January 2022: I now pronounce you, The Van Ostens

Mr. and Mrs. Van Osten,

It was an honor to officiate your wedding. Thank you for trusting me to be part of your special day. I’m grateful for my inside look at your beautiful relationship the past few months and for the opportunity to share your story with your closest friends and family. I’ll cherish this memory for a long time.

Preparing your ceremony was also a valuable exercise for my own marriage. Jordan knew how excited I was for the opportunity, and she fully embraced her role as my Chief Editor and Speech Coach. Even more important than the specific adjustments that Jordan made to the script and my delivery, she was there to challenge and encourage me to every step of the way. She bound the final draft and made sure I had everything packed for the wedding, so I was as prepared and presentable as possible. She was also right there to greet me with a kiss and a drink at cocktail hour when the ceremony was over.

The qualities of a successful marriage that I spoke about the other night were the same actions that Jordan demonstrated through this entire process.

Dave and Chels- I can’t wait to see what life brings you. You clearly bring out the best in each other and have an exciting shared vision for your future. Getting married to the love of my life and my partner in crime was the best choice I ever made. If your marriage is anything like your first night together as Van Ostens, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Love,

Rev Kev

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To anyone reading this that might have missed the ceremony (or would like to hear it again), here’s a snippet of the Van Osten love story:

I remember the day that Dave and Chelsea met.

Dave and I were on the beach in Sea Isle on 4th of July weekend, 2017. We were having a beer and a pretty serious conversation.

Dave felt like there was something missing in his life. 

He wasn’t sure if he needed a career change or to move out of the Philly area, or what. He just knew he needed a spark or a new opportunity to shake things up.  I offered to connect him with my buddy in New York, and he seemed on board with the offer.

That night we went our separate ways. I went to the OD with my wife’s friends, and Dave went to Shenanigans with JA, Kyle, Tony, and a few other guys.

Now, who here has ever been to Shenanigans? If you haven’t, let’s just say it is not a place that many find the “love of their life.”

But the next day, when I texted Dave, “How was your night, man?” He immediately responded “Bro…I met the one!”

I laughed and shrugged it off assuming he was just being goofy Dave, and probably still had the drinks from the night before clouding his judgment.

Seriously though, what are the chances that you find “the one” on a night that you can barely find the Jitney? 

Making this even more challenging, this future wife of his had just told Diana and Lindsay on their girls’ night that she was officially, “Done with Boys,” and she had no intentions of meeting a guy that would change her mind down the shore.

But I guess Chelsea made her “Done with boys” declaration before she met the man that would make her laugh harder, and feel more loved, and be more joyful than she ever thought was possible. 

And when Dave walked to Shenanigans from No Shower Happy Hour, he certainly didn’t anticipate meeting the woman that would bring him the type of spark, the depth of connection, and the sense of fulfillment that Chelsea brought him from Day 1.

So against all odds, their “shenanigans” that night bring us all here today.

But even as Dave and Chels spent the rest of the weekend seeing and feeling fireworks, they weren’t really sure whether their love story would continue beyond a 4^th of July fling.

Until a week after they returned to their normal lives in Philly and Conshy, when Dave and Chelsea spent the entire day at Spruce Street Harbor in Philadelphia. Their magical day led to a 4 hour brunch the next morning at the London Grill. That marathon brunch led into a Game of Thrones episode which faded into a movie night which then spilled into the work week.

Chelsea couldn’t get rid of this love-struck guy even if she wanted to. But the thing was, she didn’t want to!

Their connection was so unique. They had the electricity of falling in love, but the chemistry of lifelong best friends.

Their connection restored Chelsea’s hope for relationships when she realized this is exactly what love is supposed to feel like.  

Their connection removed any desire of Dave’s to shake things up in a new city.  When I asked him what about New York, he said, “I’m gonna stick around for a while.”  

So they stuck around, and found the missing piece they were both looking for. And that piece would be the only thing that they would ever need again.

Check out Dave and Chelsea’s wedding video here:

https://vimeo.com/672990505