Sanyika LaTeese Calloway

Dear family and friends, welcome, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Alicia and Jameson in marriage.

Marriage is a promise between two people to share in love, trust, and respect for the rest of their lives.

Today, they declare that promise before you, their loved ones.”

*Alicia & Jamie, please take a seat*

We gather today in the presence of God and in the presence of all who love Alicia and Jamie, to witness a miracle of Divine matchmaking.

Their story began in December of 2023—

a moment that didn’t feel accidental or random, but right.

A moment where Heaven whispered: “Pay attention.”

As their relationship unfolded, it became clear that something intentional—joyful, layered, magnetic, and deeply personal—was taking shape.

Something uniquely theirs.

Something distinctly Us.

MALLORCA & LONDON

Today we celebrate this Divine pairing:

an American Enneagram Seven who thrives on spontaneity, and a British Enneagram Eight who embodies steady strength— choosing love while building a life between Mallorca’s sun-drenched warmth and London’s poetic, persistent chill.

A choice that proves God has both a plan and a sense of humor.

Mallorca is sunsets, warm water, golden sand.

London is rain, gray skies, and umbrellas that never truly dry.

And marriage?

It is like them both.

Sunshine and rain.

Warmth and chill.

Blessing and burden.

Laughter and learning.

Sometimes love feels like Mallorca—light, adventurous, full of joy.

Sometimes it feels like London—quiet, reflective, honest.

But real love doesn’t chase the perfect weather.

Real love says:

“Whatever the weather… we’re in this together.”

2 CULTURES, 2 LANGUAGES OF LOVE

Alicia, the American, speaks fluent warmth, enthusiasm, possibility.

Jamie, the Brit, speaks fluent calm, understatement, emotional subtlety.

Alicia expresses joy with fireworks and lots of words.

Jamie expresses joy with slightly raised eyebrows and an affectionate,

“Alright then.”

She’s color.

He’s structure.

She’s “Let’s do it!”

He’s “Let’s plan it.”

She’s Mallorca heat.

He’s London cool.

And in God’s Divine comedy… they fit.

Not perfect—just better.

Each making the other more grounded, more whole, more themselves.

DIVINE PERSONALITY PAIRING

Their relationship speaks this truth:

“You hold my heart the way it needs to be held.”

Alicia—joy-bringer, light-spreader, enthusiastic adventurer.

Jamie—protector, steady presence, practical truth-teller.

Alicia lifts.

Jamie grounds.

Alicia expands.

Jamie secures.

Alicia brings the party.

Jamie brings the pause.

Together, they form a Divine combination of Us.

BEGIN AGAIN

There is something sacred about choosing marriage again.

If lyrics were added to their wedding song, they might say: “You feel like a beginning… even after all I’ve lived.”

Today, Alicia and Jamie join their lives

not because they’re naïve,

but because wisdom has taught them what love requires.

This is not starting over—

this is beginning again

with clarity, compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Every second, every minute, every dream—

they’re both in it.

SPIRITUAL GROUNDING

Scripture says in Ecclesiastes 4:12

“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

Marriage isn’t just two people holding onto one another— it’s two people held together with God at the center.

Two strands can build something good.

Three strands build something resilient.

When emotions overwhelm, God steadies the cord.

When communication wavers, God strengthens the bond.

When life stretches you thin, God stabilizes you.

This is the power of three —

Three strands.

Three sources of strength.

Three layers of support.

So that on the other side of every challenge, you can look at one another and say” “We’re still here. And I love us.”

SPONTANEITY NEEDS STRUCTURE

Everyone here knows …

Alicia brings sparkle and spontaneity, often followed by not so subtle suggestions of “let’s do IT - whatever IT might be - NOW!”

Jamie brings calm and clarity, followed by a subdued response of “Okay… but let’s do it responsibly, shall we.”

And that’s the masterpiece of this pairing.

God often brings opposites together to show a fuller picture of His love.

Adventure needs anchor.

Sunshine needs shade.

The visionary needs the architect.

And the free spirit needs the steady heart.

Together, they are better.

WISDOM FOR EVERYONE PRESENT

Whether you’ve been married for decades, navigating singleness, in a situationship you’re trying to define, or simply here for the canapés and cake— this moment reminds us that love is beautifully complicated.

Let’s face it, relationships are not easy.

Because, well, humans… are hard.

Two perfectly imperfect people

with their own individual wounds, warts and worries — trying to dance in rhythm does not come about without equal parts intention, effort and heart.

Love is a little bit of magic and a whole lot of maintenance!

It’s less like a fairytale

and more like assembling IKEA furniture:

You start hopeful…

then someone inevitably says,

“Hey, where does this piece go?”

or

“How exactly is this supposed to work?”

And you breathe, you laugh, you pray,

and you say:

“I have no idea what I’m doing… but together, we’ve got this.”

Love is not merely a feeling— it is a rhythm.

A practice.

A spiritual discipline.

Relationships thrive on:

• Honest communication

• Grace that stretches farther than ego prefers

• Faith that steadies the heart

• Choosing—over and over—to show up for each other, sunshine and pain, joy and rain.

There is a lyric in their wedding song that says:

“You’re the wish that came so true.

And I’m so blessed that I found you.”

Here’s the spiritual truth:

Every blessing comes with a little burden.

To love fully is to honor the sacred “us” within every relationship— the space where two flawed humans build something beautiful not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it.

May each of us embrace our relationships more fully, choosing the WE over the ME— choosing the US.

BLESSING, BURDEN & BEAUTY

Alicia and Jamie, would you please join me at the altar as you enter into the blessing, the burden, and the beauty of marriage— your sacred union of Us.

Exchange of Vows

(Standing in front of me holding hands, facing each other)

“Alicia and Jamie, today you declare before your family and friends your intention to spend your lives together. These promises are the heart of your union.”

“I now invite you to exchange your vows.”

Sanyika:

“Jamie, will you take Alicia to be your partner in life — for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health and to share your days with her, to support her in times of need, to laugh with her in times of joy, and to love her faithfully, for all the days of your life?”

Jamie:

“I will”

Sanyika:

“Alicia, will you take Jamie to be your partner in life — for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health and to share your days with him, to support him in times of need, to laugh with him in times of joy, and to love him faithfully, for all the days of your life?”

Alicia:

“I will”

(And now the Exchange of rings - Sanyika will be holding the rings in the palm of her hand)

Sanyika: “Three is a powerful number in your story.

We see it in the image of the three-strand cord, in the three of us standing here in this sacred moment, and in the three diamonds in your ring, Alicia— Jamie’s way of honoring your present, your future, your forever - together.

As you exchange these wedding rings,

let them carry that same power of three—

a love that is unbroken, intentional, and held together by something greater than yourselves.

(holding the rings in the palm of my hand)

Alicia and Jamie “As you place these rings on your fingers, remember that this circle is unbroken; they symbolize the promise to love, to honor and to share your lives fully and completely.

From this day forward these rings are worn as a symbol of your enduring love and unending commitment.”

(Take the rings from my palm and place them on each others fingers … simply saying “I receive this.”)

Pronouncement

“It is my honor and privilege to invite you into the Union of marriage as husband and wife.”

(kiss, guests clap/cheer)

Closing & Recessional

“Family and friends, would you please rise and join me in joyful celebration as I introduce for the very first time in forever …

Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins