Athena Zabeida Bohan

OFFICIANT TO GUESTS:

Everyone please rise.

Music: I See the Light - Roxane Genot, Jan Pouska (Tangled)

Bride and Father - Margaret and John Bohan

OFFICIANT TO FATHER OF THE BRIDE:

Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage to this man?

FATHER OF THE BRIDE:

I do.

*Bride hugs Father, Father shakes Groom’s hand, Father sits, Bride and Groom go to marks, MOH fluffs train, MOH takes bouquet*

OFFICIANT TO GUESTS:

Everyone, please be seated.

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT TO GUESTS:

On behalf of the Bohan’s and the Heath’s, we are gathered here today for what is about to be an epic celebration of love. These two look absolutely stunning, so before we begin, from your seats you can all grab your phones and snap a quick picture of the lovely bride and groom. Get their good sides and make it quick because we have a party to get going.

ALLOW PHOTO MOMENT - SELFIE WITH MOM

Now please tuck your phones away for the remainder of the ceremony. We want you to be truly present as Margaret and Cameron share their best day ever with you. Each of you here represents a piece of their lives, so whether you came in years ago, or more recently, your presence here is a gift and I know it means a lot to them.

READING ONE

Today is a celebration of commitment, family, friendship, but most importantly, love. Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier — our one universal truth.

Love is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define, and impossible to live without. Love is work, but most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute, every second was worth it because you did it together.

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 exciting and full of adventure.

Margaret and Cameron’s love story began over 8 years ago on Cameron’s second day of college - in the Canisius courtyard, over a scoop of ice cream. Yes, 8 years of love, 2 cross country moves, several career changes, and one guinea pig later, here we are.

And let me tell you, seeing them grow together is like watching a real-life fairy tale unfold. Their love isn't just inspiring; it's downright contagious, reminding us all that true love is the best adventure of all.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE:

Margaret and Cameron, you fell in love by chance, but you are here today because you are making a choice. You are choosing each other. You have chosen to be with someone who challenges you, makes you laugh, makes you believe in love, and makes every day brighter.

You are about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. There is a simple premise to each of these promises: you are vowing to be there. You are teaming up and saying to the other, “Every experience I am going to have, I want it to be with you”

EXCHANGE OF VOWS

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

Before you pledge your vows to one another, let us pause for a moment and take in the beauty that surrounds us here. Take a look at your guests and feel their love for you – as well as the love you have for each other.

Now please hold hands and look into each other’s eyes as you share your promises to each other. Please repeat after me: (Read each line and allow them to repeat)

I vow to take you exactly as you are

loving you today and for all our days to come.

From this day forward,

I promise to cherish each moment

and give generously to our life together.

I will always put us first,

over everything and anything

Every day for the rest of our lives.

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE:

Margaret, do you promise to take Cameron as your lawfully wedded husband

Margaret: I do

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE:

Cameron, do you promise to take Margaret as your lawfully wedded wife

Cameron: I do.

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE:

Do you both promise to bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?

Margaret and Cameron together: We do.

RING EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE:

You have both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. It is said that wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. Raw elements were molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished, so something beautiful could be made.

Your love is like that. It came from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, you shaped it into something extraordinary. It is the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you each look at your wedding rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You have created something invaluable, and just as I know you will protect these rings, I am confident you will protect the commitments you have made to one another today.

Who has the rings?

*Ethan gives rings to Cameron, Cameron hands Margaret his ring.*

OFFICIANT TO CAMERON:

Cameron, please place the ring on Margaret’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring - I marry you.

CAMERON REPEATS THE LINE.

With my loving heart,

CAMERON REPEATS THE LINE.

my willing body,

CAMERON REPEATS THE LINE.

and my eternal soul.

CAMERON REPEATS THE LINE.

OFFICIANT TO MARGARET:

Margaret, please place the ring on Cameron’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring - I marry you.

MARGARET REPEATS LINES

With my loving heart,

MARGARET REPEATS LINES

my willing body,

MARGARET REPEATS LINES

and my eternal soul.

MARGARET REPEATS LINES

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE GUESTS:

If everyone would permit me a moment, the prerogative of being mother of the bride. Margaret, it has been an honor, having been chosen to be your mother. Your father and I were blessed when you came into our lives and we are so proud of the woman you have become. Cameron, with all the children we have, we never realized you were missing until Margaret found you and brought you home. We are honored to have you join our family.

Cameron and Margaret, by the love that has brought us here today and the power vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Michigan, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may now kiss the bride.

THE COUPLE KISSES, GUESTS APPLAUD AND CHEER

PRESENTATION OF THE NEWLYWEDS

OFFICIANT TO GUESTS:

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to present for the first time, the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Heath!