Brad Colton Flechtner

Kathryn & Tristan Wedding Ceremony

Pre Wedding Address to Attendees

Good afternoon everyone,

On behalf of the Bride, Groom & Families, Welcome. We are so grateful that you are here today to celebrate this beautiful and sacred moment. In just a few minutes, we will begin the wedding ceremony, where we will witness the joining of two lives in a covenant of marriage before God.

Before we begin, we have just a few simple requests to help make this ceremony meaningful and distraction-free for the couple.

First, we kindly ask that everyone take a moment now to silence or turn off your cell phones and any electronic devices. Nothing ruins a quiet, sacred moment faster than an unexpected ringtone.

Second, the couple has asked that you be fully present with them during this ceremony. They have invited a photographer to capture these moments, so we respectfully ask that you refrain from taking photos or videos during the ceremony. Feel free to put the phones away, relax, and simply experience this moment with them.

Third, once the ceremony begins, we ask that everyone remain seated and avoid moving around until the ceremony has concluded.

Most importantly, this ceremony is not just an event—it is an act of worship and a celebration of love that God Himself designed. Your presence here today is a blessing and an encouragement to this couple as they begin their life together.

Thank you for honoring these requests and for being part of this very special day.

Procession…

Special Moment w/ Kat & Tristan as they arrive at the Alter to take in this moment…

Kathryn… Tristan, before we go any further.

I want you both to pause, right here at this altar, and simply look around. Turn your eyes toward the faces gathered here today… family, friends, those who have walked with you through seasons of joy, challenge, growth, and love.

These are the people who have helped shape your stories. The ones who have prayed for you, encouraged you, laughed with you, and stood beside you. And today, they are here for one reason… to witness and celebrate the covenant you are about to make.

Let this moment settle into your hearts.

Breathe it in.

This is more than a ceremony. This is a sacred snapshot in time… a moment you will carry with you for the rest of your lives. The love you feel surrounding you right now is a reflection of the love that has been poured into you… and the love you are about to promise to one another.

Never forget this picture, these faces, this feeling, this unity.

Because in the years ahead, through every season, you can look back on this very moment and remember: you did not step into this covenant alone. You are supported, you are covered, and you are deeply loved.

Now, hold that in your hearts… as we continue.

Opening Welcome to All (Tristan & Kat at the alter)

Hello Family and Friends,

Welcome. What a beautiful and sacred moment this is. We gather here today in the presence of God and surrounded by people who love deeply to witness something extraordinary… the joining of two lives, two hearts, and two families.

Marriage was God’s idea. From the very beginning, Scripture tells us that the Lord saw that it was not good for man to be alone, and He created a covenant relationship where two become one. Today we are not simply celebrating a legal contract or a romantic moment. We are witnessing a holy covenant, designed by God, blessed by God, and sustained by God.

Tristan and Kathryn,

this day represents the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith, friendship, sacrifice, laughter, and love. The love that brings you here today is a gift from the Lord, but the love that will carry you through the years ahead will be the love you choose every day—the kind of love described in Scripture: patient, kind, humble, forgiving, and enduring.

And for me personally, this moment is especially meaningful.

Kathryn,

being part of your life and watching the woman you have become has been a profound blessing. God’s hand has been evident in your journey, guiding your steps, shaping your heart, and bringing you to this very moment. It has been a privilege to stand beside you, and today it is an even greater honor to stand here and help begin this new chapter in your life.

Tristan,

today you are not just gaining a wife, you are joining a family that loves her deeply and prays for the man who stands where you are now. We are grateful for the man you are and the unconditional love you have for her.

But above all, today is about the faithfulness of God.

He is the One who writes our stories.
He is the One who brings people together.
And He is the One who will sustain this marriage if Christ remains at the center.

So as we begin this ceremony, let us remember that this is more than a celebration—it is an act of worship. We are here to honor the Lord and to ask His blessing upon this marriage, that it would reflect His love, His grace, and His faithfulness for all the years to come.

Today is not just about romance.

It is not just about celebration.

It is about covenant.

It is about Christ.

It is about two becoming one under the Lordship of Jesus.

Unity Candle (Tristan & Kat step the Candle Table)

At this time Tristan & Kathryn will light the Unity Candle. This candle is a visible symbol of what God is doing in their lives.

Before this moment, each of them lived an individual life represented by the two outside candles. Each candle burns with its own flame—its own story, family, experiences, and walk with God. Their lives were separate paths, guided by the Lord in His perfect timing.

Today, something sacred happens.

In marriage, God brings two lives together and forms something new. As they light the center candle together, it represents the covenant they are making before God. The flame that rises from these two candles becomes one light—symbolizing that they are no longer walking alone, but side by side as husband and wife.

The Scriptures tell us in Genesis 2:24 that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This unity is not merely emotional or practical—it is spiritual. It is a covenant designed and blessed by God Himself.

The center candle reminds us that Christ must remain the true center of their marriage. Just as this flame burns brighter because two lights have joined together, their lives will shine more brightly when their marriage is built upon the love, grace, and truth of Jesus Christ.

From this day forward, their joys will be shared, their burdens carried together, their victories celebrated together, and their faith strengthened together.

May this candle always remind them that a marriage centered on Christ will continue to burn with warmth, light, and enduring love.

Prayer over Bride & Groom

Throughout Scripture we see the power of faithful people gathering together and lifting others before the Lord. Marriage was never meant to be walked alone. God, in His wisdom, surrounds us with brothers and sisters in faith who encourage us, pray for us, and stand beside us through every season of life.

Today, these bridesmaids and groomsmen represent more than friendship. They represent a circle of support, accountability, and love that will walk alongside Kathryn and Tristan in the years to come.

You have celebrated with them, supported them, and shared life with them. And today, you also stand as witnesses and prayer partners for the covenant they are about to make before God.

So at this time, I would like to invite the bridesmaids and groomsmen to gather around the bride and groom. As they do, we will join together in prayer, asking the Lord to bless this marriage, strengthen their unity, guide their future, and keep Christ at the very center of their home and their lives.

Please bow your heads…

Let us pray…

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today humbly with grateful hearts, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Today we celebrate one of Your most beautiful gifts—marriage. Lord, long before this day arrived, You were writing this story. You were guiding steps, shaping hearts, and preparing two lives to become one.

Lord, we invite Your presence into this moment. Let this ceremony be more than a gathering of family and friends; let it be an act of worship that honors You. May Your Spirit rest upon this place and fill it with peace, joy, and holy purpose.

Jesus, we ask that You stand at the center of this marriage. Be the foundation beneath their feet, the wisdom that guides their decisions, the grace that carries them through every season, and the love that binds their hearts together. When life is easy, remind them to be thankful. When life is difficult, remind them to hold tightly to one another and even more tightly to You.

Father, bless Tristan and Kathryn as they step into the covenant of marriage. Strengthen them with patience, humility, kindness, forgiveness, and steadfast love. Teach them to serve one another as Christ serves His church, and let their home be a place where faith grows, grace is practiced, and Your name is honored.

May their marriage reflect the beauty of Your love. May it be a testimony of faithfulness in a world that desperately needs to see it. And may the legacy of this union bless generations yet to come.

We dedicate this ceremony, this covenant, and this marriage to You, trusting that the One who brought them together will be faithful to sustain them.

Guard their hearts.

Strengthen their bond.

Make this marriage a testimony of Your faithfulness and may everything they do be for your Glory.

In Jesus’ mighty name,

Amen.

Foundation of Marriage

Marriage is not built on feelings — feelings rise and fall.

Marriage is built on Christ.

In Ecclesiastes 4:12 it says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Today, that third strand is Jesus.

When you disagree — go to Jesus.

When you struggle — go to Jesus.

When you celebrate — thank Jesus.

If Christ is at the center, your marriage will stand.

Charge to the Couple

To the Groom:

Tristan, today is one of the most important days of your life. In just a few moments you will make sacred vows before God and before these witnesses. But marriage is far more than a beautiful ceremony or words spoken on a special day. It is a lifelong covenant.

God has entrusted Kathryn into your care, not as something you possess, but as someone you are called to love, honor, protect, and cherish.

Scripture teaches in Ephesians 5 that a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church — with sacrificial love, patience, humility, and grace. That means loving her not only in the easy moments, but in the hard ones. Not only when life feels light, but when life becomes heavy.

Your calling as a husband is to lead with gentleness, to listen with humility, and to stand with strength. There will be days when she needs your encouragement, days when she needs your patience, and days when she simply needs to know you are standing beside her no matter what.

Be the man who prays with her.

Be the man who protects her heart.

Be the man who builds a home where peace, faith, and love live.

Your greatest leadership will not come through control, but through service. Not through pride, but through humility. Not through perfection, but through faithfulness.

Love her deeply.

Honor her always.

Laugh with her often.

Forgive quickly.

And never forget that the marriage you begin today is meant to reflect God’s love to the world.

Tristan, if you will commit your life to loving Kathryn in this way, then the foundation you build together will be strong, steady, and filled with blessing.

May you love her faithfully and intentionally all the days of your life.”

To the Bride:

Kathryn, today you stand at the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in your life.

Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts — a sacred covenant where two lives are joined together in love, faith, and purpose. In just a few moments you will promise your heart, your life, and your future to Tristan.

The love you bring into this marriage is powerful. A wife’s love has the ability to build a home filled with warmth, peace, encouragement, and strength. Your kindness, your faith, your patience, and your grace will shape the life you build together.

Scripture teaches in Proverbs 31 that a woman of noble character is a blessing to her husband and her family. She strengthens the one she loves, she walks with wisdom, and she brings honor and joy to her home.

Kathryn, love your husband with your whole heart.

Encourage him when he is weary.

Stand beside him when life is difficult.

Celebrate with him when life is joyful.

And always remember that the two of you are now walking through life as one.

There will be seasons of laughter and seasons that require patience. There will be moments that test you and moments that fill you with deep gratitude. In all of it, hold tightly to love, extend grace freely, and choose each other again and again.

Let your home be a place where faith is lived, forgiveness is quick, and joy is welcomed often.

And never forget that the covenant you begin today is not only witnessed by all of us here, but it is also blessed by God.

Kathryn, may you walk into this marriage with confidence, with love, and with a heart ready to build a life filled with faith and devotion.

May you love Tristan faithfully and intentionally all the days of your life.”

Vows

We now come to the most sacred moment of this ceremony.

Everything we have witnessed today—the families gathered, the prayers offered, the joy in this room—has been leading to this moment when these two stand before God and make their vows.

Marriage, as God designed it, is far more than a legal agreement or a romantic promise. It is a covenant. A covenant is a sacred promise made before God that cannot be undone by circumstances, emotions, or seasons of life.

The world often views marriage as a contract built on feelings. But Scripture teaches something far deeper. Marriage is a covenant built on commitment, sacrifice, faithfulness, and love that reflects the very heart of Christ.

In Ephesians 5, we are reminded that marriage is a living picture of Christ and His church. The husband is called to love with sacrificial devotion, just as Christ gave Himself for His people. The wife is called to walk in trust, partnership, and unity as they build a life together under the Lordship of Christ.

Tristan and Kathryn, the vows you are about to make are not simply words spoken on a beautiful day. They are promises that will carry you through every season of life—the joyful days and the difficult ones, the victories and the trials, the laughter and even the tears.

There will be moments when love feels effortless, and there will be moments when love requires courage, humility, forgiveness, and grace. In those moments, remember this truth: when Christ is the center of your marriage, He will always supply the strength you need.

A marriage centered on Jesus becomes a refuge in the storm, a testimony to the world, and a legacy that blesses generations to come.

So today, before God and these witnesses, you are about to give yourselves completely to one another—not only for today, but for every tomorrow that God gives you.

Let these vows be spoken with sincerity, received with reverence, and remembered for the rest of your lives.

Tristan and Kathryn, please join hands and prepare to make your vows before God.

Tristan, please repeat after me:

I, [Tristan],

take you, [Kathryn],

to be my wife and my life partner.

Before God and these witnesses,

I promise to love you

as Christ loves the Church.

To lead with humility,

to serve with strength,

to protect your heart,

to pray over our home,

and to remain faithful to you

in joy and in hardship,

in abundance and in need,

in health and in sickness,

for as long as we both shall live.

Alternate Vow from Tristan:

Kathryn, today before God and these witnesses, I take you to be my wife.

I thank God for bringing you into my life. From the beginning of our journey together, I have seen His goodness, His guidance, and His grace through you. Standing here today, I am humbled and grateful that God has chosen us to walk this life together.

I vow to love you as Christ calls me to love — faithfully, sacrificially, and without condition.

I promise to honor you, cherish you, and treat you with tenderness and respect all the days of my life.

I commit to leading our home with humility, seeking God’s wisdom, and walking in faith so that our marriage reflects His love.

I promise to pray with you and for you, to encourage your heart, and to stand beside you through every season of life.

When life is joyful, I will celebrate with you.

When life is difficult, I will hold tightly to you.

When we fall short, I will seek forgiveness quickly and extend grace freely.

I promise to protect our marriage, to guard our unity, and to build a home with you that is centered on Christ — a home filled with faith, patience, kindness, and love.

I vow to listen to you, to value your heart, and to walk beside you as your partner and your closest friend.

With God as my witness, I commit my heart, my strength, and my life to you.

Kathryn, I choose you today with joy, and I will choose you again every day God gives us.

Before God, I give you my love, my faithfulness, and my lifelong devotion.

This is my covenant, and this is my vow.

Kathryn, please repeat after me:

I, [Kathryn],

take you, [Tristan],

to be my husband and life partner.

Before God and these witnesses,

I promise to respect and honor you,

to stand beside you,

to strengthen you,

to pray for you,

and to remain faithful to you

in joy and in hardship,

in abundance and in need,

in health and in sickness,

for as long as we both shall live.

Alternate Vow from Katheryn:

Tristan, today before God and these witnesses, I give myself to you to be your wife.

I thank God for the way He brought our lives together and for the love He has grown between us. I stand here today with a grateful heart, confident that God has guided our steps to this moment.

I vow to love you faithfully, to honor you deeply, and to respect the man God has called you to be.

I promise to stand beside you as your partner and your friend, supporting you as we seek to follow Christ together.

I will encourage you when you are weary, celebrate with you when you are joyful, and walk beside you through every season God places before us.

When life is easy, I will rejoice with you.

When life is difficult, I will remain faithful beside you.

When we fall short, I will choose forgiveness and grace.

I promise to guard our marriage, to protect our unity, and to build a home with you that is centered on Christ.

A home where faith is lived, where prayer is common, where kindness is practiced, and where love grows stronger each day.

I vow to respect your leadership, to speak truth with love, and to walk with you as we build a life that honors God.

I promise to pray for you, to believe in you, and to stand beside you with loyalty and devotion all the days of my life.

Tristan, I choose you today freely, joyfully, and with all my heart.

Before God, I give you my love, my faithfulness, and my life.

This is my covenant, and this is my vow.

Exchange of Rings

May we please have the rings?

These rings are symbols of covenant.

A ring has no beginning and no end — just as your covenant today is not meant to be temporary, but lifelong.

Let us pray over these rings.

Lord, bless these rings. May they be reminders of promises made, faith kept, and love guarded. When they see these rings, remind them of this moment — and of You.

Tristan, please place the ring on Kathryn’s finger and repeat after me.

Before God

and these witnesses,

I seal my covenant with you,

This ring is the symbol of my vows to you

For all my days,

Until death do we part,

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Kathryn, please place the ring on Tristan’s finger and repeat after me.

⸻

Pronouncement

Because you have covenanted before God and these witnesses, and have sealed your vows by the giving and receiving of rings, it is my honor and privilege to pronounce you husband and wife.

What God has joined together, let no man separate.

Tristan, You may kiss your bride.

⸻

Final Blessing

Kat and Tristan,

Marriage is bigger than happiness.

It is bigger than romance.

It is even bigger than the two of you.

Marriage is where legacy is formed.

Long after this day is over…

Long after the flowers fade and the music stops…

The life you build together will echo into generations you may never see.

Scripture reminds us in Joshua 24:15:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

That is the charge.

Not “as for me when it’s easy.”

Not “as for me when we agree.”

But as for me and my house — we will serve the Lord.

You will set the spiritual temperature of your home.

You will determine what is normal.

Prayer will either be normal… or absent.

Forgiveness will either be quick… or rare.

Honor will either be spoken… or withheld.

Choose now what your home will be known for.

Let it be known for:

Faith before fear.

Unity before pride.

Grace before offense.

Covenant before convenience.

God has already blessed you with a beautiful daughter, Amirah. God will bless you with more children. They will learn how to love by watching you.

They will learn how to forgive by watching you.

They will learn who Christ is by watching you.

Do not just raise good kids — raise disciples.

Do not just build a comfortable life — build a Godly one.

And when trials come — because they will — remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24–25:

“The one who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Storms will test the house.

But foundations determine survival.

Make Christ your foundation — not occasionally, but daily.

I charge you:

Protect your unity.

Guard your covenant.

Fight for your marriage — never against each other, but always for each other.

Listen intently.

Think before speaking.

Be quick to repent.

Be generous with grace.

Be relentless in love.

Pray with & for each other with purpose.

Hug, Hold hands, Continue to date, Laugh and be Thankful for all things.

Build something that outlives you.

That is legacy.

And today, before God and these witnesses, you begin yours. I love you both so very much.

May your home be filled with prayer.

May your table be filled with laughter.

May forgiveness come quickly.

May pride leave quickly.

May your children rise and call you blessed.

May your marriage preach the Gospel without words.

Remember what it says in 1 Corinthians 13:7 — Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⸻

Pronouncement

Because you have covenanted before God and these witnesses, and have sealed your vows by the giving and receiving of rings, it is my honor and privilege to pronounce you husband and wife.

What God has joined together, let no man separate.

Tristan, You may kiss your bride.

⸻

Presentation

It is my great joy to present to you, before and in the Glory of God, for the very first time…

Mr. and Mrs. [Grigg]!