Weddingbee Blog

When I last left you, we were all lined up at the front of the barn.

Our officiant was our good friend Todd, who got ordained online just for us. He did such an amazing job. I mean, incredible.

Mr. S and I put together a rough ceremony by researching scripts online, taking our favorite parts from each of them, and mishmoshing them together into something we liked. But we left one part open for Todd to say whatever he liked.

First of all, he memorized the entire thing. When he told us that at the rehearsal, we were shocked, but he just said “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to memorize it or not, so I did.” He really did—the entire 15-20 minute ceremony was done completely by memory for him.

And what a personality. He had everyone cracking up the entire time. And raising the roof, apparently, although I can’t for the life of me remember what he said to get us to do this:

He ran through some more of the script…

He had the bridesmaids cracking up…

And me, too.

He had our friends and families transfixed…

And when it came time for his own remarks, here is what he said:

Thank you all for your considerate recognition and thank you all again for your attendance as you bear witness to the union of Aaron and Dana today.

I feel blessed to be in this position, having been so close to Dana and Aaron as their relationship has grown over the years. During that time, I’ve played many outlying roles in that relationship - friend, co-worker, roommate, den mother and today, wedding officiator. Of all those roles in this resume, today’s role is the greatest honor, but each role I’ve served before comes with a story and suggestions that I’d like to share with the bride and groom today.

As friend and co-worker with both Dana and Aaron, I recall two people who had deep love of music. I’m pretty sure that is inevitably what brought them both to work at {our old workplace, a music company} …or maybe they both knew that {workplace} was a breeding ground for love between coworkers- but I’m assuming it was their love of music. It was that love that originally brought you together and in that comes my first suggestion- Stay in Tune with one another. Your lives together will see changes in rhythm and your tune will change regularly, but if you stay attentive to these changes you can insure your continued harmony with one another.

As a friend, I recall the evening where Aaron and Dana first discovered their affections for one another. I would have been more surprised, but attending an event called “The Pimp and Hoe Down” was sure to result in some love, right? Well maybe not, but as we trekked through Northern Liberties looking like duded up Johns and street walking Ellie May Clampetts I don’t think that finding love among our group was something that anyone expected. Which brings me to my second suggestion- Be Adventurous. Love is a daring thing- unpredictable and wild. Don’t close yourselves off from seeking the adventure of love in everything you do together. Be bold and never accept complacency because you never know where or when you can renew your love for one another.

As roommate and part-time den mother, I was the resident chef for my roommates,which included Aaron and Steve, and Dana was an honorary roommate and regular attendee for dinners. At the time, cooking was something that I was more passionate about than the rest of the roommates so, I gladly took that task. When I moved out though, Aaron confessed that the first thing he said when my U-Haul drove around the corner was “who is going to cook for us now?” That was 6 years ago, and Aaron and Dana are here so nobody died of starvation and that is because they began developing a new interest in cooking together. They began to share a passion for something new because they could work together and enjoy the results of their labors, together. Which brings me to my next suggestion for you- and that is to Create Together. You can continue to grow closer and find more joy in your lives together as you work with one another to create something you will both take pride in. Whether that is a special dinner, a piece of furniture in your future home or, eventually, a family- with every shared endeavor you’ll enforce that commitment to one another in every shared creation.

Today, I, and everyone here, take on a new role in your lives- as officiator and witnesses to your lifelong commitment to each other through your vows and your union today. In this role, I’d like to share my hope for you -

that you have many long years to delight in each others’ company, to feel gratitude for your great good fortune…

in having found and loved each other,

to a make home together that is at once sheltering and welcoming,

to each do meaningful, productive work at home and in the world

and to love and be loved by the friends and family who have come here today to support you. Friends and family in your role as witnesses I ask that you now stand to acknowledge Dana and Aaron as they acknowledge you.

This is a guy who has never done this in his entire life. Shouldn’t he become a professional? Isn’t he awesome?

And we were, of course, touched.

Coming up next, some vows, and then we’re married and stuff.

How did we get here?

• The Sloth Recaps Commence
• We have a nice rehearsal lunch
• And then we ate dinner at my mom’s.
• The next morning, the girls got purdy.
• And so did the dudes.
• We our rainy first look.
• And then hung out in a muddy field.
• And got some more garden portraits.
• We posed with our attendants.
• And our families.
• We did the whole processional thing.