Reverend Jonny Diane Thompson

***Review of Wedding & Handfasting Ceremony for Harper and Jillian on September 29th of 2018 at 1800/6pm

* I will arrive at your venue at:

The Prairie Gardens Inn

1138 N. River Road

Mulvane, Kansas 67110

* 1 hour prior to the Wedding.

* You will need your Kansas Marriage License in hand

* 2 witnesses over 18 years of age to sign the legal paperwork

* I will provide you with a Keepsake Wedding Certificate

* The witnesses & myself will sign all the paperwork in the hour prior to the Wedding then give to you for safekeeping.

* You will have 9 days to return the completed license to the county marriage office to have your document filed legally in the State of Kansas

* We will do a walkthrough of the entrance, ceremony and exit after your marriage in this time also ... I do promise all will be perfect so you both can just relax and enjoy your special day!

* I will have you both give me the rings and Handfasting braid/ribbons prior to the ceremony to hold until ready for that part of the ceremonies.

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* Family & Guests will gather as arranged at the venue.

* I, the Officiant will be positioned where you decide in the venue.

* We will position you both with Jillian to my left at the start of the ceremony. *Jillian and her chosen people will come out to walk to our places together with me.

* Harper to my right once you come into the area you’ve chosen in the venue.

* I will ask that you both holding hands facing each other during the entire ceremony.

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“The Wedding and Handfasting Ceremony”

Officiant:

* We are gathered together here to join Harper Bronwen Gilpin McMinn and Jillian Lin Sauder in the spiritual union of marriage.

Officiant:

* All those gathered here today and in spirit please let us lift up and surround both Harper and Jillian in as much love, light & joy as they start this very special journey in their lives... We will now turn our focus on the most important people here today as they both are united in marriage...

* They have both come together today with the most thoughtfully and seriously intent, with a deep realization of the daily curves and corners that are part of becoming the unique family they’ve chosen to be today...

* The love, the loyalty, and the unique understanding of each moment are the true foundations of a joy filled and happy home...

* Harper and Jillian will continue to bring themselves back to this day where they’ve chosen to focus on their hearts & hands to be united as one ... no matter when or where life takes them...

The Declaration of Intent by Harper and Jillian

Officiant:

* Harper, as you offer your love to Jillian you will respond to your vows... {Harper we will insert your own vows here}

* Harper, do you take Jillian to continue to spend your life from here on together no matter the curves along the way?

* Harper: “I do”

Officiant:

* Jillian as you offer your love to Harper you will respond to your vows ... {Jillian we will insert your own vows here}

* Jillian do you take Harper to continue to spend your life from here on together no matter the curves along the way?

* Jillian: “I do”

Officiant:

* Harper and Jillian will now exchange rings as a symbol of their eternal love and devotion to each other ...

The Ring Exchange

Officiant:

* As we’ve spoken this day about love the Ring is a symbol of your unending love as a circle is never ending...

* As you both take these rings as I hand them to you.

* Gently sliding the ring onto the ring finger of your loved ones left hand ...

* I will have you both say together ...

* “With this ring, I thy wed.”

The Handfasting Ceremony

Officiant:

* A wedding is largely about symbols; symbols are important and helpful, because they make an idea and a value concrete and physical – something we can see and touch.

* They’re helpful because they serve as a powerful reminder of a time and a place and a memory – a feeling and even a promise – that may have faded over time. Harper and Jillian have chosen to include a handfasting today.

* A handfasting ceremony is nothing to be intimidated by.

* In fact, it’s a privilege to facilitate one of the world’s oldest and best-known wedding rituals in a moving and contemporary way.

* It’s one of the world’s oldest wedding traditions and it’s found in cultures all over the world.

* In joining hands, Harper and Jillian symbolize how they freely offer their lives to one another.

* And in fastening their hands together, the ribbon or braid symbolizes how when they leave this place today with lives now bound together.

* How after today, an idea of two stories come together and two sets of hopes and desires for the future are joined in commitment and intention.

* Harper and Jillian, as I fasten your hands together and “tie the knot”, I invite you to reflect on the joy and responsibility that awaits you.

* From today, being bound together in the commitment and intention of marriage means that each of you is a lifelong, safe place to love and be deeply loved by the other.

* As I loop the ribbon over and tie these knots across your left wrists. may you both know and feel and remember always that together in this marriage, you are each deeply known and deeply loved.

* Now, with great joy in front of all your closest friends and family, I announce as handfasted from this moment forward ...

Officiant:

* Harper and Jillian, I want to wish you both much love and happiness as you begin your newest journey... Remember to keep lots of laughter in your life and love will never be far behind...

* As gentle reminder that out of all we’ve done today I ask that you both always put each other 1st, stand together through all the winds of change as the mighty oak does each and every day... Sink your roots deep into each other’s hearts ... now and forever ...

Officiant:

* By the authority vested in me by AMM and the State of Kansas, I am now honored to pronounce you blissfully married ...

* Harper and Jillian you may now kiss to seal your love & hearts ... to show all gathered here with you the joy that’s overflowing from within your hearts & ours in this celebration of unity ...

* Everyone if you would please join me and give a very joyful welcome as we celebrate Harper and Jillian as they’ve joined their hands, hearts & spirits ...

* I am now delighted to introduce to you to this newlywed couple ...

* Harper McMinn-Sauder and Jillian Sauder!

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