Lori Prashker-Thomas, CPWO

Welcome everyone. We are gathered together on this day to witness and celebrate the marriage of Chad and Stephanie. We come together not to mark the start of a relationship, but to acknowledge and strengthen a bond that already exists.

Chad and Stephanie, this day is made possible not only because of your love for each other but through the grace and support of your family and close friends. It is our hope that your fulfillment and joy in each other will increase with each passing year.

To begin today this reading was selected to express how they feel about their bond and the commitment they’re making today.

Readings

A PASSAGE FROM THE ALCHEMIST BY PAULO COELHO

“When he looked into her eyes, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke — the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love.

Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. Because when you know the language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city.

And when two such people encounter each other, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning.”

Vows

Chad please recite your vows to Stephanie:

Stephanie, we have grown so much together over the years. The time has really flown by and things are so different than when we started. As time has gone on we've only gotten stronger and grown closer. I love you very much. There's no one who truly gets me the way you do, and there's no one who I get the same way. We are so compatible, and that's why its so easy to be with you. We laugh at the same jokes and are always sharing memes. There's no one else for me, but you. I love you.

Stephanie, please recite your vows to Chad:

I don’t want to make this over the top and extra like how I normally am, mostly because I can’t get a feel for how long your vows will be compared to mine. To start I want to thank you for always wanting the best for me and being my biggest champion. You care about me more than you care about yourself and you show that to me daily. You are my future and I'm so excited to start our family (third wiener!!). You have pushed me to better myself as we experienced our twenties together. My life has lead me to you and I’m a better person because you are my other half. Even though I do everything for you including your shopping, choosing and cooking your meals, cleaning our house and reminding you to do everything you need to do, calling people and yelling at them for you and taking care of all of our paperwork. Not that I’m counting. Thank you for being you and becoming the best wiener dad in the world!

All in all, I want to sum up my feelings for you with an excerpt from our favorite show “Everybody Loves Raymond”

“....you want to know the advantages of marriage? Fine... There's... Uh... OK! Here! Got it! You know when you fall asleep and you stop breathing? When you're married, there's always somebody there to nudge you back to life... That's not a good example. Ok...Fine. You wake up- she's there. You come back from work- she's there. You fall asleep- she's there. You eat dinner- she's there. You know? I mean, I know that sounds like a bad thing. But, it's not. Not- Not if it's the right person.

Expression of commitment to marriage (I Do’s)

In order to be lawfully married, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that you both publicly declare that you take each other as spouses. Please face each other and when asked, respond by saying “I do.”

Do you Chad, take Stephanie as your lawfully wedded wife? “I do”

Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? “I do.”

Do you Stephanie, take Chad as your lawfully wedded husband? “I do”

Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? “I do.”

Exchange of the rings

Today Chad and Stephanie will be exchanging rings.

Chad & Stephanie, like your vows these rings will be a reminder of this day, and your commitment and love for one another.

Chad, please place the wedding ring on Stephanie’s left ring finger and repeat after me – With this ring, I thee wed, as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

Stephanie, please place the wedding ring on Chad’s left ring finger and repeat after me – With this ring, I thee wed, as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

Conclusion

To make your relationship work will take love. This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today.

It will take trust, to know, that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other.

It will take dedication, to stay open to one another - and to learn and grow together.

It will take faith, to go forward together, without knowing exactly what the future brings.

And it will take commitment, to hold true to the journey you both have pledged to today.

And now I get to say something you’ve been looking forward to hearing for a long time. By the powers vested in me by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss your wife.