Terrence Anthony Gaines

Officiant Ceremony Script

OPENING & WELCOME

Good afternoon, everyone!

Family, friends, and all the wonderful people who came here today to celebrate two very special people — Jenny Nkufi and Glody Onya.

Welcome to beautiful Olde Mill Park, where we have trees, flowers, sunshine, a beautiful mill, flowing water...

And most importantly, we have two people who decided that today was the perfect day to say:

"Yes, I choose you."

And thankfully, they didn't choose to do this ceremony in a courtroom!

Today, we are gathered here to witness something much more important than paperwork.

We are here to witness love.

We are here to celebrate friendship, commitment, family, laughter, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of Jenny and Glody.

And judging by the way these two look at each other, I think we can safely say...

they are very happy to be standing here together.

A MOMENT ABOUT LOVE

Marriage is not simply about finding someone you can live with.

It is about finding someone you want to live with — through the good days, the challenging days, the unexpected days, and all the ordinary days in between.

Marriage is choosing your person.

It is saying:

"I want to celebrate life's victories with you."

"I want to hold your hand when life gets difficult."

"I want to laugh with you."

"I want to grow with you."

And perhaps most importantly:

"I promise to love you even when you are absolutely convinced that you are right... and I know you are not."

[PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER]

Because every successful marriage needs love, patience, communication...

And occasionally, the wisdom to say:

"Yes, dear."

JENNY & GLODY

Jenny and Glody, today is not just about the wedding ceremony.

It is about the journey that brought you here.

Somewhere along the way, two individual lives became one story.

Two people met.

Two hearts connected.

And eventually, you both realized: "This is my person."

Today, you are not promising that life will always be perfect.

You are promising that you will face life together.

When life is beautiful, you will celebrate together.

When life is difficult, you will stand together.

When you disagree, you will listen.

When you laugh, you will laugh together.

And when one of you forgets something important...

the other one will lovingly remind you — probably several times.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

OFFICIANT TO GLODY:

Glody, please look at Jenny.

Glody, do you take Jenny to be your wife?

Do you promise to love her, honor her, support her, encourage her, laugh with her, stand beside her, and choose her every day for the rest of your lives together?

GLODY: I do.

OFFICIANT TO JENNY:

Jenny, please look at Glody.

Jenny, do you take Glody to be your husband?

Do you promise to love him, honor him, support him, encourage him, laugh with him, stand beside him, and choose him every day for the rest of your lives together?

JENNY: I do.

Excellent.

Two very important “I dos.” And now we can move on to the part where we make this official!

RING CEREMONY

The wedding ring is a beautiful symbol of marriage.

It has no beginning and no end.

And that circle represents the commitment Jenny and Glody are making today — a commitment to love, support, and remain faithful to one another.

Glody, please take Jenny's ring.

GLODY'S RING

Glody, please place the ring on Jenny's finger and repeat after me:

"Jenny, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you.

I promise to stand beside you,

to support you,

to laugh with you,

to grow with you,

and to love you today, tomorrow, and for all the days of our lives.

You are my love, my partner, and my best friend."

Beautiful.

Jenny, please take Glody's ring.

JENNY'S RING

Jenny, please place the ring on Glody's finger and repeat after me:

"Glody, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you.

I promise to stand beside you,

to support you,

to laugh with you,

to grow with you,

and to love you today, tomorrow, and for all the days of our lives.

You are my love, my partner, and my best friend."

A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM

Jenny and Glody, before I pronounce you husband and wife, let me give you one small piece of marriage advice.

Never stop dating each other.

Never stop saying “I love you.”

Never stop laughing together.

And when you have an argument...

Remember that the goal isn't to figure out who is right.

The goal is to figure out how to stay together.

And if that doesn't work...

Just remember the three most important words in marriage:

"Let's order takeout."

[PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER]

FINAL DECLARATION

Jenny and Glody,

You have come here today as two people in love.

You have exchanged your promises.

You have exchanged your rings.

And you have declared your commitment to one another in the presence of your family and friends.

Marriage is more than a ceremony.

It is a promise you will continue to make every morning when you wake up next to each other.

It is choosing each other again and again.

It is building a home together.

It is creating memories together.

It is growing old together.

And it is knowing that no matter what life brings...

you don't have to face it alone.

THE PRONOUNCEMENT

Jenny and Glody,

By the authority vested in me as your wedding officiant, and with the love and support of everyone gathered here today...

It gives me tremendous joy to officially pronounce you:

HUSBAND AND WIFE!

Glody, you may kiss your bride!

[APPLAUSE]

PRESENTATION OF THE COUPLE

Ladies and gentlemen...

Family and friends...

It is my absolute honor and pleasure to introduce, for the very first time as a married couple...

MR. & MRS. ONYA!

Let's give them a huge round of applause!

[APPLAUSE & CELEBRATION]

And Jenny and Glody...

Your wedding day may last only a few hours...

But your marriage is the adventure that begins today.

May your home always be filled with love.

May your hearts always find their way back to each other.

May you laugh often.

May you forgive quickly.

May you dance in the kitchen.

May you travel together.

May you create beautiful memories.

And may you grow old together still holding hands...

still laughing...

and still saying:

"I choose you."

Congratulations, Jenny and Glody!

Now go enjoy your happily ever after!

♥ JENNY & GLODY ♥

May your love continue to grow, today and always.