Anabella & Wyatt

Anabella, you made it. After all the planning, the preparation, the dedication, the details, the hard work, and I know there was a lot of that, and the stress, you're here. So I want you to do something for me. I want you to take a deep breath. Maybe two. I want you to take this in. I want you to savor this moment, because this is one of those rare moments in life where you are creating a memory you'll carry for the rest of your life while you're living it.

I cannot tell you how honored I am to be standing here with you today. When Anabella and Wyatt asked me if I would officiate their wedding, I was so touched. But then I immediately had another thought: so you're asking the guy who's never done a wedding, and who can't make it through a wedding without tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat, to actually conduct one? And not just any wedding, a wedding where I get to watch my beautiful daughters, my son, my nephew, my niece, and this cherished niece of mine walk down the aisle. I thought to myself, we'll see how that goes. So I know you'll forgive me if I get a little emotional at times.

Weddings are just very different. Weddings have an energy to them, because they bring together what matters most in life: friends, family, and love, and two people in the center of it who are choosing to build a life together. That's what makes today so incredibly special.

So I want you to do one more thing. I want you to turn around. Look at these smiling faces. Look at this beautiful setting. These are the faces of the people who love you, the people who helped raise you, grew up with you, supported you, and helped make you who you are. Take a visual snapshot. Remember what this looks like. Remember what it feels like. Because when I asked both of you separately what you would want people to take away from your wedding day, you both gave me essentially the same answer: not the details: the feeling. So feel it yourself. Take it in. I hope you'll be able to close your eyes and come right back here, to this place, to these people, and to this moment, throughout your life.

And while the people gathered here are what make today so special, the place we are has immense meaning too. To Anabella, to me, and to so many members of our family out here today, this isn't simply a beautiful place to have a wedding. This is sacred ground. In 1881, Anabella's great great great grandparents, Giobattista and Benedetta, immigrants from Italy, bought this land, an 88-acre ranch. The old ranch house right there, just below us, has been at the center of our family for six generations. Our family has lived there, worked there, celebrated there, gathered there, and, being an Italian family, of course, eaten very well there. But more than anything, they have loved one another there. And now Anabella and Wyatt will begin their married life in that house as well. There's something perfectly fitting about that.

Sitting here with us today is another piece of that history. I draw your attention to the horse-drawn buggy to my right. That belonged to Anabella's great great grandfather, John, who used it to court his wife, Annie. They lived in that very home for decades, ranched this land, and their wedding photograph is displayed on that buggy today. Think about that for a moment: a buggy once used by a man courting the woman he would marry is sitting here, generations later, as another young bride from that family prepares to make the exact same promise. That's not just history. That's continuity. All those years back, a marriage became a family, and that family became generations, and those generations have built their lives here. So when we talk about what can come of a marriage, we don't have to look very far. We are sitting in the middle of the evidence. And now Wyatt and Anabella will become part of that story.

Now I get to tell you a little bit about these two exceptional people. Preparing for today, I asked Anabella and Wyatt to do a little homework for me, to answer some questions separately. And again and again, their answers told me the same story. A story that starts on Halloween night, 2019, really the very first night they spent time together. They sat and talked through the night, and as Anabella explained it, she felt like she'd known Wyatt forever, like she'd known him his entire life. Wyatt said almost exactly the same thing: he felt like he'd known her forever, and that he had met his soulmate. And apparently Anabella was so confident in her feelings that night that, on that very night, she told Wyatt that he should marry her. Which is either incredibly romantic or a little concerning. Wyatt told me of this comment too, and his response: "That didn't scare me off." So nearly seven years later, here we are.

But what I love about your story is what happened next. You put it simply: "We hung out once, and then we just never stopped hanging out." And over the years, that immediate connection you two felt became something much deeper. You became best friends. You cared for one another. You carried each other through very difficult seasons. And you made each other better. That feeling that somehow you already knew each other became something much more important: you actually came to know, and deeply love, one another.

Niece, I've known you your entire life. I've watched you grow from a little girl into the incredibly beautiful woman you are today. I hope you know how much I love you and how much joy you bring to our entire family. You have this wonderful gift of bringing life to a room. You laugh easily. You love deeply. Truly, there are a thousand things I could say about you today. But reading Wyatt's answers, one thing became very clear: he sees in you what all of us who have loved you your entire life see, and that's your heart. He talked about your kindness, your loyalty, the way you make people feel cared for. And when I asked him to describe you, the word he used was "home." Wyatt, as someone who has loved her her entire life, that's just about everything I need to know.

Wyatt, somewhere along the way you stopped being the guy Anabella was dating and became a part of our family, and that's no easy task. I'm so happy that you did. There are so many things I admire about you. You're quick to smile. You have an enthusiasm for life. You bring a positive energy that is contagious, and that's a gift, don't ever lose that. Anabella experiences it even more deeply. She describes you as love, light, and joy. She says you're the person who sees her. In her words: "He is truly my safe place."

I asked each of you separately: what does marriage mean? Wyatt said, "Marriage isn't just a feeling. It's a decision you make over and over again." Anabella described it similarly. Neither of you knew what the other had written, but you both understood the same fundamental truth: marriage isn't simply something you feel. It's something you do. Because making these promises today is easy. Marriage is living them, on some random Tuesday ten years from now, when the kids are sick, you have deadlines at work, something just broke in the house, and you're both exhausted.

As I thought about that, I found myself returning to my dad, to Papa. Years ago he performed my sister and brother-in-law's wedding, and now, as I prepared to do the same thing for his granddaughter, I reread his words from that day. He ended with this: "Today is a ceremony, but the real celebration is the beginning of the rest of your life." He was right. This is a beautiful wedding, but the marriage is the part that matters. So before you make your promises to one another, I'm going to borrow a few words from Papa's ceremony. I was going to say "please take each other's hands," but you're already holding them.

These are the hands of your best friend: committed, strong, and full of love for you. These are the hands holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love one another tonight, tomorrow, and forever. And these are the hands that will love and cherish you throughout the years, and with the slightest touch, comfort you like no other. So remember these hands, because they're the hands with which you're going to build all of it.

Wyatt, as you and most people here know, I've always struggled making decisions. Whether it's deciding what I want to do with my life or simply where we should go out to eat, I never seem to be able to make up my mind. I'm constantly weighing the options, overthinking every possibility, making endless pros-and-cons lists, and somehow still wavering. However, I do know one thing for certain: spending the rest of my life loving you was the easiest decision I've ever made. There isn't a single thing to debate, and the pros outweigh the cons by a landslide.

I used to think that when someone called their partner their best friend, it was a little cliché: unoriginal, overused, and somewhat trite. Well, color me cliché, because Wyatt, you are my love, my soulmate, my life partner, and above all else, you are my very best friend.

Life has never promised ease. It offers trials alongside blessings, heartbreak alongside joy. I've known extraordinary love throughout my life, and I've known extraordinary loss. Those experiences have shaped my heart, but nothing could compare to the depth of what I feel for you. Our love is truly transcendent. I could go on and on about the love that we share and how extraordinary I think you are, but if I had to sum it all up in one word, I could, and that word is peace.

It's funny how someone can step into your life and redefine what you thought you knew. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, or a passive state of quiet. Peace is a durable condition of wholeness, something that anchors you and brings resilience. It is not the absence of war, but the freedom to remain unshaken within it. That is what you give to me. You are my pillar, and I promise to always be yours. I'm so proud of the man that you are. You are my most favorite gift that God has ever given me. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I feel to have the privilege of knowing you, loving you, being loved by you, and now committing the rest of my life to doing exactly that. Loving you has been the greatest honor of my life, and I will never stop choosing you. And so, with that, this is my vow to you.

Wyatt, I vow to love you deeply, unconditionally, every day for as long as we live. I vow to celebrate your victories as if they were my own, and to carry your burdens whenever they become too heavy. I will forever give you the benefit of the doubt. I will listen to you with an open heart and an open mind. I promise to always push you to be your best self, and to do everything I can to ensure we are always growing, adapting, and changing for the better, all the while staying true to ourselves. I will always be on your team, and I will never take you for granted. I vow to always prioritize our relationship and to make time for adventures, slow mornings, and late-night chats. I vow to be curious about you for the rest of our lives, I will never stop getting to know you. I vow to be your safe place, just as you have become mine. I vow to protect the peace that we've found together, to never be careless with your heart, and to never stop choosing kindness. And last, but certainly not least, I vow to always, always be your very best friend.

Anabella, today my heart is filled with joy and gratitude. I am marrying the woman of my dreams. Years before I met you, I prayed. I prayed for happiness. I prayed for comfort. I prayed for peace. I didn't know what I was asking for, and I know now: I was asking for you, praying for you all along.

Your humor, your joy, and your playfulness are unmatched. You're the funniest and sweetest soul I have ever met. It never ceases to amaze me, seeing you bring the light of your life to those you have loved for years or just met. You've taught me to approach life with an open mind, and how to pause and appreciate what's in front of me. If one day you look in the mirror and only see your flaws, I promise to bring you back to recognizing the beautiful soul I fell in love with. I promise to love you as you are today and all that you will become. I couldn't be more excited to build our life together. I am grateful beyond words for the love you have shown me.

I promise to not only hear your words, but also feel the emotion and meaning behind them, to choose understanding over pride, consideration over assumption, and to find love in the ordinary moments. I cannot promise a perfect life, but I can promise we will face life together as partners, best friends, and as your ever-loving husband. A life side by side with you is the perfect life to me. Thank you for choosing me, believing in me, and loving me so completely. Today and every day, I choose you. I promise to choose you for the rest of our lives. Anabella, I love you more than what can be said in any appropriate amount of time, and what could fit on one page of vows. The words "I love you" simply cannot convey how I feel, I promise to try every single day.

Wyatt: On behalf of my wife and I, I just want to say we love you guys so very much. We spent a long time trying to figure out what we were going to say to you tonight, and the truth is there really aren't words big enough for having all of you here today. We wouldn't be who we are, or the couple we are, without the people in this room. Each of you has contributed something special to our lives and to the story that brought us here. Whether you traveled hours or a few minutes up the road, thank you for setting this day aside for us. Having you all here is a gift we don't take lightly.

To our wedding party, and to everyone who helped make today possible: thank you for showing up for us again and again, as you always do. So much of what made this day special has your fingerprints all over it, and we're endlessly grateful.

And to Carrie and Tom, thank you. Thank you for not only letting us get married here, but for wanting us to. We poured an unbelievable amount of time, work, energy, and love into making this day possible. The four of us spent hours talking through every detail, imagining this day, and making sure every bit of it was intentional and aligned with who we are as a couple and as a family. We couldn't imagine beginning our marriage anywhere else than right here, on the land we're lucky enough to call home. And beyond today, Tom and Carrie, watching the way you love each other has shown us so much of what we hope for in our marriage. We admire you, and we're truly so lucky to have you. We love you so much.

Anabella: We love you guys so much. I know he already said that. Today may be about the two of us choosing each other, but a beautiful life is also made by the people who walk beside us. Every person here is a cherished part of our life. You brought us to this moment, and we hope you'll continue to be a part of the life we build from here. Stay a while, raise a glass, and let's get out on the dance floor tonight.

There comes a moment in everyone's life when you meet that someone special. And for you, Wyatt, that happened 28 years ago, when you met me. From that day forward we have been best friends, and I love you so much. Thank you, brother.

There are so many good-looking men here tonight: fathers, sons, brothers, businessmen, marketers, teachers, and leaders, all of whom we are blessed to have in our lives. That being said, out of all of them, I am the best man.

For all of you who don't know me, I'm Leland, Wyatt's oldest brother. I want to talk about Anna first. I love you both tremendously. I can't put into words what it means to be standing up here sharing this beautiful day with you. Thank you to everyone here who made this possible, for showing up and showing these two beautiful, amazing people, who mean the world to me and my family, the love and support, and giving them memories they'll never forget. May this day ignite a flame that shines brighter and brighter, with love, laughter, and a commitment to each other you get to cherish for the rest of your days.

Anna, you look so stunning. I see the way my brother looks at you and the love he has for you. It's so beautiful, and it makes me so proud. I love how you are with my girls, and seeing how much they adore you. They are fortunate and blessed to have such a cool auntie. I also love hearing how Carrie talks about you, and the relationship you two have built, it's beautiful and it means the world to me. Anna, you're always so full of life, and you bring joy and happiness to everything you do and everyone around you. I am both proud and honored to call you my sister, and I look forward to the many great memories we get to share together.

Wyatt, I love you so much. We have so many memories together I will never forget, but the best part is we're always eager and looking forward to creating more. My family loves you, the girls sure do love their funny Uncle Wyatt. I have you to thank for introducing me to my beautiful other half, and for how loving and supportive you guys have been throughout our journey. I know that no matter what life throws at you, you'll handle it with poise, integrity, passion, and hard work, and I look forward to seeing what life has in store for both of you.

The day you asked me to be your best man took me back to the beginning. We were just kids being weird, playing, laughing, growing closer each day, hoping that someday we would get to share a day like this together. And here we are, and you two look amazing. I couldn't be happier for you both. You're my brother, my best friend, and I know you're going to be an even better husband. Enjoy it, cherish it, and I promise it will bring you great fortune, love, pride, and success. I love you, Wyatt and Anna, with all my heart. Thank you again for giving me this moment.

So at this time I'd like you all to stand and raise your glasses to this beautiful couple. Love is a force more formidable than any other. It can transform you in a moment and offer you more joy than any material possession ever could. Cheers to Wyatt and Anna. I love you guys so much.

I believe I know most of you, but for those who don't: my name is Delaney. I am the beautiful bride's cousin, and also the maid of honor.

Now, most of you probably don't know this, but this is not Anabella's first wedding. Take a moment. Gasp. I know. The year was 2009. Annie was eight. Scandal. I was six. The venue was the bottom of the stairs at my old house, with my mom as the officiant, my cats as the witnesses, and me as the groom. Annie and I were married. It was beautiful.

Going forward, Annie and I had a lovely, normal marriage. We vacationed together frequently. We practically lived together with all of our sleepovers. We tried the parenting thing very briefly, with two frogs, that did not last long. May they rest in peace. Now, like any other couple, we were not without our disagreements. We fought over Barbies. We fought over whether or not the TV could stay on during our sleepovers, and whether, during our all-nighters, I was just resting my eyes or actually falling asleep.

Obviously, on the day of our so-called wedding, I learned you can't marry your cousin, and I was okay with it. But I remember being so confused, because by my understanding, you met someone you loved and then you got married. Clearly what I didn't understand was what kind of love.

So years go by and Annie brings home Wyatt. As I was writing this, I couldn't remember the day Wyatt and I met. I remember him being a topic of conversation, I remember Annie showing me photos and kind of hinting at it, but I don't remember our formal meeting. The more I thought about it, I realized it actually didn't matter. I don't remember meeting Annie, and I don't remember meeting the rest of our family, and that's what Wyatt so quickly became for all of us.

Fast forward these past two years: we're all best buddies. Wine nights and study nights have been a pretty regular routine for the three of us. What Annie and I didn't realize as kids is that what our sleepovers were so clearly missing were midnight breakfast burritos made by Wyatt. And it doesn't actually matter anymore whether we leave the TV on, because Wyatt will take care of it.

So thank you, Wyatt, for supporting my built-in best friend and loving her so much. Thank you for being a better husband than I ever was, already. And thank you both for being my family. I wish you both a future filled with so much happiness, breakfast burritos, sleepovers with me, and so, so, so much love. Cheers to you both.

I'm Chase, the brother of the bride. I'm the one responsible for 40 percent of Anabella's personality and 75 percent of her sense of humor. What a pleasure today is. Anabella, as always, you look beautiful.

I've been looking forward to giving this speech for a while. This past fall, when Wyatt said "do you have a minute to talk," I had already begun thinking about this moment. I thought: wow, brother of the bride. And then: wow, brother-of-the-bride speech. Because how can I, in one speech, express my appreciation and love for growing up with Anabella, both teaching and learning, pushing her off her bike and laughing, healing and growing, and for her and Wyatt's relationship, but most of all my gratitude for being your big brother?

I had the pleasure of experiencing all of Anabella's phases. Polly Pockets, Barbie Dolls, playhouses. One week chocolate is the best thing in the world, one week it's gross. Light hair, dark hair, short hair, long hair. Wanting to hang out, not wanting to hang out. And having a really, really messy room, that one's actually less of a phase and more of a constant. Wyatt, I know you're picking up the slack on that, so thank you. One month you're an amateur film director, the next a social media strategist. But your real skill is your ability to dive into things and explore them holistically, and then decide if it's your jam. What's important is that too many people let "if" stop them, and "if" has never stopped Anabella. I couldn't be more proud of you.

Thank you for asking me to do this. Witnessing your relationship, I've learned a lot. This week, too, I've realized that the true test of many relationships is planning and executing a home wedding. It tested us a lot. I have more than enough commentary on what you should be doing, or how things should be done, during your many phases, but my favorite phase is where we're at today. This moment. You are right where you're supposed to be, with the people we love most. One of life's great revelations to me is the understanding that people are what make the place. I'm so proud of what we have here: our new family home with Wyatt, and right down the hill, the ranch house where four previous generations of loving families have called home. People certainly have made the place, and I have no doubt that you two will continue doing just that. And as you know, you come from a legendary pedigree of beautiful women who are nothing short of master homemakers, and are the very glue that has held our many generations of family together.

Passions and talents. As many of you may know, Anabella is extremely passionate about singing. I'll never forget one day in elementary school, coming home. We'd gotten a new Mac desktop and I was excited to play on it, and I opened iMovie to find Anabella's rendition of "Titanium." The visual effects, the passion, it was all there. Just not the high notes. But that's her beauty and her talent: if Anabella is going to do something, she does it with her whole heart, regardless of who's watching or what they might think. While her remix may not have gone triple platinum, she did in fact do it boldly and with her whole heart. And that's what I love about you.

Anabella's greatest talent is her ability to be the light for others to see a bright and loving world. She brings the best out of those who are fortunate enough to be in her presence. Anna and I are super similar in many areas and complete opposites in others. I seek efficiency and outcomes, and do a lot of ROI analysis. She takes her time and evaluates things for what they are, their beauty, meaning, and individuality. Thank you, Anna, for showing me how to be open to life and its many possibilities, to positivity, and to finding beauty in things. You've helped me slow down and find those PTA moments: Pause To Appreciate. Those little moments, those PTAs, are what matter. This is one of our greatest PTAs to date.

Wyatt, brother-in-law. But to me, as you know, it will always just be brother. Wyatt has earned a place in our family in many ways, but most of all: he's always shown up. He's shown up when Anna has needed him most, during the good, the bad, the ugly. Every single time. Many times over the last few months, when I visited home, Wyatt was up before me in the morning, out in the yard working, because I know how much today has meant to you too. He shows up in every area of life, consistently. I respect you for that, and I love you for that. Thank you.

Two years ago, when Tom and I were hiking right over here at Ballardini, we were talking about Anna and Wyatt, and Tom had one comment in particular that has always resonated with me. He said that Wyatt treats Anabella like a queen, and he has a heart of gold. The more I think about that, the more it's made sense, and it's only reaffirmed my confidence in your relationship. As an older brother, the only thing you can really hope for is exactly that: someone who truly has your sister's best interest at heart. I know you pray for her, care for her, and have all the patience in the world. I commend you for that. I rest assured knowing that she is in good hands and happy in life, and that's all that matters to me. Every time I'm in town, I just look forward to seeing you and giving you a big hug. Seeing the joy you two bring out of each other is my favorite, and I am overjoyed that today we got this deal done. We tied the knot. Congratulations. I'm excited to be a part of the life you build together. Please join me in raising a glass and congratulating the new couple. I'm so proud of you two, and I love you both so very much.

Good evening. On behalf of Carrie and myself: welcome, and thank you for being here to celebrate these two extraordinary people that we love more than words can express. To Wyatt's family and friends, thank you for helping shape him into the man we've all gotten to know and love. We are immensely grateful and honored to welcome you into our family.

Annie, thank you. Thank you for being more than your mother and I could ever ask for in a daughter. You have filled our home with laughter, our family with love, and our lives with more joy than you'll ever know. You're beautiful, intelligent, creative, loving, and a wonderfully free spirit. You love deeply, you believe the best in people, and you bring joy everywhere you go.

And if there's one thing we've learned about Anabella over the last 25 years, it is this: she always wants just a little bit more. As a little girl, she always wanted one more hug, one more story, two more stories, one more treat, and somehow that one more treat always turned into us getting one of everything. And then there was one more stuffed animal. At one point I think there were 10,000 stuffed animals in your room. We weren't raising a daughter; we were running a stuffed animal shelter. And if you think we could have one cat. No, two cats. So now we had two cats and 10,000 stuffed animals living in your room. It wasn't a shelter anymore; it was more of a zoo. We learned early on that "one more" was less of a request and more of an opening negotiation with Anabella. Today, Annie orders half the menu, takes a couple of bites, and the rest comes home with her.

But as Anabella grew up, we understood, we realized, that it was never about having more. It was about getting more out of life. More laughter, more adventure, more experience, more time with the people she loves, and more enjoyment of each moment.

And there's something else about Anabella. Everywhere she goes, she leaves a little something behind. A jacket, a water bottle, an earring, car keys, her purse, socks, a single shoe, and sometimes even her car. For 25 years her mom and I have watched Anabella spread her love wherever she goes. But Anabella leaves something much more important behind: she leaves a little bit of herself with everyone. Her laughter, her kindness, her joy, her love, all with that big, beautiful smile of hers. When Anabella comes into your life, she leaves an impression on your heart.

Wyatt, that's the woman sitting beside you this evening. She'll fill your life with laughter, adventure, and more love than you'll ever know. And she'll most likely leave some belongings behind wherever the two of you go. However, we are confident, Wyatt, that your speed, awareness, and athletic ability will allow you to easily swoop up these belongings left behind, because Anabella is always focused on the people she's with, the adventure, and the enjoyment. So Wyatt, welcome to the trail we've been following for 25 years. It is now your job to help Annie find her shoe, or her car. All of this and more is not just your job now; it's your privilege.

Annie, we wouldn't change a single thing. We love you so much. In our eyes, you'll always be our baby girl, and in our hearts, you'll always be one of our greatest joys. Now, as you step into someone else's arms, you're not leaving our family, you're expanding it. Part of us will always see that little girl wanting that one more hug, one more story, or even one more cat. But today, your mom and I see the woman you've become, and we could not be more proud to be your parents.

Wyatt, as a father, you wonder about the man your daughter might someday choose. You hope he'll be a good man, a man of character, someone who works hard, keeps his word, and understands that the things worth having in life are worth working for. And most importantly, loves your daughter for exactly who she is. Wyatt, that's what we see in you. You're one of the hardest-working young men I've ever known. But what means more to us is the way you love Anabella. You encourage her, you believe in her dreams, and you fully embrace that beautiful, curious, sometimes wonderfully relentless spirit of hers. You let Anabella be Anabella. And as her father, knowing our daughter has found a man who truly sees her, understands her, and loves her for exactly who she is means more than we can say. Wyatt, thank you for loving and caring for one of the greatest gifts God has ever entrusted to us.

If Carrie and I could leave you two with one piece of advice, it would be this. Remember what surrounds you today. This is your foundation. These are the people who will celebrate you, celebrate with you, pray for you, encourage you, tell you the truth when you need it, and help carry you through the difficult times. Lean on them, learn from them, and be there for them. Our prayer is that your marriage will always be guided by faith, surrounded by love, and filled with the things that matter most.

And Anabella, you've spent your entire life reminding us there's always room for a little more. So our wish for the two of you is simple. May you always have more laughter than tears, more adventure than regrets, more grace than frustration, and far more love than sorrow. And no matter how full and wonderful your life becomes, always make room for just a little more. If everyone would please raise their glass to our beautiful daughter, Anabella, and our wonderful new son, Wyatt: to more laughter, more adventure, more love, and a lifetime of more.