Matt and Kayley's Wedding Ceremony Script. Mustard Seed Gardens, Noblesville, IN. Glass Pouring Ceremony.

Matt and Kayley's Wedding Ceremony Script

Matt and Kayley.  Kayley and Matt.  Ahhh...Yes, I really like these two.  Ever since I met them our conversation was a bit of a running joke.  When I first sat down with them I asked them if there was anything they had to have in their ceremony and anything they definitely didn't want in their ceremony? The answer might be "I have to have this reading" or "I definitely don't want you to read off of an iPad, I think it's tacky." Most couples really don't know enough about wedding ceremonies to have an answer.  When I asked Matt and Kayley this question, Matt got quiet for a little bit and then said "God and Trump." 

Religion and politics are thing that you would have to actually request for me to put in your ceremony.  I'm happy to pray, but I'm not an ordained minister with a church so I don't automatically assume any couple wants an sort of religious aspect in their ceremony.  Politics, um, no, not at all. The interesting thing is, Matt and Kayley are complete opposites when it comes to politics. Considering how the current political climate has basically polarized much of the population, Kayley and Matt getting married gives me hope. 

Kayley and Matt chose wedding vows and verbiage in their ceremony that really transcends current politics to what marriage and love itself, should be.  They were last minute ceremony editors and I enjoyed reading every new thing they sent over and I was moved by it keeping in context who they are as individuals and a couple.  I especially enjoyed performing their wedding ceremony!

Mustard Seed Gardens is a lovely venue in Noblesville, IN. Their outdoor ceremony spaces are beautiful. Kayley and Matt chose to use the tree as a backdrop instead of the gazebo.  It was a chance of thundershowers all day and even as I was getting ready to leave for the wedding it was raining.  But it stopped, everything was dried off and the wedding was outside.  Music was provided by The Deoc Ensemble and Track 7 DJ provided the music.  A string trio for the ceremony and DJ for the reception.  

Oh, and, last but not least.  Matt and Kayley included their birds in the ceremony.  Chico and Pearl, the parrots were the honorary Flower-Bird and Ring Bearer.  

​Presentation of the Bride

Officiant: Who presents this woman to be married?
Father:  Her Mother and I do
​
Welcoming Words 

Welcome!  We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Matt and Kayley in marriage.  As they promise to love, trust in that love, honor one another as individuals, and anticipate with joy spending the rest of their lives together. They are surrounded by you - their friends and family. Thank you for gathering here to witness their marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion.

Moment of Silence

We’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Those who couldn't attend and those who have passed away.  We know they are here in spirit.  We would especially like to remember....(insert names here)

(Moment of Silence)  This is just one deep breath.  

Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing on a stage, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who has meant anything to you in the past twenty-something years. So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others.

Why this moment?

Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier — our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we're doing right. That's why you both are standing here. That's why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and at this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity. All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing — and others that are exciting and full of adventure.

And that brings them here. A time to pause, look back and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

I'm here — we're all here — because we want those moments for you. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It's not one moment — not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged — but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, binge-watching Netflix shows, getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience. And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love — it's meant to be felt, not described.

But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.


Readings

 The first reading is
From "Union"
by Robert Fulghum
and will be read by Kayley’s Cousins 


You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" - those late night talks that included "someday and somehow and maybe"- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word." Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last couple years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife”

The second reading is
An Uncommon Love
by Terah Cox
and will be read by Matt’s Cousins

May you have the love only two can know.
May you go where only two as one may go.
May the sun rise and set in your bonded hearts and the moon never find you too long apart.
May you cherish each other’s dreams as your own and turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
May you brave life’s mountains and miles together.
May there be no storm your love cannot weather.
May you be lovers and allies and friends.
May your soul’s conversation never end.
May you capture on earth what’s in heaven above.
May your hearts know the rapture of an uncommon love.

Vows 


Kayley and Matt, as you make your marriage vows today, you are pledging to each other to be loving friends and partners. To talk and to listen, to trust and appreciate one another; to respect and cherish each other's uniqueness; and to support, comfort and strengthen each other through life's joys and sorrows. You are promising to share your hopes, thoughts, and dreams as you build our lives together. You now go forward striving to build a home that is compassionate to all, full of respect and honor for others and each other, allowing your lives to be ever intertwined with your love for each other and your fellow human beings.

Declaration of intent


Matt, do you promise to love Kayley and respect her, to share your life and your dreams, to build with her a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment, and growth?

Matt:  I do

Do you promise to be a companion to her in all of her successes and failures, her happiness and sadness, to always give to her your unwavering support and above all else, the freedom to be herself?

Matt:  I do

Kayley, do promise to love Matt and respect him, to share your life and your dreams, to build with him a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment, and growth?

Kayley:  I do

Do you promise to be a companion to him in all of his successes and failures, his happiness and sadness, to always give to him your unwavering support and above all else, the freedom to be himself?

Kayley:  I do

Vows

Matt, Please repeat after me:

Kayley, today I take you to be my wife, and vow to help create for us a life of honesty, fidelity, trust, and love. To love you not as some idea of you, but as you truly are. To grow with you, learn with you, and to live out our days hand in hand.

Kayley, Please repeat after me:

Matt, today I take you to be my husband and vow to help create for us a life of honesty, fidelity, trust, and love. To love you not as some idea of you, but as you truly are. To grow with you, learn with you, and to live out our days hand in hand.

Ring Exchange

May we have the rings, please?  Paul (best man) will have the rings - He will get them from the birds.
Thank you Pearl and Chico (and Matt)


Meaning of the rings

​You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. The stones were formed a long time ago deep with the earth. Eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. Metal was then liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees — molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape it into something extraordinary. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one other today.

Matt, as you place the ring on Kayley’s finger, please repeat after me:

I Matt, take thee, Kayley to be my Wife.
To have and to hold,
in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,
in joy and in sorrow,
and I promise my love to you,
for as long as we both shall live.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.


Kayley, as you place the ring on Matt’s finger, please repeat after me:

I Kayley, take thee, Matt to be my husband.
To have and to hold,
in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,
in joy and in sorrow,
and I promise my love to you,
for as long as we both shall live.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.


Glass Ceremony

Kayley and Matt, before each of you is a container of glass crystals, each represents your separate lives, your friends, your families. I will ask that you each pour the contents within your own vase into the middle vase together. As the glass from each individual vase is blended together it symbolizes the joining of your separate lives, friends and family, into one union, the beginning of your journey as husband and wife. 
This combined glass will be taken by an artist and blown into a beautiful vase, never to be separated again, so may your marriage be.
​
Marriage and this beautiful vase are alike. Both are examples of what can happen when raw, unfinished elements come together. They can be two separate entities, fluid and independent of each other and can have an exquisiteness of their own, but join them together and the result can be stunning in its beauty, inspiring in its strength , humbling in its function. Continual flow....no beginning and no end.
As with your marriage.... this vase requires great care. Cherish it, polish it, protect it from any harm. Keep from it that which can break it, or chip away at it, and it will remain a thing of beauty.

You come back together and join hands. 

Final Blessing 

Life and love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity.
May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding
as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence.
May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of all.


Now, it’s almost time to pronounce you husband and wife, but first, I want to step out of the way because you are going to have a big kiss and I’m sure you don’t want my face in the middle of it!

Second, you all found packets of birdseed on your chairs as you were seated.  Now, is the time to take them out and get ready.  No, the bird seed is not to feed the ring and flower birds, Chico and Pearl, the feathered members of the wedding party.  It’s to toss as Kaylee and Matt make their way down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. ...!  So get ready, because here it comes….


The Pronouncement

It is my great pleasure to now pronounce you husband and wife!

You may kiss your bride!

Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to introduce to you: Mr. and Mrs. ......