Weddingbee Blog

You watched as we made it down the aisle. Now, our ceremony continues!

All photos by our fabulous photographer, A Girl In Love.

We were so excited to begin our marriage with all of our friends and family present!

I’d like to share some of the wonderful ceremony that Minister Twizzler wrote for us. Not only did he introduce us (we met at his birthday party), but he was my roommate from the third month of our relationship until our engagement. I have known Minister Twizzler for over ten years, and he is an amazing friend to both of us. Here is what he wrote:

When friends invite me to be a part of their wedding day perhaps my favorite part of the experience is exploring the roads they took to get here. There’s a great story when it comes to each of your roads to the chap-… er… Pendelton room. They haven’t been the exact same roads, but they have been cosmically similar, kind of like alternate dimensions. How many times have you two unwittingly crossed paths…like…Toyotas in the night? (Or Fords.) You’ve both studied design in New York, you’ve both lived in Ann Arbor, you both ended up in the automotive design world. Not always at the same time, and usually not in the same way, but with so many similarities it’s like you’ve been dancing around each other for years. Yet for most of that time… your destiny together has remained unknown to you. And the similarities just go on and on, too. You’re both allergic to cats, you both love to cook, you both adore music, you both find… blood types fascinating…C’MON! It’s kismet! What was it gonna take to finally bring you two people together?

Oh I’ll tell you what. Some lutz you both met along the way gets together with his cat you’re both allergic to and throws a party for HIMSELF. But from there…it’s a classic tale of romance. The chance meeting. Sidelong glances across a crowded room. Atmosphere. Chemistry. That first flush of longing followed shortly by an exchange of MySpace pages.

A road to destiny is suddenly before you both.

That’s right, we didn’t even have Facebook pages yet! And we did bond over all of those things, especially our allergies to cats!

Minister Twizzler continued:

Mr. Taffy, as Miss Taffy’s roommate during some of your early courtship, I can sincerely confirm that her joy and excitement at getting to know you, her thirst for learning about your interests and passions was unquenchable. The number of bouncing, giggling, elated post-date-with-Mr. Taffy’s conferences we had is enumerable. Whether it was cooking dinner with you, spending time with friends, or just being together, Miss Taffy couldn’t wait for the next chance to be together. Sometimes we’d just be sitting in the apartment and out of nowhere she’d exclaim, “I love Mr. Taffy!”

Miss Taffy, Mr. Taffy is a man who not only cherishes everything you are and do, but one who can’t wait to find out what’s around the next corner. He once told me that no matter how much time passed everything with you felt new and amazing. When Mr. Taffy talks about sharing a future with you he delights in your sense of adventure and knows that everything your future holds will be alright because you’ll be experiencing and sharing it together.

So now, after all the concerts…after all the vodka sauces and art shows…after the spinach washing and Etta James 45s…after all the different roads you’ve traveled to be together, here we are on this beautiful evening, overjoyed, to have the chance to see you both on the SAME road… “at last.”

So at the risk of truly beating this road metaphor into the ground, now you are about to start down a new road, as husband and wife. The commitment of that union is your solemn oath to one another, that from this day forward you will be together—to cherish, love, and support each other, through success and failure, through joy and sorrow, and through times of sickness and health.

For my part, I ask you to celebrate not only the ideas and feelings you share, but your differences and perse passions as well. Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Stand together, yet not too near together. For the pillars of the temple stand apart. And the oak tree grows not in shadow.” Your differences make you both so special, and celebrating them as you grow together, will keep your love vibrant and alive. I ask that you give a high priority to seeking out each other’s joys, needs and comforts, particularly when difficulty and frustration arise as they do in life.

Your needs will change and grow over time and it will take your continued effort to grow along with them. Devote yourselves to the strong bonds of friendship and love you have formed, and let them be your foundation henceforth. This ceremony will make your marriage legal, but your effort and dedication to one another will make it endure.”

Miss and Mr. Taffy, today we have all come together to celebrate the love you have found with each other. By being here with you, each of us is declaring our support for your decision to join together in marriage.

As Families and friends, you form the community of support that surrounds Miss and Mr. Taffy. Each of you, by your presence here today, is being called upon to uphold them in honoring and loving each other. Always stand beside them, never between them. Offer them your love and support, not your judgment. Encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts, and honor this marriage into which they have come to be joined today.

We began our vows, as our bridal party looked on.

We each vowed:

I choose you to be my best friend.

To join with me on this special journey,

As my partner and companion.

To be my spouse,

My confidant, My complement, My comfort,

My true love, For today, tomorrow and always.

We finished our vows and prepared to exchange rings.

Rings are adornments, carefully chosen for their beauty and simplicity. They quietly sit upon our fingers, reminding us of the power of love and the pledge of the wearer to his or her partner, to be faithful and true, and to nurture their love so it will last a lifetime.

May these rings be a symbol to you both and to all others of the commitment and love you share, now and forever.

We both repeated:

This ring is my gift to you.

May it always remind you

That from this day forward

You will always be surrounded by my love.

I have to admit, I still love putting that ring on his finger! Most days I beat him to it while he is getting ready in the morning.

This union has been made today and shall last for all time. Know that you have the pledge of your loved ones and friends to rely on and draw support from whenever it should be needed.

And so, Miss Taffy and Mr. Taffy, by the power vested in me by the great state of Michigan, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

Family, friends, may I present to you, for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Taffy!

And with that, we made our way down, down, down!

It was so exciting, walking down the aisle together as husband and wife! It definitely beat going up.

Minister Twizzler looks very relieved!

As he should be! We loved his incredibly personal and touching ceremony, and so did our guests. There are not enough words to communicate how much it meant to us. The bridal party congratulated him on a job well done!

While we escaped downstairs to the steps of the Union, where we would meet our families for portraits, our guests and bridal party headed down the hallway to our cocktail hour.

Up next, we enjoy more time outside, basking in the glow of Melissa’s camera!

Have you missed anything?

• See us celebrate at our rehearsal dinner!
• Watch the fun begin at the salon!
• Dresses fly as the Taffettes get ready!
• Watch as I conquer the floof!
• See me sneak up on Mr. Taffy for our first look!
• We bask in the portrait glow, pre ceremony!
• I get past my nerves, and walk down the aisle.

Our Parisian Honeymoon / 1st Anniversary Trip:

• Part 1 -Our First Glimpse of Paris!
• Part 2 -Mr & Mrs. Taffy conquer the Louvre!
• Part 3 -A very fabulous birthday at Versailles!
• Part 4 -Mrs. Taffy’s French Finale!