Photography by Greg Finck

SEE EVA & JON'S ROMANTIC BLACK TIE WEDDING IN FRANCE RIGHT HERE.

INTRODUCTION
[No phones, Greg the photog is on point - turn off phone (alarm
anecdote)

Bienvenue à tous - Welcome, all of you - who have come here from near and far to bear witness to and celebrate this joyous occasion... Jon and Eva's marriage to one another. What an incredible moment - Eva and Jon,please take a look around and truly take it all in. Having known the beautiful bride and this handsome groom for many years, I can tell you that it's not lost on them That collectively you, Jon & Eva's family and friends have traveled thousands of miles over many hours and days, From New York, California, New Jersey, Seattle, Dubai, Jordan, and from all over Europe to be here. Jon and Eva thank you all for taking the time and energy to celebrate their wedding.

I, however, would have preferred that most of you stay home as I'm quite nervous and the open bar is as yet, suspiciously not open. Nevertheless, though we are fortunate to be here on this [_____________] day, there are many who were not able to join us. Jon and Eva have requested that we all take a few moments to give thoughts to those who were unable to attend, and those that are no longer with us.

[PAUSE]

We have gathered here today because we support Eva's love for Jon and Jon's love for Eva. Eva and Jon, have a look again at everyone here.

[PAUSE]

They are present because they support you In your life's journey, in both the story that you have written, and the story you have yet to write. Know that you are not alone in valuing and upholding the union that you have chosen to enter into on this day. We all respect it, we support it, we celebrate it, and we will all be there to support you through it. That's a magnificent, powerful, thing. Eva and Jon would like to acknowledge their parents. Eva's parents, Dean and Christine, and Jon's parents, Jean and Danielle Though it took 11 years, today the Gralls have gained a daughter; the Hamdens, a son.

To the mothers and fathers of the Bride and Groom, If the four of you do nothing else For Jon & Eva from this day forward, Congratulations on a job incredibly well done. Eva and Jon would also like to acknowledge their siblings, Jennifer, Kristen, Dena, Erika, and Vanessa, and Eva's Maid of Honor Christine and Jon's Best Man Sean, for being their friends, confidants, and their unwavering supporters - a job which, as I know all too well, has not always been easy!

Now, at this point in the ceremony you're probably wondering, what the hell am I doing up here "officiating" this wedding ceremony? I'm neither a priest nor a rabbi, nor some manner of government official. I'm not even licensed by the State of New Jersey, where the bride and groom live, nor, in fact, am I licensed by the State of California in which I live; and I certainly don't have a license for - anything at all - from the French. And let me clarify - it's certainly not because I have personal experience with marriage - in fact, as these two well know, I have something of an abysmal track record with relationships altogether. No... I'm standing here, because I've known Eva and Jon since before they started dating, and also because I am manipulative enough to get them to each share a few things with me that they might not have readily shared with others. In fact, as I asked each of them questions, they promised not to share their answers even with each other - which means that you all in those seats know just about as much as [these two] about what I'm going to say next. That's either incredibly courageous and trusting, or very, very stupid - [to Eva & Jon] - now we still have time to call this thing off.... No? Ok, here goes!

In preparation for this ceremony, I have asked both Eva and Jon to give me three words to describe their partner.

Eva chose:
1. Passionate
2. Honest
3. Strong

Eva sees Jon as her rock, her guide, her support. He knows when to hold her close, when to carry her, and when to push her to pick herself up, dust herself off, and try harder. Eva sees Jon as the most driven person she has ever met. He inspires her to work harder, to learn and understand more, and to stand up for herself. From Jon, Eva has learned how to face her fears head-on. The first time they met, Eva recalls feeling electricity when they shook hands. She dismissed this, though - she was a freshman in college and after all, she'd probably never see him again. But despite the fact that he was dating someone else at the time, he still
left quite the impression. She thought he was funny, charming, and a little bit of a bad boy. She had an upcoming theater project about Michael Jackson, and he, naturally, took the time to teach her the Moonwalk, something that we are all going to have to see later on the dance floor! She started falling for him. The fearlessness in which he spoke his mind. How he changed into a suit for Thanksgiving dinner with the family. The
way that he, on their first date at the movies, so majestically received the bucket of popcorn she dumped on him. (We're going to need that story later). To Eva, your relationship was always that of natural companions - a
friendship that was so deep it always felt like love. Jon, you are Eva's Mr. Darcy. Eva could not imagine her life without you. It's a powerful thing that after 11 years, she said to me - QUOTE "I love
him, I love him, I love him." She looks forward to a life with you, to wake up next to you, to cook your favorite foods, to travel the world on great adventures, to agree to disagree, to cuddle close, to support each other, to fight the world, and to stand together as husband and wife. [To Eva, whisper] That part's coming up!

Jon got to choose three words about Eva, too.

Jon chose:
1. Loving
2. Sweet
3. Selfless

Jon sees Eva as the source of his happiness. He says she is a better person than he, and she inspires him to strive to be better. She always tells him the truth, even when it's hard to hear, and he values that
immensely. In this way, Jon believes Eva brings out the best in him - she helps him to be more self-aware, mature, grounded, and resilient. She creates the emotional support that allows them both to pursue their dreams. Together, they are confident, ambitious, and see a whole world of possibilities ahead of them. Jon echoed Eva's thoughts about their chemistry just being - natural. Though, as the proud holders of Y chromosomes, it takes us men a little longer to realize these things. In fact, Jon first realized that he wanted to date Eva while he was out with someone else! They met up with Eva and her sister Erika in the Boston Common on a snowy December day. After spending the evening ignoring his date and throwing snowballs at Eva, a particularly New England-form of flirting, he soon asked her on their first date. // Eva, Jon knew he had fallen in love with you when he found himself on a Friday evening redeye from Los Angeles to Boston, traveling overnight just to spend a single night holding you in your tiny dorm room bed. [To Eva] Jon knows that your relationship is unassailable. Together, you've faced myriad difficult challenges, be they economic, medical, or even being the victims of crime - and you both, and your relationship, are stronger for it. Jon has unwavering confidence that together, you can tackle anything this life will throw at you. In his words, your relationship is battle-tested. I'd say the both of you did pretty damn good.

READING

And now, Eva's Maid of Honor, Christine Colucci, will read a love letter from singer songwriter Johnny Cash to his wife, June Carter Cash, which he wrote for her on her 65th birthday.

[Happy Birthday Princess,]
We get old and get used to each other.
We think alike.
We read each other's minds.
We know what the other wants without asking.
Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit.
Maybe sometimes take each other for granted.
But once in a while, like today,
I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the
greatest woman I ever met.
You still fascinate and inspire me.
You influence me for the better.
You're the object of my desire, the #1 earthly reason for my existence.
I love you very much.
[Happy Birthday Princess.]
John

VOWS

Lastly - before I ask you both to exchange rings, I'd like to offer a few challenges for this next phase of your relationship:

1) Always remember that no matter how brilliant or comfortable we are - all of us are students for life. We never stop learning. Our lives are a journey in search of truth, but we never possess it in absolute terms. Your marriage is a work in progress. It will never be perfect, And it can always be better.

2) I've always known you both to be passionate about jobs, about life, and about each other. Work every day to keep that passion alive.

3) Never go to bed angry. Know when to nip an argument in the bud, and more importantly, know when to take a deep breath and just let it go.

4) With your great skills and gifts as people, use them not only to make each other better, but also to improve the people and the community around you.

5) Just Laugh. Life is funny. Relationships are funny. And sometimes, even difficult, painful moments are funny in
hindsight. Find the humor in life - and just laugh.

And now - Jon and Eva - I ask that you take each other's hands.

Jon, please repeat after me:
I, Jon, take you, Eva, to be my lawfully wedded wife, [PAUSE]
to have and to hold from this day forward, [PAUSE]
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, [PAUSE]
in sickness and health, until death do us part. [PAUSE]

Eva, please repeat after me:
I, Eva, take you, Jon, to be my lawfully wedded husband, [PAUSE]
to have and to hold from this day forward, [PAUSE]
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, [PAUSE]
in sickness and health, until death do us part. [PAUSE]

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

May we please have the rings?

These rings and their unbroken wholeness, are tokens of your union and of your love. They represent the enduring trust and affection that you bring to one another, And are the outward visible symbols of your inner spiritual bond. Jon, as you put on her ring, repeat after me: "With this ring, I thee wed." Eva, as you put on his ring, repeat after me: "With this ring, I thee wed."

PRONOUNCEMENT

Now Eva, you and I both know that Jon is not always the most outwardly emotional person - but Jon this next part is very, very important. It's absolutely essential that you neither hold back nor hesitate to show the world your love for this woman, when I say... By the power vested in me by no one at all, I now declare you husband and wife. Jon, you may kiss the bride.

[PAUSE for Make-Out Sesh]

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mesdames and Messieurs, I present to you, Mr.
and Mrs. Grall!

FIN.