Kelly + Benjamin
Kelly + Benjamin FEBRUARY 5, 2022 A L L E LY E S TAT E , K U M E U
Ben’s vows Love is a journey with problems to solve, lessons to learn but most of all, experiences to enjoy. Kelly Rebecca, you came into my life at exactly the right point of my journey. I did not know what roads to head down when you pulled up aside me eight years ago during Mamma Mia and with a simple ‘hey’ we star ted our journey. You have stuck by me through the best and the worst. When my journey took me through windy detours you have still chosen to love me for all that I am, slowing down to let me catch up on the ride. You push me to be the best I can be, and for that I appreciate you, and with that I star t with my promise to not only be the best for you, but be the best for Molly, Nala, our future family and myself. I promise to get up off the couch to fill up your water bottle, get a piece of chocolate or make a cup of tea, even though I just sat down. I promise to send you all the cat and dog videos I find hilarious, even though you are sitting right beside me. There will come a time that we are old and grey, in my case bald, I promise to see you with the same eyes and same hear t that I see you in this exact moment. So today, I vow to honour you, respect you, suppor t and encourage you. I promise to dream with you, celebrate with you and complete this journey with you no matter what life brings. I love you Kelly Rebecca, so jump in the passenger’s seat and let’s get the next par t of this journey star ted.
Kelly’s vows Ben - the moment you caught my eye across the room at that Mamma Mia rehearsal, I knew you were someone special. It didn’t take me much longer to realise that you were my person, and that one day I’d be standing here in front of you about to be your wife. I love your cheeky nature, your huge hear t, and the drive and passion you have in creating a life for our family that is beyond my wildest dreams. Continuing to share that life with you is a journey I am so eager to embark on. I love when you sing and dance around the house – and how you fill our lives with so much happiness and joy. When you smile, I know I’m home. I love how you’re a dreamer and put yourself 100% into ever ything you do. I love how compassionate, caring, and level-headed you are - especially in helping me see situations from a different point of view. I love how you are the best dad to Nala and Molly - and I know, one day when we have children, you will be the most incredible dad to them too. I knew almost as soon as I met you that you were my person. You’ve never tried to change me; instead, you have helped me to be the best possible version of myself. I promise I will continue to strive to be the best for you. In the early days, I loved how we’d spend all night sitting and talking until the small hours of the morning, just so we could spend more time together. With each conversation, all I could think was – “wow - how incredible are you,” - and pinching myself because I couldn’t believe you chose me. I love how, even now, we still spend hours just talking. I will never grow bored of that special time together. We’ve already experienced countless highs and lows in our relationship together. As much as I would love to say our future will be smooth sailing, I know we will have challenges along the way. I promise to stick by your side, and to love you unconditionally no matter how rough things become - because my life is better with you as par t of it. I promise to laugh with you and grow old with you. I promise to prioritise you and our relationship, so that ever y day we become a stronger team. I promise that one day we will travel the world again and explore new places together. I promise to always be open and honest with you in our marriage, and to help chase your dreams alongside you. I promise to not just say that I love you, but to show you ever y day. I am so ready to embark on this next step of our future together as your wife. You are my rock; my best friend, and you will always be the best par t of my day. I vow to love you always, even when we’re old and grey and today becomes a distant memor y.
Ben’s speech ‘Ou te faatulou I le paia tele o Samoa potopoto I lenei aso, “O Samoa ‘o le atunuu ua uma ona tofi. ‘O Samoa foi o le I’a iviivia. E leai se vave o Samoa e mafai ona ou auauina. ‘Ia soliga’a ia le seuga; ‘ae lepa I le foe le va’a o le tautai ali’i, E’e maia I ou lagi ,tau le aganuu, faapea le talalelei ‘A’o le susu o lau Susuga I le fai faaipoipoga ma le faletua (Rev Asiata ma le faletua) Susu I susuga I faafeagaiga ma o latou faletua (Rev Ioelu ma le faletua) Afifio mai o tapaau ma aiga, Le faleupuluga ma latou tausi Saoaluma uo ma e masani. Ua tu maualugá lo ma’ua faamoemoe, I la outou taliaina o se valaau, aua le molimauina o lo maua aso fiafia. Ou te faatalofa atu foi I le tina malolo manumalo( nana Fogalele Selau) ma uso ma nai ou tuafafine Faafetai tele mo le tou lagolagoina I lou ola e iloa ai a’u o le Samoa moni. Faafetai mo le tausiga o au, e ala I meaai Samoa o lavalava aemaise lava le laei Samoa Ua ou malu ai, ola faafetai ,faafetai tele I lou outou alolofa I si ou tina, Loli Mesepa Viia le Atua. Ia o le ou taliu ane, I le gagana faapalaiga leaga e faigata lou paolo faanofonofo To the family we are born with & to the family we make a long the way. To my mother, you were thrown in the deep end 20 years ago when dad passed and had to step into the role of Mother and Father. Lele and I are so lucky to call you mum and now so are my other family that live and look after both you and nana. We appreciate your hard work and giving nature. From day one Kelly has been accepted into our house as one of your own and sometimes is the favourite of the children. Fa’afetai lava mo lou tausi. To Lele, Thank you for being there for me from day one I appreciate ever ything that we have shared and ever ything that we will share. There are not many that understand you but we have been through a lot together and I am so happy that we have the relationship that we have today. To Mar tin and Christine, just as Kelly was accepted into our house as one of the family from day one, so was I at yours. From family dinners to family holidays there are no words to describe how much we appreciate all that you have given us and shared with us, and there has been a lot! I have found a great friendship with Mar tin, leading a great example for me as to the type of man and father I aspire to be. To Andrew and Thomas who can’t be here today we miss you guys and are gutted to not be able share this day without you and cannot wait to Celebrate with you guys sometime soon. We are super excited to also welcome Lauren into the family soon and hopefully we can be there to celebrate with you guys for that. Nana just as ever yone has accepted me as one, you have to and enjoy ever y single wine with you and cannot wait to create more memories together. Thank you for trusting me with your Daughter, Sister and Granddaughter. I hope to make you guys proud and treat her the way you have. To the people that can’t be with us today, Mar tins Parents Hazel and Jim, Christine’s father John, My grandfather Selautausaga loli and my Father Dr. Fred Channing. Thank you for your love and the impor tant par t that you played in our lives and we hope to keep making you proud and are sure you are watching over us from above. Finally, Kelly Rebecca Channing. The road to today has not come without it’s challenges but we are finally here. I love you and writing this speech before the wedding I feel like I have to say you look beautiful. But, I think you are truly stunning ever y single day of the year so I’m sure today will be no different. We met dancing together in Mamma Mia and I hope that we continue to Dance together through life to we are grey and bald, I mean old. I truly have no words describe what you mean to me. Life with you is simple, fun and each stop of our journey is exciting. I appreciate the little things about you, your humour and the little laugh you do when you find yourself hilarious. I will continue to tell you that your work stories are shit, but I will listen to the whole stor y before saying this to you. I appreciate that you love me for myself and laugh at my jokes even if they aren’t funny. I love you Kelly. This wedding for us was ver y big on the joining of two families this includes our friends to make one big family. I feel as though we have achieved that and again would like to thank you all for being with us today.
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