So this post will be a little different.  Recently I attended one of my closest friend’s wedding.  It was just a great thing to be a part of considering the road my friend had to traverse to get to the wedding in one piece.  One of the best things about the wedding was that his brother was the man to perform the ceremony.  Nearly everyone who was there commented on how great of a ceremony it was, and not only that but I just felt really strongly that there were so many great messages that came from it.  I know that he spent weeks praying and pondering what to say and I don’t think it could have turned out better.  So for the post I am going to be posting the script from the ceremony only editing the names for their privacy.  I hope you find it as inspiring and fun as I did:

I’d like to welcome everyone here today to witness the marriage of Ricky and Carly….I know right!! I even had to practice saying that a few times to believe it myself. Yes I said marriage of Ricky and Carly… Turns out I owe our Dad $5 bucks because Ricky actually made it here on time today. We half expected Ricky’s assistant to step in as a proxy for him!  Thank you so much for letting me be here and be apart of this occasion.  

But seriously, Ricky, as your little (yet bigger) brother, I look up to you, only figuratively of course [RICKY IS A VERY SHORT MAN ALTHOUGH VERY STRONG]. We have spent many years living and working side by side and I’ve seen the growth into the man you are becoming and I am so proud to call you my brother. Carly, gosh you look great today! I’ve been blown away with how capable and intelligent and kind you are and I’m so happy to be able to begin to call you sister. Both of you, it is truly an honor to be standing here with you today to take part in this special moment. Before we go any further, Lets take a minute and Look at all who came to support the 2 of you today [200 PEOPLE], They love and support you and this marriage.  Many have traveled a long distance and are here to publicly declare there support and love. Just soak in the love that your family and friends have brought with them today. Soak in their smiles and the genuine compassion,….enjoy and treasure this moment…take every bit of their love in.

We would also like to take a minute to honor those that made this day possible, Carly’s parents and grandparents as well as Ricky’s parents and grandparents. Way to be fertile and produce these beautiful offspring. We would also like to recognize those that are not with us today and know  they are proud of you.  Our best friend Paul who passed away too soon and would have been so happy, grandparents, and especially The Macho Man Randy Savage!  [SUCH A FUNNY MOMENT AFTER EVERYONE TEARED UP AT THE MENTION OF PAUL OUR FRIEND]

Ricky and Carly have chosen each and everyone of us to be here with them to witness their Wedding Vows as they join together as husband and wife. Great thought went into whom they wanted to share this occasion with….its like deleting friends from Facebook, if you are here, you obviously made the cut so if you don’t see someone here you thought would have made the cut maybe just don’t say anything about being here.  Now As they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, we are blessed to witness the power their love, their open hearts, and desire to grow as a team. Inspired by their love, let each of us rededicate ourselves to the loving relationships in our own lives. For those of you already married think back to the day you were married and recommit to your partner that love which brought you together in the first place.  For those of you who are single, put away your dating apps and take a look around…this is an excellent place to meet your future spouse.  May we all be enriched for having shared this day together.

To begin the ceremony today let us go to where their story began Like most stories of Ricky’s, it all started at the gym. Ricky saw Carly for the first time and later he told me, “she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”  In that moment he recalled to me that the spirit conveyed to him that this was the woman he would marry. At that moment he had a Saturday Warrior’s experience, or in other words it was as if before they came to earth they had promised to find each other in this life. Ricky knew that all he had to do was have her see him and she would feel the same thing. So as he walked up to her knowing that this was a moment that would change his life, Carly looked at him and simply walked away feeling nothing!

Devastated, Ricky regrouped his thoughts and try to think of a new way to get her attention. He looked for her at the gym for months until one day he spotted her once again. This time he would not make the same mistake as last time.  As he approached Carly, he knew he couldn’t just use the same lines as every other dude and get her attention, so the first thing that came to his mind was to tell her he was a modeling agent and she needed to model for his company! This, as many of us know, was not true at all, because he had no model agency.  He asked me for help and was basically begging me to find a solution.  I did happen to have an online fitness company, so that would have to work. I happily went about helping Ricky create a fake photo shoot to get Carly out and spend time with him. At some point over food while they were talking about “business” Carly was finally able to feel how special Ricky really was. Carly later related that she felt the same inspiration that she would marry Ricky at that point as well, and it didn’t leave even after she realized he wasn’t a modeling agent!!!

So the moral of the story for the single guys…start a fake modeling agency!

In all seriousness, the moral is that God will direct us when we do our part, even if it may be down unconventional paths. Ricky was willing to do what it took to follow that prompting and Carly was open enough to give him a chance. We are here because these two want to join lives and commit to each other that they are ready to stand side by side and rock this life together!  God meant for man and woman to be together, otherwise Adam would still be walking around naked.  

[SPEAKING TO RICKY] Carly has been and will be good for you man. She has the ability to keep you focused and on track, not only because she has a good head on her shoulders, but because you love and trust her to lead you. It’s safe to say that God is a God of miracles. Let’s be honest, when two people find each other and then want to spend the rest of their lives together accepting that there is no greener pasture out there, it is truly a MIRACLE! Life is busy, hard demanding, there are songs you need to dance to, deals that need to be made, but somehow the two of you have managed to find each other in all the craziness of life. THAT IS A MIRACLE…not only that you have now found each other once, but TWICE! [THEY BROKE UP THE FIRST TIME BUT SOMEHOW ENDED UP BACK TOGETHER] It’s a double miracle, it’s like a double rainbow! So, in witnessing this ceremony today, we are all observing only an outward sign of an inward connection that already exists between the two of you.

Typically it’s a good idea to give the bride and groom advice on marriage…well I’m about a year into mine so I’m not really an authority on this topic.

I have consulted with a number of people in the audience who love and support you on this collective advice. Here’s what we have for you:

1- GOD

Invite God into this relationship! Just like many of us have witnessed you both do this on an individual level, you must now do this between the two of you. It’s clear that you both love God, and he loves you and wants this marriage to succeed and last for eternity, he is willing to help.. Our advice….LET HIM. A relationship built on the base of Gods love  and your love for each other will be a beautiful thing. With the eternal power God introduces in your lives combined with the power of your love and respect for each other, Aretha Franklin was right, there will be no mountain high enough or river wide enough to keep you two apart. Inspire and lift each other in the spirit. Approach God together and ask him to continue to lead you lives with that same spirit that began you relationship

2- RELATIONSHIP

Life is busy, people say marriage is work…and those people are absolutely right! Marriage is not to be treated like your part time job delivering pizzas after work [RICKY] or teaching kids to dance [CARLY]. Your day job is your new part time job and your marriage is your full time job. There is a difference between being interested and being committed … This is not something you walk away from.

But what does marriage mean? [ADVICE FROM FRIENDS]  

It is never being to old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say ‘I love you’.

It is at no time taking the other for granted.

It is to never stop dating It is the desire to listen It is having a mutual sense of values It is doing things for each other, not with an attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is most definitely not expecting perfection from each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding, and a healthy sense of humor. 

It is having the capacity to forgive and even at times to forget.

It is not marrying the right partner…it is being the right partner.

It is discovering that you will never lose sight of your love for one another by being blinded or distracted by work other obligations.

3- EACH OF YOU  

RICKY – 1) Sacrifice: show her you love her….it is said that in marriage you are not sacrificing yourself to the other, but rather yourself to the relationship.  2) Never take this woman for granted! She accepts you and she loves you. Never miss an opportunity to show her you love her.  It’s been said that no man is truly married until he understands every word his wife is not saying. So brother “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging”

CARLY – Ricky is a mustang, you must bridal him as a horse sometimes. When he wants to tattoo the entire cast of Waldo or Little Rascals on his body you may need to gently guide him to make a wiser decision, but sometimes he will need to run free as the mustang he is and you will need to trust him that he will always come back to you because he will.  Do not hesitate to communicate openly and honestly with him, as you both grow closer together he will hear your needs.

As a couple you two are so good for each other. People in love will compliment each other with strengths and weaknesses and the is so true for these two.  For every off color joke Ricky tells he brings the color of love, life and commitment. For every plant Lizzy picked from the neighbors lawn that you will later eat for dinner [CARLY HAS CRAZY DIETARY STANDARDS] she will bring you happiness, support and stability to your life.  Be patience with each other. You are both outstanding people but there will be times in you marriage that one or the other may not act so outstanding…this doesn’t not mean the love isn’t still there. See each other in those times as you see each other now! So remember you must enter your marriage confident in the love and trust you have already created between the two of you. You have invested a great deal of time emotion love and commitment to each other and you are now ready to take it to the next level.

Richard will you take Carly to be your wife, will you continue to be loving and caring, to comfort her, cherishing her, honoring and respecting her and your promises to her throughout all of the events of your life together?

I do

Carly, will you take Richard  to be your husband, will you continue to be loving and caring, to comfort him, cherishing him, honoring and respecting him and your promises to him throughout all of the events of your life together?

I do

EXCHANGE OF RINGS.                

[RICKY REPEATING TO CARLY]   I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and faithfulness to you. As I place this ring on your finger let it be a reminder of my love, my devastatingly good looks and unwavering commitment to you.

[CARLY REPEATING TO RICKY]  I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and faithfulness to you. As I place this ring on your finger let it be a reminder if my love, my unquestionable style and never ending commitment to you.

Well there’s no going back now! We’ve come this far so we might as well finish this. All who are here love you and we will all continue to show you love and support in this union just like you will support each other. You are loved and we are proud of you both very much.

And now, the moment we are all here for! by the power vested in me, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife!! You may now kiss the bride!!!

Friends and family, for the first time may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Bobby.

Marriage is a crazy thing and I love my wife more than anything.  I loved her more after this ceremony.  Marriages don’t always work and there isn’t always a reason why, but I think all of us can benefit from the lessons and laughter that came from this wedding and I am thankful I got to be a part of it.