Timothy R. Birdsall

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

We are gathered together here to join Allison Elizabeth Kerper and Colin Andrew Ward in the spiritual union of marriage.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Allison Elizabeth Kerper and Colin Andrew Ward will now share their vows.

*(Vows)*

Do you Allison Elizabeth Kerper take this man Colin Andrew Ward to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you Colin Andrew Ward take this woman Allison Elizabeth Kerper to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Allison Elizabeth Kerper and Colin Andrew Ward will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Iowa I now pronounce you wife and husband!Randy and Marsha Kerper silently hand Allie off to Colin.

(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 Allison and Colin together in marriage.

“We have a lot in common.” We hear that a lot from couples, and it’s a good thing. You don’t often hear about married couples, though, sharing a birthday. Down to the YEAR! I didn’t ask about the times of day; that would be like asking who’s older! Think about it: Another day you get to celebrate TOGETHER. I’m a little envious, though, because, I confess, sometimes my own wife’s birthday sneaks up on me. You’ve got a built-in reminder.

I’m also reminded that these two love camping, and have the mutual goal of seeing all of this country’s National Parks together. Admirable! It is, collectively, our prayer for you two, today, that you spend a lifetime achieving that goal. If it doesn’t take a lifetime, always be willing to do it all again!

The declaration of wedding vows is a solemn pledge, and will affirm your love for one another as you join in marriage. Allison and Colin will first read the vows they have written for one another:

(Colin and Allie to read their vows to each other)

(Colin)

Colin, will you take Allie to be your 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) Will you love, honor, comfort and keep her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live, so help you God? (I will)

(Allison)

Allie will you take Colin to be your 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) Will you love, and honor, comfort and keep him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live, so help you God? (I will)

UNITY CANDLE

Allie and Colin, two separate flames symbolize your separate lives, your separate families, your separate sets of friends, and, truly, each of you as separate beings. As you each 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:

I give you this ring ** as a token of my love ** and as a symbol ** of my never-ending devotion ** with all my hope **all my faith ** and all my love.

Allie and Colin, 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.

Allie and Colin, 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. Colin, 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. Colin and Allison Ward!