JPaul & Megan Wedding

Please be seated.

Who gives this woman away?

First, I’d like to begin by welcoming everyone and thanking each and every one of you for being here on this beautiful evening. It’s no accident that each of you are here today, and each of you were invited to be here because you represent someone important in the individual and collective lives of Jpaul and Megan. We have gathered here to join Jpaul and Megan in celebration of coming together as one.

Love is a beautiful thing.. when you find that person who makes the world a beautiful and magical place. The person with whom you share a bond so special that it transcends normal relationships and becomes something so pure and so wonderful that you can’t imagine spending another day of your life without them…

For Jpaul, that happened about 6 years ago when he hired me for as an employee to take pictures of coffee cups. I know… he paid me for that? All jokes aside I am honored to be here in this moment with Jpaul and Meagan.

Jpaul and I are good friends, but over the years I would say that he has become more like a silly older brother. And over the years I have had the opportunity to get to know him for who he really is. So when I he told me I was getting married, I immediately started praying for this girl. But then I met Megan and JPaul over coffee and I saw just how much she truly loved him. It was clear to me that she knew what she was getting into, and she was willing to stick it out with him. And that is something as his brother that I am incredibly thankful for. I know how deeply these two care for and love one another, and I feel privileged to be here today among all of you as a witness of their commitment to a lifetime of love for one another.

In 2024, more weddings then not are the products of dating apps like hinge and tinder. But this two did it the old fashion way. They met over pool noodles, capri-suns, and sunscreen at a children's pool party at put on their daughters school. The exact details were not made clear, but I can picture Jpaul placing sunscreen on Avery, trying to get her ready for the water festivities, and then he see’s Megan across the pool bringing cupcakes for the class to eat after they have swam their little hearts out, and his heart dropped lower than the deep end of the pool. When I asked Jpaul what he remembers most about how they met, he said “She always seemed to be a great mom and very involved. Reminded me of my mom and I knew I wanted someone like that to help me raise Avery.”

After meeting at the local pool, Jpaul and Megan’s , daughters started hanging out a lot more. Maybe it was the pool, or maybe it was their parents, but for some reason play dates kept getting scheduled between the the four girls, and after a multiple surprise cupcake and ice cream dates, with the chaos of littles ones running around, the two figured they might as well make it official.

And As a third-party spectator to their developing love, it was extremely clear that the two of them represent a perfect pairing because each of them complements the other so well. They balance one another, and while each of them are tremendous individuals on their own, together they are even better.

The biblical idea of marriage is beautiful and a great picture for just how much God loves us. It is a spiritual and covenantal union that precedes and supersedes any governmental structure or definition for marriage. Marriage is also an allegory that displays the gospel in a significant way. Because of God’s grace, marriage is a “secondary ordinance” that serves as a visual aid and a tangible reminder of the gospel by comparing God’s relationship with us to a husband’s relationship to his wife. The Apostle Paul plainly explains how marriage is more about Christ than us:

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32). Think about it: Two far-from-perfect people are covenanting their life together based on no matter what they have done in the past, no matter what happens in the future, in sickness and health, and for better or worse until they die. What a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ (the groom) and his never-ending love for the Church (the bride).

When I met with Jpaul and Megan, I asked them why they wanted to get married and when did they first start to seriously consider marrying each other.

Megan mentioned “Because Jpaul is my best friend and I can't think of anything better than spending the rest of my life with him by my side. She said from the very beginning she felt incredibly drawn to him because of his his smile and demeanor. She loves how silly he is and how well he loves not only her but her three girls as well. She said she seriously considering marrying him, after they went through a hard situation last year. She said if we could get through that, I have confidence we can get through anything.”

When I asked Jpaul, He mentioned “There have been many times I felt I was destined to not get married again. Constantly had people run from me. I was the one trying to run and she never let me. God knew I needed someone with patience and that could show me I didn’t need to be perfect. He said, “She’s tough but forgiving. She doesn’t wish ill on people who have wronged her. She is steady, and her girls mean so much to myself and Avery. It’s not perfect but we constantly strive to get better. And I love her.”

I have known JPaul for awhile now, and when I saw him and Megan together, I noticed that he didn’t change who he was for her. He was fully himself, and Megan fully embraced that . Which isn’t an easy thing to do. I have watched how Megan, doesn’t take any mess from Jpaul, and if anything she throws more shade back than he does. And that’s what I love about them. They both align in their thinking, and I can truly see the love of Christ emitting from both of them.

It is a God given gift that we can become one flesh with our bestfirends, and I know that these two do not take that gift lightly.

Now the thing about this relationship is that Jpaul is not just marrying Megan, he is marrying her famly as well. Meaning Jpaul now has the responsibility of loving and raising three other daughters together as a team with Megan. And Megan now gets the wonderful joy of experiencing triplets with Avery as her 3rd 7 year old. Parenting is no small task, and I know that Jpaul is ready to love Emma, Charlie, and Junie as his own. And I know Megan will do the same.

Jpaul said “I plan to be the leader not only for her but for our kids. Show them how to follow Christ by setting the example and making our relationship with Christ the number 1 thing in our household. I know that without him our marriage and family won’t work.”

When I asked if there was a moment in scripture that encapsulated the love these two felt for each other, they mentioned the story and the loyalty of Ruth and Nahomi.

“For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

And after speaking with them, I know that is exactly how these two feel about each other.

This moment is truly a cause for celebration as we are gathered here to witness not only the beginning of a new marriage, but also the beginning of a new family.

Now these two have chosen to seal these vows with rings, as reminders of the promises that they have made to each other, both as a couple and as a family.

Now there is no magic in these rings. People wear them all the time. But when we put that ring on the third finger of our left hand, it means something, something big. God looks at your marriage and places His seal upon it, binding the both of you together. And your rings shall be reminders of that covenant you made with each other and with God. It is an outward symbol of an inward commitment that each of you have made. And every time that you look at the ring on your finger may it remind you that you belong to her and you to him, and both of you to God. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said “It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.”

Now is the part that you have all been waiting for, but I want to stop for a second.

Jpaul, Megan, take a breath. Take this all in. Look around and see all of the people here, who love you, and are your biggest cheerleaders. You are not alone. And these 4 little girls, they are looking up to you. They trust you, and they love you. So as Paul says in Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

So I’ll need both of you to put your left hand out.

Your left hand in.

Now your left hand out, and shake it all about.

Just kidding just hold hands.

Jpaul do you have a ring for Megan?

You may place it on her left hand now.

Megan, do you have a ring for Jpaul?

You may place it on his left hand now.

Therefore, I shall ask that you two turn and face one another and join hands as you exchange your vows of marriage.

Jpaul, do you take Megan to be your wife?

Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others, and holding only unto her forevermore?

[“I do.”]

And Megan, do you take Jpaul to be your husband?

Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him/, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him/ forevermore?

[“I do.”]

Because you have here in the sight of God and in the presence of this company made your vows to one another, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and according to the laws of the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife!

You may kiss the bride!

Ladies and gentleman, I have the honor and the pleasure to present to you for the very first time Mr. and Mrs. Dodson!

The Dodson’s would like to thank you for coming, and would love it if you stuck around for some pictures. We are so honored that you have come, and we are ecstatic that you would celebrate with us afterwards for the reception.