Paul M Minutello

Good afternoon, everyone.

Welcome and thank you for joining us.

At this time will you all please make sure to silence your cell phones.

Address to Dean(father of Bride), who gives this woman to wed this man?

We are gathered here today in the sight of God, and the presence of family, friends and loved ones, to celebrate and witness the uniting of Stephen and Abby in holy matrimony.

(Opening prayer) Before we start let’s bow our heads and ask God’s blessing on this union.

Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us together and for the grace that you show us every day. We ask that you bless Stephen and Abby all the days of their lives and fill them with your love and joy as they embark on their journey together as husband and wife in Christs name, Amen

INVOCATION

We are here to witness the commitment and promise that Stephen and Abby are making to each other as they enter marriage. Arguably, the most important event in their lives. Marriage is associated with thoughts of love, happiness and all that is pleasant. It is a commitment. It’s the most significant and binding covenant known in all human relations. and the vows that they will make to each other are a symbol of that commitment. We are here not only as witnesses but as family and friends our obligation is to love and support them through any difficulties or troubles that may come up so that their love for each other may continue to grow.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

I’m going to ask you now to declare your intention to enter marriage.

Please face each other and hold hands

Stephen, do you take Abby to be your lawfully wedded wife,

Will you love her, honor her, comfort and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?

(Response) “I do"

Abby, do you take Stephen to be your lawfully wedded husband.

Will you love him, respect and honor him, comfort and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?”

(Response) “I do"

Very well then. Now that you have stated your intent to be married lets us continue. But first let me share a little about these two. Abby and Stephen first met by means of a practical joke that Stephen pulled on her in the office where they both worked but it wasn’t until a month later and multiple false accusations, by whom, I won’t say…Abby, that Stephen fessed up that it was him who did it, which led to their first date. Which then led to the second and five years later here we are. Even though Abby could not understand how an Italian could live an entire life without having eaten a noodle. During that time, they have grown together, shared common goals, they raised a golden retriever puppy, they assembled new furniture together (well Stephen assembled while Abby supervised and handed him tools, and conveniently disappeared when actual help is needed). Never the less, they prevailed. They’ve played in countless sport leagues, little known fact they even won the title of Carnival Cruise beer pong and cornhole champs on their trip to the Caribbean. Through this time, they have grown together, they’ve learned about each other, they fell in love, and they decided to spend the rest of their lives together.

These are all the building blocks that bring us to what is now about to take place.

Just about year ago, today in Whitewater, Wisconsin, what was planned by Abby’s father, Dean and Stephen to be a family reunion and a 45th wedding anniversary of Abby’s parents turned out to also be Stephen asking Abby’s hand in marriage, and she said yes. Which brings us to where we are today.

What you two are about to enter should be done reverently, thoughtfully and with full understanding of its sacred nature. This is a serious covenant that you are about to enter, it requires a deep understanding of its obligations and responsibilities.

Gen 2:24 A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. That means that you no longer think of just yourself, just like the two of you playing together in sports leagues, you know what it’s like to play together as a team. You’re now going to be a team of one, working together for a common goal.

Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

When you’re honoring someone, there is no jealousy or anger

If one falls, the other is going to be there to lift them up.

If one is hurting, the other is there to comfort them.

Eph 5: Husbands, love your wife, just as Christ loves the church. What does that mean. Jesus said for you to love your wife so that “your happiness may be complete”. Think about that. He says by loving your wife you will be happy.

Wives, respect your husband. In so doing your value is worth far more than all the riches of the world. Just by respecting your husband.

So, remember that love and loyalty are the foundations of a happy and enduring marriage. You are pledging your love to each other for the rest of your lives. When you speak of love, love is thinking of each other, love is; I can’t wait to see them again, to be with them, to talk to them, to hold them.

Love is finding your greatest joy in the company of each other.

So, without further ado, let us begin

VOWS AND RINGS EXCHANGE

Stephen before you place the ring on Abby’s finger repeat after me.

I take you Abby to be my wife,

to have and to hold,

in sickness and in health,

in good times and in bad,

for richer or poorer,

for as long as we both shall live.

I give you this ring

as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

With this ring I thee wed.

Abby before you place the ring on Stephen’s finger repeat after me.

I take you Stephen to be my husband,

to have and to hold,

in sickness and in health,

in good times and in bad,

for richer or poorer,

for as long as we both shall live.

I give you this ring

as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

With this ring I thee wed.

PRONOUNCEMENT

Stephen and Abby having witnessed your vows for marriage before God and all who are present here today, By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.

Stephen you may kiss your bride.

Turn and face the audience and wait

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and privilege to present to you for the very first time Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Ebeck

RECESSION