Michelle Rockenstyre

"Welcome honored guests. How you doin’? We’re gathered here today to celebrate Elissa and Jeffrey, as they make a promise of love and commitment to one another. It is a love based on giving and receiving. As well as having and sharing. And the love that they give and have is shared and received. And through this having and giving and sharing and receiving, we too can share and love and have and receive….

What a gift and joy to find someone with whom to spend your life with! Committing to share your brightest days and weather your darkest nights with someone is no small thing and cannot be done lightly. Commitment is about trust. It’s about patience, forgiveness, devotion, and hope. It’s what happens when a relationship becomes a home — a place of safety and love — to which each partner can return, again and again. "

You have already built such a strong relationship and foundation to begin your lives together. Over time, the layers that make up that foundation will only grow stronger and more solid as you continue to experience life together. In addition to commitment, your loyalty to each other and your family is obvious. There probably isn’t a person here who Elissa hasn’t bragged about her darling nephews to or shown adorable pictures of, and we all know that as much of a hard time as Jeffrey gives his little brother Zachary, he is always looking out for him and has helped shape him into the young man he is today. Speaking of family, you have already established a beautiful home together filled with your family of fur babies, Bailey, Daisy and Olivia – who now identifies as Oscar Meyer because she has a wiener. You have certainly already had moments where you have had to learn how to PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVOT when things did not go your way and had to make a new plan. Having someone to dream and plan with, whether it is for this beautiful day that you’ve worked on planning together, or the next cruise Jeffrey is deciding on, you’re always supporting each other and looking to your future. And of course, your marriage is already starting off with a strong foundation of friendship, always there for each other. Jeffrey and Elissa, your love story, could it BE any more perfect?

At this time, I am going to read a poem that was given to me from a couple that Jeffrey and Elissa are close with.

What is Friendship?

It’s someone to walk with,

Someone to talk with,

Someone to laugh with too.

It’s someone to sigh with,

Someone to cry with,

Someone who cares when you’re blue.

It’s someone to sing with, (Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat; What are they feeding you?)

Welcome in Spring with,

Walk through the leaves within fall.

It’s someone to dream with,

Sit by a stream with,

Doing just nothing at all.

It’s someone to share with,

Every small care with,

And all the bigger ones too.

It’s sharing together,

In all kinds of weather,

Whatever the days bring to you.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

[Officiant to the First Partner]

" Do you, Elissa, promise to spend your life with Jeffrey, always watch Friends with him, meeting each new joy and sorrow together, continuing to deepen your understanding of him, treating him with kindness and compassion, and welcoming each new chapter of life together with a spirit of curiosity and patience? "

[First Partner to Second Partner]

" I do "

[Officiant to the Second Partner]

" Do you, Jeffrey, promise to spend your life with Rachel, I mean Elissa, meeting each new joy and sorrow together, to tackle every challenge and sadness with you as a team, continuing to deepen your understanding of her, treating her with kindness and compassion, and welcoming each new chapter of life together with a spirit of curiosity and patience? "

[Second Partner to First Partner]

" I do "

VOWS & EXCHANGE OF RINGS & UNITY RITUAL

[Officiant to the Reception]

" Elissa and Jeffrey will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment."

(The couple will each say their vows and place the ring on their partner’s finger.)

Elissa, repeat after me….

" With this ring, I promise to care for you, to laugh with you, to carry your burdens with you, and to understand and love you each day forward. "

[Partner Two to Partner One]

Jeffrey, repeat after me….

" With this ring, I promise to care for you, to laugh with you, to carry your burdens with you, and to understand and love you each day forward. "

PRONOUNCEMENT

[Officiant to the Couple and Reception]

" By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries, and with the trust of you all here today, I now declare you joined in love. You may now kiss your bride! "