The Vows . . .

At this point, I have only two pictures taken during the ceremony.  I asked Jodee for them so I could work on a project while Ryan and Emily are on their honeymoon – because what they said when they made their vows to one another was what made the wedding magical, and I am making something so the vows can be displayed in their home.

Ryan and Emily decided a while back that they wanted to write their own vows – and that neither would share them with the other until the wedding.  I had not seen Ryan’s until five minutes before we left for the church – he had decided to add a line to his handwritten page, and was afraid that by squeezing it in he might miss it.  So he asked me to type them.  About two lines into my typing, I told Ryan he would need to read them to me – I could no longer see the page through my tears.

I asked their permission, and they allowed me to share their vows with you.  And if you read the story about the wedding cake yesterday, the fishing reference will make sense . . .

 

Ryan’s Vows to Emily . . .

“I know this sounds strange, but I have been in love with you since the first time I started to like girls.  I looked for you every day and even prayed that you were safe and happy.  Then one day, when I had lost all hope of ever finding you, I found you on Match and then proceeded to do the creepiest thing I could possibly do by “liking” you without sending you a message.  But you decided to find out why this creepy man was stalking you and because of this I got to meet the girl I had been looking for all of my life.  And despite me being very awkward on our first date, you were able to see me for me and that’s where our fairy tale love started.  This love has grown and matured over the years we have been together.  But in some ways our love is still very childlike.  I don’t know how many pet names I have made for you because of situations that we don’t even remember.

The rest of my vows will be in the childish language of our love.  I love you Emma Gar and I promise to fish for you and be your fisherman.  Please go home with me tonight and live in my fish tank with our gar kitty friends.  You put a song in my heart Emma Gar and I will sing my silly songs to you everyday for the rest of my life.  I promise to love you this much — not that much but this much.  I love you this much this much this much!!!  I promise to steal more kisses than you say I can have at bedtime.

On a somewhat more serious note, I promise to love you until the day I die and I also promise to haunt you until you die if I die first.  I waited my whole life for you Emma Gar and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.  I love you.”

Emily’s Vows to Ryan . . .

“Ryan, when you first saw me on Match.com you favorited me.  Most women would probably get creeped out by someone doing this without saying a word.  Some would probably have even blocked you.  Well luckily I’m not like most other women and I let my curiosity get the best of me.

Now thanks to that moment of overpowering sense of curiosity, I have the man that is my best friend and the one man that could tame the wild filly that I used to be.  Thanks to you, I have become closer with God.  I pray more often and I believe much deeper and harder than I ever have.

Ryan, you have been such a great supporter and companion the two years we’ve been together.  I’ve had you by my side at a moment’s notice when I am having one of my trips to the hospital or other minor emergencies.  And though I haven’t had much chance to reciprocate, you know through the times that you’ve been sick or your car was broken down that I will be there for you too.

Ryan, I hereby vow on this day to honor you, support you, cherish, love you, believe in you, trust and respect you for all of eternity.”

 

When they finished, Dave Stubbs said “Those were wonderful” and the audience applauded.  It was all so moving that it took him two tries to find his place so he could continue the ceremony.

And through his unending tears, the father of the groom said “I can’t believe they both used versions of ‘creepy’ in their vows.”