Photography by Brightwood Photography.

WELCOME
Good afternoon everyone. Just a quick reminder that this is an unplugged wedding, so please ensure that your cellphones are on silent mode. First, I want to welcome you all, and thank you for being here. So many people have come from so far to be with Colin and Sarah; we're representing 20 states and 4 countries here today. And I want to extend a particular and very special thank you to the parents of the bride and groom. Their love and support made this day possible.

OPENING ADDRESS
I want to start by introducing myself. My name is Ryan, and I went to college with Colin and Sarah at Miami. I have something of a unique perspective on their relationship, as I had met each of them individually and was friends with each of them separately before they met each one another.

Colin and I were in the same dorm during our freshman year at Miami. He was afraid of me initially, because I sat at the end of the hallway, brooding in the silhouette of my doorframe, with a shaved head due to my participation in Navy ROTC. On the other hand, I thought Colin was cool. He was 17 and had a beard. He had a poster of Duane Allman on his wall. He played guitar and was friends with everyone. I was out of the ROTC program within two months, but here, nine years later, I am happy to say Colin is still one of my closest friends.

Sarah was not in my dorm. She lived in the dorm adjacent to mine, and it just so happened that the girl I was seeing at the time lived across the hall from Sarah. Sarah helped me set it up so I could come over and play Wonderwall by Oasis on acoustic guitar to my girlfriend, because that was what we did back then. Sarah helped by sticking around to listen to my truly horrendous rendition. She and Emily Jones helpfully sat on the other side of the dining hall as they watched their friend eat dinner with me, too. Somehow, this all worked out, that girl agreed to marry me, and Colin and Sarah were in our wedding party two years ago.

I also had the good fortune of witnessing Colin and Sarah interacting with each other for one of the first times during our sophomore year at Miami. I had moved out of the dorms, and my roommate and I decided to have an Olympics-themed party to christen our new apartment. How appropriate that they've decided to keep with the Olympics theme, and get married during another Olympics year. Several people at the party noticed that the two were chatting quite a bit, and seemed inseparable throughout the night. Due to either our underdeveloped logical skills or the influence of Natural Light, no one seemed to put two and two together: that they were smitten with each other. Embarrassingly, it took our group several months before realizing that they had been dating, and that the party was a first rendezvous of sorts.

My wife and I have continued to count Colin and Sarah among our very best friends ever since. And though I could stand up here and talk about the two of them and the stories we share for hours, I thought that on their wedding day, they should hear from their families as well.

I asked their families for little quotes on what they think of the wedding, and specifically, what the Pontiers like about Colin, and what the Ackermans like about Sarah. After all, this is more than just a joining of Colin and Sarah, this is a joining of families. Here's some of what they had to say:

READINGS
I also wanted to share a reading that Colin and Sarah felt passionately about. They will then have readings to present to each other that they haven't heard before today.

"Union" by Robert Fulghum
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks-all those conversations that began with, "When we're married," and continued with "I will" and "you will" and "we will"-all those late night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe"-and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things that we've promised, and hoped, and dreamed-well, I meant it all, every word."

VOWS
Colin and Sarah have prepared vows of their own. They prepared them together while hiking in the mountains of the Arapaho National Forest and will be reading them to each other.

I vow the following promises to you today and for the rest of our lives: I promise to be patient, understanding, faithful and honest - to listen, value your opinion and have tough conversations. I promise to continue to work on myself in order to love you better. And work hard to support our love, lifestyle and family. I promise to push you to be your best self and allow you to push me to do the same. To always want the best for you and work to help you achieve your goals. I promise to pursue my own passions to bring back to our relationship. To pursue you and show you love in your love language. I look forward to celebrating our good days and all of our special occasions, to filling our home with laughter and goodness - but in turn, I also promise to help process the bad. I promise to continue to go on exciting adventures, relaxing vacations and enjoy you as my partner. Ultimately, to have your back and be by your side no matter the situation. To be your confidant, teammate and number 1 fan. I love you today and promise to love you more each day going forward.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS
Ask Paul for the rings. These rings symbolize the commitment Colin and Sarah are making to one another, and will serve as a reminder of the promises they have made today and will keep the rest of their lives.

DECLARATION OF LOVE AND CONSENT
Do you Colin take Sarah to be your lawfully wedded wife?
Do you Sarah take Colin to be your lawfully wedded husband?

PRONOUNCEMENT
I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss.

RECESSIONAL
Thank you all for coming. We would be delighted if you would join us for a cocktail hour and reception just up these steps in the garden.

See more full ceremony scripts RIGHT HERE.