Rieboldt Vow Renewal
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, renewed and for always, Mr. and Mrs. Rieboldt!
Five years after saying, “I do,” during an intimate, pandemic summer, backyard ceremony, Joe and Kamila gathered loved ones from the United States and Poland for a fabulous celebration of their love story. Joe and Kamila renewed their vows lakeside at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin. From personalized vows to a ring warming ceremony that included both sets of parents, heartfelt joy was abundant in every sweet moment for this precious couple. It was a lovely honor to get to know Joe and Kamila and to help them renew their vows with the wedding ceremony they had been dreaming of all these years.
Enjoy a few excerpts from this beautiful ceremony below.
~~~
It is a beautiful blessing how life leads us through winding, cluttered pathways, and then suddenly, the path straightens and clears, and you’re amazed to find that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. And it’s even more incredible when you look beside you and you find the person who is meant to be right there with you.
Loving that person is natural, simple, meant to be. There is purity and simplicity in this love for the right person. Marriage, however, is much more than simple love. It is a lifetime of choosing to love. Marriage is not a destination. A wedding in itself does not secure the milestone anniversaries. You don’t just end up at 40, 50, 60 years together. Marriage is a journey- a blessed, sacred, fantastical journey. It means waking up every day and choosing to love each other, no matter the circumstances of the day. It means choosing to cherish, appreciate, and nurture each other through every opportunity and challenge. It means loving a person and receiving their love over time and through whatever ‘time’ may bring.
Celebrating and acknowledging this love is important. Ceremony is important. We are not just here today because Joe and Kamila want to throw a party- although today’s celebration will be fabulous! We are here because Joe and Kamila want to reaffirm their marriage vows, and they chose you to be witnesses to this affirmation. You are chosen to witness their joy as they continue to, above all else, choose to love each other and honor their marriage. Your presence here today is significant, and you are a special part of their married life.
May we know in our hearts that those gone before us are watching over this marriage with joy and peace as well, especially Joe’s grandmother and Kamila’s grandmother. They would not want your heart to be troubled. Know that they are with you always.
~~~
Joe and Kamila, in 2020, on your wedding day, you said, “I do.” Five years ago, those words were said with anticipation, excitement, and hope. They were quite possibly the bravest words you ever said, not knowing what the future would hold. Today, with the wisdom of the years and with eyes and hearts wide open, you will be asked to say those two words again. Today, those words will be said with a love and understanding much deeper than you imagined possible five years ago. My most heartfelt wish for you is that you continue to celebrate your love and marriage through the years. From big parties to a takeout dinner for two, enjoy each other and honor your marriage journey, remembering always that it is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end.
~~~
Vows
(Joe) Kamila, I promise to love you forever and ever, without reservation. I will comfort you in times of sorrow and lift you up in times of distress. I will help you achieve your goals in life and celebrate your victories. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I pledge with all that I am- mind, body and spirit- to live out my days as your faithful, dedicated husband and to lovingly grow old with you. I love you.
(Kamila) Joe, for 11 years, we’ve grown together, and in that time, you’ve become not only my husband but also my best friend. I cherish how naturally we connect, how much joy we find in simply being together, and how deeply we understand each other. I’ve never had so much in common with someone- and that makes this bond we share truly special. I promise to keep growing, laughing, and loving with you, every step of the way. I also want to thank you for being there for me when I was at the hospital and for making me feel better and for just coming by me every day. I am so grateful for that, and I appreciate you so much. I love you.
~~~
Now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you still married to each other! May God bless your marriage!
~~~
To Joe and Kamila and a lifetime of love! Cheers!