Timothy R. Birdsall

Who gives Kimberly to be wed to Nirmal? (Ben Korff, Kimberly’s brother)

(Please be seated)

Welcome, Friends, Family, Honored Guests.

True love is a friendship set on fire. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, today, to light this friendship ablaze, and join Kimberly and Nirmal together in marriage.

The search for true love is one that we all have in common. When we are lucky enough to find it, it truly lights a fire within our soul. Acquaintances become friends and, sometimes, friendship turns into something much more. When that spark ignites, and you know you’ve found the person with which you want to spend your life, from that moment on, you are somehow different … changed for the better.

Love isn’t perfect. It isn’t a fairytale or storybook and it doesn’t always come easy. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go. It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define, and impossible to live without. Love is work, but most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute, every second of it was WORTH it, because you did it TOGETHER.

The declaration of wedding vows is a solemn pledge, and will affirm your love for one another as you join in marriage. These are the vows that you are making to each other.

(Kimberly)

Kimberly, do you take Nirmal to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and commit to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? (I do)

(Nirmal)

Nirmal, do you take Kimberly to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and commit to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? (I do)

At this time, Nirmal and Kimberly wish to recite a poem. Nirmal will read it in Bangla, and Kimberly will be reading in English.

To symbolize and bind your love we exchange rings. These rings are made in a circle., which has long been a symbol of everlasting love. The sky and the earth are round. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. The sun and moon, both of which are round, come forth and go down again in a circle. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were. Without beginning or end and with no point of weakness, the circle is a reminder of unending strength. Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love and unending faithfulness. As you place the rings on each other’s’ finger, I ask that you repeat after me.

I give you this ring ** as a token of my love ** and as a symbol ** of my never-ending devotion ** with all my hope **all my faith ** and all my love.

Kimberly and Nirmal, before I pronounce you Husband and Wife, I’d like to invite you to take a moment of reflection. I once mentioned how your wedding day is one that, once it’s here, with all the anticipation and planning, seems to be gone just as quickly as it came. It’s a day filled with emotion, friends, family, vows, rings, and celebration. So I want you to take a few seconds to look into each other’s’ eyes. Think about the happiness you’re feeling in this wonderful place, in this moment, and let that feeling truly register in your mind, in your heart, in your body, and in your soul.

Now, I want you to think about your life together in 5, 10, 20 years. Where are you? What are you doing? We all know that your visions of the future are not identical, and they shouldn’t be; but they are, likely, complimentary to the other.

John Lennon once said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” For you, and everyone in your lives, that reality starts right now.

Kimberly and Nirmal, you have expressed your commitment to one another, and exchanged rings to seal that commitment. In accordance with the laws of Iowa, and the United States of America, and by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Nirmal, you may kiss your Bride!

And two became one!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my pleasure, my privilege, and indeed my honor, to introduce for the very first time: Mr. and Mrs. Nirmal and Kimberly Baishnab!