Thomas Anthony Bowles

PROCESSION

WELCOME

Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We are here to celebrate the love of two beautiful human beings that are near and dear to our hearts, Niki and Lauren. I want to emphasize celebrate because that is really what this wedding is about, a celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two complete people in their own rights who have made the choice to share their lives with each other. To bring family and friends together and to deepen the love, connection, and relationship that already exists.

So today you won’t hear me give any advice, tell you what you should do, or explain the formula for a marriage to work. That’s not what celebration is about. And it’s not what love is about either. There is no formula or rule book for love. That’s because love is simply about space. The space to be you. To love Lauren is to allow her the space to be totally herself. And to love Niki is to allow her the space to be totally herself. It’s also the space to be connected, to be visible, and to be seen. To allow Lauren in — to allow her to see you. To allow Niki in — and allow her to see you. And all of that happens NOW — not in the future, but in THIS moment. Because love, the beauty of it, the joy of it, and yes even the pain of it, is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being. And we deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.

NIKI AND LAUREN

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. When I talked to Niki and Lauren about each other, the overwhelming feeling I had is that these two are soulmates. A soulmate does not complete you – they inspire you to complete yourself. A soulmate is the person who supports your direction, who motivates and encourages you to stretch, to change, to reinvest yourself until you are happy. A soulmate is someone who loves you with so much conviction, and so much heart, that it is nearly impossible to doubt just how capable you are of becoming who you have always wanted to be.

Niki and Lauren met at a friend’s bonfire. And that meeting led into a great friendship for several years before they each had the courage to express their full feelings to one another. Lauren loves Niki for her ability to make her laugh. For her selflessness towards both her family and friends, her patience and for loving Lauren exactly as she is. In Lauren’s words, Niki can just give me a look, and my heart is full. Niki loves how empathetic and sympathetic Lauren is and how she inherently sees the best in people whether she’s known them for a day or for years. How incredibly forgiving she is. And for her daily good morning text messages. In Niki’s words, Lauren is as close to perfect as someone can get.

So that brings us to today. For 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.

VOWS

Niki, please repeat after me…Lauren, I take you to be my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love(stop). I promise to encourage you and inspire you(stop), and to love you truly through good times and bad(stop). I will forever be there to laugh with you(stop), to lift you up when you are down(stop) and to love you unconditionally(stop) through all of our adventures in life together.

Lauren, please repeat after me…Niki, I take you to be my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love(stop). I promise to encourage you and inspire you(stop), and to love you truly through good times and bad(stop). I will forever be there to laugh with you(stop), to lift you up when you are down(stop) and to love you unconditionally(stop) through all of our adventures in life together.

RINGS

May I have the rings. The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of unity and love, representing the greater circle of life which we all are a part of. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, it begins with the gift of life and will continue through the end of time. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken today.

Niki, please place the ring on Lauren’s finger and repeat after me…I Niki, take you Lauren, to be my wife(stop). And with this ring I promise, to love you always(stop), as your partner your soul mate and your best friend(stop), for as long as we both shall live.

Lauren, please place the ring on Niki’s finger and repeat after me…I Lauren, take you Niki, to be my wife(stop). And with this ring I promise, to love you always(stop), as your partner your soul mate and your best friend(stop), for as long as we both shall live.

PRONOUNCEMENT

“My dearest friend, if you don't mind I'd like to join you by your side, where we can gaze into the stars. And sit together, now and forever. For it is plain as anyone can see, we're simply meant to be.”

Niki and Lauren, no one but you can declare yourselves married. You have begun it here today in speaking your vows before your family and friends and you will do it again in the days and years to come, standing by each other, sharing all the sweet and the bitter of life. Each tender act, each loving word, will be the declaration of what was made here today. Therefore, in the honesty and sincerity of what you have said and done her today, and by the power bestowed upon me, it is my honor and privilege to pronounce you married. You may kiss your wife.

PRESENTATION OF COUPLE

Friends and family, it is my pleasure to give to you for the first time, the married couple Mrs. & Mrs. Niki and Lauren Grist.

RECESSION