Kelsey Elizabeth Wellman

Before we get started I would like to ask if you all know how much a polar bear weighs?

Enough to break the ice! I bring this up because this is how Dan and Sam's relationship all started, with a simple cheesy pick up line. And look at where they are today, here in front of all of their friends and family about to get married. We watched their love blossom and have shared many memorable moments with them both. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other have grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.

Welcome everyone, First I would like to thank Daniel and Samantha for allowing me to be such an important part of their special day. I am truly honored and hope to make this day as special for you both as my Aunt Diane (Sam's Mom) did for my husband and I on our wedding day.

I am Samantha's older cousin and I have watched her grow through the years to become such a smart, loving woman. Our family is special, in that we stick together and accept each other through it all, we challenge each other when needed, and hold each other up when we are feeling down. We are the huggers, we are passionate, and love really big. When Samantha and Dan got together we all immediately saw that he got it. He fit right in and you could see how much he cared for his family and how quickly he brought Sam into that part of his life.

Dan, thank you for being Sam's rock. For being there for her when she needed you most. For being her best friend and confidant. You have shown how genuine and caring of a human being you are and we can all see why Sam fell in love with you. We all love you and are so glad you are going to be a part of our family. Sam, I asked Dan to write some of why are you the one for him, and this is what he told me:

He said that:

"Sam is an extremely caring person and she has been there for him though many hard times. Sam is funny and is able to handle his humor and how sarcastic he can be.

He loves when she gets into one of her hyper-focused phases and dives into some sort of hobby. Even when it only lasts for like a week then its on to the next thing.

He also said: She always talks about how caring her Grandmother was and how she wishes he could have met her. But she doesn't realize that he does get to, every day through Sam.

Dan loves how fast she was able to become part of his family. In fact he is pretty sure his family loves her more. "

You two are meant to be in so many ways and like one of Sam's favorite bands, The Beatles, say in the song Because "Love is old, Love is new / Love is all, Love is you."

Now...

Do you Daniel promise to love Samantha and respect her, to share your life and your dreams, to build with her a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you Samantha promise to love Daniel and respect him, to share your life and your dreams, to build with him a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

We will now celebrate Samantha and Daniel's union with a symbolic glass unity ceremony.

Before each of you is a container of glass, each represents your separate lives, your friends, families, your past and present. I will ask that you each pour the contents within your own vase into the middle vase together. As the glass from each individual vase is blended together it symbolizes the joining of your separate lives into one union, the beginning of your journey as husband and wife.

Today the two of you are making a lasting commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. That commitment is symbolized through the individual colors of glass; you each selected two colors of glass to representative each of your lives. You both come to this relationship with unique strengths, vulnerabilities, and histories. As individuals, you are beautiful people all on your own. Yet when the two of you are blended together, you form something even more special. After the ceremony is concluded the glass will be made into a final piece forever fusing the different colors together symbolizing your marriage and love for one another as inseparable as the glass becomes. This new sculpture will be a physical reminder of your beautiful personalities, love and commitment to each other coming together.

Samantha and Daniel will now exchange rings and say their vows as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

(Daniel repeat after me)

Samantha, I choose you to be my wife.

you are my best friend for life.

I pledge to honor, encourage, and support you through life together.

I vow to give you the best of myself and to ask of you no more than you can give.

When life becomes difficult, I promise to stand by you and uplift you.

I promise to work at our love, and always make you a priority in my life.

With every beat of my heart, I will love you.

(Samantha repeat after me)

Daniel, I choose you to be my husband.

you are my best friend for life.

I pledge to honor, encourage, and support you through life together.

I vow to give you the best of myself and to ask of you no more than you can give.

When life becomes difficult, I promise to stand by you and uplift you.

I promise to work at our love, and always make you a priority in my life.

With every beat of my heart, I will love you.

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Connecticut I now pronounce you wife and husband!