I’m taking a break to rest and recover from the past few weeks of whirlwind activity. Today my husband contributes his words.
The notes for his wedding speech:
Melinda and I want to thank all of you for being here today to celebrate the marriage of our beautiful daughter Katherine to this very lucky young man, Christian Vincent. I’d like to thank the team here at the Ann Arbor City Club for making this a special day, one that will never be forgotten. Thank you so much for your excellent service. To all of Katherine’s friends who helped with decorations, flowers, all the things that go into the ambiance of a wonderful wedding setting, thank you.
God has blessed me with three strong women in my life, my wife Melinda and my two daughters, Lindy and Katherine. So Christian, as Scott already knows, you are marrying a very brilliant Inman woman. Just like I did. You have won the heart of an amazing woman.
When Katherine was young everybody was her friend. Sometimes we had to protect her from her big-hearted self. Katherine has always had a large heart and kindness for people that many of us would probably avoid. She’s extremely gifted in her current profession working with autistic children. I love her very much for this.
You always wonder who your children will marry when they are young. Melinda and I prayed about it constantly. In my gratefulness to God, I am so thankful that my daughter has a wonderful man to live the rest of her life with. He adores my daughter, and that’s what every father desires.
Families are messy, humans are messy, and marriage is messy.
When you enter into marriage you are marrying another fallen creature whom God has redeemed. That person is going to mess up and make mistakes. The question that we have to ask ourselves is: “Are we going to forgive as Christ has forgiven us?” Or are we going to be bitter and hold grudges, not speaking to our spouse or other family members when they may have done something we perceive as abhorrent and unforgivable.
I’m grateful that Christian and Katherine have confessed today at their wedding that they know the Christ of the gospel who has forgiven them much. I pray that you both continually look to Christ to enable you to forgive one another when you make mistakes.
Matthew 18 talks about a man who owed a great debt. One so great it could never be repaid. He was forgiven his debt, but not able to understand forgiveness and show the same kindness to someone that owed him a small amount. God ultimately condemned him for lacking forgiveness.
Marriage is a representation of Christ and the Church. Over the years I find the one thing that destroys marriages, destroys relationships, and keeps families apart is the inability to show forgiveness.
So, tonight, as we celebrate this marriage, I exhort and pray that Christian you love Katherine as Christ loved the church and gave his life for her. You do that and you will have the greatest marriage ever. Katherine, I love you. Respect and honor this man who adores you. Understand he is not perfect. Most of all, enjoy God together as one flesh. The chief end of man (which includes Women) is to know God and to enjoy him all their days.
Please join me in a toast to the couple. May they experience the greatest life together imaginable.

(Unfortunately, none of my own photos would load. So, I’m sharing two photos that I believe were taken by Sean Bancroft, my brother-in-law. All our photos got jumbled together post-wedding.)
Absolutely wonderful!! Every child should have a blessing such as this from their father.
Our kids were deeply moved by his words. And his speech was such a powerful moment between him and the newlyweds, enhancing the beauty of the occasion. It was remarkable!
Congratulations !
Thanks, Melissa!
Congratulations and God bless you all! Wow, your husband Tim did a wonderful job here! So beautifully expressed. The love for your daughter and her husband, the love he has for you, Melinda, and the love for Christ was such a blessing to read. Much needed words of wisdom, truth and grace. Indeed, families are messy, marriages are messy, people are messy. Only with Christ in our midst can we thrive together. I pray the Lord’s continued blessing over your precious daughter and son-in-law as they begin their life together. Thank you for sharing this wonderful moment!
It was such a wonderful speech, I felt I had to share it! Thanks for your prayers and blessings over them, Melissa!
Congratulations! Godly Dads of daughters are the best. It sounds like both families have been blessed in this marriage!
We’re so glad to have this wonderful young man join our family. My husband adores our kids, our own and the ones they marry. His speech shows all of that love. I agree with your assessment about godly dads! ❤️
How beautiful! Congratulations and it warms my heart to know your daughter married a godly man. I pray the same for my 16 year old, who claims she’ll “never get married.” Like yours, she’s a strong young woman and cannot imagine a man who would augment her strength. This tribute is gorgeous; like you, your hubby has a way with words. Blessings on you all! Rest well, Mama; you’ve earned it!
You’re so kind, Candice! The Lord takes our strong young women on journeys that cause them to rely on him and to grow in faith. And then, if marriage is the gift he has for them, he takes them on the big and bold journey of becoming a wife by providing a good man, a kind husband, as he did in our daughter’s case. Our new son-in-law is such a good man! However, if our girls’ gifting is to be single, the Lord equips them for the big and bold adventure of one who serves within another type of calling requiring strengths of a different sort. Both singleness and the married state are deemed charisma—gifts of the Spirit. We never know until the Savior reveals his plans for our girls. Both callings are of great value, and both have a unique beauty! What an adventure they are on!
I love this! Congratulations! And great words: “Families are messy, humans are messy, and marriage is messy.”
So very true, right! There are no sinless humans here on earth, and so these statements are always true until Christ returns! Thank you, Jessica!
Congratulations on such a beautiful celebration. I love your husband’s words. From how wonderful all the Inman women in his life truly are, to his exhortation and encouragement to forgive like God, love like Christ, and live together as one as they know God more and more. This truly helps us enjoy our relationship with the Lord and with each other!
His words of wisdom moved us all! He did well! It was delightful to listen to the speech unfold. My heart fills with love just writing this! God is so good!
Melinda, God bless your wonderful family. What a joyous time it is when our kids marry, if they marry well. And Katherine and Christian have done that – married in faith and in deep love. And bravo to your husband for a wonderful speech! Indeed, forgiveness is so at the heart of a long, good marriage.
Some of our children we give birth to. Others we adopt into our families. Some we foster. Some we acquire through marriage. We got all of ours through birth and marriage. No matter how this comes about, the Lord uses the entirety of it for good in our lives. Katherine married well. Christian loves her with all his heart. Starting well is a gift, a blessing, the best of everything! Only the Lord knows what trials and blessings they will face together, but he is with them always and upholds them in his own hands.
This is beautiful, Melinda, and focused on Christ and keeping this union in honor of Him and His love and forgiveness for the Church. This is the forever foundation on which to build. I’m happy for you and your husband, and your daughter and new son-in-law. May God be glorified in this blessed union.
Amen to that, Stephen! That speech was such a blessing! The Lord answered all our prayers of this past year during this beautiful wedding and all of the surrounding events! God is good!
What a powerful speech. I was especially touched by this part “When you enter into marriage you are marrying another fallen creature whom God has redeemed. That person is going to mess up and make mistakes. The question that we have to ask ourselves is: “Are we going to forgive as Christ has forgiven us?” Or are we going to be bitter and hold grudges, not speaking to our spouse or other family members when they may have done something we perceive as abhorrent and unforgivable.”
Words that are so true I got goosebumps. I’m praying for your daughter and new SIL as they begin their life together.
He spoke some powerful truth, didn’t he! It was such a good speech, and it had a great impact! I’m glad he articulated all of that. I went ahead of him about a week early to help our daughter pack up her possessions. While he was home alone, he came home from work each night and worked on his speech. He did an amazing job! It was (is) so moving!
What beautiful wisdom is here and what a beautiful wedding! Congratulations and God bless!
Thank you, Nancy! The man is wise!