# The wedding without rings

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-celebrant-forgot-rings
- Themes: mistakes, weddings, humour
- Life situations: wedding, embarrassing mistake, public mistakes

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At a Yanchep wedding, celebrant Dennis is about to pronounce the couple husband and wife when Ajahn Brahm hisses “Dennis, Dennis!” — he has forgotten the ring ceremony.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

We did one up at Yanchep once and oh he's just… he was just to announce “I now pronounce your husband and wife.” and I: “Dennis, Dennis!” He said “what? What? What?” You forgot the rings. He hadn't done the ring ceremony, put actually the rings on people. Yeah Dennis knows, he doesn't worry about me telling that because I tell that to so many people. Big mistake, getting married without any rings.

## Teaching point

Everyone makes mistakes; not hiding them removes the stress.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

The celebrant was a breath away from pronouncing them married when Ajahn Brahm hissed his name: no rings yet. Dennis doesn't mind the story being told, which is the point. Worrying about getting everything right is what makes us fumble. Relax, let the odd slip happen, and fix it with a smile when someone whispers your name.

## Source

- [How To Not Have Any Stress | Ajahn Brahm | 12 May 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJSxDv4XrY4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:27 to 40:05: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJSxDv4XrY4&t=2367s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Uncertainty | Ajahn Brahm | 15-07-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pswsVGVdISY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 44:23 to 45:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pswsVGVdISY&t=2663s
- [Expectations Cause Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 24 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z8q_FWbWa8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:22 to 14:49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z8q_FWbWa8&t=862s