A letter to Vanessa and Andrew…

My dearest Vanessa, standing here with you today, I'm filled with honour and joy.

From the moment we met, my heart told me you were the one I would love forever, and my heart was right.

This moment marks the beginning of a brand new chapter in our lives, one that I have eagerly awaited for a long time.

We're all here to witness Vanessa and Andrew make the biggest decision of their lives. It's our plan to make this wedding most memorable. And now we'll prepare for the garlands. The children, Ivana and Ivan, play a significant role in the ceremony, representing the unity and the future of joining families.

I would just like to thank everybody who is here, to have made this beautiful occasion so special for us, and I would say the floor is open for some dancing!

A very warm welcome to everyone, and to our new German family, willkommen! Being an older brother, I had the responsibility of being a good example for Andrew. Although Andrew and I grew up together, we were typical brothers that had very different interests until he decided to follow my footsteps to come to Australia and study. Andrew first laid eyes on Vanessa during the university's orientation week. Andrew had a study room to himself, and Vanessa asked if she could share the room with Andrew. You said yes, of course, and surely enough, that's where it all began. Who knew love could be found amidst the aroma of old books and whispers about construction and sustainability? Australia has provided Andrew and Vanessa with a lot: a fluffy monster named Namor, several road trips over 20,000 km, countless friends, and most importantly, each other.

On behalf of Vanessa and Andrew, welcome and thank you for being here. They are delighted that you're here today, marking a significant moment and a new chapter in their lives.

From the moment I met you, I've been in awe of the passion and love you bring to everything you do. I am grateful for the way you elevate our lives with your boundless energy and dedication. I promise to remain true to myself and to you, building a life filled with trust, love, and faith.

Falling in love with you was something I had not expected, but being in love with you is something I could not stop, even if I tried. Every single day, I'm reminded again of how incredible and wonderful you are—your intelligence, your kindness, your devotion, and your endless love.

As we look to the future, I am eager to work hand in hand with you to build our family and eventually our dream house—a place where we can grow old together, surrounded by the love and garden we've cultivated. Today, I vow to be not just your husband, but also your closest friend and lifelong partner. I promise to cherish life's fleeting moments with you. As the seasons change and the tides turn, I commit to continually nurturing and supporting this beautiful journey we've begun together.

You have been, and you are, my strength and my comfort and the source of my biggest smiles and dreams. To me, saying "I love you" means that I accept you for the person you are and that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I will love you and stand by you, even through the worst of times. "I love you" means that I care enough to fight for us and what we have, and that I love you so much that I cannot let you go. And no matter how many times I tell you that I love you, I will always love you more than that.

Vanessa and Andrew, it's my honour and a delight to declare you now to be husband and wife. And you may seal your vows with a kiss.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's my personal privilege and a great joy to introduce Vanessa and Andrew for the first time as husband and wife. Please greet them warmly!

Today, we can celebrate this special wedding where lovers from different countries and from different cultures have decided to live together.

I am now presenting to you, for the first time as husband and wife—please give it up for Vanessa and Andrew Gomez!

Vanessa was the absolute dream child and the princess of her proud parents. During the many short trips to the Black Forest, where she lived on a farm, Vanessa discovered her love for country life and especially for animals. And here, she had a few riding lessons on a horse, and Vanessa caught fire. Vanessa wore a black shirt with a white inscription: "You can have my boyfriend, but stay away from my horse."

As Vanessa and Andrew begin their journey down the road of life together, help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives, so that they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children's children. Amen!