overwhelming emotion and a deep resonance.
Today, the ○th day of ○ month, 20○○, marks the very special occasion of the 50th anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. ○○○. Having tied the knot in 20○○, they have raised two children, a son and a daughter, and built a happy and harmonious family, sharing their lives together for many long years. Over this remarkable half-century, you have shared countless joys and happiness, as well as moments of trial requiring patience and sacrifice, continuing your life as a steadfast couple.
Throughout this long journey, you have always cherished and loved each other with unwavering hearts, silently weathering the waves of hardship. Each fulfilling their role faithfully, they have safeguarded their family through actions rather than words, an example that deeply resonates with all of us gathered here today. Looking back on the past, countless memories must vividly surface in their hearts. Joyful moments, and even the occasionally difficult ones, now remain as beautiful stories illuminated by love and devotion.
We express our heartfelt respect to both of you for building such a warm and happy home over the years. Especially here at the ○○ Hall, where the charm of tradition lives and breathes, the sight of you both is truly beautiful and noble. The look in your eyes as you gaze at each other still holds trust and affection, radiating a vitality and love no less than that of a young couple. This shows the true nature of love, unchanging even after many years.
Today’s Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration will be graced by many relatives, family members, and over 200 guests who have gathered to share in the joyous occasion. A video, prepared with great care by their children, chronicling their parents’ 50-year journey, will be shown. Together with the guests, they will reflect on that long journey and share a warm time. Such a gathering, where family members share love, respect, and memories, transcends a simple commemorative ceremony, reminding us of the true value and meaning of life.
In an era where the spirit of honoring elders and filial piety is fading, this Golden Wedding Anniversary is a precious occasion to revive reverence for parents and rekindle warm family bonds. We hope this beautiful tradition spreads further, and that the couple’s story serves as an example to many. As harmonious families form the cornerstone of a healthy society, today’s gathering holds profound meaning and value.
Once again, I express my deepest respect to both of you for walking together through the long years with love and patience. I sincerely wish that health and peace will always accompany you in the days ahead. May today’s Golden Wedding Anniversary remain a cherished memory for a long time, not only for both of you but also for everyone gathered here.
Thank you.

A Beautiful Journey Together

I believe marriage is life’s second chapter. It marks standing at a new starting point, entirely different from one’s previous life. Witnessing the new beginning of two such young and beautiful people today fills me with great joy and emotion. I also sincerely thank all the family and friends who have joined us for this meaningful occasion.
These two individuals now stand at a crossroads where their separate paths merge into one. Leaving behind the paths they walked alone for over twenty years, they begin a time when they must now step in unison, moving forward together. Yet, no one’s life is always smooth and joyful. While there will be times as warm as a gentle breeze, days of raging storms and blizzards will also come. The sparkling eyes that gaze at each other now will someday be tinged with age. Amidst the world’s storms, there will be times of frustration and disappointment when you may want to turn away, even briefly.
At such times, there is something you must remember. Right here, right now, the groom has chosen the bride, and the bride has chosen the groom—as their first companions. We love our parents dearly, yet our relationship with them was not a choice. Today’s marriage, however, is a voluntary choice made from deep feelings of love and trust, selecting each other as ‘the person to be with’. This union is possible because of the firm belief that ‘with this person, I can share both aging and pain’, and ‘with this person, I can make joy and happiness even greater’.
Thus, today, these two individuals have become each other’s closest beings, not just in Korea, not just in the world, but within this universe itself. They have found the person who will be their most steadfast ally. In this moment, look warmly into each other’s eyes. And please, never forget today’s heart, today’s vow. Life will bring times of weariness and uncertainty, but whenever that happens, recall today and hold onto each other. Please cherish this promise you’ve made today—to walk together until the very end of life—for a long time to come. Do not let go of each other’s hands. Walk together slowly, yet steadfastly.
Do you know the origin of the Chinese character for “person” (人)? It is said to depict two people standing back-to-back. From now on, you two will also offer each other your backs, lend each other your shoulders, and join hands to live together. If you cherish and love each other like this, walking together through life’s long journey, I believe you will surely reach a wonderful conclusion.
With sincere wishes for blessings to fill your future together, I conclude my wedding speech.