Monica Erdmann Monohan

Welcome, everyone, and thank you for being here to help Sean and Kristin celebrate. Because today is a celebration – a celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship and family, and of two people who are in it forever. We are here today because two strangers took a leap of faith one day, and decided to give love a chance. Sean and Kristin, you fell in love by chance, but today you’re making a choice. You are both choosing each other.

Would you please turn to each other, and hold each other’s hands?

These are the hands of your best friend, holding yours as you promise to love each other all the days of your life…These are the hands that will work together as you build your future and make your dreams come true…These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and trials, and share the joys and happiness of life…These are the hands that will love you passionately and cherish you all through the years. May you always hold each other and give strength to each other during the storms and stresses of life.

Okay, now I have some questions for you.

Sean, do you take Kristin as your lawfully wedded wife, and promise to keep her as your favorite person, to laugh with her, support her through life’s tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day? If so, please say “I do.”

Kristin, do you take Sean as your lawfully wedded husband, and promise to keep him as your favorite person, to laugh with him, support him through life’s tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day? If so, please say “I do.”

Now to everyone here…Marriage doesn’t exist in a bubble; its needs the love and support of the community around it to thrive and grow. So, I ask those present today, the family and friends of Sean and Kristin: Do you willingly give your support to this couple, that they may grow their marriage in love and happiness? If so, please answer, “we will.”

Emery, could you bring me the rings please?

Sean, please place this ring on Kristin’s finger and repeat after me:

You are the love of my life.

You are my very best friend.

You are my one and only.

With this ring, I marry you

And bind my life to yours.

It is a symbol of my eternal love,

My everlasting friendship,

And the promise of all tomorrows.

Kristin, please place this ring on Sean’s finger and repeat after me:

You are the love of my life.

You are my very best friend.

You are my one and only.

With this ring, I marry you

And bind my life to yours.

It is a symbol of my eternal love,

My everlasting friendship,

And the promise of all tomorrows.

Sean and Kristin will now celebrate their union with a sand ceremony. Guys, today you are making a lasting commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. And, Emery is an important part of the rest of your lives. Your commitment to each other and your family is symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand. Sean and Kristin, first you will each separately pour a layer of sand into the vase, representing who you are as an individual. So, Sean, pour some sand into the vase. Ok, now Kristin, do the same thing. Next you will pour together, blending your two colors as you will blend your lives in marriage. As the individual grains of sand can no longer be separated, may your bond also be inseparable. But, you are also making a bond with your child. Emery contributes his own unique personality and strengths to your family, so he will also add a layer of sand to this unity container. Emery, could you please pour a little of your sand into the container? Okay, now all three of you pour your sand together into the container, representing your commitment to each other. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated back into the individual containers, neither will your marriage and family be separated.

Sean and Kristin, today you have stood before these witnesses and declared your intent to commit your lives to each other in marriage. You have made promises to each other and your family. Your road to this moment has not always been smooth, but you continued to fight for one another. I hope you will never forget the fight and perseverance it has taken to get to this moment. And I hope you will never forget the love and joy you feel today, because these are the things that will keep your marriage, your family and your bond to one another strong.

And so, by the power vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Wisconsin, I am so very happy and honored to pronounce you husband and wife! [Emery: Daddy you can kiss mommy]

Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great joy to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Sean and Kristin Crosby!!