In
The Words of Lovers
The
exchange of vows is the spiritual foundation of a wedding ceremony.
I hold that if a bride and groom compose their own vows, those
words, as given by them, will exceed the importance of anything
their minister might say about them during their entire ceremony.
For a personalized vow exchange is the verbalized expression
of two hearts in love. A minister however can only offer what
he or she believes the couple is feeling for each other. Personalized
vows are the real deal- right from the source.
 And
it is you who needs to give these words - not a minister -
who by accounting your dating history and other anecdotal stories
about you, hopes to convince your audience he
or she has known you for a lifetime. Few guests are fooled
by this.
I
tell my couples: There are reasons you both are marrying each
other. What are they? Those reasons, along with some of the
trials and tribulations you both went through to get here,
along with a humorous insight or two about your personalities,-
those make vows!
Commitments
and pledges of fidelity are great for your vows, but go easy,
slavery ended with Lincoln. Your guests want to know what's
on your heart and what led you to this moment, standing before
them, as you speak to the one you love.
Wedding
vows can be short or long; length is irrelevant. I will begin
with a short vow exchange used at one of my ceremonies to
show you how easy this is. Then the longer ones follow, some
of which are almost short stories. My thanks to all the couples
who allowed me to share their vows with you!
1.
A Simple and Short Wedding Vow
I,
_____________, choose you _____________,
To be no other than yourself,
Loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know.
I will respect you as an individual, a partner, and an equal.
I promise to laugh with you when times are good, and endure
with you
when they are bad.
I will always adore, honor and encourage you.
You are my best friend, and I will love you always.
2.
Wedding Vows of Dixon and Jaime.
Dixon
to Jaime
Dear
Jaime: We've been together seven years, and as I stand here
with you, I can't help thinking back to the beginning, when
you were living in Bolingbrook and I was living in Logan Square.
One Sunday morning, soon after we started dating, I found myself
driving home from your house. It was a hot, humid summer day,
and I had a fair amount of work to finish that evening. Suddenly,
my tire blew out and I was forced to pull over. With no cell
phone in hand, I was stranded on the side of the road.
It
didn't take me long to realize that I couldn't sit on the shoulder
of I-55 as cars whizzed by at 70 miles per hour. So I climbed
up a grassy embankment, hopped a fence and ended up in someone's
yard. Not knowing where I was, I found my way to the nearest
street and followed it until I saw a supermarket. It was there
that I found a pay phone and dialed your number. No answer.
So I left a message, went into the store, bought a bottle of
cold water, drank some of it, sat on the curb, waited a few
minutes, and called you again. Still no answer. So I left a
message
letting you know I was going back to my car. My Jeep Grand
Cherokee with three working wheels, whose slogan should have
been, "Top of the line in utility sports. Unexplained
fires are a matter for the courts."
Thirty
minutes later, I found myself sitting in my still hobbled vehicle,
listening to the radio, enjoying the air conditioning, and
wondering what to do next. I hit on the brilliant idea of driving
very slowly along the shoulder until I reached the next exit,
then finding my way to the nearest garage. But just as I hit
the accelerator, you sped past, scanning the side of the road
and wearing a look of deep concern. Then our eyes met and your
expression changed to one of relief. Believe me, I was relieved
too. I had never been so glad to see anyone in my entire life.
Until
today that is.
Today,
I'm honored to tell you that I love you. And to tell you that
I want to share the rest of my life with you. I sometimes think
back to that day when I was stuck on the side of the expressway
and marvel at how lucky I was that you showed up when you did.
It's the same kind of luck that brought you into my life in
the first place, and the same kind of luck that brought us
here today.
That
day on the expressway was not without its challenges. (My favorite
was the fact that, after we hit the road again, my tire completely
fell off the rim just as we reached an overpass and the shoulder
disappeared from under us. Or the fact that every mechanic
in the area was too busy fixing his Canyanero to stay open
on a Sunday. (and who can forget the lack of air conditioning
in your Cavalier on the ride home?) Just like that day, our
marriage will not be without its challenges. But just like
that day, I can't imagine facing them without you.
In
fact, I can't imagine any part of my life without you. I'm
overjoyed that you're here with me today, and I can't wait
to start this new chapter of our lives together, to set out
on the road with you by my side.
Jaime
to Dixon
Dixon,
there is no emotion for what I feel today - and every day -
about you. I Can't imagine my life without you. I can't imagine
a New Year's Eve where you aren't there to kiss me at midnight
or a sunny weekend where we don't go on some big adventure
or any point in time where you and I aren't arguing about whether
the details in one my stories are exaggerated. I don't want
to.
All
I want is what we already have: true love.
So
I'm not going to ask you to make any promises, and I won't
make
any either. I'm just going to say that I love you, will always
love you, and that you are the only person I'll ever love this
much.
Dixon,
you are the love my life and I choo-choo-choose you.
 3.
Wedding Vows of Missy to Ryan.
Missy
to Ryan
Ryan,
that Friday before we met at Snowball, I promised myself
that I wasn't going to the retreat to meet boys. I was going
to obtain leadership qualities that I could take back to my
high school. However, I came back that Sunday with some of
those leadership qualities and the phone number of the man
standing in front of me today.
I
knew you were special from the day we met at Snowball. Maybe
it was the bright purple football jersey or the bleach blonde
hair... but that day you entered my life as well as my heart.
Ryan,
we have been dating for 6 years and engaged for 4 of them and
now I FINALLY will become your wife. I wish I could say that
this is the happiest day of my life, but I know the truth is
that this will only be ONE of the happiest days that we will
share together. Life will take us on many journeys, some good
others not so good, but there sin;'t anyone I would rather
have at my side.
Ryan,
in tradition, here are some of the promises I intend to keep
as your wife:
-
I promise to be the best wife possible.
- I promise to love you always.
- I promise to let you have wife-free time to go fishing or
hang out with the guys or whatever.
- I promise to take care of you when you are sick, but still
make you go to work when you are faking.
- I promise to pair a chick flick with a guy movie, but you
have to try to say awake during the chick flick.
- I promise to only set an alarm on weekends when it is absolutely
necessary.
- I promise to let you be a country boy.
- I promise to let you love your truck almost as much as you
love me, and I'll try not to be jealous.
Ryan,
on a more serious note, in the 6 years that we have been together...
you have asked me to be your girlfriend and you have asked
me to marry you. Well now it is my turn to ask you a very important
question in the best country girl way I know how...
Ryan,
you know what I'm a wishin
We were a huggin and a kissin
And holding each other tight...
So Ryan
Could ya
Would ya
Ain't ya gonna
If I asked you... would you wanna
Be my HUSBAND for LIFE?
4.
Wedding Vows of Brian and Kim.
These
vows were exchanged at the same time with Brian and Kim alternating
Brian and
Kim together: I promise...
Kim:
to ask your help
Brian: to lean on you when I need to
Kim: to give you time to sort out your feelings
Brian: to tell you what's on my mind
Kim: to take a break from reality and let in a little romance
Brian: to surprise you with flowers and hold your hand
Kim: to quit screaming at the TV when Jay Cutler throws an
interception
Brian: to buy bigger earplugs so your screaming doesn't bother
me
Kim: to support you in whatever you choose to do
Brian: to support you in whatever you choose to do
Brian: I promise to pay attention to details
Kim: to try to see the pig picture
Brian: to respect your mind and encourage your love of learning
Kim: to remind you of your talents and cheer for your successes
Brian: to teach you more about cars
so you don't interrupt during Nascar wrecks
Kim: to pay little attention so you will continue to change
my oil and check out those weird noises
Brian: to put you first
Kim: to put you first
Kim:
I promise to tell you I love you and need you
Brian: to show you I care and that you matter
Kim: to seek your opinions and trust your judgments
Brian: to ask your advice and consider your suggestions
Kim: to honor you, cherish you, and hold you in my heart
Brian: to hug you, kiss you, and keep you in my thoughts
Kim: I promise to love you
Brian: I promise to love you
[
Note: Notice how the vows start out real serious and then Kim
says- "to
quit screaming at the TV when Jay Cutler throws an interception." When
she said that the entire audience broke out in laughter and
Brian had to wait for it to die down before he could say..
" to buy bigger earplugs
so your screaming doesn't bother me." Again
the audience broke out in laughter. The same thing happened
again when Brian mentioned Nascar and Kim answered him with
her own
come back. This is an outstanding use of humor in a vow exchange.
]
5.
Wedding Vows of Trey and Amanda.
Trey
to Amanda
Little
did I know that fateful day I went to Rush hospital I would
meet my future wife. I knew from the moment I met you
that day that there was something different about you and I was
right - you're a Cubs fan!
[Trey is a White Sox fan]
There definitely was a "spark" as they say, an instant
attraction. Looking back, I would have to say it was your stunning
blue eyes
and true smile that got my attention first. But there was more
there that wouldn't let me stop thinking about you after I left
that day, and I haven't stopped thinking about you since (even
during both of my bachelor parties!).
 I
went back a couple of days later and mustered up the courage
to find you again and ask for your number and I have to say
it was the best decision I've made in
my life. You are everything, and then some, I could have ever
hoped for in a woman. Loving, caring, nurturing, sympathetic,
thoughtful, intelligent. I would keep going but I don't want
your head to get too big.
Seriously
though, as my best friend Brian said.. "You found your
Soulmate." We are alike in many ways but different in
quite a few as well. You like to be punctual and prepared,
I tend to be
a little late and throw things together at the last minute
(and for the record, I am better than I used to be, but I have
to admit it's because of your positive influence).
I
have never felt such balance in a relationship and that is
one of the main reasons I believe that we will be able to overcome
anything together. It' just too bad there's only one great
baseball team in Chicago right now (and we know who that is
right?)
I
look forward to raising a family together, and spending the
rest of my life with you. You're going to make a wonderful
mother when the time comes, I just hope that time comes a little
later rather than sooner (because I'm not ready to share you
just yet!)
I promise to be faithful, to be as selfless as I can be, by
putting you, us, and eventually our family above all else.
It
may seem like I forget a lot of things, but I will never forget
our first handshake in the parking lot at Champs. (when I stole
your heart with one firm shake!) I will never forget our first
kiss in that Bennigan's parking lot.
And
I will never forget the kiss we share today in this ceremony
(and I hope it's a long, long time before we share our last
kiss.
I
love you always and forever!
Amanda
to Trey
From
the first time I laid eyes on you, I absolutely melted, literally!
My hands were clammy and I became a sweaty mess. And there
was something about that feeling that let me know there were
good things to come. From our first date, to our first handshake,
our first kiss, our first Cubs game, and for your sake- a Sox
game.
We've
shared our first ski trip- or "tumble down the mountain", an
awesome trip to Hawaii and had many other amazing firsts.
So when someone asks me how I knew you were "the one" I can
easily
say I have found someone, who just like me, has been raised
by amazing parents and surrounded by awesome friends.
And
now I can say, as we stand up here today, I recognize that
I have gone from one loving, caring home to another. A place
where I'll continue to feel loved, respected and appreciated
every day. So now we share our first home together - and we
get to look forward to many more firsts together.
But
today I can say that I have had my favorite first. Today I
marry the man of my dreams and begin the first day of the rest
of my life with you. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
I've called you my favorite for a long time and I promise to
hold you as number one in my heart. I promise to love you,
to be faithful to you, to be your partner and to always be
your friend.
I
thank you for loving me and will always appreciate you. With
our family and friends by our side I promise you forever. 6.
Wedding Vows of Jennifer and Joe.
Jennifer
to Joe
 I
remember when I first saw your Norwegian blue eyes at the
Algonquin Library, and decided,with great certainty, "he
is the one for me." Then I remember when we officially
met at the Lincoln Story League Luncheon, how I could
tell
by the way you focused so intently on me in a room of other
lady librarians, that I was the only one you wanted to
be with. I am here today, because of the way I felt back
then, and the way I still feel when I hear your key turning
in the lock and I run to the door, my heart still racing
after all this time.
I
used to believe that living up on a mountain, in a cabin
surrounded by pine trees, would be the only thing that
would make me happy. You encouraged that dream as I went
from Barrington, to Baraboo, and back again. Here I am,
home at last, because any place that you are is exactly
where I need to be. How far I've come from the notion
that living in a certain place could make me happy. Whether
we are taking a late night walk, camping in the rain,
eating a picnic lunch, or just laying on the couch, you
are my home.
I
love you, and I can't wait to be Mrs. Jennifer Drinka.
By marrying to you today, I promise to listen to you when
you are sad, find you when you are lost, encourage you
when you have an idea, make you late night noodles and
tomatoes when you are hungry, scratch your back when it's
itchy, and always by Miss Piggy to your Kermit, the Mama
Bear to your Papa Bear, and the Fiona to your Shrek.
Joe
to Jennifer
Jennifer,
I vow to revel in that you have so much spunk. In addition
to being patient, I will honor, respect and appreciate
you. Furthermore, I plan to provide you with love and comfort,
and make you safe and warm in my arms. I vow to be a partner,
confidant, and team player as well.
Jennifer, I also vow to listen to what you have to say,
smile for you, and to consider your views. I will help protect
you from the cruel outside world, play board games with you,
come up with good ideas for doing activities together, and
respect your love of gift shops.
Finally,
I will develop personal hobbies of my own, and improve
household handiness. I vow to take care of you, Jennifer,
and go to the store for you when you are sick. Not only do
I plan to use turn signals when we are driving together,
but may you never have to lift and carry large items again.
7.
Wedding Vows of Wendy to Paul
Paul,
from the first time you made me a gooey grilled cheese
sandwich, I knew it was love. You are the most talented,
generous,
selfless person I know. You are not afraid to be yourself,
and that I greatly admire. You are my best friend and accomplice,
and I look forward to sharing the rest of my life with
you. As we embark on this journey together, I promise to
try to keep a light heart and a sense of humor. I will
be honest, respect you and support you in your dreams and
goals. But most of all, I promise to trust and love you
with all my heart, and cherish you with all my soul forever
and ever.
Note:
This bride summed it all up, humor included, in just
7 sentences. Great vows are not a function of length.
Don't try to write the Gettysburg Address Of Love. Just
tell us what's on your heart and why you are marrying,
throw in a little humor, and you're in!!
8.
Wedding Vows of Anthony and Alexis.
Alexis
to Anthony
I
stand here before you because I am happier and more fulfilled
today than ever, and because I want to share my love with
you for the rest of my life .People
are always looking for that perfect person to call their
spouse. Some people never find that person, but I am one
of the luck ones. I found you.
 Perfect
may sound like a strong statement, but to me it means real.
It means having someone who opens my mind to politics and
opens my adventurous side to fishing. It means having someone
to teach me to slow down, someone who literally does stop
and smell the roses. It means having someone who knows
all my secrets. It means having someone with whom I can
share
all of life's joys, and it's tragedies, and who makes the
everyday anything but blah.
It
means someone who is honest and works hard for all he gets,
someone with good values and desires for the future that
match mine. It means someone with whom I can be intimate,
physically, mentally and spiritually. And let's not forget,
being real means being able to, in between these time of
joy, discuss our differences, mediate our problems, and
grow in our experiences. Anthony, I love you because you
are perfectly real, and I promise to love you forever.
I
promise to be your best friend, to have fun and enjoy life
with you.
I
promise to support you to reach all your dreams.
I
promise to share your joys and comfort you in your sorrows.
I
promise to be responsible in our finances, but not to let
money rule our lives.
I
promise to be the best mother to our future children that
I can be.
I
promise to be your faithful lover, and to work hard to
fulfill our needs.
I
promise to never forget this moment.
Anthony
to Alexis
On
this day which we chose to consecrate our commitment; I
wish to express my reasons I wish to be with you, and promises
I will uphold. I respect you in so many ways; I have learned
from your example about work and dedication to integrity
in all aspects of your life, you have never compromised
your values.
Your
heart is compassionate, evidenced by your commitment to
caring for the little children through their suffering.
You are understanding and willing to compromise because
you chose to work and be with me for the betterment of
our future. Lastly, your beauty is not only on the surface,
but your pulchritude runs deep within.
I
present the following promises because I believe that if
I follow them our marriage and life together will be full
of joy and wonder and our life will be an example for our
children.
I
promise one hundred percent fidelity.
I will not covet what is not under our roof; you and our
children will be enough.
I promise soft kisses and warm hugs when times are tough,
and lots of them just because I can.
I promise to never have a midlife crises and think that
I have missed out; I know I have not.
I will be a good husband by sharing our responsibilities
at least 50/50.
I promise to be there to teach our children all that I
can about the world by being there and making them by best
friends.
Lastly, I will admit when I am wrong and be a compromising
partner so we can work together to solve our problems,
so we can be together to enjoy our successes.
9.
Wedding Vows of Leigh and Jill.
Leigh
to Jill
[Note: This
groom is a playwright and wrote his vows in poetry. He
chose to capitalize certain words throughout his vows.
I have left those words capitalized and recreate his vows
as they appear on the original document.]
And
YOU, my love, you are PESTERED by FEARS.
That TAKING a man would SWALLOW you whole;
That I would HOUND you past the point of TEARS,
ROPE and saddle you with a WIFELY role;
While I MORPH into TABLE-banging BRUTE
Who silently MAKES you wash, rinse and FOLD
And IRON and brush and mend ALL my SUITS,
LOCKING you inside a HOUSE that turns COLD.
But you KNOW well these AREN'T my wishes
You know I can't PUSH you to bake my bread
Or COOK my meals or WASH all my DISHES
YOU are your OWN woman, YES, even when WED.
NOW
that we have COME to this JUNCTURE
Finally to bring TWO SOULS into ONE
Let us make SURE that our DREAMS don't get PUNCTURED
Nor should we EVER lose our sense of fun.
It's TRUE that our HOUSE has NO CHILDREN left
And NOW we CONFRONT our AUTUMN years
But there's NO cause for us to feel BEREFT
To WRING our hands or CUP EYES before tears.
There's a DOG to love and MORE a-coming
And a FRESH union that BIDS a new SPRING
And FRIENDS who come and keep HOUSE a-HUMMING
And ONTO your FINGER I'll slip your RING.
Men
and women who near MARRIAGE time
WANT to know if their DECISION is right.
They want to be AWED by some GUIDING sign.
Perhaps a FLAMING bush or BURNING light,
Directed by PRIEST wielding inlaid TOME,
Who DECLARES them mates for ALL to review;
OR they will gather TIPS from Sharon STONE
In a CHECKOUT line SECRETLY previewed.
YES, before THIS couple enters NEW LANDS,
TOTAL assurance they WILL want to take.
The ANSWER, of course: It's ALL in their HANDS.
With EACH of them having a LIFE to make.
I
STEPPED out of my SMALL space, then found YOU;
I tossed out YEARS of being on my OWN
And found a sweet SOMEONE to START anew,
Who will SHARE a house WE CAN call home,
A place to have FULL play of our YEARNING
And share LOVE in exchange for SOME freedom.
We'll TIE this knot with our HEARTS a-burning
THIS, our long, lovely JOURNEY to Eden.
I SEE it this WAY: We'll sit SIDE-by-side,
"Shall we STAY in or go OUT for dinner?"
Marriage is a STATELY, sometimes SHAMBLING ride
With each of us, half SAINT and half SINNER.
Jill
to Leigh
I
love you...
not only for what you are
but for what I am when I am with you.
I love you for taking me with you on
the Hero's Journey of wholeness.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
 I
love you because you are helping to make,
of the lumber of my life,
not a tavern but a temple.
Out of the moments of my every day,
not a reproach but a song.
I
love you for looking deeply into my heart
and gently passing over all the foolish things.
And for drawing out the beautiful parts
That no one else dared look far enough to find.
I love you for loving me when I'm unlikable
for cherishing the small child within me
for challenging the grown-up
for teaching me the language of intimacy.
I
love you for all the times we've shared
and all the times left to come:
For Spring Green and Maui and Dr. Phil
and fun times with Reggie
and bar-b-cues and crosswords and laughter.
You
give me your past
And I feel honored.
You give me your insights
And I feel calmed.
You give me your strong arms
And I feel protected.
You
give me your love
and I feel happy.
You give my your future
And I feel blessed.
10.
Wedding Vows of Haley and Michael.
For
nearly eight years our love for one another has grown stronger
with each passing day. We have shared many beautiful moments
and created countless memories that we will forever fondly
look back on.
Through
it all you have become my best friend, my lover, my companion
and my confidante. You have given me a new outlook on life
and courage to pursue my dreams.
On
this special day, as we begin the next chapter in our journey
together, I give you my heart and my word to be your best friend,
your lover, your companion, and your confidante when our path
takes unexpected turns, when life challenges us, and when life
rewards us.
And
to keep these vows close to my heart and live these vows all
the days of our lives.
Haley,
The
life and love we've hared together for the last eight years
has made me so happy and whole. Only having you as my wife
would make me happier, and most complete.
I
promise to make you laugh when you are sad, and to share your
joy when you are happy. To adore you, and cherish you, and
to sand beside you through whatever our life together brings.
I
take you to be my wife, knowing that my love for you will never
falter, and only grow stronger with each day we share.
I
will be your honest and faithful husband, always and forever.
11.
Wedding Vows of Ciara and Rob. (vows
were used by both).
I
take you (Ciara/Rob) this day as my (husband/wife). I promise
to walk by your side forever as your best friend, your lover,
and your soul mate.
You
are the love of my life and I am proud to marry you. I promise
to support your dreams and to be there for you for all eternity.
12.
Wedding Vows of Gail to Jeff.
It's
finally our special day! I've waited and dreamed my whole life
for the feelings you give me. You are my dream come true! I
know in my heart and soul that we will be together forever.
I promise that I will always be faithful and true to you.
I
love you more than words can say. I know you can feel it! And
the best thing about it is that I feel all of your love in
return. This is our beginning of forever.. thank you for choosing
me to grow old with.
I love you Jeff!
13.
Wedding Vows of Shannon and Brian.
(Brian's vows)
I
knew you were someone special when we met. We started as friends
just walking to class together. Now we are standing in front
of our friends and family getting married. The years we have
had, I would not trade for anything. We have had our fun time
- cookouts, Cubs games, dances at school among others- and
now building our first home together and raising our puppies.
Like
every relationship, we have had our problems, but from every
problem we grew. With every problem we learned what it was
going to take to make this relationship last.
Shannon,
you mean the world to me. I can't imagine where I would be
without you. You make me smile inside and out. I don't know
how anyone could go through life without experiencing the cycle
of love we have shared through the years. You have been a great
girlfriend, an even better best friend, and now you'll be the
greatest wife a man can ask for. I vow to you to be the best
husband I can be, and to love and cherish you for the rest
of our lives.
(Shannon's vows)
We
have had an amazing journey together. You have been my best
friend, my confidant, my entertainer, an amazing boyfriend
and my greatest challenge. You have made me a better person
as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live
my life.
But
most importantly, you are the love of my life and you make
me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved than I
ever thought possible. I am blessed to be a part of your life
and would not trade a day we have shared for anything. I can't
imagine my life without you.
So
on top of all the other vows that I will make to you on our
wedding day, I also vow to always appreciate how lucky I am
to have someone who makes me feel the way you do and continue
to try as hard as I can to make you feel as special as you
make me feel every day of our life. which as of today, becomes
our life together.
14.
Wedding Vows of Bill and "Oosa".
Miss
Oosa,
I
realized how special you were on the blind date we met in St
.Charles. Even though I couldn't see you hiding behind your
steering
wheel watching mw walk into Cordon Blues, I knew I was meeting
a caring and loving person when we first saw each other and
naturally had to hug when we introduced ourselves. I knew how
much of a generous person you were when you gave me a bag of
apples after our first date that you picked. Over the past
three and a half years, you have given me so much for than
apples. I have been the beneficiary of your compassion, love
and companionship. We have shared so many memorable moments
together, it was almost impossible for me to choose which one
to include in these vows.
But,
we were able to work on our vows together and remind each other
of all the moments that make our relationship special. We remembered
our cross country trips, bike riding in Michigan, watching
the Northern Lights, walking through Disney and sitting outside
at home with our birds.
I
know you were thinking of these tings while you were writing
your vows because I could hear you crying while you were writing.
I realized shortly after we met that you weren't just the woman
I wanted to spend my life with, you were the woman that I couldn't
live my life without. I promise to spend the rest of my life
with you. I will always support your goals and build our lives
as we work together and grow this Mawwidge. I will
love you, honor you, care for you for the rest of our lives.
Bill,
Today
is the day that we may share our bond with all our family and
friends. From the first time we me where joy swept over me
and I melted behind the steering wheel to our first embrace
just inside the entrance to Cord on Blues. I knew there something
special and unique about you. I began to realize that this
was only the beginning of many more joys to come. Our love
has only become stronger and more refined as we have worked
through the challenges and struggles in our lives. But through
those challenges I know that together we'll have the strength
and support to overcome any obstacles.
It
is your love and support that has strengthened my tenacity
in all I choose to pursue. In that pursuit I also have had
the pleasure of enjoying running around Disney with you, biking
the hills of Michigan, or along the Illinois river, or even
just lying around a campfire under the stars. This is how I
know that you Bill, are essential and necessary to bring completeness
to my life.
Bill,
may today be the beginning of the many wonderful times and
a confirmation that we may succeed in any challenge that comes
our way. The warmth and love I wait for at the end of a long
day is the same love that I know will endure through the many
years to come. Bill I love you, and thank you for this gift
of your love and commitment.
15.
Wedding Vows of Ryan and Sarah.
Sarah,
Today
we join each other as husband and wife, together with all of
the people in my life that have shared with me their love,
friendship, and guidance.
They
can now see what started as 2 kids throwing paper wads at each
other in art class 13 years ago, has turned into a beautifully
whole hearted union of mind and soul.
Everyone
here has helped make us who we are today. And now after our
lives crossed paths again it feels like we have always been
together.
Together,
we giggle at our jokes. And together, I will always be there
for you. Respecting your thoughts, and always talking with
you. Making you laugh when things bring you down. Enjoying
our life at its best and it's worst. Loving you all day form
morning to night. Together at heart, no matter how far apart.
These things you know now, and all our days after.
Ryan,
As
we stand here today in front of our friends and loved ones,
I want to pledge my undying love and dedication to you and
let you know that I have found in you the man I wish to spend
the rest of my life with.
You
are my best friend, my confidant, my lover and my partner.
Together we have created a safe haven from the chaos of the
outside world, and in you I have found comfort, joy and peace.
When
I laugh, you are always there to share the joke, when I cry
you are always there to wipe away my tears, when I yell, you
ar the one who, with quiet confidence, listens, understands
and is always able to calm me down.
Today
I make a promise to you that our friendship and mutual devotion
will be the foundation through which we will carry each other
through the bad times, laugh together through the good times,
but most importantly, be together. Because of you, I understand
what love is. It is the patience you show when I'm being stubborn
and won't admit you're right, it is the kindness in your eyes
every time you look at me. It is the complete trust you have
in me that your 're never jealous, and the respect you show
me every time you open a door for me.
Love
is the strength of our bond that makes no burden too great
for us to shoulder. Love is the hope and the belief that our
futures lie intertwined, and that you will be the man I grow
old with.
Today,
in front of all these people, I take you Ryan to be my friend,
my partner, to love, to respect, to trust, to cherish and to
hold above all others, to be my husband.
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