Sean Patrick Kelley

OPENING

Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can’t sleep with a window shut, and a woman who can’t sleep with the window open.

If we take a moment to peel back a layer of this “attempted humor”, we observe a greater truth pertaining to all marriages. As a man and women come together to be husband and wife....as they become one and attempt to align their values, priorities, and goals....there will always be pieces (ideology, habits, or values) that just don't easily fit together. There are compromising and agreements made in order to make the marriage thrive.

If you think about it, this is at the source of most references to marriage within humor.

“A happy home is one in which each spouse grants the possibility that the other may be right, though neither believes it.

Two people coming together in a union of marriage does not work like snapping pieces together. We’re not here because James and Heather looked at each other and thought, “our lives will assimilate and integrate with relative ease.”

We’re here today because when James looks into Heather's eyes and Heather looks into James' eyes they see something beautiful. They admire the qualities the other possesses. They understand the true value of each other and will do anything to be together for the rest of their life.

And this is the beauty of marriage. Two people who admire and love each other so deeply and who will do anything...overcome any obstacles, working through any friction.... to be together and to build a relationship of substance and quality that will continually grow in depth, beauty, and joy as their years increase.

We are present today, as family and friends of James and Heather excited and celebrating their union for we see the start of this deepening love that will continually draw them closer as they spend their lives together.

TRANSITION TO VOWS:

Now, James and Heather, you have written your own vows and so I will ask you to present them at this time.

James...

Heather...

*(Vows)*

With those loving words shared

Do you, James, take Heather, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part.

*(Wait for Confirmation - "I do")*

Do you, Heather, take James, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part.

*(Wait for Confirmation - "I do")*

RING EXCHANGE

James and Heather will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

May I have the rings please?

James, please take Heather's hand, and as you place the ring on her finger, please repeat after me.

With this ring

I wed you, Heather

For today

For tomorrow

and for all the years to come

Please wear it as a sign of my commitment

and a notice

to the entire world

that I am your husband

Heather, please take James' hadn, and as you place the ring on his finger, please repeat after me.

With this ring

I wed you, James

For today

For tomorrow

and for all the years to come

Please wear it as a sign of my commitment

and a notice

to the entire world

that I am your wife

SAND CEREMONY:

James and Heather, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. Your relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand.

Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without the need of anything else. When the two are blended together they represent an entirely new and loving relationship. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination.

As you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique.

But today we also recognize that you two are not alone in this marriage. This third container of sand represents Lawson. Lawson, will you now come forward to help us with the blending of the sand?

Lawson, as you blend your sand with your Mom’s and James’, it will symbolize that you will always have a place where you belong, where you are safe, where you are secure, and where you are loved.

You may now blend your sand together symbolizing the unity that you possess as a family. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so too will your marriage and your family be.

*Thank Lawson and direct him back to his seat*

CLOSING

James and Heather, today in the presence of God, your family and your friends you have spoken the words and performed the rites which unite your lives.

And so, by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married.

You may now kiss your bride

PRONOUNCEMENT

Family and friends, it's my privilege to introduce, for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Skrtich.