Maria Martinez

PROCESSIONAL

Beginning of the Wedding Ceremony. Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the Bridal Party.

INVOCATION

Friends, we have been invited here today to share with Stephanie and Zuri a very important moment in their lives. Stephanie and Zuri meet in High School and from there they have been together for 9 years. In the time they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. This ceremony is a public affirmation of that bond and as their dearest family and friends, it is our honor and privilege to stand witness to this event.

Heavenly Father, we gather to celebrate your gift of love, and its presence among us. We rejoice that these two souls have chosen to commit themselves to a life of loving faithfulness to one another. We praise you, Lord, for the ways you have touched our lives with loving relationships such as Stephanie and Zuri’s, and we give thanks for the special love and friendship you have put in their hearts. Renew within us an affectionate and loving spirit. Enrich our lives with the gracious gift of your love so that we may embrace others with that same love. May our participation in this celebration of love and commitment, give to us a new joy and responsiveness to the relationships that we cherish. In your loving arms we pray, Amen.

READING FROM Ecclesiastes

9Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor:

10If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up.

11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

12Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

Do you, Zuri, promise to love Stephanie and respect her, to share your life and your dreams, to build with her a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth?

Zuri: 'I do'

Do you, Stephanie, promise to love Zuri and respect him, to share your life and your dreams, to build with him a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment and growth?

Stephanie: 'I do'

VOWS EXCHANGE

Groom:

"I, Zuri, affirm my love to you, Stephanie, as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known. I promise to always respect you. With kindness, unselfishness, and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together. I love you."

Bride:

"I, Stephanie, affirm my love to you, Zuri, as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known. I promise to always respect you. With kindness, unselfishness, and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together. I love you."

RINGS EXCHANGE

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a symbol of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul. Let us pray. Bless these rings, O God, to be the visible sign of the vows here made, that each who gives a ring and each who wears one may be reminded of their promises, evermore living and growing in the spirit of your love. Amen.

(Groom placing ring on bride’s finger.)

You Stephanie are more precious to me today than yesterday, and you will be more cherished tomorrow than you are today. Please wear this ring, as a symbol of my eternal love for you, a love that transcends all our yesterdays, all our todays, and all our tomorrows.

(Bride placing ring on groom's finger.)

You Zuri are more precious to me today than yesterday, and you will be more cherished tomorrow than you are today. Please wear this ring, as a symbol of my eternal love for you, a love that transcends all our yesterdays, all our todays, and all our tomorrows.

PRONOUNCEMENT

Stephanie & Zuri, I want you to look around you very carefully and observe your friends and family who are with you at this moment, they are witnesses of your love and how today you commit to each other to share and learn from life together. Remember this moment in the difficult times and remember how you feel today. That feeling will give you the strange to pass the hard times. The true art of married life is in this inner spiritual journey. It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments which diminishes neither, but enhances both. As much as you, Stephanie, and you Zuri, have consented together in the union of matrimony and you have pledged your faith each to the other in the presence of God, your family, and friends.

By the authority vested in me by the State of New York I now pronounce you both husband and wife. You may kiss the Bride!

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to presents the newly married couple: Mr. and Mrs. Blash

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.