Stephanie Lyn Lurz

Nicci Cleveland and Tanner Anderson Wedding

Opening Words

Welcome friends and family. Today there will be no dearly beloved, no betrothed, and no ancient rhyme of the married. Today there are no dead languages to solemnize vows that are very much alive and will remain so for a lifetime. Today promises become permanent and friends become family. However, this day is not about the words spoken or the rings exchanged, nor is it about grand pronouncements and recessional marches. This day — the day of Nicci and Tanner’s wedding — is about love.

All you have to do is simply love one another and that love shows through in everything you do for one another, how you treat each other, in good times and bad. Love isn’t just a word; it’s an action. Love isn’t something you say, it’s something you do.

Love is genuine, honest, and open, compassionate and kind, passionate and blind, love doesn’t know space or time, nor look through jealous eyes, and in the words of Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”

There are many different kinds of love, almost, if not all, of which are represented here today. There is romantic love, the love of parents and children, of brothers and sisters and family, and love among friends.

Not only do Nicci and Tanner love one another romantically — and they do, you can see it in every look, every touch, and every moment they’re together — they also love one another as friends. In fact, they’re best friends, constantly giggling and taunting and teasing and very plainly and obviously having fun together. That love and enjoyment of each other as best friends will sustain them through this marriage.

In addition, the love collectively in this room, from friends and family, will help sustain and support the promises they make today. All of us here will help solidify this bond, as these two individuals are joined as husband and wife.

This new journey will be at times richly rewarding and extremely difficult, but, most importantly, it will be a journey you take together. Marriage is much more than your signatures on a legal contract. You are promising, in front of all these people you love, that you want to be with each other and only each other for the rest of your lives, and that you will do everything in your power to honor the promises you are making here today.

Declaration of Intent

Nicci and Tanner, you stand before me, your closest friends and family, and most importantly you stand before each other. Is it your intent to love each other in the sanctity of marriage as I Corinthians describes for all of time until death separates you? Reply: “I do”.

Vows

(Face each other and hold hands)

Tanner repeat after me….

I, Tanner, take you Nicci to be my wife/, my partner in life /and my one true love./ I will cherish our friendship/ and love you today, tomorrow, and forever./ I will trust you and honor you/ I will laugh with you and cry with you. /I will love you faithfully/through the best and the worst, /through the difficult and the easy. /Whatever may come /I will always be there./ As I have given you my hand to hold/ so I give you my life to keep./

Nicci repeat after me…..

I, Nicci, take you Tanner to be my husband/, my partner in life /and my one true love/. I will cherish our friendship /and love you today, tomorrow, and forever./ I will trust and honor you./ I will laugh with you/ and cry with you./ I will love you faithfully /through the best and the worst,/ through the difficult and the easy. /Whatever may come /I will always be there./ As I have given you my hand to hold, /so I give you my life to keep./

Ring Vows

Tanner, place the ring on Nicci’s finger and repeat after me….Nicci, you are the love of my life./ And you are my very best friend. /I give you this ring /that you may wear it/ as a reminder of my love for you./

Nicci, place the ring on Tanner’s finger and repeat after me….Tanner, you are the love of my life./ And you are my very best friend./ I give you this ring /that you may wear it/ as a reminder of my love for you./

Unity Cross

Today the couple have chosen to create a unity braid to signify their union as husband and wife. This beautiful plaque is a lasting reminder that Tanner and Nicci have come together with their faith in Christ, beginning their life long journey as one.

The two ropes represent each one of you. The special unique qualities that each of you bring to this marriage and how you both must work together to stay strong in the face of adversity.

The third rope signifies the couple’s faith in Christ, intertwining all the ropes of the unity braid and demonstrating their commitment to each other and their faith. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reads, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Place this sacred art piece in a place that both of you have chosen. May it remind you of today. And I ask you, that together on your anniversary of this special day, that together you come and thank each other for another year together, remind each other how much you love one another, and be thankful of the love that binds you together.