Kelli Beth Spedden

Processional:

(I Enter With Wedding Party)

Invocation:

Hi everybody!

I hope you’re all doing well on this LAST day of April. Can you believe it? Whew! 2021 is just flying by so quickly!

I'm your officiant Kelli, and I thank God that I get to have each of you here to help in the union of Samantha LaVonne Shell and Brandon Michael Stephey.

(Pause)(Happy Sigh)

Marriage. It holds such a great amount of significance in our society.

As things have shifted and changed over time, it has remained a constant piece from that past that the next generation is able to experience.

Why? Because it’s simply timeless. While I understand that there are those that don’t believe in a piece of paper binding them together for a lifetime, that’s fine. Also yes, perhaps things have become more lax in the “traditional” sense of a couple, and what that means if they were to move forward together in the future.

However, matrimony...it’s something that will never die off.

It’s magical, it’s an integral part of our society, and it’s a special moment when you tell another person, “Hey, life is all of this and all of that, but could we maybe...you know...go through it together, and see how things go?

I think that will make things a LOT better. Because man, you’re my best friend, and I can’t imagine life without you.”

These two didn’t quite know it then, but 6 years ago, they had chosen each other.

At a pizza hut, with all those late night shifts, doing forced Russian accents.

(Pause for Laughter)

Then:

He - Did a 4 year tour in the army

She: God blessed Samatha with Little Miss Serenity, or “Peaches” as she is more affectionately known.

→ During this time, they stayed connected via video games, “Apex” being the one to get the ball rolling.

Wouldn’t you know, they played EVERY DAY in 2019, until he came home in December of 2020.

That was 14 long months apart…

Now:

To quote this beautiful couple:

“We’re in it for the end game...the long haul...we truly get to marry each other’s best friends.”

We get to unite this blessed family after all this time.

So, on that note, I shall move on to an important part of the ceremony.

Declaration of Intent:

This is the part where I ask you both if you will each have each other, and I make sure that nobody in the audience objects to the two of you getting married today.

Thankfully, I have never had that happen, it’s just merely a formality.

So, do you Sam and you Brandon take each other, for the good, the bad, the storms, the clear weather, all of it?

Vows and Rings Exchange:

Samantha and Brandon have written their own vows so now is when they read those, before placing their rings on each other's fingers.

Pronouncement:

By the power vested in me by the state of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

That’s it! The married couple may kiss now!

Recessional:

It's my honor to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Stephey!