Barbara Ann Brooks

Nikki Valenti /Kameron Kile

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Please be seated

Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Nikki and Kameron.

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 Kasey.

I also want to mention Kasey, as he is on this journey too. Kameron and Nikki- remember to teach him with love and patience, because he will look to you for guidance in his life as he grows.

Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.

As the two of you are getting to know each other and the three of you become a family. You are learning toilet seat up/ down? Who cooks? Who cleans up after Trapper?

Remember there will be some burnt meals and probably some raw ones as well. Do you eat it … if it’s safe? Because know the time, effort and frustration the other has put into it or do you just throw it out and go to Texas Roadhouse?

You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. 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 watch them stand up here. 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. Some 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 Kameron and Nikki.

A memorable meeting thru Catlin-

a first date in Knoxville

then moving to Louisiana

Wow…. And here we are.

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 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,' moving in together, 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 your families, 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 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, 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.'"

Kameron and Nikki, please join hands, look at one another now and remember this moment in time.

Will you Kameron Kile, keep Nikki Valenti 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 will

Will you Nikki Valenti, keep Kameron Kile 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 will

Will you, Kameron and Nikki, 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 -for the rest of this lifetime

“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.

Love - comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape 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:

Kameron, please place this ring on Nikki’s finger and repeat after me

Nikki, 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 and forever

Nikki, please place this ring on Kameron’s finger and repeat after me

Kameron, 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 and forever

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: step aside

Kameron and Nikki

You have pledged your faith to each other 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.