Moses Joshua Arredondo Jr.

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

[Intro]

We are gathered together here to join Marisa Gutierrez and Evan Pedroza in this beautiful, spiritual celebration of marriage.

This is the official contract that binds these amazing beings under one, unconditional love,

and to enforce an eternal promise to be kept and held on to for many years to come.

As stated in Proverbs 3:3-4

"Let Love and Faithfulness never leave you:

Bind them around your neck, and write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

*

[Part 1]

Friends and Family of the Loving couple,

-This Celebration is not only to rejoice because two creatures of God's hands found their soulmate out of the billions of people here on Earth.

But it is also to acknowledge and recognize a love that Marisa and Evan share between the depths of their hearts, and are ready to express through the following stages of each other's lives.

-We are admiring a commitment the couple is ready to endure in through all the obstacles and temptations that will be thrown their way, not to overcome separately, but as a joint married couple.

We admire a commitment that will spread hope to those who doubt they will find "the one", and spread comfort to those who are patiently seeking their soulmate.

-and finally admiring a commitment, unifying them not by shared checkbooks or Netflix accounts, but by one of the most complex ideas and expressions many of us find hard to understand, Love.

[Part 2]

Love is Evan motivating Marisa through all the times in her life, constantly pushing her, but preventing her from falling. It's Marisa being an anchor to Evan through the hardships of our world, holding him in place, but not allowing him to sink. They're love language is shown through humor and compatibility, and is itself such a pure form of admiration. Love is in their laughs, in their jokes, in their trips to Home and Décor, and in their quality Family time. Their love radiates through their honesty to each other, their affection towards their son Noah, and especially through their positive influence they have on themselves.

Bob Marley once said "The greatness of a person is not measured by how much wealth they acquire, but in their integrity and ability to affect those around them positively.

[Part 3]

When conversing with the couple, their reflections towards one another reminded me of the symbolism of the turtle. And no, I’m not saying this to say they took to long to respond.

The symbolism of the turtle derives from ancient ancient times. The turtle, as you may know, can live a very long life, some living beyond centuries, and this represents Longevity and Prosperity. Their steady pace, calm maneuvers, and understanding of their surroundings represent Patience and Wisdom. Lastly, the turtle is seen as a symbol of the world or at least of home in some cultures. Some creations story even see them as the world itself, or like the Greek god Atlas, held the world on its shell.

So why does this remind me of the couple?

Marisa states that Evan was sort of in a shell when they first met, he tended to hide his personality until he was fully comfortable with his surroundings, that being Marisa. Evan states that Marisa is his rock, his backbone, his support, his home.

Marisa states that Evan completes her, he challenges her mind and keeps her moving forward; that he is her “reason”. From this, I would say, Evan was never in a shell, he was in need of someone to place his heart in, in need of support, in someone to be his forever home. And Evan helped give Marisa's life more purpose, he helped complete the half of her that was missing, through his honesty, humor, wisdom and love, he exposed his true self that is no less than love itself.

Without a shell, a turtle has no life, without the turtle, the shell is merely hollow. Again, I'm not saying that neither Evan nor Marisa resemble turtles, but it's a metaphor that encapsulates their need for each, their wisdom and patience through their early relationship, and in turn, leads to a long a prosperous life being a home to each other and for their son Noah.

In excitement, the couple told me that this marriage will be the final step in their journey of life. I’m here to tell you that this is only the beginning.

Marisa Gutierrez and Evan Pedroza will now share their vows

*(Vows)*

*(Ring Exchange)*

May ____________ please present the rings at this time

Groom please repeat after me:

By placing this ring to offer my love,

and acknowledging the bond we share

I promise to keep you above and beyond

all else as they do not compare

Bride please repeat after me

By placing this ring on the hand of my love,

and acknowledging the bond we hold to share

I promise to keep you above and beyond

all else as they do not compare

Do you Marisa Gutierrez take this man Evan Pedroza to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you Evan Pedroza take this woman Maria Gutierrez to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Marisa Gutierrez and Evan Pedroza will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Ring Exchange)*

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the great State of Texas I now pronounce you husband and Wife!