Crystal Lynn Gienger

Wow!!!! Here we are—it is your wedding day!!! The day you both have been waiting for over a year has finally arrived. As we stand here today, a song from Dora the Explorer comes to my mind when she and her companion Boots are forced to overcome obstacles and challenges along the way to their destination: “We did it, we did it, we did it, hooray.” Don’t you both just want to sing it??? “You did it by the grace of God, you did it, hurray.”

On behalf of the bride and groom and their parents, we want to thank all of you for your love, support and flexibility during this most unprecedent time Connor and Amanda had to face in order to get to this moment-- their wedding day, just like Dora and Boots. While they were making their plans, our God had something better in mind for this couple. It was not to be that beach wedding like they thought, it would be instead a “magical one” this evening under the lights and stars of the beautiful bayous of Louisiana. Shall we begin…

Opening

Dearly beloved and Honored Guests, we are gathered here on this beautiful evening to witness the union of Connor and Amanda in holy matrimony. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met in high school, fell in love and now eight years later are finalizing it with their union today. Romance is fun, but true love is something far more and it is their desire to love each other for life and that is what we are celebrating here today. We are deeply grateful they invited us to witness and share in this precious moment.

Marriage is not just a social contract; it is a holy covenant not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully, prayerfully, and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. It is a commitment of three: God, Husband and Wife—“though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecc 4:12. Remember that faith, love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Reading/Words of Wisdom

A good marriage must be created.

In marriage the “little’ things are the big things.

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is standing together and facing the world.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right person—it is being the right partner.

Vows

(Have couple face each other and hold hands)

“I, Connor, take you, Amanda to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficulty and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep.

I, Amanda, take you, Connor to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficulty and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep.”

Connor, I would ask that you always love your wife, Amanda, as you love yourself and Amanda, see that you respect your husband, Connor, as it is commanded in Ephesians 5:33. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage—as they do to every relationship at one time or another—focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong.

This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and happiness.

I Do’s

Connor, do you take Amanda to be your awful wedded wife? Oh that’s right, I mean “lawful” wedded wife. 😊 😊 Groom says “I do.”

Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her and be faithful to her? Groom say’s “I do.”

Amanda, do you take Connor to be your lawful wedded husband? Bride says “I do.”

Do you promise to love, honor, cherish him and be faithful to him? Bride says “I do.”

Ring Exchange

Connor and Amanda will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and fidelity.

(Ask best man and MOH to give rings to officiant)

Officiant Holds Rings Up

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is the sign of a spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. It is a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united together in heart and soul.

Connor, as you place the ring on Amanda’s finger, repeat after me…….

“With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”

Amanda, as you place the ring on Connor’s finger, repeat after me…….

“With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”

Sand Ceremony

To symbolize two lives becoming one, Connor and Amanda want to express the coming together of two people/two families with a Sand Ceremony. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand; one representing you, Amanda, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, Connor, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.

Signing of Marriage License

We will now make this legal.

Pronouncement

In so much as the two of you have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, by the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Louisiana, I now pronounce you--husband and wife.

Connor, you may finally--after coronavirus pandemic, national shutdown, two hurricanes, change in venue and change in date--kiss your lovely bride!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Connor Naquin.