Grant and Tara Wedding

Invocation

Everyone please be seated.

Welcome! Good afternoon, family and friends.

We have come here today to celebrate the wedding of Grant and Tara. On behalf of the bride and groom, thank you for joining us. By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other, and you support their decision to commit themselves to a lifelong relationship.

There are only two official witnesses at a wedding but each person here today will witness the words that they will speak to one another and the vows that they will make. You should take good care to remember these words; for a marriage needs the help of a community, of friends and family who will be there when needed and will do all that they can during hard times to stand by Grant and Tara and offer their support to them and the new family that they create today. May you always do all within your power to support the union that will be made here today and to nurture the bond between these two people whom you love.

Grant and Tara chose “The Art of Marriage” by Wilferd A. Peterson to be read to symbolize their relationship.

The little things are the big things:

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

Marriage is a commitment in life, where two people can find and bring out the very best in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a physical and emotional joining that has the promise of a lifetime.

Declaration of Intent

A successful marriage is not something that just happens. It takes work, it takes patience, and it takes time. It takes a commitment from both of you… a commitment to do whatever it takes to make your relationship thrive and not just simply survive.

Grant, will you take Tara to be your lawfully wedded wife and travel the rest of life’s road with her? Will you love her, laugh with her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

I do.

Tara, will you take Grant to be your lawfully wedded Husband and travel the rest of life’s road with him? Will you love him, laugh with him, comfort him, honor and protect him, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

I do.

Vows

Grant and Tara, having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now ask you to declare your marriage vows.

The couple has chosen to write personal vows.

Grant please read your vows to Tara.

Tara please read your vows to Grant.

Ring Exchange

A ring is an unbroken circle, with ends that have been joined together, and it represents your union. It is a symbol of infinity, and of your infinite love. When you look at these rings on your hands be reminded of this moment, your commitment, and the love you now feel for each other.

Grant, as you place this ring on Tara’s finger please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.

Tara, as you place this ring on Grant’s finger please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed and pledge you my love now and forever.

The love already shared by your hearts has been strengthened by the vows you have taken and the rings you have now exchanged.

Sand Ceremony

Grant and Tara you have just formalized your commitment to each other by exchanging your vows and rings. These vows and rings represent your love and loyalty to each other for the rest of your life. The couple decided to further symbolize their union through a sand ceremony. Grant and Tara, would you please now step to the table.

Today, you are combining all of you and your uniqueness into the final vessel. Please pour the sand from your respective vessels into the center vessel, combining your two lives into one. Just as these grains can no longer be separated into individual containers, so shall your lives forever be intertwined.

Pronouncement

Grant and Tara, you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given and received a ring as a symbol of your promises. By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.

I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Grant and Tara Gillilan.

Please remain in your seats, the bride and groom will be back to greet you before everyone heads inside to the cocktail hour.

Members of the O’Neill, Taylor, Gillilan, and Thomas families please stay here for family pictures before cocktail hour.