Karan Beth Deardorff

Friends and family, we are gathered here this evening to celebrate the Union of two souls…Ryan and Maggie.




Tonight, they stand before their family and friends, asking you to witness the beginning of this new and wonderful journey as they weave their two lives together as one.




When Maggie asked me to perform this ceremony, the first thing I wanted to know was how she and Ryan met.  How did Ryan know Maggie was ‘the one’.  I must admit, I was touched by his story.  From the simple words I read in an email, I knew Ryan and Maggie were meant to be together.  And Ryan, if I may, I would like to share what you told me with everyone here tonight:




The moment I met Maggie I knew she was the one. We had our first date camping in the forest outside of Prescott. We sat around talking about our life stories that made us who we are today. From that point I was hooked on the person that she is and who we could become in life together. From that moment we have never gone one day without talking about how we feel about each other and what we want to achieve in life with each other. She has made me understand that when you find the one that makes you whole you will go to the ends of the earth for them even if they get upset with you for helping




You ‘sat around and talked about your life stories and how those stories molded you into who you are today.”  I have to say, I’ve known Maggie from the day she was born.  I’ve had the honor to watch her grow and mold.  I know many of those stories that has molded Maggie into the woman she is today.  You told me that her determination on being self-sufficient and not letting anyone help her is the biggest thing that makes you smile. Now, I can honestly say, one motto in Maggie’s life, one she lives by almost daily, comes from one of her strongest supporters, an Angel who sits upon her shoulder every day, her Grandma…That motto being…”Can’t Never Did Anything,”  Ryan, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard her say it a few times since you’ve met.  It’s a great motto to learn, love and live by.  Relationships are work, and if you don’t work on them, you can’t make them happen.  You can’t fix problems if you don’t try.  Can’t is a word that is not really in Maggie’s vocabulary.  Love cannot grow if you don’t try.  Love cannot grow if you don’t compromise.  Love cannot grow if you don’t talk to each other.  Love cannot grow without each other. Maggie's determination cannot grow without you by her side.




Maggie, you told me Ryan is your best friend.  He is a caring compassionate person who you always want to be around.  He is the best party of your day.  He puts you first and treats you like a Princess.  Ryan’s love and compassion for you cannot grow without your love and compassion for him.  




In First Corinthians we find these words, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”  

You ‘can’ because of ‘love’.  




Today you are promising yourself to each other.  You are promising you CAN...you are promising to making a commitment to be strong for each other, to support each other, and be there for each other no matter what the circumstances may be.  Tonight, you are not saying we ‘can’t’, you are promising we CAN. 




Ryan/Maggie, please face each other and hold hands.

Ryan, repeat after me:

I Ryan

Take you Maggie

To be my wife, my friend, my partner, my forever companion

I will be there for you when you are sick, when you are well, no matter what life throws at us, I will be by your side forever. 

I can't wait to see what we can become in life together.




Maggie, repeat after me:

I Maggie

Take you Ryan

To be my husband, my friend, my partner, my forever companion

I will be there for you when you are sick, who you are well, no matter what life throws at us, I will be by your side forever.

I can't wait to see what we can become in life together.







(RINGS-ask for them)

The ring, a perfect circle that has no beginning or end.  A perfect symbol of your utmost love and respect for each other.  A symbol to remind you each and every day of your unconditional love for one another, and the unconditional love from all who are here with you tonight.  A full circle of love and support.




Ryan, please take Maggie’s left hand and repeat after me:

Maggie, 

I give you this ring, a simple symbol of my unconditional love

And my promise that I will love you and support you today, tomorrow, and always.




Maggie, please take Ryan’s left hand and repeat after me”

Ryan,

I give you this ring, a simple symbol of my unconditional love

And my promise that I will love you and support you today, tomorrow, and always.




Let us pray:


Oh gracious and holy creator, we ask your blessing upon this couple as they begin their amazing journey as husband and wife.  We ask you to walk alongside them, lead them, follow them and carry them down their new path as one.  Unite their hearts and souls in love that only you can shower upon them.  As witnesses to this Union, we ask you to help us support them, guide them, encourage them, and be there for them when they need us.  Bless this Union.  Bless this love. Bless this new beginning.  This we ask in your name, Amen

Life’s path is full of twists and turns. Together, you will walk through valleys and climb mountains. You will continue to the talks about you feel about each other and what you want to achieve in life together…Together as one. Your journey together will teach you new and exciting things about each other and what you can accomplish. You will understand how a part of each other makes YOU whole. You will build and grow on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Marriage is a journey, a mutual one, a give and take between two personalities, molding and melting together, one not weaker than the other, but a light shining on both. Tonight, Ryan and Maggie, you have pledged yourselves to each other in the union of marriage. You have pledged your faith and love in the presence of God, family and friends.

You have chosen the Cord of three strands, the symbol of one man, one woman, and God, united by marriage.  God has given us Faith Hope and Love, the greatest of these is Love. You have now joined your lives together as one.  By the authority vested in me by the state of Arizona, I know pronounce you husband and wife. What God as brought together, let no one break apart.




Ryan, you may kiss your Bride.




Family and friends, it my humblest honor and pleasure to introduce to you for the first time,
Mr and Mrs Ryan Phillips