Matt and Jess's Wedding Ceremony script that I officiated

This was my second wedding that I was asked to officiate! woo! I think I did well enough to book #3 and #4! This night, I was encouraged by my friend lyndz to start a blog and put my stuff online. I had thought about it for a while, but I got enough smoke blown up my ass after this ceremony that I actually did it! Funny thing... I'm not a great public speaker. I get nervous. I told everyone to "rise for the bride" and then just dove right into my thing. I didn't tell them to sit, nor did I actually look up deliberately enough to notice the people were standing almost the entire time. Pretty much until the ring ceremony. lol. But yeah... got good reviews!

I wrote the love story. I didn't write the sand pouring, and for the rest, I chopped and screwed from my other wedding via stuff online and wrote parts myself. I think it's pretty good way to do the ring ceremony, quick vows, and end it. Feel free to use.

10/9/2021

Jess and Matt’s Wedding 2021

Dearly Beloved… we are gathered here today….. 😊 to celebrate the union of these two beautiful and amazing people. Jessic *****- and Matthew ******. But before we begin, some of you are probably wondering why I’m here. You might be thinking to yourself… “ Why is the waiter from last night’s Amazing and Delicious dinner at the Mandarin House officiating this wedding?” Well I’ll tell you why. It’s because we were running a special “ Spend $500 and I’ll do your wedding for free deal and they took it. So here we are. And I just want to say that that offer applies to all guests in attendance. You can schedule your wedding with us at Weddings@Mandarinhouselj.com Thank you.

Just kidding… I’m actually not too certain why I’m here… I’m single….. I’m definitely not somebody who knows what it takes to make a marriage work.. and if you haven’t guessed.. I’m not even a real pastor or priest…….but I do have an inkling…. I think I am here because I was there when the sparks were ignited which have developed into the flame we have today. And so with that, I shall share that story with you all today.

It was 2014, My last time to burning man and matt’s first. It was actually my first time meeting Matt. He was freshly to San Diego by way of Alabama, and came up to me & offered to help me set up our grey water Evaporator contraption. And me being me and loving nothing more than free friendly labor, accepted his offer and naturally we clicked. And then one night…. The details proceeding the sparks are coming in a bit fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure it was after our “March of the Bass Penquins” party where matt again with the free labor, helped me make about 100 penquin headbands for people as they entered our party. It ended up coming together pretty good at the last minute, and it turned out to be a pretty funny party if I do say so myself. but somehow, hours later…. the three of us and cass, my girlfriend at the time, found ourselves late that night, in our Robo Dome Home , also aptly named “Fabric Hell” by some other members of camp.. As the Sun began to rise, with sleep no where near the horizon, the four of us set out on our bikes in search of adventure.

We Cruised the playa…. Sunglasses on, preparing for the day, with our scarves from the previous night’s chill flapping in the wind as we rode. Free Wheeling, with not a care in the world. We went by the temple, I don’t know why…. For a quiet moment of reflection to start the day perhaps? But after a few minutes we decided that the sad people crying about were kind of a buzzkill so we jumped on our bikes and hightailed it out there. “Sianara you sad suckers”

We continued on…. Back into the vast and magical unknown. Back towards the beating heart…. The rhythmic sound of the beating bass drums emanating from the art cars parked in the distance. Back towards the good times, to the place where sparks fly and love happens. We knew we could show them the way, because we’ve been there before…. To Burningman Love. Yeahhhhhh……

We Rode, We stopped, we checked out stuff and we took pictures. One of my favorite pictures and probably the only picture of just the 3 of us before today is actually of the three of us is on bikes that morning. I told everyone to turn the handle bars and look left. I distinctly remember being mocked for my stupid idea, but it turned out to be one of my favorite photos from all my years at burningman and I’m glad we captured it.

But anyways, we found ourselves at Embrace. It was a giant wooden sculpture of 2 people hugging. It was just like the chest up of them, but it was really big, at least 30 or 40 feet tall. But anyways, they were going to burn it down that morning, so everyone sat in a giant circle around it for the show. And as we’re just sitting and waiting & I don’t think these two were cuddling or anything but the were close… like.. you know…. Close. .. And I remember Cass and I looking at each other a silently giving each other the “Look”… you know… (do it) and then smiling in quiet agreement. And that was it. Just a few hours getting dragged around the playa by me in the zombie hours of the morning, and a giant effigy of 2 people up in flames is all it took really. So… you’re welcome.

Now… they didn’t actually get together at Burningman. But in the weeks and months that followed, I remember Cass and I would like… secretly spy on them from afar in group settings or try and gather intel from whomever just secretly hoping they got together like in our own little imaginary but real life Romance movie. I remember that winter, the Gang went up to Big Bear and got a cabin. I didn’t go for some reason but remember Cass telling me that jess told her that these two had their first kiss that weekend. And a few weeks later, they were official. Our Dream Come true.

And here we are today. The three of us….. at an inflection point in our lives. I can’t help but feel that the dynamic has changed. 7 Years ago, it was us leading you on the Burningman love story, But now, it’s you two who are leading the way & Showing me what true love looks like. I can’t count how many times I’ve looked at the two of you over the years and said to myself… “I want that in my life”…. Besides the fact that you’re both amazing people with amazing attitudes and personalities… When I found out that you guys woke up at like 6am everyday and had tea together…. In a state of disbelief, I said to myself…….. “ I want that”….. and when I went over to pick up something one afternoon that I forgot the previous night, you were both in the living room and Jess was playing God of War and matt was just watching. And then when I found out that Matt plays Red Dead redemption and Jess sits there and watches…flabbergasted…. I said to myself….. “I want that”……. And it makes me really happy to know that in this world, the only 2 people I know who have tea at 6am and the only 2 people I know who enjoy watching other people play video games have found each other. Amazing.

But seriously…. All kidding aside…. I’ve watched you both grow into full blown responsible adults and I couldn’t be more proud. When I see how each of you are thriving as individuals, fully dedicated to your crafts… I know for sure that it’s possible because the other is understanding of your dedication and supporting you and pushing you from below so that you can shine above. From Jessica starting a business out of nothing, to Matt’s ship building, 2 full years of band commitment and the last year of debilitating back pain… I know that all this is possible to get through because you two understand that it’s not about me me me me me me… but its about US and You. And when I see your selflessness in love.. your undending support in the other’s success… I say to myself… “ I want that”….

So now that you’re there and I’m here and you’re married and I’m single… it’s your turn to show me the way. Show me what it’s like to love somebody unconditionally, to have somebody else’s heart and protect it with your entire being fiercely and to sacrifice your wants and needs endlessly in the spirit of giving and compromise knowing that you’re building something greater than yourselves. Show me that life is hard but with the right partner at your side. With dedication, teamwork and understanding that 2 brains is better than 1, 4 hands is better than 2 and 2 hearts beating as one wins out every time. So thank you for having me here today. Thank you for taking the torch and keeping the dream alive. The dream of love, true love, burningman love, real love, whatever love. Just keep it going forever and ever. I love you guys. Lets begin.

Matt and Jess, Please join hands. Look at one another now. Look at the sky, and look around at the beautiful scenery. Look at your friends and family. Feel the breeze. Feel the love. Take a moment. Close your eyes…. and breathe it in. Remember this moment in time.

Lets begin the vows.

Have you, Matthew, fallen in love with Jessica for her commitment to ensuring every new person feels welcome, her willingness to do the talking when you don’t feel like it, her endlessly inquisitive mind, and her unique brand of silliness to brings out yours to match?

And today, do you, Matthew, choose to spend the rest of your life with Jessica. To love her deeply and unconditionally for who she is and who she is yet to become????

And Will you, Matthew, honor that promise, through whatever joy or sorrow may come, for as long as you both shall live???????

- Excellent – And now you Jessica. Have you fallen in Love with Matthew for his attentiveness to other’s feelings, his innate ability to know when to help and when to listen, his creativity, and his constant desire to do what is right no matter how difficult????

And today, do you, Jessica choose to give your hand and your heart to Matthew, as your partner with whom you will dream, celebrate, laugh and walk beside through whatever your lives may bring???????

And Will you, Jessica, honor that promise and love Matt Loyally and fiercely for as long as you both shall live???????

Yayyyyyy!!!!

Jess and Matt have chosen to celebrate their marriage today by creating a piece of art that will represent the merging of their lives.

Jessica and Matt will now pour glass shards of Jewel tone colors into this vessel to remember this day. Additionally, this piece will also commemorate the loved ones that could not be with us today. The couple adds Cherry blossom pink for Marie ****** , Jessica’s Grandmother, lavender for Susan ******, Jessica’s Aunt, and yellow for Gary ******, Jessica’s father.

These pieces of glass will be given to a glassblower to be turned into a vase.

(Pour the Glass)

Marriage and a beautiful vase are alike. Both are examples of what can happen when raw, unfinished elements come together. They can be two separate entities, fluid and independent of each other and can have an exquisiteness of their own, but join them together and the result can be stunning in its beauty & Inspiring in it’s function. Continual flow, no beginnnings and no end.

As with your marriage… this vase requires great care. Cherish it, polish it, protect it from any harm. Keep from it what which can break it or chip away at it and it will remain a thing of beauty. Jess and Matt, just as the crystals of glass soon will be fused together into a unified symbol of your commitment - so too will be your life from this point forward. Beautiful, unified, complete, complimentary and forever and ever and ever… yayyy!!

And now for the rings.

The wedding ring serves as a symbol of the promises you have just spoken. It is the outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible love that binds your two hearts together. As you know, the ring is without beginning and without end. May it serve as a daily reminder of the unending love you have for each other.

Matt, place the ring on Jess’s finger and repeat after me. I give you this ring / Wear it with love and joy / As this ring has no end / My love is also forever.

Jess, place the ring on Matt’s finger and repeat after me. I give you this ring / Wear it with love and Joy / As this ring has no end / My love is also forever.

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-May the wedding rings you have exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love.

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

Jess and Matt, you have come here today of your own free will… and actually paid money for all of us to be here so that you could declare your love and commitment to each other in the presence of your family and friends. You have poured the colored shards of your now shattered independent identities into a vase to become one. You have GIVEN AND RECEIVED a ring as a symbol of your promises. And by the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me by the Mandarin House. I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You make kiss the bride - Now Kittthhhhhhhhhh

Congratulations! Friends and Family, and all the people of San Diego and the WORLLLLD!!! it is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time…. Mr and Mrs Wi----------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#Wedding #Speech #weddingceremony #ceremony