A quick guide to Union (by Robert Fulghum)

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. 

All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" - those late night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe" - and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. 

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word." 

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another - acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. 

Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. 

For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this - is my husband, this - is my wife.

 

 

Image: Close up of our Union, Robert Fulghum typography poster 4

 

WHO IS ROBERT FULGHUM?

Robert Fulghum is an American author, renowned for his essays. Born on June 4, 1937, he attracted widespread acclaim with his first book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," published in 1988. The book of essays emphasises simple wisdom, uncomplicated reverence, and an appreciation of life’s little moments. Fulghum's work often reflects his experiences as a Unitarian Universalist minister, teacher, and philosopher, incorporating themes of kindness, community, and common sense.

His subsequent books,"It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It" and "Uh-Oh: Some Observations from Both Sides of the Refrigerator Door," have also been popular, continuing his trend of relatable, heartwarming storytelling.

A Renaissance Man, he has taught drawing, painting, art history, and philosophy at the Lakeside School in Seattle. Fulghum is an accomplished painter and sculptor. Apart from singing, he also plays the guitar and mandocello, and was a founding member of The Rock-Bottom Remainders. Occasionally he marches in parades, playing the cymbals and tambourine.

Robert lives between Moab, Utah, and Kolymbari on the Greek island of Crete.
More about him at https://www.robertleefulghum.com

'Union' is an excerpt from his book, 'From Beginning to End: The Rituals of Our Lives'. It explores the nature of marriage, emphasising the emotions, values, and unique moments that evolve from a couple's courtship journey to the moment leading up to their 'union' as husband and wife. 

Image: Close up of the last lines of our Union, Robert Fulghum typography poster 5

 

Soon after Posterama began I started to receive a particular request. It went something like this - Do you have a Union poster (by Robert Fulghum)?... If you don't can you please create us a custom one for our wedding day?

After googling the said piece and enjoying the insightful prose, I would reply back - sorry, we didn't have a poster of it, and that it was probably copyrighted to the New York Times best selling author, who would probably charge us an arm and a leg... something our small startup could ill afford.

This continued for a few years, until a persistent customer planted the idea of contacting Mr. Robert Fulghum himself, through his agent.

Image: One of the customer requests to craft a bespoke Union (Robert Fulghum) poster for them.

Imagine my surprise and delight when Mr Fulghum himself wrote back, encouraging us to turn his inspiring words into art. 

Next, I scoured the internet for someone to realise this dream project, finally commissioning the talented Jill De Haan and briefing her to do it in the style of something I noticed in her sketchbook. 

Image: When I saw this in Jill de Haan's scribble pad I knew I'd finally found the perfect lettering artist, and reference, for Posterama's Union poster.

Her emotive hand lettering artwork was superb. It suitably impressed Mr. Fulghum who said and did this with the one we sent him.

(You might have seen our Union poster featured in lettering books.)