Michael Edward Williams

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of [Rebecca] and [Tony]. In the amount of time that they have been together, their love for each other has grown, turning them into the couple you see before you. Now, they are ready to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

A true marriage begins well before the wedding day, and the efforts of marriage continue well beyond the ceremony. A brief moment in time and the stroke of the pen are all that is required to create the legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and compromise to make marriage durable and everlasting.

Today you declare your commitment to each other before family and friends."

Who gives this woman to this man today?

Genesis 2:18-24 Old Testament. A Reading from the Book of Genesis--- The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The word of the Lord.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Rebecca Schmeling and Tony Williams will now share their vows.

*(Vows)*

Do you Rebecca Schmeling take this man Tony Williams to be your lawfully wedded partner, 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 Tony Williams take this woman Rebecca Schmeling to be your lawfully wedded partner, 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)*

SAND CEREMONY

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B], today you join your separate lives to make one. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families, and separate sets of friends: they represent all that you are and all that you will ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are emptied, the individual containers of sand no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. And just as these grains of sand can never be separated neither will your love."

SONG BEGINS

• THE COUPLE EMPTIES THEIR BOTTLES OF SAND INTO THE NEW VESSEL.

Rebecca Schmeling and Tony Williams will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

"May we now have the rings?"

"The ring, an unbroken circle, represents unending love. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you be reminded of this moment and the love you have promised to one another."

OFFICIANT TO Tony

"[Tony], please place this ring on 's Rebecca's finger and repeat after me:

[Rebecca], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and that I'm choosing to share my life's journey with you.

I give you this ring with the pledge to love you today, tomorrow, and always."

OFFICIANT TO Rebecca

"[Rebecca], please place this ring on 's finger and repeat after me:

[Tony], I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and that I'm choosing to share my life's journey with you.

I give you this ring with the pledge to love you today, tomorrow, and always."

PRAYER

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Heavenly Father, we humbly bow before you today praising You, Lord, and Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we ask for your blessings upon [Rebecca] and [Tony] as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives. Grant them happiness and contentment, as their two lives become one, as they create a new family and explore the depths of their love for one another.

Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened, and sustained them throughout their lives. Bless their home as a place of love and of peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen."

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"[Rebecca] and [Tony], I want to wish you both much love and happiness as you begin your new journey.

Remember to keep lots of laughter in your life and love will never be far behind."

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Iowa I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may now kiss your bride.

Family and Friends, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Tony and Rebecca Williams.