Linsey Strolberg Stoppelman

Opening

We are gathered together on this day to witness and celebrate the marriage of Jerrod Niska and Paige Lillquist. I was so glad and excited when Paige asked me & gave me another opportunity to officiate their wedding. Because in our current world, people are scared, nervous about the unknown, and when she asked me it reminded me that in times like these everyone needs to look for comfort, love, trust, and hope in their family & loved ones. Paige & Jerrod feel that comfort, love, trust, and hope in each other and are surrounded by their family & loved ones that have the same feelings towards their relationship. This day we are reminded of these important feelings, and how we need to be together, and that’s what Paige & Jerrod are going to make official today.

Intro to Vows

May the promises you make to one another today, be lived out to the end of your lives. Tomorrow can bring you the greatest joys, but today is the day it all begins. Paige & Jerrod, do you, with God, family & loved ones as your witnesses, present yourselves willingly and of your own accord be joined in marriage? If so, answer we do.

Will you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows in life, come what may, and to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together? If so, answer we do.

Vows

Jerrod, please repeat after me. (After each pause I take, then Jerrod will repeat after me)

I, Jerrod, take you Paige (pause), to be my wife (pause). My promise is to stay by your side (pause), in sickness & in health(pause), in joy & sorrow(pause), I promise to love you without reservation(pause). Comfort you in times of distress (pause), encourage you to achieve all of your goals (pause), laugh with you & cry with you (pause), grow with you in mind & spirit (pause), always be open & honest with you (pause), and cherish you for the rest of my life (pause).

Paige, please repeat after me. (Same thing, after each pause, Paige will repeat after me)

I, Paige, take you Jerrod (pause), to be my husband (pause). My promise is to stay by your side (pause), in sickness & in health(pause), in joy & sorrow(pause), I promise to love you without reservation(pause). Comfort you in times of distress (pause), encourage you to achieve all of your goals (pause), laugh with you & cry with you (pause), grow with you in mind & spirit (pause), always be open & honest with you (pause), and cherish you for the rest of my life (pause).

Intro to exchange rings

Look at your hands, these are the hands that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will countless times wipe tears from your eyes, tears of joy & sorrow. These are the hands that will passionately love you & cherish you through the years. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as you build a future together.

Exchange rings

Having this love in your hearts, you have chosen to seal your vows by exchanging rings.

______ & ______ please give me the rings… As you wear these rings, may they be constant reminders of these glad promises you are making today. Let us pray.

Lord, bless the giving & receiving of these rings. May Jerrod & Paige be forever true to their marriage. May their compassion & kindness for one another always be like these rings, with no beginning & no end. May their relationship always be like these rings, separate but close, simple but beautiful. May these rings always belong to their hands, and their love always belong in each other’s hearts. Amen.

Jerrod, take this ring, put it on Paige’s left ring finger, and repeat after me.

Paige, I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor, and respect you.

Paige, take this ring, put it on Jerrod’s left ring finger, and repeat after me.

Jerrod, I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor, and respect you.

Declaration of Marriage

Having pledged yourselves to one another, to love, honor, and cherish one another in the presence of God, your family & loved ones, it is my honor to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your wife!

Presentation of Couple

I present to you, Mr. & Mrs. Niska!