Danny and I were married Saturday, August 11th, 2007 at my parents house in LaCenter, Washington. It was one of the most memorable days in my life. It was everything I had ever wanted for my wedding. We were surrounded by all our family and friends. The weather was gorgeous. It was at my parents home...outside...under the gazebo...guests sitting on the tennis court. There was a lot of laughter, plenty of tears, great food, lots to drink and of course tons of fun. Our ceremony was officated by my childhood Pastor, Paul Tuchardt. He did an amazing job and it was exactly as we wanted it. The ceremony went like this:
Friends, we have been invited here today to share with Danny and Heather a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are Danny and Heather’s community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment.
PASTOR PAUL : Will the parents of Danny and Heather please stand?
This union brings together different family traditions and cultures in the hope that a new family tree will be strong and fruitful. Theirs is a personal choice and a decision for which they are primarily responsible, yet their life will be enriched by the support of their families. Therefore I have this question for you:
Mike and Priska, Dan and Rielda, Do you affirm your continuing support and love to Danny and Heather as they grow in their marriage and celebrate with them the decision they have made to choose each other?
MIKE & PRISKA, DAN & RIELDA: We do.
Now....Heather and Danny have asked each of their mothers to share a few words with us. Priska, Heather’s Mother will begin. Rielda, Danny’s Mother will follow.
PRISKA (my mom): Wow, your wedding day. How did we get here already? I close my eyes and reminisce seeing our new baby girl coming home with us for the first time and no owner’s manual. We’re thinking….can we raise you with all the love and guidance you will need? Then all of a sudden you are starting your first day of school..... So full of excitement and wonder. Elementary school, middle school, high school, then college, it all seems like just yesterday. What a joy it has been to watch you mature into the lovely creative and confident woman you are.
You have always been strong willed and independent, yet at the same time your heart of gold is easily hurt by meanness and dishonesty. Your knowledge and faith in God has kept you grounded and focused through all the adventures and trials you have experienced so far. I pray that God continues to bless you and Danny in your life together as much and more as he has blessed us as a family. It is such a joy for your dad and I to see you standing here today filled with so much love and commitment for Danny and knowing how happy and content Danny makes you feel. What a wonderful opportunity it is to witness your profession of unending love to one another in front of our family and friends.
The bible passage I’m about to read speaks to me every day. Whether I’m filled with joy and happiness, or sad and angry, or just plain tired and exhausted from a hectic day. After your honeymoon is over and the newness and excitement of your relationship begins to fade this ‘LOVE from God’ is what truly keeps a marriage and family together. It’s in the book of 1st Corinthians Chapter 13
Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
We will always love you two and be there for you.
RIELDA (Danny's mom): A couple of months ago I was lying awake thinking about this evening…felt I should say something. I closed my eyes and saw my son at two years old…I still see him at two with the biggest browns eyes anyone has ever seen… so expressive – they would cry the biggest tears anyone has ever seen too. Not sure where the time has gone since he was two.
The past couple of day have been a very joyous time during a year that has been difficult for Danny, his dad, Dan, the entire Savage family with the passing of Danny’s grandfather…he would have loved this – I wish my dad was still here to see the grandson that always made him smile, get married…I imagine both are here in the sun and breeze.
Danny and Heather are a great team – give and take. I knew they would work the evening they were waiting for a phone call from their realtor – waiting to hear if the sellers accepted their counter offer on the house they now live in. Heather and Danny both wanted the house but Danny, more of a risk taker, was willing to wait…to see if another buyers offer would be accepted over theirs. Heather wanted to go for it to assure the house would be theirs…I told her if you want the house give the sellers what they wanted. Heather looked at me and said, Danny doesn’t want to give in…and we have to make this decision together. Very different approaches but knew they had to agree. At that moment I realized they had the values needed to start a lifetime together. Danny, we are so proud of the person you are…always walk with pride. Heather, Dan and I welcome you to the family – couldn’t ask for anyone more than you are for our son…
Thoughts from a women…Always remember…to support each other but not loose yourself in each other, be proud …but, never choose pride over your love for each other, pick your battles, most things needn’t be argued, the greatest gift you can give each other is your time – Heather, just hold and love Danny…all he’ll ever need. Danny…Heather should always be in your line of sight, never walk away from her tears…instead be there to wipe them away…make sure you see her laugh more than you see her cry To both of you…make happy memories – those memories will get you through tough times.
Thoughts from your mom...you are now each others strength …I will always be here for the both of you…but, now I will step back and enjoy watching you grow through simple and hard times…together as a family…lean on each other to hold each other up…if both of you fall…so many will be there to brace you…so stay strong …not afraid.
PASTOR PAUL: To you, Danny, and to you, Heather, I would say happiness in marriage doesn’t just happen. A good marriage must be created, nurtured, and worked at. In marriage, little things are big things. Marriage is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, "I love you" It is not taking each other for granted. It’s a hug sent over the phone lines when you’re apart. The courtship shouldn’t end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years together. A solid marriage is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives; it is you two standing together facing the world and all it offers. It is also forming a circle of love around you that gathers in family and friends. Marriage is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in a spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It’s a continuously open dialog. There are also things marriage is not. For example, it is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. Nor is marriage a winner take all argument. It is sharing in all things. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. Marriage certainly is finding room for things of the spirit. It is a search for the good and beautiful as well as the meaningful. It is establishing a relationship in which; the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual, and the obligations are reciprocal. Perhaps most important, marriage is not simply marrying the right partner; it is being the right partner.
Will you now face each other, and hold hands. Danny and Heather, the vows you are about to take are not to be taken without careful thought and prayer. For in them you are committing yourselves exclusively the one to the other for as long as you both shall live. This love is not to be diminished by difficult circumstances, and it is only to be dissolved by death.
Danny, please repeat after me.
DANNY : I Danny, take you Heather / to be my wife / my partner in life / my constant friend / my companion / and my one true love / I will cherish our union / loving what I know of you / and trusting what I do not yet know / I will honor and respect you / laugh with you and cry with you / love you faithfully through good times and bad / regardless of the obstacles we may face together / I give you my hand / my heart / and my love / from this day forward / for as long as we both shall live.
PASTOR PAUL : Heather, please repeat after me.
HEATHER : I Heather, take you Danny / to be my husband / my partner in life / my constant friend / my companion / and my one true love / I will cherish our union / loving what I know of you / and trusting what I do not yet know / I will honor and respect you / laugh with you and cry with you / love you faithfully through good times and bad / regardless of the obstacles we may face together / I give you my hand / my heart / and my love / from this day forward / for as long as we both shall live.
PASTOR PAUL : Do you together promise in the presence of your family and friends to up hold these vows you have given to each other here today?
DANNY & HEATHER : We do
ROSIE SANG (a friend of Heathers):
I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad
All I wanna do is grow old with you
I’ll get your medicine when your tummy aches
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you
I’ll miss you
I’ll kiss you
Give you my coat when you are cold
I’ll need you
I’ll feed you
Even let ya hold the remote control
So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink
Put you to bed if you’ve had too much to drink
I could be the man who grows old with you
I wanna grow old with you
PASTOR PAUL : Do you have the rings? The wedding ring symbolizes your union. The shape is an unbroken circle with no beginning and no end. It symbolizes eternity—a never-ending love. May the spirit of love bless these rings and may they be a true symbol of the love of the one who gives it, and the one who wears it. Danny, place this ring on the hand of Heather and repeat after me:
DANNY : I give this ring to you / as a token of my love / and devotion to you / I pledge to you / all that I am / and all that I will ever be / as your husband / With this ring / I gladly marry you / and join my life to yours.
PASTOR PAUL : Heather, place this ring on the hand of Danny and repeat after me:
HEATHER : I give this ring to you / as a token of my love / and devotion to you / I pledge to you / all that I am / and all that I will ever be / as your wife / With this ring / I gladly marry you / and join my life to yours.
Only reading these words can you truely understand what was said that day. I had asked these people to contribute to our wedding but I had no idea how much these words would touch us that day. Touch everyone. It was extremely special and I wouldn't trade any of these moments for anything.
Danny and I met the summer of '03 at Rainier Lake's Annual Luau. I was invited up to the tournament by the Bachmeier family. I didn't know at the time but I was about to be set up. Luckily for me Danny wasn't all that bad looking so when I was drug over by young Mackenzie Bachmeier to meet him I wasn't mortified. It is a good thing first impressions aren't everything because Danny didn't leave a good one. I embarrassingly said "Hello, I guess we are suppose to meet. I'm Heather." Danny however barely looked at me and said "Oh, Hi," and then left.