Jaime A. Russell

PROCESSIONAL

• GUESTS ARE SEATED FOLLOWED BY THE ENTRANCE OF THE BRIDAL PARTY.

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"We are gathered here today to celebrate with Zachary and Kaycee as they proclaim their love and commitment to the world. We are gathered to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together."

DECLARATION OF INTENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"Zachary and Kaycee, the relationship you enter into today must be grounded in the strength of your love and the power of your faith in each other. To make your relationship succeed it will take unending love.

It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want what is best for one another and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds.

If you both come freely, and understand the responsibility and work involved to make your relationship thrive, and are committed to not only each other but your family, please take each other by the hands

• ZACHARY AND KAYCEE JOIN HANDS.

Zachary, do you take Kaycee to be the wife of your days, the companion of your heart and the friend of your life? To stand united in the face of adversity and bask together in the light of good fortune? With these words spoken, and all those as yet unspoken, do you wish to marry Kaycee and join your life with hers?

• ZACHARY RESPONDS “I DO”

Kaycee, do you take Zachary to be the husband of your days, the companion of your heart and the friend of your life? To stand united in the face of adversity and bask together in the light of good fortune? With these words spoken, and all those as yet unspoken, do you wish to marry Zachary and join your life with his?

• KAYCEE RESPONDS “I DO”

RING EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO ZACHARY

"Zachary, place the ring on Kaycee’s hand and repeat after me:

With this ring, I promise to stand with you … as we share this life and cherish the memories we make together. You will never walk alone… my heart will be your shelter… my arms will be your home…we will walk through life as partners & best friends… I give you my heart until the end of time as I have no greater gift to give"

• ZACHARY REPEATS THE PASSAGE AS HE PLACES THE RING ON KAYCEE'S FINGER.

OFFICIANT TO KAYCEE

"Kaycee, place the ring on Zachary’s hand and repeat after me:

With this ring, I promise to stand with you… as we share this life and cherish the memories we make together. You will never walk alone… my heart will be your shelter… my arms will be your home…we will walk through life as partners & best friends… I give you my heart until the end of time as I have no greater gift to give"

KAYCEE REPEATS THE PASSAGE AS SHE PLACES THE RING ON ZACHARY'S FINGER.

POETRY READING

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

I would like to share a poem I found called “All I Know About Love”

This is everything I have to tell you about love: nothing.

This is everything I've learned about marriage: nothing.

The only thing I can tell you is that the world out there is complicated,

and there are beasts in the night,

and delight and pain,

and the only thing that makes it okay, sometimes,

is to reach out a hand in the darkness and find another hand to squeeze,

and not to be alone.

It's not the kisses, or never just the kisses:

it's what they mean.

They mean that Somebody's got your back.

They mean that Somebody knows your worst self and somehow doesn't matter.

They only want to rescue you

or send for the marines to rescue you.

So this is everything I have to tell you about love and marriage: nothing.

Because it is like a book without pages or a forest without trees.

Because there are things you cannot know before you experience them.

Because no study can prepare you for the joys or the trials.

Because nobody else's love, nobody else's marriage, is like yours,

and it's a road you can only learn by walking it,

a dance you cannot be taught,

a song that did not exist before you began, together, to sing.

And because in the darkness you will reach out a hand,

not knowing for certain if someone else is even there.

Just know that when your hands meet,

neither of you will ever need to be alone again.

That's all I know about love.

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"Zachary and Kaycee, prior to this moment you each walked a separate path. Now, you embark together on a shared path. It is the strength of your love that shall nourish you as you walk this path, hand-in-hand.

Zachary and Kaycee, today you have stood before these witnesses and declared your intent to commit your lives to each other in marriage. You have made promises to each other and your family. Your road to this moment has not always been smooth, but you continued to fight for one another. I hope you will never forget the fight and perseverance it has taken to get to this moment. And I hope you will never forget the love and joy you feel today, because these are the values that will keep your marriage, family and bond to one another strong."

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"And so, by the power given to me by the American Marriage Ministries and the State of Wisconsin, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

OFFICIANT TO ZACHARY

"You may now kiss the Bride."

"It is my honor to be the first to introduce you all to Mr and Mrs Zachary and Kaycee Polfer."

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.