A letter to Melissa and Joey…

Dear Joey, to say these past seven and a half years have flown by would be a lie. It feels like I've known you forever, and from the very start, I knew we'd get to this moment one day. Through every good and bad moment, you are my ray of light. My love for you hasn't stopped growing, and as our lives continue, it can only grow stronger. Today, I give you my heart for the rest of forever.

The biggest compliment I ever received was Joey asking me to be his best man. Joey is a man of old school values, honour, and loyalty. I really haven't met too many people like Joey in my life, and I tell Angie every day, "Your brother is just built different." Helen and Joe are fantastic role models and have molded Joey into the man he is today. Joey and Melissa, I love you two. Enjoy your special day, and I can't wait to share many more life journeys and experiences with you two.

From the time we were little, Melissa has been an older sister to me. We grew up together, creating countless memories, sharing secrets only cousins could, and today I get to stand here looking at her, and I could not be more proud of the woman she's become. Seeing the way that you love and care for Joey only confirms what an incredible person you are. Your heart is big and warm, and it's gentle. You love hard, and you care deeply, and that's something I aspire to be.

Look upon these, your servants Joseph and Melissa, and ground their betrothal firmly in faith and oneness of mind, in truth and in love. For you, Lord, have made your will clear that a pledge should be given and confirmed by every means. Bless this marriage, grant to these, your children Joseph and Melissa, a peaceful life. Servant of God Joseph is betrothed to the handmaiden of God Melissa, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Holy God formed man out of Earth and fashioned woman out of his flesh. Unite them in one mind, wed them into one body, grant them fruitful in the life of their children. The servant of God Melissa is crowned in marriage to the servant of God Joseph, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. For both of you have left father and mother to cleave to one another, to become that which you now are from this day forth: one flesh, one person. Just as these rings have a circular and never-ending character to them, this commitment that you both enter into must follow the same path, to be continuous, never-ending, to be eternal. In the wedding service, you are both crowned with honour and glory as the king and queen of a newly established kingdom: your household. May God bless you, keep you well and sound for many years to come. Congratulations to both of you. With that, you may kiss your wife!

When we first met Joey, he came over and was greeted by the entire family waiting in the front entrance, including Big Tony, man-spreading on the stairs. The fact that Joey didn't run away and never come back is a testament to how perfectly he would fit in this family.

It's going to be very different not having Melissa in the house all the time, especially because the three of us very much enjoyed messing with her over the years. It was a lot of fun having her around, and I'm very happy for both you guys.

I have made so many great memories with Melissa and Joey, from playing games to going tobogganing and playing pond hockey together for the past seven years of my life. Overall, we have countless funny stories and good memories with these two love armadillos, and we look forward to making even more of these great memories with them. We hope everyone has a great night.

We've had a lot of fun times with Joey, and he's had a lot of time making fun of Melissa as well, like her brother, so you know, sort of works out, somehow fits right in, yeah, fits right in. We hope that your love does nothing but grow. You guys enjoy many, many years of love and happiness.

Before they used to say, "Oh, find your mate, your soulmate, your husband, your wife." They don't say that anymore. I'm finding they now say something which is very old; we say it a lot in Greek culture: they found their person. And I think they've done that. They work well together; they really seem to compliment each other, which I think no parent could ask for more than to have their child find that person.

To my husband, I still remember you calling me at three in the morning, sending my heart a flutter as I decided to start dating you, and something in my heart told me that way back then, if I said yes, then the course of my life would change forever. Now here we are, husband and wife, in front of all of these people we hold dear. Joey, from the day we reconnected, I knew you were the only person for me. What started out as a simple walk with the dogs became something so beautiful so quickly; it became apparent that I could never spend enough time with you. I promise to make you smile when you're sad, celebrate your wins, and support you when you need it most. I promise to continue being your passenger princess and sing love songs to you on road trips. And finally, I promise to keep giving you my heart every day for the rest of our lives and beyond. I love you.