Paul Matthew Winsey

Dear Family and Friends,

You and I have gathered here this afternoon to join Kevin Douglas

Marks, Jr and Taylor Michelle Mock in holy marriage. Instituted

by God, regulated by His commandments, and blessed by our Lord

Jesus Christ. To be held in honor among all, our Savior has

declared that a man shall leave his Mother and Father, and cleave

unto his wife. By His apostles He has instructed all those who

enter into this relationship to cherish a mutual esteem and love, to

bear with each other's Infirmities and weaknesses and to comfort

each other in sickness and sorrow, and to pray for each other in

those things that pertain to God. No one should enter into this

relationship lightly or unadvisedly, but Reverently and wisely,

seeking God's Holy will. Into this estate now Kevin and Taylor

come to be joined.

Kevin and Taylor, I require and charge you both as you stand in

the presence of God and these witnesses to remember that love and

loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a happy and enduring

home. No other ties are more tender, no other vows are more

sacred than the ones you are about to assume. But, if steadfastly

these solemn vows are kept, and if you endeavor to do the will of

your Heavenly Father, then the life that you are establishing

together will be full of joy and your home will abide in peace.

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

KEVIN SR SITS DOWN

I would like to welcome all of you here today as we witness

the vows that Kevin and Taylor are preparing to take,

especially those of you that have traveled from afar. It is

truly my distinct honor and privilege to be the officiant here

today for Kevin and Taylor. I honestly feel as though I am

giving away my own daughter. My family and I have

known Taylor since she was barely two years old. She

and her family quickly became a part of ours, and so every

important occasion or milestone in our family included

them. Easter egg hunts, trick or treating, weekend bar-b-

ques- or just having her at our house every day after school,

she was a little sister for Lauren, Jenna and JP and a third

daughter to Theresa and I. We knew early on that she

would be a force to be reckoned with, and we watched with

pride as she set amazing goals for her life and then

celebrated as she accomplished them all. Watching her on

Friday nights as she cheered at Land O Lakes High school,

and then a few years later on the sidelines as she cheered

on our beloved Bucs, walking across the stage to accept her

diploma at the University of Tampa, holding a microphone

in her hand or seeing her on TV, she made all of her dreams

a reality. And somewhere along the way, she met the love

of her life…. a young man that had returned from two tours

in Iraq after serving his country honorably in the United

States Army. They say that what is meant to be will always

find a way, and these two are a living testimony to that.

Together, they have faced many struggles and challenges,

but I know that there was never a time that they ever

doubted that one day they would be standing here in front

of all of you as they take these vows and become husband

and wife. In many of the wedding ceremonies I have

performed, I will share with the couple that I am marrying

some of the mistakes that I made as a young husband in my

own marriage. It took me a while to understand that I

needed to put my wife’s needs ahead of my own, and I

struggled with prioritizing her desires instead of mine. I

don’t think I need to share that here today. I don’t have a

doubt that Kevin understands what took me a few years to

get. In the many evenings Theresa and I have spent with

Kevin and Taylor, just the four of us, it became more and

more apparent to us that these two have what it takes to

have a long and happy marriage. They humbled Theresa

and I in asking for advice and guidance on what has made

our marriage successful for almost 38 years. But what they

didn’t know is that each and every time they left our home

we had no doubt that they didn’t need any advice from us.

These two get it. You don’t need to be around them very

long to see the mutual love and respect they have for one

another. There wasn’t a time that we were together that

Kevin didn’t make it clear that all he wants in life is to

make Taylor happy. He wanted us to know how important

it was to him that this day was everything Taylor has ever

hoped and prayed it would be. They know what it takes to

make a happy and successful marriage. They know that

God must be in the center of their marriage in order for

their home to be a happy one. They understand the

importance of compromise and negotiation. They are not

naïve enough to believe that there will not be adversity or

challenges, disagreements and debates, but they have

proven that their devotion and commitment to each other

far outweighs anything life has thrown their way. And so

here is the only advice you will ever get from Theresa

and I. Never, ever, give up on each other.

VOWS:

Kevin, do you take Taylor to be your wife, to live together

in holy matrimony, Will you love, honor and comfort her,

keeping yourself only unto her as long as you both shall

live- DO YOU?

Taylor, do you take Kevin to be your husband, to live

together in holy Matrimony. Will you love, honor, and

comfort him, keeping yourself only unto him as long as

you both shall live- DO YOU?

Our first scripture reading is from Matthew 19 verse 4 and

will be read by Taylor’s aunt, Ginger Canale

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the

Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this

reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united

to his wife, and the two will become one flesh So they are

no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has

joined together, let no one separate.

Whenever a man and a woman come to take these vows,

we know that they do not come simply on their own. They

are always in the context of family and friends who have

accompanied them. And so I ask you, the family and

friends of Kevin and Taylor who have gathered here with

them today, if you could add your prayers and blessings to

these vows they are preparing to undertake. If so,

please signify by saying, I WILL.

The second scripture reading comes from the book of

EPHESIANS 4:2 and will be read by: Kevin’s uncle, Ray

Christy.

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other,

making allowance for each other’s faults because of your

love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the

Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one

body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious

hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one

God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all

Kevin and Taylor have some sentiments they would like to share to

each other:

KEVIN, REPEAT AFTER ME-

I Kevin, take you Taylor, to be my wedded wife, and I do promise

Before God and these witnesses to be your loving and faithful

Husband. In plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in

Sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as we both

shall live.

Taylor, REPEAT AFTER ME-

I Taylor, take you Kevin, to be my wedded husband, and I do

promise Before God and these witnesses to be your loving and

faithful Wife. In plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in

sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as we both

shall live.

MAY I HAVE THE RINGS:

These rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward and

Spiritual grace that signifies unto all that see them the uniting of

this man and woman in holy marriage.

KEVIN, PLEASE PLACE THIS RING ON TAYLOR’S FINGER

AND REPEAT AFTER ME:

Taylor, I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant

faith and abiding love.

TAYLOR, PLEASE PLACE THIS RING ON KEVIN’S

FINGER AND REPEAT AFTER ME:

Kevin, I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant

faith and abiding love.

UNITY CROSS

Kevin and Taylor have chosen to demonstrate God’s presence in

their marriage by assembling the Unity Cross. This is a sculpture,

which will serve as a lasting reminder of the covenant they are

making today. Each piece of the Unity cross represents the unique

strength, beauty and originality that God has given to Taylor and

Kevin. When these pieces are assembled together they represent

the two becoming one in the presence of God.

PAUL HOLDS UP KEVIN’S PIECE AND SAYS:

Kevin, this piece of the Unity cross represents you and your

responsibility to God, that you would lead your home and family

by His word. By placing this piece of the Unity cross onto the

base, you demonstrate your promise to Taylor, that you will serve

her, love her, and support her for as long as you both shall live.

Taylor, this piece of the Unity cross represents you and your

strength and support to Kevin. By placing this piece of the Unity

cross into Kevin’s cross, you demonstrate your promise to Kevin

that you will serve him, love him, and support him for as long as

you both shall live.

Kevin & Taylor,

These three pegs of the Unity cross represent what will set your

marriage apart. These pegs represent God’s covenant to you as a

married couple. Because of your faith in Him, and your putting

Him at the center of your lives and your marriage, He promises to

never leave you or forsake you. Because of this, His love and His

word will be the bedrock of your marriage- bonding you together

stronger than any trial or difficulty. As you place these three pegs

into the cross- (PLACE PEGS NOW) In the name of the Father, of

the Son, and the Holy Spirit- What God has joined together let no

man separate.

As we close the ceremony, I would like to read a prayer that was

shared at my daughter’s church titled: "Blessings for a marriage"

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a

marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience,

tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another-

not so much to fill your emptiness, as to help you know your

fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete. The valley

does not make the mountain less, but more, and the valley is more

a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So, let it be

with you and you. May you need one another, but not out of

weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you

entice one another, but not compel one another. May you embrace

one another but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all

important ways with one another. And not fail in the little

graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, “I love you”

and take no notice of small faults. If you have quarrels that push

you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take

the first step back. May you enter into the mystery which is the

awareness of each other’s presence- no more physical than

spiritual- warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and

near when you are in separate rooms or even in distant cities. May

you have happiness and may you find it making one another

happy. May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

PLEASE PRAY WITH ME:

O lord, grant your blessings on Kevin and Taylor- Give them grace

to fulfill the vows they have taken. Grant them thoughtfulness and

wisdom, and fortitude and energy, imagination and kindness,

forgiveness and hope and love and righteousness and peace.

KEVIN AND TAYLOR PLACE HANDS ON BIBLE:

The Lord bless and keep you- The Lord make His face shine upon

you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance

upon you, and give you peace now and in the life everlasting,

Amen.

BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME UNDER

THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND IN THE

PRESENCE OF GOD, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I NOW

PRONOUNCE THAT KEVIN DOUGLAS MARKS, JR and

TAYLOR MICHELLE MOCK ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE

Kevin, you may kiss your bride.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to present to you for

the first time:

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Douglas Marks, Jr.