Jeremy and Nicole's Wedding

Nicole Requeijo Boylan and Jeremy Scott Fabling

Walking in

Wedding party is not standing up with them. Wedding part is seated on front row.

Introduction:

James: We have gathered here in the presence of God and family and friends for the joining together of Nicole and Jeremy in marriage.  So, I invite you to join me in celebrating the lifelong commitment they are about to make. Marriage is the act by which God takes two individual people and unites them as one. May it be with extreme thoughtfulness and reverence, and in dependence upon God and His grace, that you enter now into this holy relationship.”

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Bride’s Parents: (Step Father and Mother)

Bride’s Parents: We do.

James: (To the Congregation): You may be seated.

Message Encouragement:

I’ve known Jeremy since he was in Middle school dreaming of one day going to the airforce academy and flying planes for the air force.

At the time I knew how difficult it would be to achieve his dreams. But Jeremy made it happen. Jeremy has been so singularly focused for so long on this one dream I knew that if God were going to bring a woman into his life, it was going to have to be providence disguised as an accident.

And the same is true of Nicole. She wasn’t looking for love either. She had her own plans until God intervened. I know we talk in cliches about how people find love when they aren’t looking for it. We see that in hollywood all the, but most of us don’t really believe it happens like that in real life. Yet, here they are…living their own hollywood story with themselves as the star.

It’s been a joy to watch this story unfold for a number of years and I’m blessed to continue to be a supporting character.

When my wife and I moved from Maryland to California in 2009, we stayed in contact with Jeremy and his family. A few years later, after graduating from the air-force academy and flight school. Jeremy let us know that he was coming to California, not 15 minutes from us. For a few years, Jeremy was a regular at Holidays where he couldn’t make it home.

And then there was that one thanksgiving where he asked if he could bring someone.

He brought Nicole. And we fell in love with her as well. Partly because she brought food. But also because we saw that God had brought these 2 together. In God’s own timing and in his own way.

I love how God’s timing is always perfect. When we least expect it. Love has a way of happening.

Solomon wrote about the power of love in the Song of Solomon:

Song of Solomon 8:6-7: 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised. (ESV)

Song of Solomon is both about the love between a husband and wife, but it also shows the love that Jesus has for His church. The love Jesus has for you! True love is modeled in His sacrifice for our sins shows us the love we are to have for one another. True love is ready to die for that which we love, True love cannot be quenched, cannot be stopped. It goes on because it’s not based on feelings or even the merit of the other person. You can’t earn it so you can’t lose it.

It’s about getting up each day and choosing to do what love does. Love like this is strong as death.

Jealousy may seem odd here. We often think about jealousy as a negative thing. but the Bible talks about the jealousy of God for His people. In a way to protect them and their relationship with Him. It’s not about paranoia, but about protecting your marriage from anything that might threaten the love you have. So may you be jealous for your marriage and do whatever it takes to protect it.

The idea of love as flashes of fire is probably not hard for you to imagine. That initial love may feel like that. but over time, fires can burn out. You have to continually fan the flame of your love as well as add new fuel.

We add fuel in finding time to connect and reconnect. So often in premarital counseling we talk about learning someone’s love language. We all show and experience love in different ways. For some it's a physical touch like a hug or a kiss. For others, it’s quality time. Still there are words of affirmation, gifts and acts of service. It’s important to know how your spouse experiences love so that you can continue to fan those flames.

Do whatever you can to fan the flames of your love.

Have the kind of love that nothing can quench.

I love the final part of this verse.

you 2 have found a love that people Search their whole lives for.

It would be foolish to trade that for anything. Keep it strong. Keep the fire going.

Remember that of all the time an energy you spent planning for this day, remember your journey is just beginning.

Marriage is hard and it takes effort, but it is worth it.

And don’t forget to keep your relationship with Jesus at the center Of your marriage.

The Lasso and the Candle

James: Jeremy and Nicole have chose to solemnize their marriage with two Different rituals common in their respective cultures. In every Christian culture, we acknowledge that God has designed marriage in such a way that when 2 people come together, they become one. Nicole are including these to signify that their own cultures are becoming one in marriage.

Lasso

Nicole and Jeremy have chosen to incorporate the Lasso tradition into their wedding ceremony today. (Sister and Jaime) The Lasso is a wedding ceremony in which the couple are bound together with a ceremonial lasso. Lassoing is a declaration of intent, where the bride and groom clearly state that they are marrying of their own free will.

Nicole and Jeremy since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed eternal and sacred bonds. As you enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real the ideals that to you, give meaning to this ceremony and to the institution of marriage.

With full awareness, know that within this Lasso you are not only declaring your intent to be bound together before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to God.

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union and will cross the years and lives of each soul’s growth.

Nicole and Jeremy, I ask you to hold hands and look into each others eyes.

Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?

Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it?

Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

Will you share each other’s laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

Bride & Groom: We will.

Nicole and Jeremy , as you are bound together now, so too your lives and spirits are joined in a union of everlasting love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

Pray (After Amen, sisters will take lasso and give to Jeremy)

Unity Candle

At this time we will have the lighting of the unity candle. Before the Bride and Groom come forward to light their wedding candle, allow me to explain the symbolism behind these candles.

The two outside candles have been lit to symbolize the union of these two young people and the two families from which they come.

The bride and groom will light the center candle from the other two. The three candles will remain lit.

One candle for each of them, one candle for the unity of their new family, and as symbols of their commitment to each other and to a lasting and loving marriage.

Bride and Groom please light your candles.

Vows

Jeremy and Nicole have chosen to write their own vows for this solemn occasion.

No transition Jeremy will just speak.

(Jeremy will go first followed by Nicole.)

Traditional Vows

James: Jeremy, do you take Nicole to be your wife; do you promises to love, honor, trust and serve her in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse so long as you both shall live?

Jeremy: I do.

James: Nicole, do you take Jeremy to be your husband; do you promises to love, honor, trust and serve her in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse so long as you both shall live?

Nicole: I do.

James [Prayer]: Father in heaven, You ordained marriage for your children, and You gave us love.  We present to You Jeremy and Nicole, who come this day to be married.  May the covenant of love they make be blessed with true devotion and spiritual commitment.  We ask that You, God, will give them the ability to keep the covenant they have   made.  When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity; when mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength; when there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness; if    suffering becomes a part of their lives, give them a strong faith and an abiding love.  Amen.

Exchanging of the Rings

James: May I have the rings please? [Justin will have them]

A wedding ring is symbol of the relationship between a man and a woman. a ring is a circle with no beginning and no end. It endures. So wear these rings as an outward sign of your lifelong commitment to one another.

James: Jeremy, repeat after me:

Jeremy: Nicole, I give you this ring in celebration of our marriage, as a pledge of my love and faithfulness.  I promise to you my love, friendship and support through our years   together.

James: Nicole, repeat after me:

Nicole: Jeremy, I give you this ring in celebration of our marriage, as a pledge of my love and faithfulness.  I promise to you my love, friendship and support through our years together.

James [Prayer]: Our loving God, we ask your blessing upon these rings, that they may constant symbols of the unending love which binds Jeremy and Nicole together.  As a bond, and a pledge, let these rings encircle their fingers as their love does their hearts.  With love we say, Amen

Pronouncement

James: Since Jeremy and Nicole have made these commitments before God and their family and friends, by the authority invested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jeremy, you may now kiss your bride! (Walk off Stage)! What God has joined together, let no man separate.