Andrea M Morrison

Procession

Order: 2 bridesmaids 4 groomsmen, son walking bride down aisle (will go over this more at rehearsal)

Once the guests have arrived and settled in, make an announcement:

Since it is 2017 after all, we ask that you please silence your cell phones for the duration of the ceremony. Feel free to take all of the photos and videos you'd like, but please do so silently.

Ask everyone to stand for entrance of bride….

To Son: Who has the honor of presenting this bride here today? Son says I do

Ask everyone to be seated at this time

Invocation

Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We are gathered here this evening, surrounded by the beauty of creation and nurtured by the sights and sounds of nature to celebrate this union between Sean and Jill. Certainly a Celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. Let this be a day that keeps their eternal flame of love and faith burning in them forever more, as they create this life together.

As most of you know Sean and Jill met at farmers.com for their love of their farm life and chickens, but on a serious note they met each other at a show where Jill was performing. The moment Sean walked in and laid eyes on her he knew. He knew he would not be able to make it in this life without her by his side. And here they are a year later taking all the love they have in their hearts for one another and joining them. Joining of two hearts as husband and wife, joining them to make as one. Love is a commitment like no other. It offers opportunities for sharing and for growth that no other human relationship can equal. A husband and wife are each other’s best friends, confidants, lovers, teachers, listeners and critics. The bond between a husband and wife deepens and enriches every fact of life. Happiness is fuller, and commitments are stronger.

A marriage is not to mold or to change one another, but to celebrate each other as you are. Marriage is a partnership of two unique individuals who bring out the very best in each other, and who know that even though they are wonderful as individuals, they are even better together. And the term "Happily ever after" is not a fairy tale, it’s a choice.

So we have come together to bear witness to the sacred bond Sean and Jill have for one another. Today, they will affirm this bond formally and publicly. This is the day they have decided to make their hearts as one. To take their relationship, their commitment 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 downs, and its trials. With full understanding of this, Sean and Jill have come here today to be joined as one in marriage, as one heart, one person, and one love.

Let us pray…

God, we ask for your blessings upon this man and woman, as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives.

Though their paths are intertwined, let them be aware of each other’s separateness.

Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened and sustained them throughout their lives.

Bless their home as a place of love and serenity.

And if times grow hard and tempers grow short, help them to look into their hearts and remember the love that brought them here today

Amen

Bible Passage

I would now like to share a scripture reading with you from book of Ephesians

Ephesians 5:25-33: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church"

Sean and Jill as you take these vows here today, I would have you remember: To love is to enter a whole New World, a world of togetherness, a world of sharing.

Always remember those unique qualities that drew you to each other in the beginning...the thrill of discovery.... That wonderful feeling of oneness when your eyes met.

To love is to constantly search for new ways to bring each other to happiness, to make the most of every moment you share together.

With love there is no need to pretend...where you can be yourselves.... And know within your hearts, you will be accepted by one another.

To love is to always believe and trust in one another.

To love is to dream, and to dare.... And always believe that all things are possible with faith and love.

As Proust said, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

Declaration of Intent

At this time Sean, Jill, I would 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 Sean take Jill to be your wife-

To laugh with her, farm chickens with her, support her music, go on adventures with her, care for her through life’s tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, absolutely love her when she drives you mad, and find new reasons to love her every day?

Reply: I do

Do you Jill take Sean to by your husband-

To laugh with him, farm chickens with him, support his crazy notions, go on adventures with him, care for him through life’s tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, love him even when he drives you crazy, and find new reasons to love him every day?

Reply: I do

Present the Rings:

Sean as you place the ring on Jill’s finger, Repeat after me:

Jill, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love

and that I'm choosing to share

my life's journey with you

I give you this ring with the pledge

to love you today, tomorrow, and always.

I give you this ring to wear

Take it as a symbol of my abiding love,

My eternal faith, and my unending love and

With this ring I thee wed

Jill as you place the ring on Sean’s finger, Repeat after me:

Sean, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love

and that I'm choosing to share

my life's journey with you

I give you this ring with the pledge

to love you today, tomorrow, and always.

I give you this ring to wear

Take it as a symbol of my abiding love,

My eternal faith, and my unending love and

With this ring I thee wed

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

Pronouncement

Sean and Jill, 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 the rings.

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

Sean you may now kiss your Bride!

And now, to all the friends and family who have come to bear witness this marriage, I would like to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Sean and Jill Sink!

Please proceed to the reception located to the left in the tent.