20190914_emilys_wedding/html/stacys_officiation.html
2019/09/21 - S.Lieder
from: Stacy Lieder
to: stewart.french@gmail.com
date: Sep 21, 2019, 11:57 AM
subject: Stacy's remarks at Emily and Andrew's Wedding
EMILY AND ANDREW, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
ORDER OF SERVICE
STACY AT PODIUM BEFORE ATTENDANTS WALK IN
ANNOUNCEMENTS - STACY - GOOD EVENING, HERE ARE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY
o UNPLUGGED CEREMONY - THE COUPLE HAVE REQUESTED NO PHONES OR
CAMERAS BE OUT DURING THE CEREMONY, LEST WE FRIGHTEN AWAY THE
GHOSTS. WE ASK THAT YOU HONOR THEIR WISHES. THERE ARE
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WILL CAPTURE THE CEREMONY, AND
GUESTS ARE REQUESTED TO BE FULLY PRESENT IN THE MOMENT. PHONES
AND CAMERAS ARE OF COURSE WELCOME AT THE RECEPTION.
o NO STANDING - THE BRIDE HAS REQUESTED THAT ALL GUESTS REMAIN
SEATED AS SHE WALKS UP THE AISLE. WE ASK THAT YOU HONOR HER
REQUEST.
PROCESSIONALS - DJ
o ATTENDANTS: MARRIED LIFE FROM UP
o BRIDE: THERE SHE GOES - THE LAS
WELCOME - STACY
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE WEDDING OF EMILY AND ANDREW. IT WAS 12
YEARS AND ONE DAY AGO THAT ANDREW "DEFINED THE RELATIONSHIP" BY ASKING
EMILY TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND. WHEN SHE SAID YES, THEY TOOK THEIR FIRST STEP
TOGETHER DOWN THE LONG PATH THAT HAS BROUGHT THEM HERE, TO THIS PLACE,
TO THIS MOMENT. TODAY, THEY TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOGETHER ON THE LONG AND
WINDING ROAD OF LIFE, SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND ENVELOPED IN
LOVE AND LIGHT.
AFTER 12 YEARS TOGETHER, EMILY AND ANDREW ARE TAKING THIS STEP WITH EYES
WIDE OPEN. IN THEIR TIME TOGETHER, LIFE HAS GIVEN THEM RIVERS TO CROSS,
BURDENS TO BEAR, TRIUMPHS TO CELEBRATE - AND CHOICES TO MAKE. THROUGH
THESE SHARED EXPERIENCES, THEY HAVE GROWN IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF
THEMSELVES AND OF EACH OTHER, AND THROUGH THEIR LOVE, THEY HAVE
EMBRACED THE IMPORTANT LESSONS THAT HAVE PREPARED THEM FOR MARRIAGE.
THESE LESSONS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED VERY ARTFULLY IN THIS POEM BY WILFERD
A. PETERSON
HAPPINESS IN MARRIAGE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS.
A GOOD MARRIAGE MUST BE CREATED.
IN THE ART OF MARRIAGE, 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 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.
IT IS DISCOVERING WHAT MARRIAGE CAN BE, AT ITS BEST.
EMILY AND ANDREW HAVE WRITTEN THEIR OWN VOWS. (COUPLE WILL SHARE A
COPY WITH ME, IN CASE THEY NEED PROMPTS.)
- EMILY STARTS, ANDREW ECHOES
RINGS.
HAND RING TO ANDREW:
DO YOU, ANDREW, TAKE EMILY TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE?
ANDREW RESPONDS "I DO".
TO ANDREW: PLACE THE RING ON EMILY'S FINGER.
HAND RING TO EMILY:
DO YOU, EMILY, TAKE ANDREW TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND?
EMILY RESPONDS "I DO".
TO EMILY: PLACE THE RING ON ANDREW'S FINGER.
EMILY AND ANDREW, YOU HAVE COMMITTED YOURSELVES TO EACH OTHER, YOU
HAVE DECLARED YOUR INTENT TO BE HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND YOU HAVE
EXCHANGED RINGS AS A SYMBOL OF YOUR COMMITMENT. SO BY THE POWER
VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU HUSBAND AND
WIFE.
YOU MAY NOW SEAL YOUR COMMITMENT WITH A KISS.
MAY YOUR LIFE TOGETHER BE RICH AND FULL, MAY YOU BE SURROUNDED BY LOVE
AND LIGHT, AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU EMILY AND ANDREW ATWOOD.
RECESSIONAL: LITTLE RASCALS THEME
AFTER RECESSIONAL: ANNOUNCEMENTS - FAMILY PICTURES, RECEPTION, ET
CETERA....
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