Processional Song - Can't Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley Bride's Song - Love Like You, Rebecca Sugar Noah's Vow's - No Matter What, Rebecca Sugar Recessional Song - I Could Write a Book, Richard Rogers First Dance - Orange Colored Sky, Nat King Cole
Today, we are standing in the very place our story began, surrounded by the people we love, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. Gratitude, that throughout our story, one thing has remained constant: our unwavering commitment to become better together. We push each other to grow and evolve both individually and as a couple. With your love, patience, and support, I have found the courage to step outside of my comfort zone and chase my dreams. Together, we have created a welcoming home and built a community of totally awesome nerds. I am so thankful for your unwavering support and your unconditional love. And joy. Every single day, I write down one thing that brings me joy. I have been doing so for over seven years. From the day you first asked me to dance, I have written about your smile, our inside jokes, and your ability to bring grace and calmness into any situation. Though you have made countless appearances in my happy things journal, I want to share just two of those times with you today. October 3rd, 2016 “That cute boy from swing dancing asked me out on a date! I am both thrilled and terrified!” and July 7, 2023. “Tomorrow I am going to marry my best friend!” Noah, you bring me gratitude and joy every day. Today, as we exchange our vows where it all began, I promise to be your partner in every sense of the word. I promise to cherish our love, to support you in all that you do, and make sure you eat something every day. I promise to stand by your side through all of life’s joys and challenges. I promise to be grateful for you each and every day. As we start this next chapter, I am no longer terrified, only thrilled to fill the pages of our love story. I love you and I am honored to call you my husband. Let’s go write our happily ever after.
We met just a few floors up in the Kirby Ballroom. I had been going to swing dancing club for over 2 years with the intention of learning the dances that go along with the music I was studying. Little did I know that I would stumble across my life long dance partner. Thanks to our friend Rachel you learned about swing dancing and came across the street to UMD. I noticed you during the group lesson and made sure to dance with you as soon as possible. After I got the courage to ask you, I learned not only could you dance, but you had impeccable timing and could also hold a captivating conversation at the same time. Even after all this time meeting people during social dancing, I could tell I felt differently about you. And as one of the first songs we danced to said, “Something tells me I’m into something good!” I made it my mission to be your only dance partner. I was struck by you the moment I saw you, but what made me realize that I love you, and could spend forever with you, was the time we were hanging out in the small room I was renting in college with barely enough floor room to walk. I can’t remember why, but I offered to go downstairs and get you milk from the fridge. Before I could turn and leave you grabbed my hand to stop me and lovingly said, “but we could go get the milk together.” I remember an uncontrollable smirk painting both our faces. As we laughed and embraced, part of me knew right then that I wanted to do everything together with you. I knew I wanted to express my love by being kind and serving you, but you were selfless enough to want to join me and not miss a single moment. Even though it was simple, you reminded me that we are a team and that I don’t have to be strong enough on my own. I know I can trust in you, rely on you, and enjoy the journey with you, no matter how mundane.
We have: Started a lil fantasy book club and writing club together, Moved across the country twice together, Summited a mountain together, Gathered all our love ones to celebrate with us together. I will let you all guess which one was the hardest. We will: Write novels and music together, Fashion our dream home together, Travel the world together, Care for special needs cats together, Never stop learning as we grow old and wise together, Become the greatest power couple together, Together, I know we will accomplish anything we set out to do. You are my best friend, my confidante, my muse, my gemheart, and my love. I’m enchanted by your smile and inspired by your thoughtful determination, your emotional intelligence and wells of empathy as well as the parodies and nonsense lyrics you sing. You bring out my best, you challenge me to be better, and you nurture my growth. I promise that I will share my feelings, secrets, and dreams with you. I promise to be a strong man of God for our household, to be your biggest cheerleader, and to cherish you for the rest of our lives, no matter the circumstance. If I must fall, I will rise each time a better man, because you know my potential and encourage me to become more than I am, more than I could dream of being. All of my love for you and promises for our future can be best summed up by Rebecca Sugar, our favorite musician and cartoon creator. “Through whatever you’ve been, Through whatever you’ll be, Through whatever you lose, You will always have me, At the end of your road, I’ll be holding you taught. I’m gonna be right by your side no matter what!” I love you and I am ready to take on the epic adventure of a lifetime with you!