Treely, Madly, Deeply: The Ceremony - Part One

Oh, Hive, I am so excited to share this post with you all.

Our Ceremony is completely and totally handcrafted. Rev. Fun wrote the entire thing on her own and Mr. Palm Tree and I knew nothing about it until it was happening. Mr. Palm Tree and I wrote our own vows (which, surprisingly, was his idea - long ago, I brought up the topic and he was all, "well, of course we're writing our own vows." Easy peasy), which we kept secret from each other. Friend B read I Like You, by Sandol Stoddard Warburg (another Weddingbee find!). It was so unique and freaking perfect. I love every single second of it, which I think is evident in our photographs.

*all photographs courtesy of Limelight-Images

Sidenote #1: I'm using real names in this post because I don't want anything to take away from the authenticity of these words. They are so powerful to me and I hope that can come through as you read, even just a little. 

Rev. Fun:
Friends and family, welcome to the beginning of a day that has been 6,135 days in the making. We are here today not to witness the beginning of what will be, but to honor what already is.

I am absolutely honored to be officiating this ceremony. Some of you may know I'm Stephanie's cousin. But I promise this is legit.

Over the past few years - okay, eight - we've all been witness to the type of love Steph and Jon have. One that is full of passion and acceptance, of determination and  hope; of playfulness and hard work. It is a love that reminds us to not forget that the little things are really the big things and that happily ever afters really do happen.

And now, Britney H---- will read a passage selected by the bride and groom.

B started by saying a few sweet words about how Jon and I both love Disney and have been "twitterpated" with each other since Day One. It was so adorable and sweet -  it was a complete surprise, so it was even more touching.

I like you and I know why.
I like you because you are a good person to like.
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special
And you remember it a long, long time.
You say, Remember when you told me something special
And both of us remember

When I think something is important

you think it’s important too

We have good ideas

When I say something funny, you laugh

I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too

Hah-hah!

I like you because you know where I’m ticklish

And you don’t tickle me there except just a little tiny bit sometimes

But if you do, then I know where to tickle you too

You know how to be silly

That’s why I like you

Boy are you ever silly

I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you

I like you because you know when it’s time to stop being silly

Maybe day after tomorrow

Maybe never

Too late, it’s a quarter past silly

Sometimes we don’t say a word

We snurkle under fences

We spy secret places

If I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off

You are one too

If I pretend I am drowning, you pretend you are saving me

If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag,

then you are getting ready to jump

HOORAY

That’s because you really like me
You really like me, don’t you
And I really like you back
And you like me back and I like you back
And that’s the way we keep on going every day
And I like you because when I am feeling sad
You don’t always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can’t stand the others being so googly and gaggly every single minute
You want to think about things
It takes time

I like you because if I am mad at you
Then you are mad at me too
It’s awful when the other person isn’t
They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could just about punch them in the nose
I like you because if I think I am going to throw up
then you are really sorry
You don’t just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that
You say, maybe it was something you ate
You say, the same thing happened to me one time
And the same thing did

If I break my arm, and if you break your arm too
Then it’s fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine, you tell me about yours
We are both sorry
We write our names and draw pictures
We show everybody and they wish they had a broken arm too

I like you because I don’t know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can’t remember when I didn’t like you
It must have been lonesome then

I like you because because because
I forget why I like you but I do
So many reasons
On the 4th of July I like you because it’s the 4th of July
On the fifth of July, I like you too
If you and I had some drums and some horns and some horses
If we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines
We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE
See what I mean?

Even if it was the 999th of July
Even if it was August
Even if it was way down at the bottom of November
Even if it was no place particular in January
I would go on choosing you
And you would go on choosing me
Over and over again
That’s how it would happen every time
I don’t know why
I guess I don’t know why I really like you
Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like you because I like you.

Jon and I read each other our vows next - fair warning: make sure your tissues are handy.