What an amazing day! I always said if I ever got married again it would be to my best friend ... and that's exactly who I married!
I can't begin to tell you all the hard work my wife (doesn't that just sound nice?) put in to making this day an amazing event. Oh don't get me wrong, I helped ... and by helped I mean I stayed out of her way! I would get my daily "honey-do" list of things that needed to be done but I am still convinced they were just things she made up for me to do so I wouldn't be bugging her all the time. I caught on to this when she came home one night with a new PS3 game for me to play. Just keep the kid occupied and things will go a lot smoother! Does this woman know me or WHAT?
The entire day was perfect, the weather was beautiful, the food was delicious, the beers were cold and the drinks were flowing. Honestly, if someone asked me if there was one thing I would change about my wedding day my answer would be "Not a thing"! And a huge part of that goes to all the hard work Michelle put into it. I also have to say I knew we both had some pretty great friends and family but this entire event showed me just how truly amazing they all really are. It really was just a perfect day all around!
Now, on to the vows! Michelle and I both agreed we would write our own vows and not share them with anyone, including each other, until we read them at the ceremony. The only thing Michelle said to me is "remember babe, short and sweet". I don't think I have EVER done anything "short & sweet" ... sweet? YES! Short? Not so much!
Michelle went first:
My dearest Brendon,
You had me at Colin Hay!
The moment I met you, I knew.
With every corny joke you told,over and over again, I knew if I could laugh the first time and the 233rd time, that you were someone I could spend my life with.
I promise you today and ever day:
That I will stand by you,
That I will believe in you,
That I will love you, always.
For so long we were each waiting on separate coasts for our ship to come in. And as I stand here beside you, We no longer have to wait for our real lives to begin.
Our real life begins today.
I am honored that you have chosen me and I love you with everything that I am.
PERFECT! What even made them so much more special was the reference to Colin Hay. He was the first musical artist Michelle and I connected on. She had been a huge fan, as was I. And my favorite song, that I kind of considered my "anthem" was Waiting for my real life to begin. That connection between us was my first indication that this was fate!
NOW, as I said before ... I do nothing "short". So here are my vows. (You may want to grab a cup of coffee so as not to doze off mid way through!)
People spend their entire life looking for someone to complete them … like they’re not done or something. I’m done! I am who I am, I’ve lived and I’ve learned.
I grew into the person I am today with the help of a strong loving family. So I wasn’t looking for someone to complete me; I was looking for someone to accept me. Love me for me, appreciate my strengths and accept my short-comings.
In my life I have been blessed with some amazing women in my family…strong women who have stood beside me, who have supported me, who have protected me and who have always loved me unconditionally.
Never in a million years did I ever think I would find a woman that would have the strength or the perseverance that those women have shown me over the years … and then I met you.
Michelle, you came into my life at a turbulent time, a time that I would have totally understood if you just walked away, but you didn’t.
It was you Michelle that was standing right beside the women in my family that I cherish the most … you were standing by me, supporting me, loving me, and protecting me.
And it was then that I realized true love exists… the true love that people search a life time to find does actually exist!
All the nights we sat sitting on the couch sharing our dreams, our fears… even our most embarrassing moments. It was those times that I realized we were meant to be, that what we had found was special and what we have is something I never want to lose. When I look into your eyes I see the woman I have always hoped to find … your smile warms my heart, your touch comforts my world.
You said to me once, and I quote, “It’s the real life moments, through good and bad, it’s what brings two people together with each passing moment. All I ever wanted in my life is to be with someone I can be myself with and visa-versa. I want someone who will stand next to me & be there to support me & stand up for me as I would for them”
I stand here today before our most cherished friends and family and vow to you that I will spend the rest of my life by your side. Encouraging you to be you and I will always be here to support you.
I will be there when you need to cry, I will be there when you need to laugh and I will be there when you need help trying to figure out how to use the stove.
You are an amazingly strong, dedicated woman with compassion, trust, understanding and comfort. I am so thankful you are willing to accept my hand in marriage and I look forward to growing old with you.
I love with all my heart … Thank you for being YOU!
And there they are ... our vows to be husband and wife for the rest of our lives!
I love this woman so much!
I can't begin to tell you all the hard work my wife (doesn't that just sound nice?) put in to making this day an amazing event. Oh don't get me wrong, I helped ... and by helped I mean I stayed out of her way! I would get my daily "honey-do" list of things that needed to be done but I am still convinced they were just things she made up for me to do so I wouldn't be bugging her all the time. I caught on to this when she came home one night with a new PS3 game for me to play. Just keep the kid occupied and things will go a lot smoother! Does this woman know me or WHAT?
The entire day was perfect, the weather was beautiful, the food was delicious, the beers were cold and the drinks were flowing. Honestly, if someone asked me if there was one thing I would change about my wedding day my answer would be "Not a thing"! And a huge part of that goes to all the hard work Michelle put into it. I also have to say I knew we both had some pretty great friends and family but this entire event showed me just how truly amazing they all really are. It really was just a perfect day all around!
Now, on to the vows! Michelle and I both agreed we would write our own vows and not share them with anyone, including each other, until we read them at the ceremony. The only thing Michelle said to me is "remember babe, short and sweet". I don't think I have EVER done anything "short & sweet" ... sweet? YES! Short? Not so much!
Michelle went first:
My dearest Brendon,
You had me at Colin Hay!
The moment I met you, I knew.
With every corny joke you told,over and over again, I knew if I could laugh the first time and the 233rd time, that you were someone I could spend my life with.
I promise you today and ever day:
That I will stand by you,
That I will believe in you,
That I will love you, always.
For so long we were each waiting on separate coasts for our ship to come in. And as I stand here beside you, We no longer have to wait for our real lives to begin.
Our real life begins today.
I am honored that you have chosen me and I love you with everything that I am.
PERFECT! What even made them so much more special was the reference to Colin Hay. He was the first musical artist Michelle and I connected on. She had been a huge fan, as was I. And my favorite song, that I kind of considered my "anthem" was Waiting for my real life to begin. That connection between us was my first indication that this was fate!
NOW, as I said before ... I do nothing "short". So here are my vows. (You may want to grab a cup of coffee so as not to doze off mid way through!)
People spend their entire life looking for someone to complete them … like they’re not done or something. I’m done! I am who I am, I’ve lived and I’ve learned.
I grew into the person I am today with the help of a strong loving family. So I wasn’t looking for someone to complete me; I was looking for someone to accept me. Love me for me, appreciate my strengths and accept my short-comings.
In my life I have been blessed with some amazing women in my family…strong women who have stood beside me, who have supported me, who have protected me and who have always loved me unconditionally.
Never in a million years did I ever think I would find a woman that would have the strength or the perseverance that those women have shown me over the years … and then I met you.
Michelle, you came into my life at a turbulent time, a time that I would have totally understood if you just walked away, but you didn’t.
It was you Michelle that was standing right beside the women in my family that I cherish the most … you were standing by me, supporting me, loving me, and protecting me.
And it was then that I realized true love exists… the true love that people search a life time to find does actually exist!
All the nights we sat sitting on the couch sharing our dreams, our fears… even our most embarrassing moments. It was those times that I realized we were meant to be, that what we had found was special and what we have is something I never want to lose. When I look into your eyes I see the woman I have always hoped to find … your smile warms my heart, your touch comforts my world.
You said to me once, and I quote, “It’s the real life moments, through good and bad, it’s what brings two people together with each passing moment. All I ever wanted in my life is to be with someone I can be myself with and visa-versa. I want someone who will stand next to me & be there to support me & stand up for me as I would for them”
I stand here today before our most cherished friends and family and vow to you that I will spend the rest of my life by your side. Encouraging you to be you and I will always be here to support you.
I will be there when you need to cry, I will be there when you need to laugh and I will be there when you need help trying to figure out how to use the stove.
You are an amazingly strong, dedicated woman with compassion, trust, understanding and comfort. I am so thankful you are willing to accept my hand in marriage and I look forward to growing old with you.
I love with all my heart … Thank you for being YOU!
And there they are ... our vows to be husband and wife for the rest of our lives!
I love this woman so much!
