Anthony Ahmeer Goodman

Welcome to the marriage ceremony of Jesse Paine and Susie Benitez

I’d like to begin by welcoming all who have gathered here today, family and friends of this wonderful couple, who have come together to celebrate a most joyous occasion. All of us are fortunate to have been asked to witness the most important transition in a relationship between two people. This is the transition in which two people in love commit themselves to each other, in word and action.

They take this step not because they need to, but because they want to. They desire to publicly pledge their love for each other and commitment to each other. Jesse and Susie we are honored to bear witness to this transition and we know that you are not taking this step lightly. Several years ago now, the challenge of a lifetime brought a lot of people, gathered here today, together to open a Truly one-of-a-kind Casino. This place would become a labor of love for most of the opening crew, but none of us were anticipating the lifelong friendships that it would produce. For a special couple, it would be more than a labor of love, but a road to the ultimate love two people can share. Many here have watched as your love for each other has grown and matured from the awkwardness of the first date, into the perfection that you manifest today. Today we stand with you still and are privileged witnesses to this important step, as you proclaim your love for all the world to see.

Love is a Maybe…

The couple's journey to each other has not been one without maybes.

Maybe…we are supposed to meet the wrong person before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe…it is true that we don’t know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe…the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything…they just make the most of everything that comes their way.

Maybe…the best kind of love is the kind where you can sit on a sofa together, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.

Maybe love is not about finding the perfect person; it’s about learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

What is marriage to Jesse and Susie?

Marriage is a bond that unites their hearts and minds into a lifelong partnership that is stronger than two individuals alone can ever be. A pledge to face whatever comes their way, together. A pledge to support each other, nurture each other, and love each other for the rest of their lives. 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. Marriage is perhaps the answer to “maybe” fueled by true companionship and trust. Susie and Jesse recognize that they are the answers to their Maybes and both are extremely excited to call each other husband and wife…so let’s get to it!

Declaration of intent

At this time I invite the couple to express their intentions to one another, to publicly proclaim the reasons for their standing in front of each other today.

Jesse goes first with his written Vows

Susie goes next with her Vows

The Blessing of the rings

This wedding is also a celebration of family. It is the merging of two families, separate up to this moment, but united from this day forward - uniting their different traditions and strengthening the family tree. To honor this uniting of the families and to strengthen the unity of the couple, Jesse and Susie would like the family to bless the rings with wisdom and luck. We will now pass the rings to the family, please bless these rings in a short wish and pass it down the row. I ask that the honor guards collect them once the ring blessing is complete and return them to their owners…who will hold them in safekeeping for the rest of their lives.

The rings (reading during the blessing of the rings)

The wedding ring seals the vows of marriage and represents a promise of everlasting love. It is a physical manifestation of the promises joining this couple together. The wedding ring is placed on the fourth finger of the left hand because years ago, it was believed that this finger was a direct connection to the heart – the perfect place for a symbol representing love and commitment. With the promise to grow in understanding and in compassion, these rings become the keys to the home that they will establish together and will be such a place of sanctuary and friendship. These rings, on their fingers, symbolize the Spirit of Love in their hearts.

(Matron of honor hands the ring to Susie)

As you Susie, place this ring on Jesse’s finger, please repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment/ to you and to our partnership in life. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my Husband this day and forever more.

(Best Man hands the ring to Jesse)

As you Jesse, place this ring on Susie’s finger, please repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to you and to our partnership in life. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my Husband this day and forever more.

The I Dos

Jesse, do you take Susie, to be your lawfully wedded 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 you part.

Susie, do you take Jesse, to be your husband, to respect, cherish and honor, to laugh with joy, to grieve with in sorrow, to grow with love, and from this day forward, share your life with you?

Conclusion

We are almost there; you have just sworn your love to each other and promised to support and remain committed to each other. In just a moment, I will make the pronouncement that everyone has been waiting to hear. But before we do that, we will partake in the Jewish tradition of Breaking the Glass.

Breaking the glass holds multiple meanings. Some say it demonstrates that marriage has sorrow and joy and represents the commitment to stand by one another even in hard times. It is also a demonstration to remind us that like glass is fragile, so are human relationships.

Once the glass is broken, it can never return to what it was. As you break this glass today, you will find it will take a conscious effort. So, may your bond of love be as difficult to break as it would be to put back together these pieces of glass. Knowing that this marriage is permanent, may the two of you strive daily to show each other love and respect.

After the glass is broken, I invite everyone to shout the Hebrew words “Mazel Tov,” meaning, Good Luck and Congratulations, but before the glass is broken, having witnessed your marriage vows, along with all who are assembled here today and by the power vested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, It is with great joy that I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss your new bride.

(The couple Kisses and steps on the glass together after a 3 count by me)

The pronouncement

At the start you joined me in welcoming them by their individual names; now join me in celebrating them as the married couple Mr. and Mrs. Buttons!