Wedding

Questions about meeting: Were you both involved in cru?

What do you love about each other?

What drives you nuts about each other?

What do you hope for in your marriage?

What are your favorite ways to spend time together or go on a date?

What is a thing you would do for each other that you really don’t like doing? So, like watching a show Nick loves but you hate, or going to a resturant Sydeny loves but you hate, Nick. What’s something you do for each other that really is like a sacrfice?

What are your favorite and least favorite chores around the house?

What did you decide about vows?

How would you like to be announced?

Anything to say at the end after the processional, any directions for the guests?

Wedding ceremony

Music playing walking in

Bride given away by dad

Welcome and opening prayer

Charge to the couple

Message: Philippians 2

Sand ceremony

Vows: TBD, stay tuned

20-30 minutes

Meaningful but simple

Story of meeting: nick had too much to drink and asked for Sid’s number over and over. Ten, when they had class together a few days later, he asked for her number, she didn’t say anything but just gave it to him again and he was like, “why do I already have your number?”

July 25, 2025

Rehearsal:

Pray, have everyone introduce themselves

Run through transitions: tomorrow is the day to enjoy

Start with the lineup, everyone at the front. Once everyone is lined up, ask bride and groom and maybe parents how it looks. Groomsmen: Stand the same for pictures. Decide how you will stand. Bridesmaids, stand the same, hold your flowers.

After the lineup is decided, head out to practice the processional. Groomsmen and bridesmaids will be walking down the aisle together.

Is Nick walking his mom down? After he does that, slowly walk up to his spot. Becca join him.

Walking in is painfully slow, wait until they are ¾ of the way down, then go. When you think you should go, wait three seconds and then go. It’ll feel awkward, go REALLY slow.

Make a big deal of flower girl.

Dog as ring bearer.

Practice walking down the aisle, practice hand-off.

Practice rings. Put it on until it stops, then let them put it on the rest of the way.

Who is walking Sydney down the aisle? XXXX will walk Sydney down the aisle, I will say “Who gives this lady to be married to this man?”, XXXXX responds with “her mother and I do.”

Bride hug dad, Groom, shake dad’s hand, turn and offer bride your arm. Once in place, the maid of honor and bridesmaids will adjust the dress train and take bouquet, we’ll pause while this happens.

Do you like each other? Look at each other, you don’t have to look at me.

Practice transitions. When to sign the marriage license?

Practice them walking out, once they are all the way down the aisle, then bridal party can head out. Get out quick.

SERVICE

Prelude

Music:

Processional

Seating of the Families

Bridal Entrance

Bride walks in (Dad walking Sydney in)

Give away

Who gives this lady to be married to this man?

Cooper’s Response: “My brother and I do.”

Bride hug Dad, Groom, shake Dad’s hand, or high five, turn and offer bride your arm. Once in place, the maid of honor and bridesmaids will do the dress train and take bouquet, we’ll pause while this happens.

Welcome Good evening. My name is Becca, and I’m one of the pastors at the Duluth Vineyard. On behalf of Nick, Sydney and their families, welcome. Thank you for coming, and being part of this very special day. We are here today to honor God, and to celebrate the special love that Nick and Sydney have found in each another. Please join me in prayer as we ask God to bless our time together. Opening Prayer

God, we are grateful for your wisdom, compassion, and goodness in giving us the gift of marriage. You have poured out your love on us, and you’ve given us other people to share that love with. So here we are today with Sydney, Nick, their family and their friends. We ask that you bless this day, and fill it with Your love. Bless this couple who stands before You today, strengthen them, and invite them to draw closer to you, and closer to each other, every single day of their lives. We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen. Focus Them Hi y’all, how are you doing? You made it, you’re finally here. Nick and Sydney, I want you to take a deep breath. Seriously, right now, take a deep breath. Take a look around at everyone. Now look back at each other. Savor this moment and be present. This is one of the most important days of your lives, and it goes by quickly. I know even as we talked you said you probably wouldn’t remember much of today, but I hope and pray that isn’t true. Soak in each and every moment. Charge to the Couple Sydney and Nick are here before God, and all of us, to join their hearts and lives. This is a public declaration of their love and devotion to one another. Sydney and Nick, marriage is a great thing, and, it’s a big commitment. Marriage is a covenant, a promise, and is designed to be a blessing and benefit to us. No one should make this commitment on a whim. It should be considered with seriousness, and in great joy. I’m pretty sure that’s why you guys are here, and just to make sure, I’m going to ask you some questions. At the end, if they sound like it’s something you’re up for, respond with “I Do”. Sound good? Alright, Nick, we’ll start with you:

Charge to Couple & Declaration of Intent

Nick, do you take Sydney to be your wife, to cherish in friendship for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her today?

If so, say: I do.

Response: I do.

Sydney, do you take Nick to be your husband, to cherish in friendship for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor him, to love him faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with him today?

If so, say: I do.

Response: I do.

Message

Now, we’re going to talk for a few minutes about marriage, your marriage, Nick and Sydney, and what God is calling you both into.

And, let’s start with where you are. You guys don’t just love each other, you both love Jesus. You guys go to church, feel in love playing hockey, you were involved in campus ministry.

Nick and Sydney, you want God to be the center of your marriage. You both want each other to know how much you love each other, you both have amazing hearts of service. Both of you have told me being together makes each of you better. Because you get to experience love, acceptance and safety from each other, you want to offer that in return.

So, what’s the goal of your marriage?

Is it to build a great family and have more kids? Is it the great house with the great family everyone looks at and says, “I hope I get to have what they have one day.”

Is it coaching hockey, nightly strolls with DOG, Nick heading out with friends while Sydney is at home having her introverted time?

Is it happiness, to live happily ever after and ride off into the sunset together? Is it knowing you’ll have someone whose got your back, who will be there so you won’t have to be alone but get to be part of a team?

All of these are great things to want for a marriage, it’s what so many of us long for when we think about the possibility of making this commitment. And. God’s goal for marriage isn’t happiness.

God’s goal for marriage is our holiness.

And maybe this doesn’t make sense. When we get married, it’s about celebration, happiness and fun. Today is a day to get all dressed up, to party, to make toasts, eat, dance and cheer for Sydney and Nick. And. God uses marriage as a beautiful gift to make us more like Jesus.

Becoming like Jesus is the best of the best possible happily ever after. And those other things you want for your marriage? That can come too. But how can God use your marriage to make you both more like Jesus?

Really simply, begin with praying and reading the Bible together.

Every day that you can, pray together and ask God for his will to be done in your marriage. Ask the Holy Spirit to come in your marriage. When you begin to be on the lookout and listen, you’ll hear him, leading and guiding you both.

And, read the Bible together. The word of God is alive and active and serves as a guide to show you how to interact with each other in ways that will make you more like Jesus.

So, let’s take a look at the Bible right now, in the book of Philippians. Philippians chapter 2, starting in verse 1, says: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,”

What the apostle Paul is saying here is that if you’ve experienced any taste of the goodness of God’s kingdom… and both of you have, you’ve gotten to experience Jesus’s love personally in each of your lives. And, he has to remain the source, the foundation for the goodness. Nick and Sydney, I know this hasn’t happened yet, but eventually, you will let each other down. You’ll try so hard, but you’ll be misunderstood. Even in your best effort, you will mess up. You can’t be the source of goodness in each other’s lives. No matter who much you try, that will never truly satisfy either of you.

Paul, goes on from here, if you’ve experienced goodness from the source that is Jesus, Philippians 2:2–3 say “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”

The invitation here is humility, selflessness and being like-minded in this love. And while on your wedding day this can sound so beautiful, walking this out day to day will be tough. There will be days where you’re tested. Sydney. The times Bret doesn’t tell you his work schedule, or when he doesn’t let you know that he’ll be home in the morning, or when he isn’t helping prepare dinner and you’re running around like crazy… still, you’re invited to humbly, selflessly, love, serve, care for and consider him first. And Nick, when Dannie brings in packages you wanted left out, when she’s obsessively cleaning, when there’s a misunderstanding and her defenses are up… still, you’re also invited to humbly, selflessly love, serve and consider her first.

And as you do this, as you love, serve and care for each other, you both will become more and more like Jesus. And, his love will shine out of your marriage.

Lets pick up again in verses 5-8: Philippians 2:5–8 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Not only are you invited to serve each other, you’re invited to suffer and die. Dang, this doesn’t sound like wedding stuff, does it? But remember, God’s ultimate goal for your marriage isn’t your happiness but to make you more and more like Jesus.

There will be so many opportunities to practice this. Whether it’s chores around the house, making a budget, not being defensive, or listening, like really listening when you just don’t want to. Maybe it’s allowing each other to sleep in and rest even if you’re exhausted too. Or watching each other’s favorite movie or eating their favorite meal, even if it’s not your favorite, simply to make them happy. Other personal examples?

You’ll also have loads of chances to suffer for each other. To say you’re sorry (even when it’s not your fault). To hear how you’ve hurt one another. To pursue connection when all you want to do is run away. To respond gently in an argument even if your spouse is raising their voice. Other personal examples?

And, you’ll also have opportunities to die to yourself. Maybe taking on tasks your spouse dislikes, like washing dishes, doing laundry, or cleaning up after a long day, without expecting recognition. Maybe it’s letting go of resentment when your spouse forgets something important or hurts your feelings, and forgiving freely without holding it over them. Or practicing patience when your spouse is running late or leaves a mess, without grumbling or complaining.

Nick, there may come a day when you sense the Holy Spirit whispering to you to stop doing something, even though it’s important for you, it’s something you want in your life but for the sake of your wife, He may ask you to give it up for Sydney.

Sydney, there may come a day when you sense the Holy Spirit inviting you to let go of something that is really tough to give up because while you really want it, He’s asking you to give it up for Nick.

This won’t be easy. There may be times you don’t want to do this at all. And, it’s important to hear all of this. God is inviting you to serve, suffer and die because he loves you so stinking much more than any other human ever can. He wants to make you guys, together, more like Jesus.

And then let’s finish with verses 9-11. Philippians 2:9–11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

As time goes by and you grow old together, one day, I pray you are able to hold each other’s hands as you approach the end of your life and know that you got to see and experience Jesus through the love, sacrifice, and care you offered each other.

And, through the way you suffer, die and serve each other, I pray you are able to point so many others to God and the goodness of His kingdom together. What an amazing thing that will be.

Transition Nick, I want you look at Sydney . (Turn and face each other if not already) What a beautiful bride, she’s your bride. There’s no other woman in the world with her unique blend of beauty, grace, and incredible honesty. She’s kind, caring, snarky, and puts you and the boys and so many others before herself. She puts up with your always changing schedule, snoring, and love of Lululemon and Carhardts. As she has grown up, God has been preparing her to be your wife.

She will encourage you to pursue you dreams, be with you through life’s storms and in life’s moments of greatness. Don’t take her for granted. She is your partner and your best friend. She is God’s gift to you. Sydney, look at Nick. He cleans up alright, doesn’t he?

Sydney, Nick is the man God has prepared to be your husband. He has this soft, teddy bear side that you get to see. He’s crazy about you and the boys and will move mountains to provide an incredible life for y’all. He will encourage you to pursue you dreams, be with you through life’s storms and in life’s moments of greatness. He is there to help you when you’re physically at the end of yourself or just need a few minutes to decompress and listen to your favorite songs. He is your partner and your best friend. He is God’s special gift to you.

Exchanging of the vows

When you enter into a marriage, you are making a covenant, a promise. This isn’t a one time thing, this is a promise you renew each and every day. Now, I’m going to ask you to make that promise, what we call vows, for the first time. These vows will be like the North Star of your marriage, they will be a promise that keeps you heading in the right direction.

Vows

Sydney, your turn.

Unity Sand Ceremony

Now we’re going to celebrate the love between Nick and Sydney and the beautiful family they’re establishing. This Unity Sand Ceremony is a way to visualize how your lives are being joined together into something intentional, persistent, and filled with purpose.

[Gesture to the white sand at the bottom] We begin with the white sand at the bottom. This symbolizes the foundation of your family—love, trust, and faith in God. It reflects the truth of Jesus’ words from the end of the sermon of the mount in Matthew 7:24-25: ‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.’ As you build your lives on God’s word and trust in Him, you’re creating a foundation that can withstand whatever life brings, not because of what any of you can do or have to offer, but because God, in his goodness, kindness, grace and mercy is strong and solid and will provide everything you need to weather the storms of life together as a family.

[Each person pours their sand] "Next, each of you will add your sand. Nick (gold) and Sydney (brown), your sand represents the love and partnership that brought you to this moment. These layers remind us that each of you bring something special, your lives are now beautifully intertwined together."

[White sand is poured on top] Finally, we seal this vase with another layer of white sand. This top layer represents God’s presence in your marriage and family—His protection, His guidance, and His love for you. Romans 15:13 says, ‘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.’ This reminds us that as you trust in God and rely on the Holy Spirit who lives in you, He will fill your marriage and family with joy, peace, and a crazy amount of hope, so much so that it can’t help but flow out of you."

Let this container be a reminder of today—not just of this moment, but of God’s essential, foundational part in your marriage and His promise to be with you, now and always.

Pause while everyone gets back into place.

Exchanging of the Rings: May I have the rings please? The wedding ring is an ancient tradition that dates back at least 3,000 years. The wedding ring is a circle, unbroken and unending, symbolizing the eternal love and faithful commitment shared between two people. It serves as a visible sign of the sacred covenant they have entered into, binding their lives together in unity and promise. Wearing this ring serves as a daily reminder of the vows and promises made here today. Nick, take this ring, place it on Sydney’s finger and say this to her: “With this ring, I vow to love and honor you from this moment forward.”

Sydney, place this ring on Nick’s finger, and, as you do, say this to him: “With this ring, I vow to love and honor you from this moment forward.”

Pronouncement

Alright, are you guys ready? May the light of friendship guide your steps together. May laughter fill your home, even in the chaos of life. May you find joy in choosing each other every day, Through the messes, the challenges, and the beauty of it all. And when your journey is complete, May the Lord welcome you into His loving arms, As the one who has carried you through every moment of your days. Sydney and Nick, with the blessing and support of your family and friends, by the vows you have made to one another, by the strength of your covenant, and in the presence of your heavenly father, it is my honor to pronounce you Husband and Wife. Nick, you may kiss your Bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, for the very first time, NAMES.

Stand here for an awkward amount of time. I’m gonna count you down. Count down from 5, say it during the wedding.

Recessional: Music

Once again, on behalf of Sydney and Nick, thank you so much for being here to celebrate this special day!

Sydney and Nick will be in the lobby greeting guests now. Please remain in your seats until you’re dismissed. And as a reminder, you’re invited to celebrate Bret and Dannie’s marriage at the Moose Hall in Two Harbors, the cocktail hour begins at 4:30.

Thank you for being here today.