Leah & Alex's Wedding

Leah & Alex's Wedding

On Saturday June 8 2019 I had the incredible good fortune to marry my friends Alex and Leah at Madison's Olbrich Gardens. What an incredibly lovely and warm location to match  the lovely and warm couple! The ceremony was quick and fun!

 

Leah GLOWED in her lace gown!

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Approach

[Father and mother of the bride walks Leah down aisle]

[Father of the bride hands off Leah to Alex]

Introduction: Siobhan

 

[To all]

 

Welcome family and friends.

 

On behalf of Leah and Alex, we are so thankful you’re here to participate in this joyous occasion. The couple has professional photographers here to capture the best version of events, so please put away cell phones for now. 

Following the ceremony, the bride and groom would like to spend a few moments with each of you before their first dances. So, get ready to hug them on their way back down the aisle!

 

 

[To bride and groom]

 

Leahat this time, I’ll have you hand off your bouquet.

 

[Leah hands off bouquet]

 

Reading: Siobhan

To Leah and Alex

Leah and Alex, today you are surrounded by your loved ones, all of whom have made a journey, some of great distances and some… not so much… to be here with you and witness your wedding ceremony. So what I’d like you to do now is take a moment to look around you and let it all soak in. Maybe wave at a couple folks.

 

Leahand Alex you and I have known each other for a little while now, brought together by Madison’s happenin’ dog scene and what can only be described as the sheer gravitational pull of our mutual friend Lindsey.

 

As I’ve gotten to know the two of you over drinks and dogs, I can see that you’re the perfect complement to one another. You’re both so warm, loving, funny, sincere, open, and genuine. These are all the qualities we value in you and you value in one another.

 

 

TO AUDIENCE

 

So let me tell you all a little bit about what brings us all together today. As with many modern love tales, Leah and Alex met through Facebook back in… let me make sure I get this right… 2013… or was it the end of 2012… or yep could have been May of 2013.

 

Alex went on tour with his band and he can’t remember if they talked during that time but they probably started hanging out in February at a bar that was in either Milwaukee or Madison that was named Spooky’s House or was it Ground Zero.

 

Anyhow, they cemented their love for one another by celebrating their 11-month, or one-year, or 15-month anniversary with a trip back to Milwaukee where they may or may not have been together before.

To Leah and Alex

 

All joking aside, Leah and Alex, in the time that you’ve known one another, you’ve blossomed together as a couple and individually within your relationship. You’ve committed to continuing to build a fantastic life together full of dogs, movies, lovely friendships, napping, music, dog parks, and dog parties.

 

Your devotion to one another is downright palpable. That is so powerful and it’s the reason we are here.

 

 

 

Readings:

 

At this time I’ll invite Leah’s parents to step forward to share a reading.

 

[READING]

 

I’d like to now invite Alex’s mother Rebekah to share a reading.

 

[READING]

 

Thank you, that was lovely.

 

 

 

Advising the Couple: Siobhan 

 

Leahand Alex, in the days ahead of you, you will see stormy times and calm times, times of conflict and times of joy.

 

Allow these thoughts to be your guide:

 

Hold hands when you argue.

Do your fair share of chores.

Try new things and visit new places together. Build new traditions together.

Every day take five minutes together or separately to intentionally appreciate your partner.

Continually embrace the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than break.

Always believe the best of one another rather than the worst.

Remain communicative, especially when something is hard to talk about.

Confide in and trust your partner. Ask for help when you need it.

Ask one another out on dates. When you get asked out on that date, get excited. Go on the date. Flirt with one another.

 

And finally during those stormy times ahead, remember this moment. Remember the depth of love you feel for one another right now.

 

 

Vows and Ring Exchange: Siobhan

 

Leahand Alex, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift. It's a lifelong commitment as well as a challenge to love one another more completely each and every day.

 

Just as the first chapter of your relationship has been full of love and joy, so too may the upcoming years bring you endless happiness.

 

May I have the rings, please?

 

Alex, please place the ring on Leah’s finger. Do you, Alex, take Leah to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage?  Do you promise to love, comfort, and honor her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live? If so, say I do.

 

 

Leah, please place the ring on Alex’s finger. Do you, Leah, take Alex to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage?  Do you promise to love, comfort, and honor him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live? If so, say I do.

 

Pronouncement: Siobhan

Alexand Leah, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage by the exchanging of vows and rings in the presence of your friends and family.

 

May you live together in happiness from this day forward.

 

By the authority vested in me by the state of Wisconsin, it is with great joy I now pronounce you husband and wife.

 

Alex, you may kiss your wife!

 

[Kiss]

 

I now present Mr and Mrs Alex Gaspar!!!

 

Briana and JC's wedding service

On Saturday March 10 2018 Briana married her longtime partner and BFF, JC. They pulled the wedding together in just 13 days and everything went so smoothly!

Approach

[Grandfather of the bride walks Briana down aisle]

[Grandfather of the bride hands off Briana to JC]

Introduction: Siobhan

[To all]

Welcome family and friends. Please be seated.

On behalf of Briana and JC, we are so thankful you’re here to participate in this joyous occasion. Some logistical items of note: the couple has a professional photographer here to capture the best version of events, so please put away cell phones for now.

Following the ceremony, the bride and groom will ask you to remain here for family photos.

[To bride and groom]

Briana, at this time, I’ll have you hand your bouquet to Maisie.

[BRIANA hands off bouquet]

Reading: Siobhan

Briana and JC, today you are surrounded by your loved ones, all of whom have made a journey, some of great distances and some… not so much… to be here with you and witness your wedding ceremony. Take a moment to look around you and let it all soak in.

Briana, you and I have known each other for a while now. When I scheduled a two-week trip and needed a house sitter, I reached out to our mutual best friend, Lindsey. Being a single mom of several dogs and a cat, I insisted to Lindsey that not just anyone would do; I needed someone exceedingly trustworthy. Lindsey said in no uncertain terms that she would trust you with her life. You spent a couple weeks in my home, caring for my pack, leaving my space and kids in better shape than when you found them. Since then, you’ve proven yourself to be not only trustworthy, but also (and more importantly) selfless, hilarious, generous, small enough to fit in my pocket, and one of my best and favorite friends. I am so honored to be your friend every day, and especially honored to be here with you today.

And JC, as I’ve gotten to know you, I can see your big heart, great sense of humor, willingness to learn how to meal prep and cook, and kind demeanor are the perfect complement to Briana.

So let me tell y'all a little story about what brings us together today. A while back, Briana and JC both worked together here at Epic. Their paths crossed and, uniquely, they put the brakes on before pursuing a romantic relationship with one another. It turns out that timing really is everything.

They fell in love. They fell in a unique and special kind of love that leads somewhere meaningful.

Briana and JC, in the time that you’ve known one another, you’ve begun building a fantastic life together full of laughter and joy, quality time with family and friends, and equally importantly quality time you invest simply in one another and in your relationship.

Ultimately, your commitment to grow with one another is the reason we’re here, for in marriage we say, "I love you today," and also "I promise to love you for every one of our tomorrows." This deep and meaningful love along with your unwavering respect for one another will be the bedrock upon which you build your future together.

Advising the Couple: Siobhan

Briana and JC, in the days ahead of you,

you will see stormy times and calm times,

times of conflict and times of joy.

Allow these thoughts to be your guide:

Hold hands when you argue.

Do your fair share of chores.

Try new things and visit new places together. Build new traditions together.

Continually embrace the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than break.

Always believe the best of one another rather than the worst.

Remain communicative, especially when something is hard to talk about.

Confide in and trust your partner. Ask for help when you need it.

Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.

Ask one another out on dates. When you get asked out on that date, get excited. Go on the date. Flirt with one another. Maybe play a little footsies.

And finally during those stormy times ahead, remember this moment. Remember the depth of love you feel for one another right now.

Reading

Would the <<PERSON>> please step forward to share a reading.

[Guest reader(s) step forward]

>>Reading<<

[Guest reader(s) step back]

Thank you, that was beautiful.

Vows

Ring Exchange: Siobhan

Briana and JC, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift. It's a lifelong commitment as well as a challenge to love one another more completely each and every day.

Just as the first chapter of your relationship has been full of love and joy, so too may the upcoming years bring you endless happiness.

May I please have the rings?

[Best man hands rings to Siobhan]

[GROOM hold Briana's ring]

JC, please place the ring on Briana's finger.

Do you, JC,

take Briana to be your lawfully wedded wife;

and promise to love and comfort her,

honor and cherish her,

for all of your days?

If so, say “I do.”

JC: "I do."

Briana, please place the ring on JC's finger.

Do you, Briana,

take JC, to be your lawfully wedded husband;

and promise to love and comfort him,

honor and cherish him,

for all of your days?

If so, say “I do.”

BRIANA: I do.

Pronouncement: Siobhan

JC and Briana, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage by the exchanging of vows and rings in the presence of your friends and family.

May you live together in happiness from this day forward.

By the authority vested in me by the state of Wisconsin, it is with great joy I now pronounce you husband and wife.

JC, you may kiss your wife!

[Kiss]

I now present Mr and Mrs JC Schroeder!!!