The True Script

Michael Hernandez and Gabrielle Aronas

The Sunrise Wedding

of

Gabrielle Aronas &

Michael Hernandez

On the Camp Hero Bluffs,

Montauk Point, New York

Sunrise, 6:33 a.m., September 19, 2009

Lat/Lon: 41.048 degrees N, 71.89 degrees W

At or before the sunrise atop the Camp Hero bluffs.

(The groom and both reverends arrange themselves opposite one another as close to the precipice of the bluff as they choose to venture. A young groom’s helper, who carries both wedding rings, stands behind the groom. The sounds of the surf can be clearly heard. The onlookers arrange themselves landward as Dr. Stern stands nearby and plays pre-sunrise music on his violin.

(The parents of the bride accompany Gabrielle from the wings to the side of Michael. The parents stand to the side near their daughter.)

REVEREND SHEILA: In the presence of Great Beauty we come together to celebrate the marriage of Gabrielle Aronas and Michael Hernandez.

REV. BARNEY: Gabrielle believes in miracles. Both Sheila and I, who introduced them to each other, believe it is a true miracle that these two lively and contentious spirits learned over time to tolerate and to cherish one another. From almost the beginning, we both believed they stood a good chance to become husband and wife because we listened to them endlessly bicker and fuss at one another while they always worked wonderfully well together.

REV. SHEILA: Poetry is for weddings and Gabrielle’s good friend Simone will read a poem by Maya Angelou.

SIMONE: (Who walks up from among the onlookers and reads)

We, unaccustomed to courage

exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into our sight

to liberate us into life.

Love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love's light

we dare be brave

And suddenly we see

that love costs all we are

and will ever be.

Yet it is only love

which sets us free.

REV. SHEILA: This is an ancient Hindu love poem and prayer for bride and groom recited

by Michael and Gabrielle together:

"May the nights be honey-sweet for us.

"May the mornings be honey-sweet for us.

"May the plants be honey-sweet for us.

"May the earth be honey-sweet for us."

REV. BARNEY: There is a poem about love among the sonnets of

the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda

that adds heat to the honey.

(Michael’s sister Rose comes forward from among the onlookers and reads)

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,

or the arrow of carnations that shoots off fire.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

in secrecy,

between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms

but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;

thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,

risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when,

or from where.

I love you straightforwardly,

without complexities or pride;

so I love you because I know no other way than this:

Where “I” does not exist, nor “You”,

so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,

so close that your eyes close

as I fall asleep.

REV: SHEILA: The next poem was written in Sanscrit, 

which is related linguistically to the Lithuanian language. 

Michael will read it. 

Look to this day for it is life
The very life of life in its brief course
lie all the varieties and realities of your existence
The bliss of growth
The glory of action
The splendor of beauty
For yesterday is already a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope
Look well, therefore, to this day.

(Dr. Stern plays a violin medley as the ceremony proceeds)

REV. SHEILA: I’d like to tell you how we saw Gabrielle 

and Michael meet and get together. (Impromptu.)

REV. BARNEY: For many of us, sunrise is symbolic of hope. On this day all of us are gathered here 

within sight and earshot of the Atlantic Ocean and together we hope that Gabrielle and Michael 

will help one another navigate and survive in the unpredictable seas of actual life. We hope Michael 

and Gabrielle will without fail respect one another like a sailor must always respect the sea. 

We hope they will be tender in their thoughts and their actions. We hope they will be generous 

with their time and their affections. 

REV: SHEILA: Both Michael and Gabrielle agree that 

the vows between them 

are most powerful and binding when 

they are most profoundly secret.  

(They move to the edge of the bluff and privately 

exchange vows.)

REV. SHEILA: There also will be an exchange of rings. 

(Young helper offers the rings to 

Michael and Gabrielle) 

These rings symbolize the vows they have made to one another 

and feel honor bound to keep. (They put the rings on each other.) 

REV. BARNEY: This is a marriage in harvest time. 

The fruits and flowers of the earth 

in this part of the earth are bountiful. 

It is September, and September is a special month 

for marriages. 

I’ll read a lyric about September called “Try to Remember” 

by Tom Jones from The Fantasticks:

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow.

REV. SHEILA: It is time to cut to the chase. By the power vested in me and Barney by 
Benjamin Franklin’s old “Church of What’s Happening Now,” we will proceed to ask 
the questions that will tie the knot for Gabrielle and Michael. 
Do you Michael know of any legal impediment to this marriage?

MICHAEL: (So surpised and astounded by the very idea that 

he shouts out a startled cry and then says in earnest) No!

REV. SHEILA: Do you Gabrielle know of any legal impediment to this marriage?

GABRIELLE: No. 

REV. SHEILA: Gabrielle, do you take this man, 

Michael Hernandez, to be 

your lawful wedded husband?

GABRIELLE: Yes, I do.

REV. BARNEY: Do you, Michael, take Gabrielle to be 

your lawful wedded wife?

MICHAEL: Yes, I do.

REV. SHEILA: Is there anyone among 

those gathered here 

who will raise an objection to this marriage?

ONLOOKERS: (Suspenseful silence and then Michael says: 

“And I will escort them over the edge of this cliff.”)

REV. BARNEY: Is there anyone 

among the witnesses here gathered 

who will cheer and applaud this wedding? 

If so, please do so. 

(Boistrous and happy applause, whistles and shouts.)

REV. SHEILA: We now pronounce Michael and Gabrielle 

husband and wife. 

You may kiss one another. (They do.)

[Dr. Stern plays a recessional medley as the bride and groom 

head over to the Just Coffee truck for Kahluah cake 

and café con leche.]

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