Do you believe in Magic? I do.

(Tom reaches up in the air and produce a rose at this point and hands it to the bride)

I am a magician, a prestidigitator with cards and coins, a mentalist capable of reading minds, and a conjuror of illusions. But today is no trick, no illusion. There will be no smoke and mirrors, only true magic, the Magic of Love. Love is the magical secret we all hold in our hearts, and when this secret is shared between two people, the result is mutual respect, adoration and a friendship which when nurtured becomes a lifelong union in marriage. The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let the rings you exchange today be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness.

Your rings are forged from precious metals, similar to the art of the masters who forged the sword of the samurai throughout history. The sword was considered the soul of the samurai. It was not thought of in traditional Japan as a severing instrument, but as a representation of the honor, duty and respect that was bestowed on the Samurai. It was even traditional that the shogun, and the members of their families, would exchange gifts of swords on special occasions such as weddings and births.

In this capacity, I have a small version of the samurai sword here on a stand.

(Tom lifts up the samurai sword stand and the samurai sword onto the podium. Sticks the sword thru the pillars and covers)

May I have the rings?

(The rings are placed in Tom’s hand from the best man)

These rings represent the individual lives, which have been forged thru the endless folds of experience.

(Tom wraps the rings together in flash paper and says)

In order to forge the union of you both, the rings will be forged together as their lives will be forged together.

(Lights the Flash paper, throw it in the air, the rings vanish in the flames.)

They will not be forged together as one solid ring. Just as they will retain individual personas throughout theirs lives, they will remain individual rings, however they will be forged together with their strong foundation of martial arts within their marriage, just as the rings are here in union on the ultimate symbol of honor and respect, the sword of the samurai.

(The rings are found together on the samurai sword, between the pillars. Slide the rings off the sword onto the pillow, and present them to the bride and groom)