Alisha Oriel Anglin-Pagan

[Opening / Welcome]

Officiant smiles, pausing as the sound of the river settles.

Good afternoon, everyone. What a perfect day to be here—by the river’s edge at Little Stony Point, where the Hudson flows steady and strong, just like the love we’re here to celebrate.

The gentle breeze, the sound of the water against the rocks, the trees standing quietly around us—this place feels peaceful, timeless. It’s easy to understand why Chelsey and Nick chose it. It reflects who they are: grounded, calm, and beautifully connected to life’s simple moments.

Today, surrounded by those they love most, we gather not just to witness a marriage, but to honor a journey—a story that began years ago and continues to grow with every shared look, every laugh, every quiet morning together.

So, let’s begin.

[Their Love Story]

“Nick and Chelsey’s story began in the most natural of places—a high school stage crew. While others were in the spotlight, they were behind the scenes, building sets and quietly building a friendship that would one day become the foundation of their life together.

It wasn’t until a school trip to Peru that something shifted. Maybe it was the adventure, maybe the unfamiliar air, or maybe it was simply time—but in those days away, they saw each other in a new light. The spark that had been quietly waiting finally caught fire.

From that moment on, they grew—together. Through college, through first apartments, through the countless changes that come with growing up. Fourteen years of becoming adults, partners, and best friends—each year another version of themselves, and each time, still choosing one another.

Chelsey once said that Nick is her safest place. Around him, she’s never had to be anything but herself. And Nick, in turn, has always loved that about her—that ease, that comfort of knowing home isn’t a place; it’s a person.

Together they’ve built a life filled with the small joys that matter most—like quiet evenings with their cats, Max and Izzy, and mornings that begin not with grand gestures, but with the simple certainty that they’re exactly where they’re meant to be.”

[Personal Reflections & Quirks]

“Every lasting love has its little quirks—the things that drive you a little crazy but also make your story real, and yours alone.

Chelsey laughs about how Nick chews cereal like it’s a competitive sport. She’s joked that maybe one day they’ll need separate breakfast rooms—but, of course, they never will. Pause for laughter. There’s also his ongoing battle with eggshells—so much so that they keep a marble egg from the Museum of Natural History on their shelf, a quiet inside joke between them. And when Nick makes the bed, let’s just say Chelsey always finds herself fixing that one corner—but she does it with love, because it’s part of their rhythm.

Nick has his own list. He loves Chelsey’s warmth, her kindness, and her ability to make him laugh when he least expects it. He’ll tell you she’s a fantastic cook—but also that she leaves things around for him to find later. He’s the one always turning off lights, and the one hand-washing the glasses she buys that can’t go in the dishwasher.

These little things—their tiny opposites and endless exchanges—are the heartbeat of their love. Because that’s what partnership really is: the gentle balancing of quirks and care, the daily decision to love through it all.

They know each other’s buttons, and sometimes they push them. But they also know each other’s hearts—and that’s what always brings them back home.”

[Declaration of Intent (“I Do”)]

“And now, before this river that has seen countless seasons come and go, we’ll mark the moment with a simple promise—their public ‘I do.’

Nick, in front of these witnesses and this river that has watched seasons change, do you take Chelsey to be your wife—to keep choosing her, in loud-cereal mornings and lopsided beds, through every version yet to come?”

Nick: “I do.”

Pause for smiles.

“Chelsey, do you take Nick to be your husband—your safe place, your light-switch hero, your partner in cats and marble eggs and all the beautiful chaos ahead?”

Chelsey: “I do.”

Pause for gentle applause or soft cheers.

[Ring Exchange & Pronouncement]

“May I have the rings, please?

These rings are simple circles—without beginning or end—just like the love they represent. They remind us that love isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence. About always returning, always choosing, always staying.

Nick, as you place this ring on Chelsey’s finger, let it symbolize the endlessness of your promise.

Chelsey, as you place this ring on Nick’s finger, let it carry the warmth of your love, wherever life leads you.

And now, by the love you share, and the vows you’ve spoken before all gathered here—it’s my great joy to pronounce you husband and wife.

Chelsey and Nick—Mr. and Mrs. Coppola—you may share your first kiss as a married couple.”

Pause for kiss and applause.

[Closing]

As the river flows steady beside us and the breeze moves softly through these trees, may your love continue to be just as constant—gentle, patient, and deeply alive.

Family and friends, it is my honor to present, for the very first time—Mr. and Mrs. Coppola.”