Our Nebraska Wedding: The Ceremony (Part 1)

View the start of Stephanie’s recaps here

I loved every single part of our ceremony.

Our pastor was very laid back and easy to work with.  We were given the freedom to piece together our ceremony which made it so much more meaningful to us.

After our pastor welcomed everyone, my cute cousin read our first reading.

‘Love’ by Roy Croft

I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.

I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life not a tavern but a temple;
Out of the works of my every day not a reproach but a song.

I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate to make me happy.

You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself.

After the reading my insanely talented aunts, uncles, and cousins sang “Love Never Ends”.  The lyrics are from the oh-so-popular 1st Corinthians ‘Love is kind’ passage, and the pianist at my aunt’s church put together the music.  The song had only been sung once before!  How’s that for originality!

Then our pastor gave a message about love, marriage, and all that…which I apparently found funny.

Then with our wedding party looking on…

(the guys look so serious don’t they?!)

it was time for our vows.

Read by Pastor:  If it is your intention to share with each other, your laughter and tears, and all that the years will bring, then would you please face one another and join hands, and bind yourselves to each other by repeating your wedding vows after me.

First Lance:

I, Lance, take you Stephanie/ to be my wife/ from this day forward/ to join with you and share with you/ all that is to come/ and with the help of God I promise to love you/ and be faithful to you/ until death parts us.

Then Stephanie:

I, Stephanie, take you Lance/ to be my husband/ from this day forward/ to join with you and share with you/ all that is to come/ and with the help of God I promise to love you/ and be faithful to you/ until death parts us.

This was by far the most emotional part of the entire day for me…and the most amazing.  Saying those words to one another is something I will never forget.

Stay tuned for part 2!  Where we exchange rings…and plant a tree!!

*all photos by Kabloom Studios