Shawn & Marisa - Congratulations!!

Photos to follow, but for now. Here is the transcipt.

After the ceremony, if you can wait that long, I invite you to mingle around the reception and meet your new friends because a wedding is a new beginning, a new start, for eveyone in attendance.unfortunately, not everyone who we would like to see here today couls be here. Shawn and Marisa would like to mention Grandpa Vlasak, and Grandma Tomlinson who are at home in Wisconsin and couldn't make the trip. They would also like to mention Nana and Paka Tomaselli, and Grandpa Tomlinson who are no longer with us, but I'm sure that they are all here in spirit, if not in person.

This is of course all the more reason why those of you here today, Those of US who are here today, should feel very lucky, very special to be here. After all WE are the people that shawn and marisa have chosen to witness this special event, this very special day in their lives. Our invitations are the gifts that THEY give US. An invitation to share with them the beginning of a journey. We thank them for this gift and it is customary to respond with gifts ourselves. Now if you brought a gift for them today, thats great, I'm sure that they will appreciate it and send along a thank you card very soon. However, I'd like to suggest another gift, and extra gift that many of you can give this couple.

The dictionary has several definitions for the word 'marriage' and while they were all... pretty good "Marriage is properly the act which unites the two parties, and matrimony the state into which they enter. Marriage is, however, often used for the state as well as the act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony." which as we can all agree is... confusing. it is easy to see why marriage is a scary undertaking, there is a lack of really useful reference information. Except of course, right here today. here we have a library of information, each couple here today has forged their own definition of marriage, what it means and what is doesn't mean, and for every married couple here today, I'll bet the definitions are different and unique. The extra gift that I would ask from you all here today is that you share your definition with the bride and groom. and because this is a special day for them... they have to listen to you, hopefully after today they will be smart enough to listen to you, but for today at least, they have to.Think of this an oppotunity to share all the "if I knew then what I know nows..." with shawn and marisa, I know that they will appreciate it down the road. and one day they will share their definition of marriage with others, keeping the tradition alive.There are many traditions in the ceremony of a wedding, at this time i'd like to ask the best man and the maid of honor to present the rings to the bride and groom.

(bride and groom take rings and put them on)

The ring has been used in wedding ceremonies as far back as ancient egypt. back then it was often a ring made of bone, leather or even papyrus that grew by the shores of the nile. the ring was symbolic to the ancient egyptians, as it is today, a symbol of eternity, without a beginning or an end, and worn on the third finger of the left hand because it was believed that the finger contained a vein that ran straight to the heart. It is not difficult therefore, to see how the ring and the gift of a ring began to be associated with love, in the hope that this most worthy of emotions could take on the characteristics of the circle and capture eternity.along with the exchanging of rings it is traditional to exchange vows. and that is where we are now. The vows are a public declaration of devotion and the contract that these two people have agreed to undertake.

(to Marisa)
do you Marisa take Shawn to be your lawfully wedded husband, to stand at his side as his partner through life, giving him your support,strength, guidance, and love. accepting support, strength, guidance and love from him, even when you know you're right and he's wrong?
(i do)

(to Shawn)
do you Shawn take Marisa to be your lawfully wedded wife, to stand at her side as her partner through life, giving her your support,strength, guidance, and love. accepting support, strength, guidance and love from her, even when you know you're right and she's wrong?(i do)

well, okay - you guys promised, everyone heard you.ladies and gentlemen, it is my extreme pleasure to be the first person to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Shawn and Marisa Tomlinson...Shawn, you may NOW kiss the bride.

(lead applause if necessary)

ladies and gentlemen, please join the bride and groom inside for cocktails and hors d'oevres.