Raffaele David Gervasio

*bridal party*

Me- walk in with and seat Nikki, go to center

Keith- Walk in and seat Michelle, go to groom's side

Tyler - Alexa

Gabe - Emily

Justin - Payton

Dwight - Desiree (Dwight will wait for Frank at end of aisle_

Frank- (Flowers and/or beers, Dwight will walk with Frank to groom's side)

*Motion witnesses to stand as bride and father come down isle.*

Jason walks down with Taylor, Taylor on left, Jason on right.

*stand Jason and Taylor next to Keith.*

*motion witnesses to sit*

*sound like Pastor Fisher*

On behalf of Keith and Taylor’s family, I’d like to welcome you to this, the happiest of occasions, especially for Keith and Taylor. It really is a great joy and privilege to be able to take part of this happy occasion, and we are all glad that you are able to be with us on this very special day for our bride and groom.

A couple of announcements before we begin.

Firstly, after the ceremony, there will be a cocktail hour straight back and to the left under the pavilion. Once the bridal party and the parents have left, you're free to head on over there while we take some photos.

Secondly, and more importantly, the bride and groom have requested that all electronic devices be silenced and put way for the duration of the ceremony. Don't worry, you'll be able to get photos later on, but for right now, we'd like for you all to simply be in the moment with us. There should be no photos or videos being taken during the ceremony unless the photographer or videographer are the ones taking them. Please just be present with us.

*pause*

We are gathered together here to witness the union of Keith Hughes and Taylor Metzger in holy marriage.

I’ve know Keith and Taylor for almost six years, and I’ve tentatively been there for all of their relationship. Keith is a teddy bear who is funny as hell and far smarter than he gives himself credit for, and Taylor is a kind soul who has been a comfort to me through various circumstances. I’m very very glad to call both of them my dear friends.

The contract of marriage is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. With this in mind, if there are any that may object to this marriage, forever hold your peace, as we are not interested in hearing your objections. As we proceed, please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

*Pause*

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Jason: I do.

*Jason shakes Keith’s hand, hugs Taylor, and dips. Taylor gives flowers to Alexa. Have couple join hands*

*Speech*

There are three big moments in life that most people will experience, two of which all will experience. All will be born, most will be married, and all will die. Birth and death are the two inevitabilities for every human on the planet, in one sense or another.

If you are so fortunate to be married, as I myself am, and as Keith and Taylor will soon be, then the following is true of you:

You are born for your spouse,

You will be married to your spouse,

and You will separate by death from your spouse.

And, as we all know, life is fleeting. One does not know the moment they will die, but it is inevitable.

Now, we are at a joyous ceremony. This a wedding, not a funeral, and I’m certainly NOT trying to be a dead best downer. And I know all of you are wondering “Where in the hell is he going with this?” So I’ve entitled this speech “Three ways to love your spouse to the fullest before you separate by death.” so let me get to three brief points I have to encourage and charge Keith and Taylor. And before anyone gets upset with me, it should be noted that although these first two points are being addressed to either Keith or Taylor, they are not exclusive to either Keith or Taylor, but they do have a particular emphasis

Firstly, Keith, you are meant to sacrifice yourself for your wife. This not only means putting her interests ahead of your own, but even being willing to lay down your life if, God forbid, the situation should ever call for it… and everything in between. However, this shouldn’t be a begrudging sacrifice out of obligation. It also doesn’t mean that you need to cater to Taylor’s every whim or whatever. Rather, this sacrifice is to be one of love, with the vows you are about to make in mind, and by doing this, you will continue to earn her respect for you, and most importantly, by being a sacrificial man, you will show your wife how much you love her.

Taylor, you are meant to respect Keith. Now of course, in no way, shape, or form does that mean that he does not need to respect you. That is certainly not the case; there should always be a mutual respect between the two of you for each other. However, in your love for Keith, you ought to allow him to lead you through life, and, after having a healthy dialogue about any big situations, let big decisions rest on his shoulders. Additionally, he will be making sacrifices for you, so respecting him for that and being grateful for those will go a long way. By doing this, he will continue to lovingly sacrifice for you, and most importantly, you will show your husband how much you love him.

Thirdly, and finally, Keith and Taylor, you both are to unconditionally, irrevocably, and endlessly agape one another.

What in the world is “agape?”

Agape is a Greek word that describes a specific type of love. This type of love is a sacrificial, respectful, universal love that a man and a woman who are TRULY in love feel for each other. And while I do not doubt that, in the four years that you have been together, you have this type of love for one another, it is still something that needs to be cultivated and maintained. An agape love must always seek the best for the other person, not what is best for themselves. An agape love must be willing to make sacrifices when necessary. An agape love thinks the best about the other person. An agape love is shown by kindness, and most importantly, an agape love never fails.

Strive towards these things, and you WILL cultivate agape.

These three things are what you can do to get the most out of the love that you will share until death, and you guys already so these things, I am confident and excited to see where your love takes you in the future, and I’m so grateful to be apart of this very happy moment.

So if you will please face each other.

*Promises*

Keith, will you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, and do you promise to love her, and to perform all the duties that a husband owes to his wife, keeping yourself unto her and forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?

"I will."

Taylor, will you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, and do you promise to love him, and to perform all the duties that a wife owes to her husband, keeping yourself unto him and forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?

"I will"

Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?

"We will."

*Vows*

Taylor and Keith have chosen to write their own vows to give to one another. So Keith, if you will.

*rings*

Keith and Taylor will now exchange tokens of their love and commitment to one another. It has always been a custom to give a token as a reminder of a covenant made between two parties. For example, The Bible says that, when God promised never to flood the entire earth again, that God gave man the rainbow in the cloud as a covenant symbol. And it ancient history, it was a custom for a king or ruler of some sort to give his ring to the other party with whom he was making a covenant with. Now, we exchange tokens of our love with our spouses, so that whenever we look at them, we are reminded of our love and faithfulness to them, and when they look at them, they remember our love and faithfulness toward them.

So, Keith, what token do you have of your love and commitment for Taylor?

Keith: This ring.

*Tyler gives ring to Keith, Keith gives a ring to me.*

Taylor, will you receive this ring from Keith as a symbol of his affection, sincerity, and fidelity towards you… and will you wear it as a symbol of your own affection, sincerity, and fidelity towards him?

Taylor: Yes.

*give ring to Keith and speak*

Keith, as you place the ring on Taylor’s finger, repeat after me.

This ring I give you

in token and pledge

of our constant faith and abiding love.

With this ring I do you wed

and share with you all my earthly goods.

Taylor, what token do you have of your love and commitment for Keith?

Taylor: This ring.

*Alexa gives ring to Taylor, Taylor gives a ring to me.*

Keith, will you receive this ring from Taylor as a symbol of her affection, sincerity, and fidelity towards you… and will you wear it as a symbol of your own affection, sincerity, and fidelity towards her?

Keith: Yes.

*give ring to Taylor and speak*

Taylor, as you place the ring on Keith’s finger, repeat after me.

This ring I give you

in token and pledge

of our constant faith and abiding love.

With this ring I do you wed

and share with you all my earthly goods.

*end*

Let's pray.

Most gracious Father in heaven, we thank you for consecrating the union of man and woman in Your Name. By the power of the Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of Your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Through Jesus Christ the Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

*pause*

Forasmuch as Keith and Taylor have consented together today in holy wedlock, and forasmuch as you all have been witnesses to the same, I declare, by the authority vested in me by the state of Florida, that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What so God has put together, let no man tear asunder.

Keith, you may kiss your bride. *Move out the way*

It is my privilege to present to you, for the first time ever: Mr and Mrs Keith and Taylor Hughes!

Walks down:

Keith and Taylor

Tyler

Alexa

Gabe

Emily

Justin

Payton

Dwight

Desiree

Frank

me