Kelly Lee Randels Coleman

Processional

Guests are seated

Invocation

“Hello and Welcome. It is an honor to be with all of you here today.

Blake and Marjorie would like to thank everyone for journeying from far and near to be a part of their wedding today. They know that for most of you it was a long trip, and they are so grateful to be able to share their most special moment with you. Your love and support will be cherished forever.

As noted in the program, the bride and groom have requested that no photographs are taken during the ceremony.

A wedding is such a wonderful occasion, filled with hopes, dreams, and excitement. We are here today to celebrate the love that Blake and Marjorie have for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to journey forward in their lives as husband and wife. Being married is like trying to keep your balance in a three-legged race. You are walking side by side in a forward momentum, yet each of you is making choices, moment by moment, that will either help you maintain balance together or cause you to lose your rhythm, your balance, or your way.

While you are two separate individuals, you walk along one path together. Your every gesture, word, expression, and action, and those you withhold or omit, will determine the quality of your experience together. It is through loving, kindness, caring, and sharing that a successful marriage journey is created. A good marriage takes patience, dedication, humor, and forgiveness. You keep your love alive through the choices you make moment by moment, day after day, and year after year. Through practice, you learn how to love yourselves and each other with devotion and freedom.

Delaney Reading

"The Art of Marriage," by William A. Peterson

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 with the honeymoon,

it should continue through all the years.

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

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,

but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating

gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.

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 giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

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

ME: “A few weeks ago, I took some time to talk with Blake and Marjorie separately about their love story. This is always risky because you don’t know how to react if for example they answer differently on key questions like “how did you meet?” I wanted to share some of the dialogue with you. Blake and Marjorie met during college. Blake’s first impression of Marjorie was that she seemed nice, kind, and to be a down to earth person who had an obvious love for animals. They seemed to have a lot in common. Marjorie’s first impression was that Blake was tall, dark, and handsome.

When talking about their first date, they agreed that it was to an Irish restaurant called Dublin Bay and then to Cold Stone Creamery in Ames, IA.

I asked the two of them what are their favorite things about each other:

Blake said, “Marjorie is always supportive of me. We have so much in common. I like her demeanor and attitude towards things. She’s easy to get along with and is nice to everyone she is around. She loves to work with horses and our dog Finny.”

Marjorie said, “I like how he is hard working, dedicated, he thinks about others, he is adventurous and likes to try new things and pushes me to try new things. He is super chill and relaxed about everything. He was forgiving when I smashed my brand-new truck into a pole. He is funny and always positive. He listens to my rants about all things animal related. He is turning into a dog snob like me.

I asked Blake and Marjorie in what ways are they most alike.

Blake said that they are both up for whatever. They take things as they come. They moved out to California at the drop of a hat, Marjorie went with him, which was a big decision after knowing each other for a year. They handle things well alone and together.

Marjorie said they are both easy going and they love to try new things. They both really like food and love animals.

I asked them in what ways are you most different?

Blake said, “They are different but they are different in complimentary ways. Each of them takes care of different things but it’s not like they have differences per se… they really are the same, very similar. Marjorie cooks more, takes care of things around the house, planned the whole wedding, and organizes things.”

Marjorie said, “Blake is dedicated to his job and making good connections at work. He is career driven and in her own words she said that she “obviously” is not so much. On vacation, Blake likes to go places where there is skiing, backpacking and camping, but her idea of a vacation is sitting on the beach at a tropical place.”

When talking about what they were most looking forward to on their wedding day, they both mentioned getting to see all of their friends and family and marrying their best friend.

I asked each of them why or what do you love about each other?

Blake said, “They get along so well together. Marjorie has great personality traits – she is easy going, he loves her love for animals, they have a tight bond. He feels so comfortable around her that he can be himself. They were made for each other. Their differences fill in each other’s weaknesses.”

Marjorie said, “He always thinks of other people first. He always makes me smile and laugh.”

The final question I asked Blake and Marjorie was

“If you could change one thing about your partner what would it be?”

Marjorie said, “I would change when he is on his phone reading or on the couch watching TV and he doesn’t hear me… he has selective hearing.”

IF YOU BROUGHT KLEENEX, I’LL GIVE YOU A SECOND TO GET THOSE OUT, YOU MIGHT NEED THEM FOR BLAKE’S ANSWER.

Blake said, “I don’t think there would be anything I would want to change. There’s stuff that bugs me at times but I wouldn’t want to change anything about her because those things make her who she is. She is a whole person and I am in love with the whole person. Even things that she does that annoy me at times – I can’t say that I would want to change something about her.”

Ring Exchange

The wedding ring is a symbol of married love. These precious rings also represent generations of marriage and everlasting love given to you from Blake’s grandfather and the diamond from Marjorie’s great grandmother and grandmother. Then using their own creativity, Blake and Marjorie were able to make Marjorie’s ring what it is today. These rings show that your love is your most precious possession, and the unending circle symbolizes that your love may never cease.

Declaration of Intent

ME: “Blake and Marjorie, please join hands, look at one another and remember this moment in time.

PAUSE

“Will you, Blake, keep Marjorie as your favorite person - to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day?”

BLAKE: “I will”

ME: “Will you, Marjorie, keep Blake as your favorite person - to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day?”

MARJORIE: “I will”

ME: “Will you, Blake and Marjorie, be each other's partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely - for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?”

B & M TOGETHER: “We will.”

Vows

Blake, repeat after me:

“Marjorie, you are my best friend / and everlasting companion. / You have brought me the truest happiness I have ever known. / I take joy today in committing my life to yours.”

Now place the ring on her hand and repeat after me...

“With this ring, / I promise to stand / with you as we share this life,/ and cherish the memories we make together.”

Marjorie, repeat after me:

“Blake, you are my best friend / and everlasting companion. / You have brought me the truest happiness I have ever known. / I take joy today in committing my life to yours.”

Now place the ring on his hand and repeat after me...

“With this ring, / I promise to stand with you as we share this life, / and cherish the memories we make together.”

PRAYER

May Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are now starting to build together, that you may know the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you both, Marjorie and Blake, all the days of your lives and fill you with His joy. Amen.

Unity Rope Ceremony

Today Marjorie and Blake have chosen to braid three strands together into a single cord. Each strand has a significant meaning. The center strand represents God and his Majesty. The left strand represents the groom and his life. The right strand represents the bride and her life. In braiding these three strands together, Marjorie and Blake demonstrate that their marriage is more than the joining of two lives together. It is a unity with God as well. They have chosen to allow God be at the center of their marriage, woven into every aspect of it. By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, His love will continue to bind you together as one throughout your marriage.

E-CLEEZY-ASS-TEES Ecclesiastes 4:12 reads- Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

PAUSE as Marjorie and Blake braid the strands.

Bible reading Delaney

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New Century Version (NCV)

Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break.

Pronouncement

To make your relationship work, it will take love. It will take trust, to know in your hearts, you 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 without knowing what the future holds. It will take commitment, to remain true to the journey you both have pledged to begin.

You have come here today in the presence of family and loved ones, you have declared your love and commitment to each other. By the power vested in me by the State of Maryland and American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss.

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

Recessional

The bride and groom would like to invite you for appetizers and drinks down at the celebration pavilion.