Barbara Ann Brooks

Dear friends and family,

we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Dakota and Landrie.

Just that we are gathered here today is so incredible and took a little bit longer to happen than you originally planned. You all have overcome so much for you to be here today.

In the years 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 both come freely,

and understand the responsibility

and work involved to make your relationship thrive, and are committed to not only each other but also to Nash and Duke.

Today is a celebration.

A celebration of love, of commitment,

of friendship, of family,

and of two people who are in it for forever.

You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage.

Endless moments of planning that will fly by so quickly.

So why do we do it?

The marriage ceremony has been an important feature

across nearly every culture,

religion, generation, and society.

We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives,

but this one is regarded as one so critical,

we acknowledge its special status

by sharing it with others.

Why this moment?

Because despite all of our differences,

love is what we all share.

It's the great unifier - our one universal truth.

That no matter who we are,

where we've come from,

what we believe,

we know this one thing:

love is what we're doing right.

That's why you both are standing here.

That's why you all are here

to witness this union.

We have all loved in our lifetimes,

and in this moment,

we're reminded that the ability to love

is the very best part of our humanity.

All of us here today have our own love stories.  

This could be love from a parent, grandparent, a partner, friend....

Some stories are short, others long.

Some are yet unwritten,

while others are

just getting to the good part.

There are chapters in all of our stories

that are sad or disappointing -

and others that are

exciting and full of adventure.

Don’t be afraid to ask guidance

from those you care about and care about you.

But remember this is a one of a kind relationship between Dakota and Landrie.

You have known each other since school. As a couple you are learning each others quirks and habits.

Your figuring out toilet seat up or down.

Who cooks, who cleans?

Who cleans up after the pets?

Understand there will be burnt meals

or perhaps some raw ones as well.

Do you eat it ....if its safe Because you know the time, effort, and frustration the other has put in or just throw it out and go out?

I encourage you to continue to have date nights.

communicate with your spouse.

Don't break the bond of trust.

Marriage is hard and you have already proven that your relationship can stand up to hard times. Let’s look ahead to happy and healthy beginnings.

You need to figure out what works for you.

Is it ....Always kiss me good night or

Baby, I love you

but I don't really like you right now.

Lets sleep on it and talk tomorrow.

Many trials and tribulations have bought them and here.

Now is a time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments

that brought them here.

And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

I'm here - we're all here -

because we want those moments for you.

We're here to hope with you,

to support you,

to be proud of you,

and to remind you that love

isn't just happily ever after,

love is the experience

of writing your story.

It's not one moment -

not even this moment.

It's every moment.

Big ones like saying 'I love you,'

getting engaged -

but mostly a million little ones

that come in between the big moments.

Falling asleep next to one another,

making dinner together,

spending holidays with or without your families,

making your own traditions,

binge-watching shows,

getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience.

And even though this experience

is so incredible,

words fail us when we try and explain it.

That's just the way it is with love -

it's meant to be felt,

not necessarily described.

But trying to describe love

is one of our favorite pastimes.

We use the words we have

to write stories, and poems, and songs about love.

And even though we describe love in different ways -

and even though love can look different from one person to the next -

we all know it when we see it.

And we see it here.

You fell in love by chance,

but you're here today

because you're making a choice.

You both are choosing each other.

You've chosen to be with someone

who enhances you,

who makes you think,

makes you smile,

Someone that encourages you

and makes every day brighter.

You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep.

You're going to vow to take care of each other,

to stand up for one another,

and find happiness in the other.

There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there.

You're teaming up and saying to the other,

'Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of.'"

Dakota and Landrie, please look at one another now and remember this moment in time.

Do you Dakota Bickman,

keep Landrie Griffin as your favorite person -

to laugh with her,

go on adventures with her,

support her through life's tough moments,

be proud of her,

grow old with her,

and find new reasons to love her every day?"

I do

Do you Landrie Griffin,

keep Dakota Brickman as your favorite person -

to laugh with him,

go on adventures with him,

support him through life's tough moments,

be proud of him,

grow old with him,

and find new reasons to love him every day?"

I do

Will you,

Dakota and Landrie,

be each other's partners from this day forward?

Will you bring out the best in one another,

share your happiest moments together,

and love each other absolutely for whatever may come next

“We will “

Bring rings forward

You've both chosen to wear rings

as a reminder of these promises.

People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end.

But these rings did have a beginning.

The stones were formed a long time ago

deep within the earth.

Eventually,

a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface,

where someone dug them up.

Metal was then liquefied in a furnace - molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements.

Love is like that.

It comes from humble beginnings,

and through a combination

of serendipity and effort,

imperfect beings shape

it into something extraordinary.

It's the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.

As you look at these rings over the years,

I hope you remember that.

You've created something invaluable,

and just as I know you'll protect these rings,

I'm confident you'll protect the commitments you've made to one another today.

Groom to bride:

Dakota, please place this ring on Landrie’s finger and repeat after me

Landrie, I give you this ring

As a symbol of my love

I am choosing to share

my life’s journey with you

I give you this ring

With the pledge to love you today

Tomorrow

always

Landrie, please place this ring on Dakota’s finger and repeat after me

Dakota, I give you this ring

As a symbol of my love

I am choosing to share

my life’s journey with you

I give you this ring

With the pledge to love you today

Tomorrow

always

Blessing:

I leave you now with this blessing:

May you always be in love

May your love be as beautiful each day as it is on this day of celebration

May you always see and encourage the best in each other

May the challenges life brings your way

make your marriage even stronger

And may you always be each other’s

best friend and greatest love

Pronouncement:

Dakota and Laudrie -

You have pledged your faith to each other

in front of God

in this beautiful setting

in the company of your family and friends.

By the power vested in me by the state of Arkansas

I now pronounce you husband and wife,

You may now seal your vows with a kiss.