Daniel P Morin

PROCESSION:

Instruct audience to stand.

Sabrina enters with her Dad:

Me: Who supports Sabrina as she and Andrew take this next step together?

Family: Her mother and I do!

Andrew shakes hands with Mike.

Instruct audience to be seated.

OPENING REMARKS:

A warmest welcome to you all - family and friends, those who care about this couple, and have come from near and far to celebrate with them. Andrew and Sabrina have asked us to be a part of this celebration of their love for each other, and it is with great joy and reverence that we all take part. They seek to continue the commitment, which of course does not begin today, but which began in wonder some time ago when they found love in each other. There are many stages and kinds of commitment, but this one is the deepest, the most sacred. It is a love that comes out of the clear choice of two people. With this step, the couple is merging their individuals lives, their families and friends, joining themselves and their communities into one that is bigger and more powerful. Their love has prevailed by virtue of its strengths. Yet marriage adds a new dimension, which they approach with enthusiasm and deepening love. Our hearts are filled with happiness on this special day. It has been said that a marriage is falling in love over and over again with the same person. How Andrew and Sabrina will continue to accomplish this will be up to them, for every marriage is as unique as the people that it joins. What we do know, however, is that they have found much to share and much to enrich their lives together.

WORDS ON MARRIAGE:

What is marriage? Marriage is a lifetime bond. A commitment to each other for eternity. A lifelong embrace. All are wonderful, and applicable, ways to describe marriage. But marriage is also about the little things. The warm smile your partner gives you when you need it most. The hug that calms your nerves. The laughter that lightens the moment. And of course, the kiss that lets you know that you are in this together. Marriage is committing to not only a lifetime together, but to be there for the other person at any moment. To provide the support that your partner needs. Marriage is a bond created on a single day that is renewed every day thereafter, through thought and action.

MELISSA's READING:

I now invite Andrew's mother, Melissa, up to read:

Let love be your shelter,

For at times the world is a noisy and confusing place.

So make a home that is a haven, a peaceful place where you can

Listen to your hearts and savor the comfortable closeness you share.

No matter how busy your days may be, make time for yourselves.

Hold hands. Unwind. Surprise each other.

Find little chances every day to show you're grateful to be partners, to be friends, to be married.

Life is not perfect. You will make mistakes.

But each time you meet life's challenges together,

You will grow wiser, stronger and surer of your love.

Cherish you yesterday.

They are irreplaceable souvenirs of your journey through life.

Make memories that will bring smiles and sighs whenever you look back.

Look forward, too. Dream together. Plan together. Make promises to keep. Believe in your tomorrows.

Because tomorrows are what forever is made of.

To make love last, put each other first.

That is the way to make a beautiful life together.

The kind of life you both deserve so very much.

Thank you Missy. I now invite Andrew's oldest sibling, Hale up to read:

HALE's READING:

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another-not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete;

the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it.

So let it be with you and you.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.

May you want one another, but not out of lack.

May you entice one another, but not compel one another.

May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.

May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.

May you look for things to praise, often say, " I love you!" And take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence- no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.

May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.

May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

Thank you Hale!

ANDREW and SABRINA'S STORY:

Andrew and Sabrina shared their vows privately before the wedding ceremony today during their "First Look." But they did want to share with you a bit of their story. I will now take a few minutes to read some memories that they shared with me, that allow us to understand the journey that brought them to this moment today. What brought them together, what are they really like as a couple, and what sort of future are they looking forward to together?

There's always "Two sides to every story", but that's part of what makes this fun! And the best part is, they will be hearing each other's answers for the first time.

1. WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO EACH OTHER?:

For Andrew it was Sabrina's personality. "She’s easy going and easy to get along with, but what really did it for me, was how strong she is, her ability to handle all situations and command any room she walks into. This is something I find very attractive."

Sabrina included some of their origin story as well: We met on Tinder which can be a pretty superficial way of meeting. It’s just five pictures with a very minimal bio so your essentially judging someone by their appearance. Aside from Andrew's really nice eyes, he had one picture on his profile that was with his Dad, Eddie, at a Red Sox World Series game. I thought it was really nice that he was close with his family because that’s so important to me. Not to mention, he's a Boston sports fan which is equally as important, LOL! After we both had matched it was pretty evident through our conversations that he had an awesome personality, sense of humor, we had similar values, and the conversation was completely natural and unforced. We spoke every night and eventaully met at a UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey game. This was almost five years ago now, and after that, it just clicked and we never looked back.

2. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

Andrew replied that their relationship is "...a two way street. We both share all of the responsibilities and pick each other up when we need it. I would consider our relationship very light and loving. We spend a lot of time together but also have no problem spending time apart. We live a very social life that keeps us busy but we are always on the same page. She is my best friend, no doubt about it.'

When describing their relationship Sabrina said "I think we balance each other out well. When I’m super-stressed and wound up he does a great job of remaining calm and helping me through the situation, and vice-versa. A relationship isn’t always 50/50 and I think we both realize that and pick up the slack when one of us isn’t feeling our best that day. I really have always appreciated that balance. I think we also challenge each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Not in a “you need to be better" sort of way, but I think the fact that we are both motivated to succeed in life, careers and relationships keeps each other motivated as well. We set a standard for ourselves naturally and it works for us. I was a very independent person before meeting Andrew and he definitely had to break a hard exterior down at first for me to be comfortable sharing my thoughts and life with him. But he definitely excelled at it and I’m so glad he stuck it out."

3. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE EACH OTHER, AND WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THEM?

Andrew replied "Sabrina has as kind of a heart as anyone I know, seriously, sometimes to a fault. If you spend five minutes with her you can tell she is usually one of, if not THE smartest person in the room. She is VERY funny in her own unique, goofy way. More than anything she is strong. Sabrina is the rock in our relationship that’s keeps us both centered. She reels me in when needed and is the voice of reason when I need encouragement."

Sabrina shared "Andrew is my best friend. He’s someone I can take anywhere and he instantly reads the crowd and finds out how to participate and get people going. He has a very approachable nature that all people take a liking to. If I ever walk in the door by myself my family will instantly ask "where's Andrew?!". He is very caring, kind and sensitive. He takes care of us as a family and always makes sure Knox and I are comfortable, well-fed and that the house is in order. He values our time together and makes the most out of our nights and weekend days together at home. He’s someone that made me lose my stubborn independence but gain the ability to be in a healthy, shared relationship and space. He’s the only person I could ever live through Covid with. Specifically for the first time... in an apartment... with a new puppy. He’s very honest, sometimes brutally-so, but it keeps us both honest as a couple. He’s my person and I always smile knowing that I get to "do life" with him and keep doing it with him forever."

4. HOW DID YOU GET ENGAGED?

Andrew answered that they got engaged at Sabrina's parents' house, in the back yard near the garden, with her family and my parents at the house, watching.

Sabrina fleshed the scanario out a little bit more: (Pause for laughter)

"I had just gotten home from helping Dylan pick out her wedding dress, in Denver late Sunday night. I was pretty exhausted from taking a flight and then going to work four hours later. It was a Monday night and my mom had texted us asking if we wanted to go over for dinner to plan out our Maine trip which was coming up the next week. I’ve never really turned down a free meal, so we went, LOL! Somehow Andrew's parents showed up to help my dad use the smoker. I probably should have caught on at this point. We were in the yard and I turned around and Andrew was all of a sudden on one knee. At no point did I catch on. LOL!"

5.WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO REGARDING YOUR LIFE TOGETHER? WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU ENVISION YOUR LONGER-TERM FUTURE?

Andrew answered "Sabrina and I have been fortunate to have accomplished a few milestones already, such buying a house and getting the best dog in the world. We feel so fortunate to have great families, friends and careers. I think mostly I look forward to whatever lies ahead. Sabrina and I don’t have every step of the way mapped out like some might, this allows for us to be spontaneous and live in the moment. We have been fortunate to do some awesome travel together and I look forward to continuing that. I think what I truly look forward to is just having her by my side for the rest of our lives, enjoying the ride and growing old together. I know we will accomplish so much in this lifetime, I can’t wait to see what it is!"

Sabrina said "I’m looking forward to building a family together and continuing to "do life" with Andrew. When I first met Andrew and we asked each other what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said a very Sabrina career-focused answer and he said he was most looking forward to being a Dad. I thought that was super-sweet and it also made me think more about my answer, LOL! Building a family is definitely what we want for the future, it doesn’t have to be right away but we look forward to having children and making memories with our family. Also, his continued cooking, LOL! I think Andrew should honestly open a restaurant up some day. I would totally support him in that venture."

We now come to the decrlaration of intent to marry and I ask:

DECLARATION OF INTENT/VOWS:

Do you Andew take Sabrina to be your lawfully wedded wife?

Andrew: "I do."

And do you Sabrina take Andrew to be your lawfully wedded husband?

Sabrina: "I do."

Now Andrew, please repeat after me:

I, Andrew...

take you, Sabrina...

to be my wife...

to have and to hold...

for better and for worse...

for richer and for poorer...

in sickness and in health...

to love and to cherish...

from this day forward...

until death do us part.

Now Sabrina, please repeat after me:

I, Sabrina

take you, Andrew...

to be my husband...

to have and to hold...

for better and for worse...

for richer and for poorer...

in sickness and in health...

to love and to cherish...

from this day forward...

until death do us part.

THE RING CEREMONY

INTRODUCTION:

Marriage is a state in which two people come together and create a union that is greater than the sum of its parts. As love is so difficult a concept to express in mere words, we use symbols. Since the dawn of humanity, the ring has been an emblem of the sincerity and permanence of a couple's love for one another and the lasting value of their marriage. As the circle can begin anew at any point, so marriage can always be renewed. These rings are symbols of your eternal love.

THE EXCHANGE:

Tyler hands me Sabrina's ring for Andrew

As you, Andrew, place this ring on Sabrina's finger, please repeat after me:

I promise to you, Sabrina...

before our family and friends...

to commit my love to you...

to respect your individuality...

to be with you through life's changes...

and to nurture and strengthen the love between us...

as long as we both shall live.

Tyler hands me Andrew's ring for Sabrina

As you, Sabrina, place this ring on Andrew's finger, please repeat after me:

I promise to you, Andrew...

before our family and friends...

to commit my love to you...

to respect your individuality...

to be with you through life's changes...

and to nurture and strengthen the love between us...

as long as we both shall live.

CLOSING REMARKS:

As this ceremony nears its end, the marriage of Andrew and Sabrina nears its beginning. This union, as we can plainly see, will be filled with love, joy and laughter. The progression of this amazing relationship has brought them to this special day during which they publicly vowed to be husband and wife. I know I speak for everyone here when I say that we are honored to have been chosen to witness this beautiful wedding ceremony.

As Andrew and Sabrina enter into marriage, we wish them a lifetime of happiness and all want to convey our love for, and to them, right from this beginning.

PRONOUNCEMENT:

You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage. You have made life-long promises to each other, through your vows and the exchange of wedding rings. Having pledged yourselves each to the other, I do now, by the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Massachusetts pronounce you to be husband and wife!

KISS:

You may now kiss your bride!

Step behind Tyler with microphone stand.

INTRODUCTION/PRESENTATION:

It is my incredible honor to introduce for the very first time as a married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Mierzwa!

RECESSION