Our Vows

Brandon and I decided to write our own vows and incorporate them within our ceremony script.  We didn’t go with the normal “we vow to love and cherish to death do me part…etc.”  Our pastor worked with us and made something very different.  We absolutely loved it, and wanted to share it with everyone.

So here is our ceremony script, we hope you like it as much as we do.

Introduction
*In the Bible, the New Testament book of James teaches us that every good gift comes from God in heaven. Marriage is one of those gifts.
*Today we are gathered together to celebrate that gift of marriage that God is giving to Brandon Finton and Patti Mannino.

Prayer of Blessing
*I would now ask that everyone join me in prayer as we seek God’s blessing upon the marriage of Brandon and Patti.
*God, our Father in heaven, you are the creator and sustainer of life and all that is good. We acknowledge that all good gifts come from you. We now covet your blessing upon Brandon and Patti as they unite together as one in marriage. We ask that you will bless their marriage throughout the years to come. In both good times and the more difficult times we ask that you will protect them as they love each other. This is our prayer, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!

Giving Away of the Bride
1.    *Who presents Patti to be married to Brandon? (Presenter responds “I do!”)
2.    *I now will marry Brandon and Patti

Charge to the Bride and Groom
*Brandon and Patti. As you prepare to begin a new life together as husband and wife, I have a charge I would like to give to you. However, this charge is also to the witnesses of this marriage.
*In the New Testament book of First Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote to a church about the absolute important necessity of love. For love is a necessary ingredient for any meaningful and lasting relationship. I would like to read the first seven verse of 1 Corinthians 13 as part of my charge:

“If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship, that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, [and] always perseveres.”1

*Brandon and Patti. Like all relationships, marriages will always encounter challenges that require effort to successfully conquer those challenges. Those challenges cannot be conquered without an unyielding love for one another. I charge you now to always love one another. I also charge these witnesses to hold them accountable to love each other.

Exchange of Wedding Vows
Brandon
*Patti, before Brandon offers the vows he has pledged to you, I would like to read something which Brandon wrote for you…“Since the first day we met I have adored you in every way. I admired your smile, your eyes, your thoughtfulness, your wit and charm, and most importantly your laugh and sense of humor. I always remember being able to make you laugh uncontrollably and I loved it so much. I look back on how happy you made me feel back then; there was definitely a connection between us that I had never felt before.
When we started dating and seeing each other all the time again I fell in love with you faster than I have ever before. I knew the relationship we were building was unique and very special.  I remember the greatest day of my life so far was when we went to Busch Gardens and to that wonderful restaurant by the beach. I felt like a teenager again with such a huge crush on you; I knew that day that you were the one I was supposed to marry and spend the rest of eternity with.  I wanted to marry you because of how caring and supportive you have always been. You have always been here for me when I have needed you the most and you have helped me grow to be a better person. You always forgive me when I make mistakes and you accept who I am.”
*Brandon, if you would take Patti’s hand and repeat after me…“Patti, today I give you all of me in marriage… I vow to always be faithful and respectful… I vow to love you unconditionally and support you through whatever life throws our way… I want to help you live out your dreams… and help create an even better life for ourselves and our family… just as we have already started to do… Patti, I vow most of all to never give up and never stop loving you.”

Patti
*Brandon, before Patti offers the vows she has pledged to you, I would like to read something which Patti wrote for you…
“My Love… When you look up the word marry in the dictionary, it is defined as a verb meaning: to take an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises, or to combine, connect, or join so as to make more efficient.  When I think of you, our love, and our family,  the word efficient always comes to mind.  Over the past year, and the last 10 years if you want to include those as well, I have fallen in love with everything about you.  You have given me our family, our relationship, our life, and that to me means more than any gift anyone can give.  I have for my entire life wondered why God put us on this earth, but this is the first time in my life I finally understand.  Our family is why.  Our love is why.  Our unending devotion and friendship is why.”
*Patti, if you would take Brandon’s hand and repeat after me…
“On this day, and every day forward I vow to you… that I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst… through the difficult and the easy… through the pain and the joy that is life… I promise to love you with all my heart and mind and strength… I vow to be your best friend…and do everything in my power to make you as happy as I am today… Whatever may come, I will always be there for you…  I now offer myself to you as a partner in life…  As I have given you my hand to hold… so I give you my life to keep in your heart for all the days of my life…  I love you Brandon… thank you for being you… and for making my life complete.”
*Brandon, Patti also had one other thing she wanted you to know…that she fell “…in love with you suddenly now there’s no place else I could be but here in your arms.”

Exchange of the Rings
*May I have the rings?
*Brandon, take this ring, place it on Patti’s finger and repeat after me. “Patti, with all of my love and affection… I give you this ring… as a symbol of my love and marriage commitment to you.”
*Patti, take this ring, place it on Brandon’s finger and repeat after me. “Brandon, with all of my love and affection… I give you this ring… as a symbol of my love and marriage commitment to you.”

Lighting of the Unity Candle
*As we see, there are two candles which represent each of you as individuals. I now invite you to each take one of these candles and light this candle of unity which represents the oneness which God is blessing you with on this day.

Pronouncement & Presentation
*Before the presence of God and as a minister of God, I now you Brandon and you Patti as husband and wife.
*Brandon, you may kiss your bride.
*I now present Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Finton.