Timothy R. Birdsall

Welcome.

I’ve heard it said that true love is a friendship set on fire. We are gathered here, today, to light this friendship ablaze, and join Kelsey and Michael 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.

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:

(Michael)

Michael, will you take Kelsey to be your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health? Will you love, honor, comfort and keep her and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live, so help you God?

(Kelsey)

Kelsey, will you, likewise, take Michael to be your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health? Will you love, honor, comfort and keep him and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live, so help you God?

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.

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

Kelsey and Michael, 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. Michael, you may kiss your Bride!