Jack Douglas Lewis

Processional

(ALL RISE for the Bride)

Presentation of the Bride

Who presents this Woman to this Man in Marriage?

Words of Welcome / Opening Prayer

Ladies and gentlemen, one change to note in your programs: For this evening’s ceremony, the role of the Officiant will be played by an Understudy. My name is Jack Lewis and on behalf of Brent and Colleen, I want to welcome you all to their Wedding celebration—THE event of the Season!

And now the Couple has invited Brent’s Uncle Terry to lead the opening prayer.

Please be seated.

This day is a gift! A day you thought might never get here! I am thrilled and honored to be here—perhaps like some of you—I am thrilled to be anywhere outside my own four walls. We are gathered here to witness a unique moment in the lives of Brent and Colleen.

Brent and Colleen, I want you to turn around and take a look at all of your guests who came from far and near today in your honor to witness and embrace your gift of love.

Friends and Family, you all take a look around at each other, too! You may not have thought of this, but you are the reason that Brent and Colleen are here and committed to love each other. Love is learned and love is witnessed. Without the love and commitment of family and friends, Brent and Colleen might never have been able to choose each other.

And now, as we enter into our ceremony, it is good to recall that laced through our celebration today is the abiding love of those who have gone before us. Those special people that have been with us in our lives—they are here and present with us today.

Words of Good Cheer

Deep Abiding Affection, the magical and compelling shared impulse that makes us seek each other’s company, is among the greatest gifts of the human experience.

Any of us who has been fortunate enough to find and express the kind of loving devotion that we are celebrating here today knows that it is an awesome and beautiful thing.

At this time, I would like to share 3 suggestions with the both of you:

First: Be constantly grateful for this precious person who has chosen to make a life with you.

Second: Be generous with compliments. Be attentive and helpful. The world can be a tough place, and any of us can be subject to rough handling. Each of you can, by your tenderness toward each other, kind words and thoughtful actions, make your marriage and your home an uplifting refuge.

Last, but perhaps most importantly:

Make truth the unfailing bedrock of your lives together. A happy, loving marriage is built on trust and respect. That trust and respect can only be sustained if you are both deeply committed to always being open and truthful in every exchange no matter how small.

My Hope for you is this:

That you have many long years to delight in each other’s company, and to feel gratitude for your great fortune in having found each other.

Exchange of Vows

(I want you to turn and face each other; Brent, take her hands) (the Interactive part of the program)

Marriage begins in the giving of words. You cannot join yourselves to one another without giving your word. This must be unconditional, for in joining yourselves to each other, you are joining yourselves to tomorrow: the unknown and ever-changing surprise that is life.

And so it is, Brent and Colleen that we, your family and friends, now bear witness as you give your word, and pledge your love and your life to each other.

(Brent, this is where you repeat after me: )

I, Brent, take you, Colleen, 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,

To love and to cherish,

Until death do us part.

(Okay, Colleen, your turn. Repeat after me: )

I, Colleen, take you, Brent, 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,

To love and to cherish,

Until death do us part.

You have spoken from your Hearts and pledged your word and your life to each other and I say, ‘So be it!’

And do you, all who are here in attendance, promise to continue to love, nurture, and support Brent and Colleen in their life together? If so, shout out, ‘We will!’

Exchange of Rings

Have you the rings?

Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round and the earth is round, and so are all the stars. The sun comes up and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both, again, are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were in the Wheel of the Year. The life of a man and of a woman is a circle from childhood to childhood, and it is in everything where power moves.

May these rings—these sacred circles—remind you of the enduring power of your love, and strengthen you throughout life’s journey.

(Brent, Colleen, I now invite you to join hands. As you place this ring on Colleen’s finger, Brent, please repeat after me: )

With this ring, I thee wed.

(Colleen, as you place this ring on Brent’s finger, please repeat after me: )

With this ring, I thee wed.

(Go plant your tree!)

Tree Planting Ceremony

The intermingling of soil from two families to nourish one living plant represents a relationship taking root, growing, branching out, and flourishing as you officially become a family.

Sending Forth / Blessing

Now, May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains soft upon the fields.

May the spirit of Love find a dwelling-place in your hearts

Today, tomorrow, and always.

Pronouncement / Presentation of the Couple

Forasmuch as Brent and Colleen have pledged their love and loyalty to each other, and have declared the same by the joining and the giving of rings, in the presence of friends and family,

By the power vested in me by KRS 402.070, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Now you may kiss

Kiss (GET OUT OF THE WAY for the Photographer)

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present for the first time—as husband and wife, Mr and Mrs Brent and Colleen Clontz.”

Recessional