Judy Nowak

February 14th, 2019

Welcome Everyone!

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

(To Michaela and Joey)

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’.

What better way to start than with some advice. I can’t think of a more diplomatic way than through reading something somebody else wrote. Something I found that I liked, called ‘The Art of A Good Marriage’ which I will share some of it with you now:

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things ARE the big things.

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end after your wedding day, it should continue through the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy because you want to.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating: flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive AND forget.

It is creating an atmosphere in which each can grow old.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

Before we begin the actual ceremony, I want to thank you both for trusting in me to do your vows and letting me be a part of your special day. It warms my heart to no end.

When I officiate a wedding I like to ask the Bride and Groom two things I want them to tell me separately.

1) How they know that their mate is the one

2) And tell me something funny rather it's a story or just quirks about the other person.

Michaela told me she remembers the night that she and Joey were going down the stairs at his house and he told her to get on his back. She said, ‘please don’t drop me’! He said, ‘I won’t drop you, you know why’? Because I love you! That was the first time he said ‘I Love you’ to her.

So with that being said, we are gathered here today, to unite Joey Nate and Michaela Scoggins in marriage. This contract is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligation and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Much has happened since that first date on October 7th, 2017 when Michaela decided she wanted to drive because she had her cool BMW and on the way home the car broke down!

Obviously you have both learned to love and appreciate all that is offered by each other. You have

gained respect for each other's qualities, weaknesses, strengths, trust, worthiness and kindness.

A wife and husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener and critic. And when things go bad, it's not so easy to just walk away anymore. You need to learn to work things out and keep the lines of communication open. (An example, so when you are upset about something you need to remember you can’t read each other’s minds.)

Remember, you are now going to be role models, as there is nothing more important than the two of you and your new baby on the way!

Joey and Michaela, I would ask that you both remind yourselves often of what brought you here today.

**Michaela,

Joey says, the things he loves about you are how patient you are, how caring you are, how thoughtful you are, and how kind. And how you do not take any bullshi* from anyone especially from him!

He remembers on your first date you guys went to the Corn Maze and your car breaking down and how you ended up getting out to do a few things to the car to fix it…. He was thinking ‘WOW, this girl is pretty cool, she really knows what she’s doing and she definitely knows more than I do about stuff’! And as I continued to dating her throughout our relationship, I began to realize she knew more about basically everything compared to me making it that much easier to love her. He is really looking forward to seeing how much more she knows than he does, as you continue to go through the rest of your lives together.

**Joey,

Michaela says, the things you say and do that make her smile or laugh are when you start talking in your funny voice, when you help her with anything she needs, or something as simple as putting your laundry in the RIGHT basket! When you sing the Blink 182 song you always sing, when you know if she’s thinking about pizza or ice cream, or when you come up with the BEST ideas like (ordering pizza and eating it on the bed!) And most of all, when you tell her she is beautiful, you make her feel beautiful even when she doesn’t feel it.

**May we now have the rings?

These are the rings that Joey and Michaela will wear for the rest of their lives that express the love that they have for one another.

**To the Groom:

Do you... Joey Nate, take this woman Michaela Scoggin to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, richer and poorer? Even when she always says ‘STAAAPPHHH’ in her Kardashian type of voice? If so, answer ''I Do".

Joey places the ring on Michaela's finger.

**To the Bride:

Do you... Michaela Scoggin, take this man, Joey Nate to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, richer and poorer? Even when he starts singing Eric Church in the car? If so, answer "I Do"

Michaela places the ring on Joey's finger.

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the state of Michigan, I now pronounce you both husband & wife. Joey you may kiss your bride!

****Congratulations!****