Andrea M Morrison

Procession

Guests arrived and seated… quick announcement.

Welcome friends and family and thank you for being here. Please take your seat and we will begin momentarily.

Groom at front at stage….bride walks down aisle with son…

Who has the honor of presenting this bride here today?

Son will say in memory of her father and I do

Invocation

“Welcome family, friends, and honored guests. We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of Thomas and Amber. Before we begin our celebration today, Bride and Groom would like us all to take a moment to remember Tommy Sr. Amber’s father who could not be here with us today. Although he may not be here with them physically in body; he is unquestionably here with them in spirit. He would whole heartedly give his consent, blessing, love, and support to Dewey and Amber today. Guiding them and looking over them to see this union through. Although it would be easy for his recent death to make this a sad occasion, Tommy Sr. would want to see you all happy today, celebrating and full of joy. So today, let's remember how precious life is, and be thankful that Amber and Dewey are creating this life together.

Not starting or the beginning of a new relationship but an acknowledgement of the next chapter in their bond that already exists. Dewey and Amber have spent the last four years together, and some may say that they are already committed to each other and I wouldn't disagree. But today, they are stating that commitment to those who matter to them. They are saying to us, we love each other, we support each other and we want to spend the rest of our lives together. No matter how much you may disagree or get on each other’s nerves; which will happen.. The most important thing to remember is you are better together than you will ever be apart. You complete each other.

So we have come together to bear witness to the connection that has grown between them and will continue to grow. Today, they will affirm this bond formally and publicly. This is the day where Dewey and Amber are taking that relationship that commitment that bond they share to the next level. Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials. With full understanding of this, Thomas and Amber have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. The story of your life together is still yours to write.

Let us pray...

Dear Heavenly Father

We ask you to bless Thomas and Amber as they pledge themselves to one another becoming Husband and Wife.

Place your Loving Hands on them and guide them through each and everyday.

Bless their family. Bless their home with Peace, Understanding, Harmony & Love. May they remember the vows taken here today,

not only in their minds, but also in their hearts.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Bible Passage/readings

I’d now like to share a scripture reading with you from the book of Ruth chapter 1 verse 16:

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

Thomas and Amber on your journey together, keep your spouse in the space of highest priority in your heart. The love that you share must be guarded and cherished forever, for it is your most valuable treasure. Always remember these words; Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

We are, each of us angels with only one wing;

and we can only fly by embracing one another.

~ Luciano de Crescenzo ~

Declaration of Intent

At this time Amber, Thomas, I’d like you to face each other and hold hands.

Now, look at each other’s hands.

These are the hands of your best friend.

These are the hands of the person you love and are choosing to love forever.

They are the hands of the person you will walk alongside in both good times and bad for the rest of your lives.

Do you Thomas; take Amber to be your wife –

to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments

to be proud of her, to grow old with her, love her when she drives you crazy

and to find new reasons to love her every day?

Reply: "I do"

Do you Amber, take Thomas to be your husband –

to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments

to be proud of him, to grow old with him, love him when he drives you crazy

and to find new reasons to love him every day?

Reply: "I do

Ring Exchange

Present the rings:

Thomas as you place the ring on Amber’s finger repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my unconditional love & a promise to always walk beside you as my equal as we continue our journey through life together. This ring is my sacred gift. Like my love it has no beginning and no end. I give it to you with the promise to love and honor you. Take it as a symbol of my unending love and with the ring I thee wed.

Amber as you place the ring on Thomas’s finger repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my unconditional love & a promise to always walk beside you as my equal as we continue our journey through life together. This ring is my sacred gift. Like my love it has no beginning and no end. I give it to you with the promise to love and honor you. Take it as a symbol of my unending love and with the ring I thee wed.

May the wedding rings you exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love.

Pronouncement

Thomas and Amber, you have heard the words about love and marriage, have exchanged your vows and made your promises, and celebrated your union with the giving and receiving of rings.

It is at this time that I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Dewey you may now kiss your bride!

And now, to all the friends and family who have come to celebrate this marriage, I would like to present, for the first time anywhere, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Amber Dickerson!

Amber Garner and Thomas Dickerson will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of North Carolina I now pronounce you wife and husband!