Timothy R. Birdsall

Who gives Jaclyn to be wed to Nick? (Jack Repplinger)

(Please be seated.)

Welcome, Friends, Family, Honored Guests.

True love is a friendship set on fire. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, today, to light this friendship ablaze, and join Jaclyn and Nick together in marriage.

Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but with careful thought and consideration, both for one’s self, as well as one’s partner, and with the knowledge that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Coincidence: Is there really such a thing? My friends, Jaclyn let me know, during our preparation for this day, that, before she met Nick, and when the two were living more than an hour apart, she accepted a position that, unbeknownst at the time, put her in a working relationship with Nick’s Sister-in-law. When she and Nick ultimately met, and began to build what would bring us here, together, it wasn’t until months later that the relationship was brought to light.

Author, Squire Rushness, coined the phrase “Godwink” and defines it as: “A personal signal or message directly from a higher power, usually, but not always, in the form of a coincidence.”

The taking of a job and meeting Nick, who would bring us all, as one, to this moment, are seemingly unrelated occurrences. When the relationship of the two was, ultimately, revealed, it brings to question: Was this merely a “crazy coincidence?” or was God winking at you?

The declaration of wedding vows is a solemn pledge, and will affirm your love for one another as you join in marriage. Please join hands, look into each other’s eyes, and repeat after me:

(Nick)

I, Nick, take you, Jaclyn ** to be my wife, ** to have and to hold ** from this day forward, ** for better, for worse, ** for richer, for poorer, ** in sickness and in health. ** I will love and honor you, ** comfort and keep you, ** and, forsaking all others, ** be faithful to you ** as long as we both shall live, ** so help me God.

(Jaclyn)

I, Jaclyn, take you, Nick ** to be my husband, ** to have and to hold ** from this day forward, ** for better, for worse, ** for richer, for poorer, ** in sickness and in health. ** I will love and honor you, ** comfort and keep you, ** and, forsaking all others, ** be faithful to you ** as long as we both shall live, ** so help me God.

UNITY CANDLE

Jaclyn and Nick, the two outer candles symbolize your separate lives, your separate families, your separate sets of friends, and, truly, each of you as separate beings. As you each take one candle and, together, light the center candle, take time to reflect on the very real union that is symbolized by the flames. Just as the individual candles represent your individual lives before today the lighting of the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined into one; one light, guiding you both home, one heart, where once there was two.

The wedding ring is a symbol of never-ending love; it has no defined beginning, and it has no end. As you place the rings on each other’s finger, I ask that you repeat after me:

With this ring, I thee wed ** in the name of the Father,** and of the Son,** and of the Holy Spirit ** with all my faith ** all my hope ** and all my love.

Jaclyn and Nick, before I pronounce you Husband and Wife, I’d like to invite you to take a moment of reflection. I once mentioned how your wedding day is one that, once it’s here, with all the anticipation and planning, seems to be gone just as quickly as it came. It’s a day filled with emotion, friends, family, vows, rings, and dances. Many of us, here, remember how fleeting our own wedding days were, so I want you to take a few seconds to look into each other’s’ eyes. Think about the happiness you’re feeling in this wonderful place, in this moment, and let that feeling truly register in your mind, in your heart, in your body, and in your soul.

Now, I want you to think about your life together in 5, 10, 20 years. Where are you? What are you doing? We all know that your visions of the future are not identical, and they shouldn’t be; but they are, likely, complimentary to the other.

John Lennon once said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” For you, and everyone in your lives, that reality starts right now.

Jaclyn and Nick, you have expressed your commitment to one another, and exchanged rings to seal that commitment. In accordance with the laws of Iowa, and the United States of America, and by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Nick, you may kiss your Bride!

And two became one!

Ladies and Gentleman, it is now my pleasure, my privilege, and indeed my honor, to introduce for the very first time: Mr. and Mrs. Nick and Jaclyn Brown! (Queue Music)