Steven Bonici

Welcome, family and loved ones. We are gathered here today to celebrate with JEANIE and JOSH as they proclaim their love and commitment to the world. Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people (who are in it for forever).

You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing in front of everyone, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by so many of those who you hold near and dear. (I know I do, because I don’t know anyone here!) So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others. Why this moment?

Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier - our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we have come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we are doing right. That is why you both are standing here. That is why you all are here to watch them stand up here.

All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing - and others that are exciting and full of adventure.

And that brings them here. A time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

I'm here - we're all here - because we want those moments for you. We are here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love is not happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It is not one moment - not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying 'I love you,' when you moved in together, getting engaged - but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays together with the girls, or even those crazy days when it seems like everything is upside down, but then you walk into the house and dinner is already made and you feel as if everything is ok now that you’re home with each other.

And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That is just the way it is with love - it is meant to be felt, not described.

But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways - and even though love can look different from one person to the next - we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.

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You fell in love by meeting each other at Moca Lisa’s, a coffee shop, and from there to Bloomington, IL, where you started your life together. But you're here today because you're making a choice. You have chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter. You are about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There is a simple premise to each of these promises: you are vowing to be there.

*(Vows)*

JEANIE and JOSH, please join hands, look at one another now and remember this moment in time.

Do you JEANIE take this man JOSH to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you JOSH take this woman JEANIE to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Jeanie and Josh will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

"Now place the ring on her hand and repeat after me...

With this ring, I promise to stand with you as we share this life, and cherish the memories we make together."

"Now place the ring on his hand and repeat after me...

With this ring, I promise to stand with you as we share this life, and cherish the memories we make together."

Jeanie and Josh have chosen the Wedding Unity Sculpture. Jeanie has chosen red, orange and white, Josh has chosen blue turquoise and white.

Before each of you is a container of glass crystals, each represents your separate lives, your friends, your families. I will ask that you each pour the contents within your own vase into the middle vase together. As the glass from each individual vase is blended together it symbolizes the joining of your separate lives, friends and family, into one union, the beginning of your journey as husband and wife.

(This combined glass will be taken by an artist and blown into a beautiful vase, never to be separated again, so may your marriage be.)

JEANIE and JOSH, today you have stood before these witnesses and declared your intent to commit your lives to each other in marriage. You have made promises to each other and your family. Your road to this moment may not have always been smooth, but you continue to fight for one another. I hope you will never forget the fight and perseverance it has taken to get to this moment. And I hope you will never forget the love and joy you feel today, because these are the values that will keep your marriage, family and bond to one another strong."

And so, By the authority vested in me by the American Marriage Ministries and the State of Illinois I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!