September 7th, 2010, Santa Ynez Valley, California
The day I’ve been waiting for has come and I’m so excited. Excited because I know. I know you are the man I not only love, but the man I need.
You have extended grace and forgiveness. You have shown me love in spite of fault. You have displayed strength in my weakness, culpability in my failures, and organization in my creative chaos.
Today, in the presence of our Almighty God, amazing family, and astounding friends, I vow promises to you and have a great counsel of witnesses to hold me accountable.
Matthew Ray Olthoff, I promise to love the Lord my God with the totality of my being; with all my heart, soul, mind and strength…
I promise to never give up on the quest of learning and discovering you…
I promise to love you even during the times I may not like you…
I promise to be committed to honest communication…
I promise to remember to put the tag of the fitted sheets on the side nearest to the wall and never load the dish washer because we both know I’m horrible at both those things…
I promise to let you make the executive decisions for our family, though I will always give you my opinion…
I promise to work on my bad submission skills (we both know I’m sub par in this area)…
I promise to be by your side living in an apartment or in a mansion, riding in public transportation or in a Lamborghini, eating hot dogs or filet mignon…
But most importantly, I promise you before our Almighty God that I will NEVER cheat on you for forsake our vows of fidelity. I will NEVER leave you. I will NEVER leave our family.
Your home will be my home.
Your bed will be my bed.
Your children will be my children.
Your God will be my God.
Matthew, please take me to be your wife and I vow to be your best friend until the day that I take my last breath. I love you.
Photo by uber fabulous brother-in-law, JD
Tomorrow the ever amazing Jon Acuff will be posting here! Are you excited? I am 🙂
AHHH!!!!! So exciting!! Enjoy every second of it!!!! Can't wait to read your blogs about marriage!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Congrats friend!!
The vows made me cry! Beautiful! May your life together be blessed and full of love, laughter, and just enough trials to keep you strong.
Beautiful! All of it! Just lovely!
Congratulations! What a stunning bride you are!
Your father's face! Look at your father's face! (That's too cool)
Congratulations again!
Love!
deb
Oooooohhhh, you look soooo beautiful and Matt looks sooo happy…I wish I could have been there to see you both on this lucky day and I wish you both all the best and hope that all your dreams come true.
May be your hearts forever one
and may be your love an endless love that never run dry.
May be the tears you cry only tears of hope and happiness
and may be all your dreams come true.
All my Love for you both from germany,
Markus 🙂
P.S. The mans world will now miss another beautiful girl… 😉
Congratulations! You are beautiful! And I love your personality that shines through your words. I laughed and cried reading your vows to him. Congratulations you guys!
Beautiful, beautiful vows. Makes me want to rewrite my vows to my husband. We didn't get a chance to personalise our vows, but after reading yours I wish we had taken the time to do so.
Congratulations again Bianca. Enjoy your honeymoon.
Welcome to the club!
Awww. How lucky is this Matt guy???? 🙂 Very sweet and real. Congratulations to you and your entire family and I will continue to pray for all of you. Because I have grown to cyber-love you all through your blog and Jasmine's blog. (I'm not a stalker, don't you worry.) And WOW, did you look uh-may-zing!!!!!
Wow – that was absolutely beautiful! and I hope we get to see more pictures from this day!!! Congrats!!
Beautifully written 🙂 you said things people have wanted to put in their vows, but were afraid! So happy for both of you. All of God’s blessings and love for you both. You look AMAZING, really and everyone looks so happy…what a glorious day! Blessings, Corinne Noel +
Best vows ever… i LOVE this
girlfriend why are you blogging on your honeymoon – go get you some fun in the sun time!
beautiful! congrats!
WOOHOOO!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Totally gorgeous!!! You are the Mrs!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Many blessings to you guys!!!
beautiful!!! bow chicka bow bow…
Wow, had me crying. God will do amazing work in you Bianca, you will stand in awe at His marvelous work. Congratulations
Beautiful vows! Congratulations to you and your family. God Bless you on the journey of marriage. 🙂
Beautiful Bride! Beautiful vows – warms the heart! .Handsome Groom! Congratulations to you and Matt…and your family! Have a great time suffering on the beach!
Oh, Bianca! Im in tears. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Thank you for allowing us in on such a personal moment of you and Matt's day!
I love this post in more ways than one! You two have some of the most beautiful hearts, and I only wish you the health, happiness and a whole LOTTA love filled in your beautiful marriage that I already know you are going to have. I was actually someone who read your sister, Jasmine Star's blog, and found your blog through her blog. I just love the words you write! Congratulations…and if I may say, you looked AH-MAZING!!! xoxo.
My heart feels full for you and your new husband. Full of happiness, full of hope, and full of faith. Your faith is refreshing, and your pure, true love for your husband is such a beautiful thing to see in times like today. I discovered Jasmine and her photography this last month through the CreativeLIVE tutorials, and I came to your site through that. I'm equally inspired by you, your faith and your life. I'll be stopping by again. Best of luck in your new marriage! Love wins.
Beautiful vows. Incredibly real. While the standard vows people do are nice… these are way better. I can tell how much time and thought you've put into your marriage. How closely you've looked at yourself and how you two blend and compliment each other. Bianca, I am so happy for you. The joy in the image you posted just radiates through the internet right into my house. I am SO HAPPY for you both!
Enjoy your honeymoon and I'll enjoy Jon Acuff!! WOO-HOO!!!! 🙂
So happy for you! I love the look on your dad’s face hehe CONGRATS! ;D
Wow, I was just blown away! All the Glory to God. Thank you Bianca for sharing so much for modeling what it is to be a woman of God. 🙂 God Bless you guys.
Wow! You look so beautiful!!! You are goregeous! I love your dress!! Have a great time!! Love you!!!
You and your Husband look so happy I can see God in the center of your lifes, your Dad has just a happy smile. God Bless you both.
Incredible vows. Congrats again to both of you!
God is glorified! So very beautiful. I’m proud of you, Bianca.
Wow Bianca, you have such an ability to express feelings not only in person but in WORDS. Got me all choked up and I don't even know you! But we worship the same God, Jesus Christ. May He always be glorified in your marriage!
Side note: I can totally relate to your submission skills! It's what I've been working on for 14 years that requires the Holy Spirit…
Oh & I LOVE THE SUCCULENT THEME!!!!
🙂 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! September 7 is also our anniversary – we celebrated 14 years. May God bless you abundantly – and may you lean on those vows when you need to. 🙂 Thank you for sharing them. I think I'm going to save them for when *I* need them. 😀
Such beauty. Such peace.
Congratulations, girl! God has some amazing plans for you both! How beautiful to see it unfold…
Bianca,
I miss you, love you, and wish you and Matt an incredible life together. Two strong oxens, yoked together, to work fiercely for the Kingdom of God together. Can't have it any better. We all love you BB!
Awesome Vows!! Congratulations to an awesome couple!
stunning!!! Congratulations. May God bless your new life together.
I've been lurking here a long time but I think this is my first time commenting. I had too, your vows made me cry happy, sentimental tears.
Congratulations and may God bless you with a lifetime of happiness.
Picture is priceless (nice job JD) ,Your beautiful and Matt looks so handsome and your dad is beaming with JOY it brings tears to my eyes…
Congrats!!!!! love you guys ,
Flores Family
Grand slam vows, B! Beautiful! I wanted to text you first thing Tuesday morning but figured you would be innundated (sp?) with texts like you were FB messages but I did pray for many blessings on your special day and for God to be glorified in it all… looks like He answered all of our prayers! Love you girlie… have fun on your honeymoon… whoot whoo! 😉
you look so radiant my friend! congratulations!
So very happy for the two of you! I love how God has orchestrated your paths to meet. May you always be aware of His great delight in your union. Much love. Janine
Simply beautiful Mrs. O…just beautiful!
Happy Honeymooning….:-)
Bianca! You look absolutely STUNNING!! I loved everyone's joy!! You made me cry with such beautiful words!! My greatest congratulations to both of you!! Blessings and love!!
so much emotion in this photo! you look stunning! congratulations!
that was so beautiful….i am sooooo excited for you and your new adventure! Seriously…so.excited. You guys look amazing! God bless your new life as a wife and mother….
*tear* 🙂 That was absolutely beautiful! And so are you! Great picture. Congratulations!!!
Beautiful…the vows and the picture.
Whoa. That just totally blew my mind and gave me goosebumps all at the same time. I gotta tell ya that you're off to a great start as a wife. God bless you and your new married life 🙂
Congratulations to you Bianca. You both look stunning.
I have been married for what will be 27 years this year. And I have been married since I was 18, we have had our share of ups and downs… but God has remained faithful… These vows are a WONDERFUL reminder of what is important in a marriage… makes me want to see my husband and tell him I love him. I also pray for you at Matt as you continue on this amazing road God has set before you.
Beautiful picture! Love the words of this post as well!!!