Rachel Marie Bader

INVOCATION

Ladies and Gentlemen, Family and Friends: Welcome!

There is a reason as to why all of you have been invited to witness this sacred union between Sarah and Bert today. Does anyone know why? It is because today marks the day that Sarah and Bert finally make their union official. 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 Sarah and Bert and all of us here for years to come.

For both of you, you have had the chance to experience your lives together. With bumps along the way, you have learned what it means to love one another. Through good times and bad times, I have had the honor and privilege to witness how both of you have learned how to coexist as a couple. Getting married today is only one small quick step towards the meaning of true marriage.

Marriage is not just putting on a beautiful dress, or a nice suit. It isn't about having a big party, celebrating with friends and family, or partying to the late hours of the night - although we definitely are going to do just that! All those things are what a wedding is about, but marriage... marriage is about the continued learning of not just living together as a couple of two separate lives, but living your lives as one complete life. It means continually moving forward as a couple, and working towards the success of your family. Let nothing stand in the way of your marriage. The success of the longevity of your marriage rests upon you. To honor your spouse, to be a loving and supporting parent, to support your better half in their ambitions, and to be a nurturing, loving pillar of your family.

So Sarah and Bert ...are you ready to do this?!

Friends and Family, are you all ready to witness this?!

LET'S DO THIS!

Let us begin with this bible reading, chosen from Sarah and Bert's something old:

1 Corinthians 13:4-12

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

Bert:

Do you take to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding unto her in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer for as long as you both shall live?

Sarah:

Do you take to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer for as long as you both shall live?

SAND CEREMONY

Sarah and Bert are now going to partake in a Sand Ceremony. In this ceremony both Sarah and Bert will each take their different colored sand, and pour them into this single glass. This keepsake will be kept with them so that every day that they look upon this glass, they will be reminded of the union and promise that they make to each other today to live their lives together as one.

(During this time, Minister guides bride and groom to the table that holds three glasses. Ambient music is played until they have finished pouring the sand.)

RING EXCHANGE

Rings are made of precious metal, but that same metal is also made precious by wearing them. Your wedding rings are special because they enhance who you are. They mark the beginning of your long journey together. Your wedding ring is a circle, a symbol of love never ending. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other without end.

Bert, please place the ring on Sarah's left hand.

By placing this ring on his/her finger, you do this as a sign of your love that you have chosen her above all else.

Sarah, please place the ring on Bert's left hand.

By placing this ring on his/her finger, you do this as a sign of your love that you have chosen him above all else.

PRONOUNCEMENT

To make your relationship work will take love.

It will take trust, to know, that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other.

It will take dedication, to stay open to one another - and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together, without knowing what the future holds.

And it will take commitment, to remain true to the journey you both have pledged to begin today.

You both have stated your intent, you have declared commitment to one another, you performed the Unity Sand Ceremony, and have exchanged rings. There is now only one thing left to do...

By the power vested in me by the State of Colorado and the American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you officially husband and wife.

Bert, you may now kiss your bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my honor and privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Treto!

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.