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The Vows
Processional & Giving Away of The Bride
Lori’s
father shall escort her down the aisle. They stand
before me until I ask, “Who gives this woman to be
married to this man?” He answers, “I do.” I will
nod, he will give Lori a kiss and if he chooses, may
shake Chris’s hand, and then takes his seat.
Welcome
Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We are
gathered here today to celebrate Chris and Lori’s
marriage. Two people in love do not live in
isolation. Their love is a source of strength which
may nourish not only each other, but the world
around them. In turn, we, their community of friends
and family, have a responsibility to Chris and Lori.
We must support their marriage and the new family
they are creating. We must offer Chris, Lori,
Alexis, Anjelika and Araleigh our love, offer them
the joys of our friendship, give them our blessing,
and provide encouragement and lifelong support.
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Vows
“There
are only four questions of value in life. What is
sacred? Of what is the spirit made of? What is worth
living for? What if worth dying for?”
[Quoting Don Juan DeMarco] Chris and
Lori, you have discovered the answer to each,
only love. You have discovered in each other
great passion and romance, friendship and trust. You
have discovered the meaning of life.
Today
you present yourself before God, your family and
friends as husband and wife. Before this company,
you wish to share your commitment to the one you
have found the deepest love, formed the deepest
bonds, given the deepest trust.
Marriage
is perhaps the greatest and most challenging
adventure. It must be built from love and patience,
dedication and perseverance, talking and listening.
Helping, supporting and believing in each other.
Through tenderness and laughter, learning to
forgive, and to appreciate differences. By learning
to make the important things matter and to let go of
the rest.
Chris,
if you are ready for this adventure, I ask you
repeat after me,
“I,
Chris, take you, Lori [Repeat]
For my
lawful wife, [Repeat]
To have
and to hold, [Repeat]
From
this day forward, [Repeat]
For
better, for worse, [Repeat]
For
richer, for poorer, [Repeat]
In
sickness and health, [Repeat]
Until
death do us part.” [Repeat]
Chris,
do you have a ring for your bride? [I do]
May
this ring be blessed as the symbol of this unity and
forever symbolize the love in your heart. Please
place this ring on your bride’s finger and repeat
after me, “With this ring I thee wed, [Repeat]
pledging to you all my love and faithfulness
forevermore. [Repeat]
Chris,
today you welcome another child into your family. Do
you vow to always be a patient and loving father to
Alexis and Anjelika? [I do]
If you
will please present them with the token of this vow
and repeat after me, [Chris will kneel before girls
with lockets]
“Alexis
and Anjelika [Repeats]
I thank
God and your mommy [Repeat]
for
bringing you both into my life. [Repeat]
I will
forever care for you and provide for you as my own.
[Repeat]
With
these lockets, I give you my heart, [Repeat]
my
strength and my support, from this day forward.”
[Repeat, presenting locket]
~
Lori,
if you are ready for this adventure, I ask you to
repeat after me,
“I,
Lori, take you, Chris [Repeat]
For my
lawful husband, [Repeat]
To have
and to hold, [Repeat]
From
this day forward, [Repeat]
For
better, for worse, [Repeat]
For
richer, for poorer, [Repeat]
In
sickness and health, [Repeat]
Until
death do us part.” [Repeat]
Lori,
do you have a ring for your groom? [I do]
May
this ring be blessed as the symbol of this unity and
forever symbolize the love in your heart. Please
place this ring on your groom’s finger and repeat
after me, “With this ring, I thee wed, [Repeat]
pledging to you all my love and faithfulness
forevermore. [Repeat]
Lori,
today you welcome another child into your family. Do
you vow to always be a patient and loving mother to
Araleigh? [I do]
If you
will please present Araleigh with the token of this
vow and repeat after me, [Lori will kneel before
Araleigh with locket]
“Araleigh, I thank God and your daddy [Repeat]
for
bringing you into my life. [Repeat]
I will
forever care for you and provide for you as my own.
[Repeat]
With
this locket, I give you my heart, [Repeat]
my
strength and my support, from this day forward.”
[Repeat, presenting locket]
~
Chris,
Lori, Alexis, Anjelika and Araleigh, no other ties
are more tender, no other vows are more sacred than
those you have assumed. Your lives will have joy and
the home you establish will be a place in which you
all will find the direction of your growth, your
freedom and your responsibility.
It is
with great honor and by the power of your love and
commitment and the authority vested in me to now
announce you husband and wife, mother and father,
and sisters! Chris, you may kiss your bride!
Family
and friends, I present to you Mr. & Mrs. Robbins and
family!
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