Kelly Ray

Before the ceremony

“ Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin just a quick announcement, the bride and groom have kindly requested an unplugged ceremony and have hired talented photographers to capture the moment. Please put away all devices and enjoy being fully present.”

Opening words

“Please be seated. Good evening and welcome! We’d like to thank everyone on this beautiful day for coming to support Sky & Jayden in this exciting endeavor and union. Your friendship and support have helped strengthen them as they’ve made their way to this moment, and they thank you for being here.”

Prayer to start

“ Let us bow our heads in prayer. Lord, we thank you for gathering everyone here today. We ask that you help Sky & Jayden to remember the strong love that they share. To work that love into practical things so that nothing can divide them. May their love always inspire them to be kind in their words, considerate of the other’s feelings, and concerned for the other’s needs and wishes. Increase their faith and trust in You. Bless their marriage with peace and happiness and make their Love fruitful for Your glory and their joy, both here and in eternity. Amen.”

“ Seeing that no moment is without meaning, we ask that you take this marriage as the beginning of your lives together. Today signifies the creation of a new home and a new family for you both. May you be fulfilled by each other’s love and friendship. May you be overjoyed by the promises you are about to make and the life together you will create.”

“ Remember that in every marriage, there are good times and bad, times of joy and times of sorrow. Marriage is a journey – a time of adventure and excitement enhanced by the love, trust, dedication, and faith you share in one another.

May the promises you make to one another today, be lived out to the end of your lives. Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys, but today is the day it all begins.”

● Kelly:

“ Sky & Jayden, do you, with your family and friends as your witnesses, present

yourselves willingly and of your own accord to be joined in marriage?” ●

● S&J: [We do] ●

● Kelly:

● “Will you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows of life, come

what may, and to share the responsibility for the growth and enrichment of your

life together?” ●

● S&J: [We will]

Reading

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks—all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”—those late-night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”—and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another—acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this—is my husband, this—is my wife. - From “Beginning to End by Robert Fulghum

Kelly: We come now to the words Sky and Jayden want to hear the most today...the words that take them across the threshold from being engaged to being married.

A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.

Before you declare your vows to one another, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today.

Jayden , do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Sky in marriage? If so, answer “I do.”

Jayden: I do.

Kelly:

Sky, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Jayden in marriage? If so, answer “I do.”

Sky: I do.

Kelly:

Sky and Jayden, having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now ask you to declare your marriage vows.

Please face each other and hold hands.

Kelly:

Jayden, please repeat after me...

I, Jayden take you, Sky to be my wife.

I will share my life with yours,

and build our dreams together,

I will encourage you, Pray for you,

Respect and Honor you. I will love and treasure you,

Treating you like the treasure you are.

My love will not depend on wealth, circumstance or health,

I will love you when times are joyful and when times are challenging, For as long as we both shall live.

Kelly:

Sky, please repeat after me..

I, Sky take you, Jayden to be my husband. I will share my life with yours,

and build our dreams together,

I will encourage you, Pray for you,

Respect and Honor you. I will love and treasure you,

Treating you like the treasure you are.

My love will not depend on wealth, circumstance or health,

I will love you when times are joyful and when times are challenging, For as long as we both shall live.

Ring exchange:

*ask for the rings. the ring bearers will hold the rings*

Kelly:

“ Sky & Jayden have chosen these rings as a symbol of their unbreakable love. Please place these rings on each other’s fingers and repeat after me:

“ I give you this ring as a reminder of our love that unites, inspires, and celebrates what we have.”

The cord of three strands:

“ Today, Sky & Jayden have chosen to braid three strands together into a single cord. Each strand has a significant meaning. One Strand represents God and His majesty. The other Strand represents the groom and his life. And the last Strand represents the bride and her life. In braiding these three strands together, Sky & Jayden have demonstrated that their marriage is more than a joining of two lives together. It is a unity with God as well. They have chosen to allow God to be at the center of their marriage, woven into every aspect of it. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reads, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Declaration of Intent:

Kelly:

*Braiding the three cords*

“ Sky do you take Jayden to be your partner from this day forward? “

Sky: “I do” Kelly:

“ Jayden do you take Sky to be your partner from this day forward? “ Jayden: “I do”

Pronouncement:

Kelly:

“ By the authority vested in me, it is with joy that I pronounce you husband and wife. Now kiss and let's celebrate!”

Closing:

“Thank you all for witnessing this beautiful occasion for Sky & Jayden! They now request that if you are family that you meet at the entrance of the barn for family photos, for everyone who is not family you may enjoy the cocktail hour to your left. Thank you all!”