Amy Elizabeth Conner

Clint and Karen Ceremony December 31, 2018

INVOCATION

Welcome, family and friends. We are gathered here today, surrounded by the beauty of creation and nurtured by the sights and sounds of nature to celebrate the joining of CLINT and KAREN in marriage.

Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.

There is a reason as to why all of you have been invited to witness this sacred union between CLINT, and KAREN today.

Each and every one of you have been a special part of their lives, and the couple want their friends and family to bear witness to their union, and that you take your beautiful memories of this day home with you.

We are gathered here in celebration now to create the good times and memories that will be cherished by CLINT and KAREN and all of us here for years to come.

We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity.

All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing - and others that are exciting and full of adventure.

And that brings them here. A time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

I'm here - we're all here - because we want those moments for you. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't

happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story.

I would like to ask Ashley the daughter of the bride to share the first reading: (“I Wish You More”)

It's not one moment - not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged - but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments.

Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, biking, hiking, camping; getting a big hug when you get home from work... These are the moments that matter and fuse together into one big experience.

And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love - it's meant to be felt, not described.

You fell in love by chance and by a little help from Match, but you're here today because you're making a choice.

You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter.

You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."

I’d now like to invite Marty, CLINT’S brother from another mother to provide the second reading. (“We Belong Together”)

Go off script here. Tell a story about Clint and then Karen.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

CLINT and KAREN, please join hands, look at one another now and remember this moment in time.

Will you, CLINT, keep KAREN as your favorite person - to laugh with her, go on adventures 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, and not poke the bear?

CLINT: I will

Will you, KAREN, keep CLINT as your favorite person - to laugh with him, go on adventures 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, and not allow him to poke the bear?

KAREN: I will

Will you, CLINT and KAREN, be each other's partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely - for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?

Couple together: We will.

RING EXCHANGE

You've both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises.

Your love came from humble beginnings, that first date at the Busy Bee restaurant in Buffalo, that continued for 12- hours when it was just supposed to be breakfast. Through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shaped love into something extraordinary. It's the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that.

You've created something invaluable, and just as I know you'll protect these rings, I'm confident you'll protect the commitments you've made to one another today.

CLINT, as you place this ring on KAREN's finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.

KAREN, as you place this ring on CLINT's finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.

PRONOUNCEMENT

CLINT and KAREN, you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and friends, and maybe even a few strangers! You have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given and received rings as a symbol of your promises.

So....By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me by the State of Wyoming and American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you husband and wife!

You may now seal your vows and promises with a kiss! I would like to end with this Irish blessing:

May the wind be always at your back, may the warm rays of sun fall upon your home...

May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home...

May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace...

Love, life and happiness, may your troubles be few and your blessings many...

May you feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter to the other...

May the meaning of this moment be fulfilled through the days and years to come...

Merry met, and merry part, I drink to thee with all my heart...

Family and friends and strangers, it is my honor and privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. CLINT Conner. Let's hear it for 'em!

We will be heading across the street to the Million Dollar Bar and hanging out until dinner at The Calico Restaurant where we’ll continue this party! Reservations are at 8: