We are gathered here today to witness Rich and Sarah to be united in marriage. We are here to celebrate and share in the glorious act that God is about to preform, the act by which He converts their love for one another into the holy and sacred act of marriage.
Being assured that your love and your choice of each other as lifelong companions are in God's will, let us now enter into a lifelong commitment to one another.
Marriage is a decision of two individuals to share the same type of pure love described in the Bible. These words are given to help us face challenges and differences in our relationship:
"Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
This kind of love enriches each part of life and marriage enriches love. Two lives, shared with this kind of love, can hold more fulfillment and happiness than either life alone.
Rich, do you take Sarah to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love her, to honor and cherish her, in joy and sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to her in all things a good and faithful husband as long as you both shall live?
Sarah, do you take Rich to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in holy matrimony? Do you promise to love him, to honor and cherish him, in joy and sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be to him in all things a good and faithful wife as long as you both shall live?
For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows, let these rings be a sign that love has a past, a present, and a future through you and with you.
Rich, take Sarah's ring and place it on her finger, and repeat after me:
I Rich, take you, Sarah, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and tears, in conflict and peace, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us. I give you this ring as a sign that I chose you, to be my lover, my partner and my best friend, to the end of my days. Wear it, think of me, and know that I love you.
Sarah, take Rich's ring and place it on his finger, and repeat after me:
I Sarah, take you, Rich, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and tears, in conflict and peace, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us. I give you this ring as a sign that I chose you, to be my lover, my partner and my best friend, to the end of my days. Wear it, think of me, and know that I love you.
Now, Rich and Sarah, continue to hold hands.
These are the hands of your best friend, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other all the days of your life. The love already shared by your hearts has been strengthened by the vows you have taken from now until the end of your days. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together, these are the hands that will hold you whenever illness, fear or grief may find you. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours.
Let us pray: Our Father, as you have heard these words of promise just spoken, may the Holy Spirit deepen in the mind of this man and this woman the sense of the sacred and binding power of their vows. Give them your grace and guidance that they may fulfill the vows they have made to each other. May Your joy abide with them always, that they may be a blessing to each other, and to those about them. Amen.
In that, Rich and Sarah, you have now consented together in holy matrimony, and have made this commitment before God and have pledged your love and loyalty to each other, I pronounce that you are husband and wife.
Rich, you may kiss your very excited bride.
Now may the love that that's brought you together continue to grow and enrich your lives.
May you met with courage the problems that arise to challenge you.
May your relationship always be one of love and trust.
May the happiness you share today be with you always.
And may every word you have pledged here be a living truth in your lives.
May it be so.
A HUGE thanks to Brian Potter Photography who did an amazing job of capturing the love and fun that this day held for us - thank you, thank you, thank you! All of the above photos can be credited to him.
To see more of Brian's awesome shots from our special day, go here.
