My Favorite Wedding Vows

Traditional Wedding Vows

When most people talk about marriage and weddings, they focus on the wrong things. Things like expensive rings and what to wear, parties, and the reception and honeymoon, spending a LOT of money. That is not my focus. Of course I'd like a nice wedding, but I want to be frugal and wise about it. The ceremony is not what's most important. What's most important is loving your partner and your life together in marriage after the ceremony. I have put together some of the speeches and traditional vows that I think are very important and would like to use for my wedding.
　
 


Partial transcript from Minister's speech at a Christian wedding 2/4/12:
  I heard something not long ago, it gave me a whole new perspective on life.
Why spend your life doing great things when God has called us to do impossible things
 
The people of this world can do great things, but only God can do impossible things. And God has called all of us to do impossible things. With God, there's nothing impossible.
That's what this marriage is all about. A Godly marriage today is impossible. Because so many go at it with the idea of trying to love each other. And that doesn't work. Because our human love is imperfect. How does an imperfect person love another imperfect person? Some day you may just possibly wake up and not want to love your mate, and that's when most people 'break up'.
But if you have an outlook of love, that won't be a problem-- that God does not want us to love each other. He wants us to be a channel of His love to that person.
So it doesn't depend upon our human love, which is based on expectations. We expect from them, that's why we love them. If they stop giving, we stop loving. That's human love. But if you both purpose to simply be channels of God's love to each other, so when you wake up and you don't feel like loving - you say, well God I don't love this person today, but you do! So you love my partner through me. I'll be the channel, you be the lover.
In order for that to work, you must give, each of you, all your expectations to God.

An impossible marriage is when you understand your roles.
God sent you to be a helpmate, but what does that mean?
He said man needs a helpmate to help with these 3 things: for him to maintain that daily walk with God, to give him wisdom in resources, and the commands of Christ being lived out in his life.
Now the more successful you are as a helpmate, the more successful he is as a mighty man of God, a strong man of his house. No one can destroy a strong mans house unless he first binds a strong man in some addiction, some deceiving sin. Then he will come in and plunder the treasures of that man.
But as you are a mighty man of valor and she is a godly wife and mother, then you are going to be doing impossible things for God, especially as you come to be in one accord.
　
As 2 people in one accord, the power of God's spirit will come upon you.

The more you love God, the less you love evil.
The less you love God, the more you love evil.

The love and fear of God is being aware and accountable to Him that He knows every thought, word, and action....and will reward or discipline accordingly.

Now when you do mighty things for God, impossible things for God, then you will have enemies. It's part of the program.
God uses our enemies to position us to accomplish impossible things.
If Joseph had not had brothers who hated him, he would never have been in a position to be the ruler of Egypt. If David had not had Saul trying to destroy him he never would have written Psalms. If Jesus did not have the Pharisees that hated him, we would not have Salvation.
And that's why we're told to rejoice. Be exceedingly glad, great is your reward in Heaven. Because you will be doing impossible things for God.
Plan on doing impossible things for God.

<3


　
　
　
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of God to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all people; Into this holy state of matrimony, these two persons present now come to be joined.
Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy and for the help and comfort given on another in prosperity
and adversity. But more importantly, it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained.

Through marriage, GROOM'S NAME and BRIDE'S NAME make a commitment together to realize their hopes, face their disappointments, accept each other’s failures, and embrace their dreams
GROOM'S NAME and BRIDE'S NAME will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together through mutual understanding, openness, and sensitivity to each other.

We are here today, before God, because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes, to witness the joining in marriage of GROOM'S NAME and BRIDE'S NAME.
This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now, through me, He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds.



By gathering together all the wishes of happiness and our fondest hopes for GROOM'S NAME and BRIDE'S NAME, we assure them that our hearts are in tune with theirs. These moments are so meaningful to all of us, for “what greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together – to strengthen each other in all labor – to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness.

This relationship stands for love, loyalty, honesty and trust
, but most of all for friendship. Before they knew love, they were friends, and it was from this seed of friendship that is their destiny, and has blossomed into love.
But remember to not just follow your heart, but that you must lead your heart.
Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between them. It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage is a lifelong covenant of the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to make it last.


Do you GROOM'S NAME take BRIDE'S NAME to be your wife, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, in sadness and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?


Do you BRIDE'S NAME take GROOM'S NAME to be your husband, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, in sadness and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?


May this/these ring(s)
be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place that many will find there a friend. May these rings on their fingers symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts.


May you always share with each other the gifts of love, be one in heart and in mind, may you always create a home together that puts in your hearts: love, generosity, and kindness.

In as much as GROOM'S NAME and BRIDE'S NAME have consented together in marriage before this company of friends andfamily and have pledged their faith – and declared their unity by giving and receiving a ring – are now joined.

You have pronounced yourselves husband and wife
but remember to always be each other’s best friend.

What, therefore, God has joined together, let not man put asunder.

　
 
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O gracious and everliving God, you have created us male and
female in your image: Look mercifully upon this man and this
woman who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist
them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love
they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make;
through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with
you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Give them wisdom and devotion in life, that each may be
to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity,
a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.
Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and
acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness
and yours.
Make their life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful
and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair.
Bestow on them, if it is your will, the gift and heritage of
children, and the grace to bring them up to know you, to love
you, and to serve you.
Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that they
may reach out in love and concern for others.
Grant that the bonds of our common humanity, by which all
your children are united one to another, and the living to the
dead, may be so transformed by your grace, that your will may
be done on earth as it is in heaven;



　
An Irish Wedding Toast
Here's to lying, cheating, stealing, and drinking.
If you must lie, then may you lie with each other in bed together.
If you must cheat, then cheat the devil.
If you must steal, then steal each other's hearts.
And if you must drink, then may we all drink to your happiness.

Pictures of my Family

This is a tribute I did a few years back for my grandfather. Here is the original link:

myspace.com/byronjohnkelly

Be sure to press play on the music player on the lefthand side of the site, and please listen to the first 2 songs! Thanks!

Or check it out on youtube! After 2 years in the making, I just finished putting it all together as a slideshow music video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlQkLRCsbFw