Lord willing, one week from today I will get to say these wonderful words after giving a brief wedding homily for my beloved son in whom I am well pleased and his lovely bride:
“And now, Andrew and An, by the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has therefore joined together, let no one ever separate.” *
“Andrew, you may kiss your wife.”
💋
“Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great please to introduce to you for the very first time: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Valentino.”
At that moment, I will get a daughter-in-law, and then we’ll go celebrate with a marvelous reception filled with food, fun, and a few surprises.
Welcome to the family, An. You are God’s gift to all of us.
The countdown is on, and the excitement is growing.
* Since the state has defied God’s definition of marriage, I no longer refer to it in the pronouncement.