Timothy R. Birdsall

Who gives Kailyn to be wed to Avery? (Joe Schmidt)

(Please be seated.)

Welcome, Friends, Family, Honored Guests.

I’ve heard about people getting together in many different ways. You have your set-ups, your blind dates, and sometimes, it’s through agreements with friends regarding who will date whom. In the end, though, the choice isn’t really yours to make; you just end up marrying your very best friend.

I’ve also heard it said that true love is a friendship set on fire. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, today, to light this friendship ablaze, and join Kailyn and Avery together in marriage.

Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but with careful thought and consideration, both for one’s self, as well as one’s partner, and with the knowledge that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Marriage is a COMMITMENT. You’ll notice that I do not use the word PROMISE during this ceremony, because promises can be, and often are, broken. Does anyone remember the days before cell phones? People would PROMISE they would be there between 8 and 12, or between 1 and 5, right? And sometimes you would wait around all day, and they’d never show up, as they had PROMISED to do.

A COMMITMENT means I’ll be there, even though, sometimes, I may not WANT to be there. WHY? Because I made a COMMITMENT to be there. In a marriage, you may not always be where you want to be, but when you are COMMITTED to each other, you will always be there together.

The declaration of wedding vows is a solemn pledge, and will affirm your love for one another as you join in marriage. Please join hands, look into each other’s eyes, and repeat after me:

(Avery)

I, Avery, take you, Kailyn ** to be my wife, ** to have and to hold ** from this day forward, ** for better, for worse, ** for richer, for poorer, ** in sickness and in health. ** I will love and honor you, ** comfort and keep you, ** and, forsaking all others, ** be faithful to you ** as long as we both shall live, ** so help me God.

(Kailyn)

I, Kailyn, take you, Avery ** to be my husband, ** to have and to hold ** from this day forward, ** for better, for worse, ** for richer, for poorer, ** in sickness and in health. ** I will love and honor you, ** comfort and keep you, ** and, forsaking all others, ** be faithful to you ** as long as we both shall live, ** so help me God.

(Unity Cross Ceremony)

(Queue music)

At this time, Avery and Kailyn will assemble their Unity Cross, a beautiful sculpture they will display in their home to remind them of the bond they are creating today. This three-part covenant includes Kailyn, Avery, and our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. From this day, forward, you will be connected on your journey through life, and you will never be alone.

(Matt/Amber bring the Groom’s piece of the Unity Cross forward and hand it to him)

In Genesis chapter 1, we read that God created man in His own image. That means that He created man bold, strong, a leader, a protector.

The outer form of the Unity Cross represents the strength, leadership, and protection of the man. The book of Ephesians reminds husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, totally and completely giving himself for her.

(Joe/Cheri bring the Bride’s piece of the Unity Cross forward and hand it to her)

As well, Genesis chapter 2 verses 20-23 tell us that woman was taken from man. The bride’s piece of the Unity Cross represents the beauty and the many capabilities of the woman. Designed with intricate, beautiful detail, it is placed inside the protection of the groom’s cross, representing the two becoming one.

To complete this sculpture, representing the couple’s covenant, we are placing three pegs to hold it together. These pegs represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and symbolize God’s place in this union, and the security and completeness that only our Heavenly Father can give.

(Bride, Groom, and Minister place the three pegs into the Unity Cross, completing the sculpture.)

Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5 says that He knew you both before you born. Jeremiah 29 verse 11 says that He has plans for your lives, plans for you both to prosper, plans that are amazing and unimaginable. More than that, His word tells us that He created you for His purposes. May this cross be a reminder in your home of what God has destined for you both, together.

The wedding ring is a symbol of never-ending love; it has no defined beginning, and it has no end. As you place the rings on each other’s finger, I ask that you repeat after me:

With this ring, I thee wed ** in the name of the Father,** and of the Son,** and of the Holy Spirit ** with all my hope ** all my faith ** and all my love.

Announcements:

>Receiving line outside the Northwest door, where you all came in.

>Yard games available to enjoy while inside is transitioned for the reception/dance.

Kailyn and Avery, before I pronounce you Husband and Wife, I’ll invite you to take a moment of reflection. I once mentioned how your wedding day is one that, once it’s here, with all the anticipation and planning, seems to be gone just as quickly as it came. It’s a day filled with emotion, friends, family, vows, rings, and dances. Many of us, here, remember how fleeting our own wedding days were, so I want you to take a few seconds to look into each other’s’ eyes. Think about the happiness your feeling in this wonderful place, in this moment, and let that feeling truly register in your mind, in your heart, in your body, and in your soul.

Now, I want you to think about your life together in 5, 10, 20 years. Where are you? What are you doing? We all know that your visions of the future are not identical, and they shouldn’t be; but they are, likely, complimentary to the other.

John Lennon once said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is a reality.” For you, and everyone in your lives, that reality starts right now.

Kailyn and Avery, you have expressed your commitment to one another, and exchanged rings to seal that commitment. In accordance with the laws of Iowa, and the United States of America, and by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Avery, you may kiss your Bride!

And two became one!

Ladies and Gentleman, it is now my pleasure, my privilege, and indeed my honor, to introduce for the very first time: Mr. and Mrs. Avery and Kailyn Cade! (Queue Music)