LeRoy A Trusty

Suzie & Dom Wedding

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

We welcome all of you, Family and Friends, here today as we have gathered together in the presence of God and these witnesses to join Dominique Porter Stevenson and Suzanne Marie Wisham in holy matrimony. I am LeRoy and i have the privilege and honor to officiate this ceremony.

Who gives this woman to be wed?

Please face me

Marriage is a gift from God, given to us so that we might experience the joys of unconditional love with a lifelong partner. God designed marriage to be an intimate relationship between a man and a woman.

Dom and Suzie, because your deep love for each other comes from God above, this is a sacred moment, and it is with great reverence that I now ask you to declare your intent.

Consent

Dom, do you take Suzie to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?

I do.

And Suzie, do you take Dom to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?

I do.

The Blessing

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge Your blessing upon this marriage and we give thanks that Your spirit is with Dom and Suzie. Bless this beautiful couple in all their days to come with a joyous life, deep love, bless them with peace and wisdom that they will need to fulfill their promises made here today. May all who follow their lives have cause often to rejoice, not only in their happiness, but also in their brave and generous living. We commit this marriage into Your hands. Amen.

Personalization

((to be added))

Selected Reading

((To discuss who will read this))

Scripture Reading

Paul writes in I Corinthians that love is a reawakening of relationship. Paul teaches us what love is and how we should relate to each other.

Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's faults, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope. It is always ready to endure whatever comes. True love does not come to an end.

Exchange of Vows

Please face each other and hold hands

Dom, please repeat after me;

I, Dom, take you, Suzie, / to be my wedded 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, / till death do us part. / This is my solemn vow.

Suzie, please repeat after me;

I, Suzie, take you, Dom, / to be my wedded 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, / till death do us part. / This is my solemn vow.

((scripture reading))

Ecclesiastes: 4:12:

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Please bring the cords here (board with cords brought to the side and bride and groom walk to the braid; (During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom braid the Cord of Three Strands together. The groom holds a small metal ring with three attached strands. The bride then braids the strands together, symbolizing the union of God, husband and wife. As you braid, I will read the following)

Today Suzie and Dom have chose to braid three strands of cord together - The colors as you see have significant meaning

The Gold strand represents God and His Majesty

The Purple strand represents the Groom and his life. As Dom loves his wife and submits himself to the Lord, the Lord in turn will demonstrate His great love in the marriage relationship.

The White strand represents the Bride and her life. As Suzie honors her husband and submits herself to the Lord, the Lord in turn will nurture and strengthen the marriage relationship.

In braiding these three strands, Suzie and Dom demonstrate that their marriage is more than a joining of two lives together, it is a unity with God as well. They have allowed God to be the center of their marriage woven into every aspect of their lives.

By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, Suzie and Dom, His love will bind you together as one throughout your marriage.

Today, Dom and Suzie have been woven together by God as ONE in marriage!

Exchange Of The Rings

May we have the rings?

The ring serves as a symbol of the promises you have just spoken. It is the outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible love that binds your two hearts together. The wedding ring also is a symbol of what God is. He is without beginning and without end—He is eternal.

As you can see, the ring is without beginning and without end. So I believe this exchange of rings not only reminds us of the unending love you have for each other, but also reflects the eternal love God has for each of you.

Dom, please place Suzie’s ring on her left hand and repeat after me:

I give you this ring/ to remind you of this day/ when in front of our closest community/ we vowed that our love can overcome all things/ that our love unites, inspires and celebrates/ and will continue to do so / for the rest of our lives.

Suzie, please place Dom's ring on his left hand and repeat after me:

I give you this ring/ to remind you of this day/ when in front of our closest community/ we vowed that our love can overcome all things/ that our love unites, inspires and celebrates/ and will continue to do so / for the rest of our lives.

Dom and Suzie in as much as you have pledged yourself, one to the other, by the exchanging of vows and rings I, LeRoy Trusty, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the state of Colorado, do hereby pronounce you, Dom and Suzie husband and wife.

Dom, kiss your wife.

((Note: This is something that will need to be practiced prior to the ceremony))

Jumping The Broom

The Wedding officiant asks one of the attendants (groomsman) to hand the broom to the bride and groom, who hold the broom handle together and sweep around in a circle until the officiant is finished speaking. The groom then places the broom on the ground in their path, kisses the bride and holds hands.

At the point you are given the broom I will begin reading the following

"Jumping the Broom" is a ceremony dating back to the 1600s and is an African American tradition. Slaves in this country were not permitted to marry, so they jumped a broom as a way of ceremoniously uniting. Today it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past and the pain of slavery. ((are you still sweeping?))

As Suzie and Dom jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. Suzie and Dom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!

((lay the broom down))

Minister: Everyone count 1, 2, 3... Jump! Together! 1, 2, 3... Jump!

The bride and groom jump over the broom, then kiss.

Now I present Mr and Mrs Stevenson