Brooke Ann Stackhouse

Prelude:

We are going to get started here soon, at this time I will ask that you all silence your phones and abstain from photography during the ceremony.

Welcome

Welcome friends, family, and loved ones.

Today we gather to celebrate the joining of Abby Anderson and Matthew Gardner in holy matrimony.

Everyone here has come to share in the formal commitment they are making to one another, to offer love and support to this union, and to allow Matt and Abby to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.

The couple thanks you for your presence here today and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support of their decision to wed witnessed by you and God above

Please be seated

Beginning:

For those who do not know me, my name is Brooke and I have been friends with Matt & Abby for many years. We all went to Central College together and that’s where Matt & Abby met.

Now I believe there is a plan for all of us and that all things happen for a reason. Matt & Abby’s love story exemplifies this and I’d love to share that story with all of you.

Their story began at Central, Matt was walking to class and passed by a girl with two nerdy pins in her hat, and the most gorgeous blue eyes he had ever seen.

Straight out of a movie this single moment in time became pivotal.

Matt excitedly told the gang all about this encounter later that night and even though we did not know this mystery girl’s name, we were determined to help Matt find her.

Devin to the rescue, he decided the best course of action was to open up our campus directory and show Matt every girl’s picture until he found the girl….Now were we really going to stay up for hours doing this?

Of course we were. Devin pulls up girl #1 and Matt goes: Um wow thats actually her!

Luckily for Matt he had of course developed a crush on the one and only Abby Anderson who was at the top of Central’s student directory.

Now this was just the beginning of their love story. The two started talking at the Lunar New Year campus event, after Matt received a text from his brother Danial that Abby was there. Not long after that, their first official date on April 9th started as a board game night where Abby thought to herself,

“Oh he’s a cute nerd who likes board games, this might work out!”

Love, Partnership, and Commitment

In any relationship, both members have the privilege to define and shape their shared story and identify who they are together, while also expressing their individuality. Love, Partnership, and commitment create a solid foundation upon which this relationship will continue to flourish.

One way Matt and Abby shape their individuality in their relationship is through their hobbies. They are two people of shared and diverse passions. Abby feels closest to Matt while engaging in his nerdy hobbies with him. Meanwhile Matt loves to support and celebrate Abby’s accomplishments in her cosplay.

Not only do they support each others interests:

They truly love what makes each other happy.

Matt and Abby define partnership as: tackling everything together, communicating your needs and feelings to be heard and honored by the other person so that you can each be there for one another.

Lastly, commitment is not easy nor a given. Commitment is composed of intention and dedication. Fortunately, commitment is a shared strength of Matt and Abby.

For example: Abby will happily sit down and hand bead thousands of beads onto a cosplay. She told me about one project where she hand beaded a whole chain, 3 large and 3 small chains entirely made of beads.

An example of Matt’s level of commitment is a snap chat streak that has lasted 3,077 days. Meaning Matt has opened snap chat every single day for over 8 years.

Now, If they can commit to tasks like that individually, I know their commitment to each other will be even stronger.

At this time I invite Matt’s sister Erin up to perform a reading

*Erin reading

Thank you Erin for that lovely reading

Vows:

Matt & Abby you have chosen to write your own vows. These words you have carefully chosen will express your binding promises to one another. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume. If you are ready to make these vows, I invite you to face each other and declare your intentions. When you’re ready you may begin

*Hand then vows

Rings:

Thank you for those beautiful vows.

May the best man bring forth the rings?

These rings you will soon place on each others fingers symbolize your commitment to one another. They will remind you of the promises made today and of the eternal love that you have for one another.

Abby place the ring on Matt’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring I promise to walk through life as partners,

(Abby repeats)

I promise to learn and grow with you,

(Abby repeats)

I give you my heart until the end of time, I have no greater gift to give.

(Abby Repeats)

Matt place the ring on Abby’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring I promise to walk through life as partners,

(Matt repeats)

I promise to learn and grow with you,

(Matt repeats)

I give you my heart until the end of time, I have no greater gift to give.

(Matt repeats)

By the power of your love and commitment and the power vested in me by the American Marriage Ministries I now pronounce you husband & wife, you may kiss the bride

Get OUT of the way! Run!

Directions

Thank you all so much for joining us here today! The party is just getting started, After the Bride, groom, wedding party, and parents have departed down the aisle, you are welcome to follow and exit as you like! Cocktail hour will be held inside.

Now please celebrate the couple as they walk back down the aisle. It is now my absolute pleasure to present for the very first time, Mr. & Mrs. Matt & Abby Gardner