Judy Nowak

Welcome Everyone!

Today is a special day of celebration that Karla and Ray will long remember and they are thankful you are here to share in their joy.

(To Karla and Ray)

Today your family and friends are gathered here together to celebrate your union and today we are privileged to witness you two commit to sharing a lifetime together by taking that first solid step down a path of being ‘United as One’.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

I want to start by telling you a poem by an unknown author called ‘Marriage Box’.

Most people get married believing a myth that marriage is a beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for; Companionship, Intimacy, Friendship and so on….

The truth is, that marriage at the start is an empty box, you must put something in before you can take anything out!

There is no love in marriage, love is in people, and people put love in marriage. There is no romance in marriage, you have to infuse it into your marriage. A couple must learn the art, and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, praising, for keeping the box full. If you take out more than you put in, the box will be empty!

May you forever be lovers,

May you forever be friends,

And should you hurt each other,

May you quickly make amends.

May you enjoy your passion,

But never let compassion die,

Thinking in selfless terms as ‘we’,

Never emphasizing on just ‘I’.

May you use each other's strengths,

when you are feeling weak,

May you both learn to compromise,

and always as one voice ‘speak’.

May you never keep dark secrets,

May you never tell each other lies,

May you both work unceasingly,

to ensure your love never dies.

Ray & Karla, please face each other and take each other’s hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours as you build your future together.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch

will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes to you.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will join your families as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it, support and encouragement to pursue your dreams, and comfort through difficult times.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Karla Romine and Raymond Bennett will now share their vows.

RING EXCHANGE (ask for the rings to be shown)…

For thousands of years, lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. Let these rings be a sign that love has a past, a present, and a future, through you and within you. The promises which you have spoken to each other today are forever in your minds and hearts, but words are fleeting, and so those who marry, wear rings as visible, tangible symbols of their love and commitment. These rings announce to the world that you have recognized in each other, your soul mate. That you have entwined together to become one and that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Ray, take Karla's ring, place it on her finger and repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you and as a reminder that even though you belch louder than any woman I know, and are very stubborn, I will always love you. [Ray repeats]

To be my lover, my partner and my best friend, till the end of my days [Ray repeats]

Wear it, think of me, and know that I love you [Ray repeats]

With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life.” Ray repeats]

Karla, take Ray’s ring, place it on his finger and repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you and as a reminder that I vow to still grab your butt even when you’re old and wrinkly and that I will always love you. [Karla repeats]

To be my lover, my partner and my best friend, till the end of my days [Karla repeats]

Wear it, think of me, and know that I love you for the kind soul that you are, even as I watch the way you fall asleep in the chair or watch you while you are tinkering doing things around the house. [Karla repeats]

With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante, partner for life and you are my greatest adventure.” [Karla repeats]

John Lennon once said,” a dream you dream alone is only a dream, a dream you dream together, THAT is reality.”

That new reality starts NOW!

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Michigan I now pronounce you both husband & wife: Mr & Mrs Raymond Bennett!

Ray…. You may kiss your bride….

******Congratulations******