Jasmin Castro

PROCESSION

• GUESTS ARE SEATED FOLLOWED BY THE ENTRANCE OF THE BRIDAL PARTY.

INVOCATION

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Welcome everyone to the wedding ceremony of Clarissa and Andrew. We gather here today to celebrate the most intimate of bonds between two people, marriage. You have all been invited here not just as guests to a wedding, but as close and important witnesses of the love that Clarissa and Andrew share."

READING

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"When reflecting on the meaning of marriage, I came across an excerpt by Daphne Rose Kingma that I'd like to share with you.

'In marriage, we say not only I love you today, but also I promise to love you tomorrow, the next day and always. In promising always, we promise each other time. We promise to exercise our love, to stretch it large enough to embrace the unforeseen realities of our future. We promise to learn to love beyond the level of our instincts and inclinations, to love in foul weather as well as good, to love in hard times as well as when we are exhilarated by the pleasures of romance. We change because of these promises, we shape ourselves according to them; we live in their midst and live differently because of them. We feel protected because of them. Our souls are protected; our hearts have come home.'"

RECOGNITION OF CHILDREN

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Clarissa and Andrew have enough love for each other to share with all of us, but also to envelope a very special heart with a love and protection stronger than any other. Their child is a constant source of joy, inspiration, and hope for them.

Everlee’s curiosity, playfulness, and affection remind them to be open to new changes and to find the fun in every step they take.

Without you, Everlee, this day would not be complete."

SERMON ON RELATIONSHIPS

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"The two of you know quite well that life is difficult and relationships are challenging . . . but as you travel through life together you'll always have someone to share the good, the bad & the ugly!

But what I’d like you to do now, is reflect on the here and now . . . how you are feeling; how does the air feel on your skin, how does the sun feel, how do your hands feel in each others. Soak it all in. Look (out of the corner of your eye) and see your friends and family. Who is sitting where and next to whom? Who's smiling or crying (why are they crying?).

Soak the day in and remember it . . . treasure it, so you can forever remember what this moment felt like. You'll need this memory to face challenging times when you disagree as no one is perfect.”

VOWS EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

“Clarissa and Andrew, you have chosen to write your vows, and it is with these words you express your binding promises to love, honor, and cherish one another. If you are ready to make these promises to each other I invite you now to face each other and declare your intentions.”

• THE COUPLE READ VOWS THEY HAVE WRITTEN DIRECT ATTENTION TO CLARISSA FIRST THEN ANDREW.

RING EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"I would like to say a prayer at this time. Let us pray.

Bless, o Lord, these rings that they who give it and they who receive it may abide in thy peace and continue in thy favor until their lives end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. As a visual representation of these promises, they will now exchange rings, as a symbol of their love and their commitment to each other."

OFFICIANT TO THE RING BEARER

"May we have the rings please?"

• THE RINGBEARER PRESENTS THE RINGS.

"Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today."

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A

"Clarissa, please place the ring on Andrew's left hand and repeat after me: With this ring I join my life to yours and pledge you my love, now and forever."

• PARTNER A REPEATS THE WORDS AS THEY PLACE THE RING ON PARTNER B'S FINGER.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B

"Andrew, please place the ring on Clarissa's left hand and repeat after me: With this ring I join my life to yours and pledge you my love, now and forever."

• PARTNER B REPEATS THE WORDS AS THEY PLACE THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

UNITY CANDLE

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"At this time, we will light the Unity Candle. Clarissa and Andrew, please take one of the smaller candles. Each of the candles represents you as individuals.

As you light your separate candles, you honor your separate selves: your uniqueness and your autonomy.

This candle represents the light of your being: your special talents, needs, visions and gifts — all that makes you who you are, you honor with this flame.

As you blend your flames to light the third candle, you celebrate the power of separate lights to ignite a common flame of passion and commitment, and to come together as one.

From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven.

And when two souls are destined to find one another, their two streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.

It is then that our divinity is made manifest and we create the world anew.

May the world the two of you create this day be one of truth and light, happiness and honesty, joy, purpose, and peace.

• THE COUPLE DOES AS INSTRUCTED.

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Now that Andrew and Clarissa have exchanged their vows and rings along with lighting their unity candle in our presence. If there is anyone present who may show just and lawful cause why this couple may not be legally wed, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. "By the authority vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.

I now have the honor to introduce my daughter and son in-law for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Smith - you may now kiss your bride!"

RECESSION

End of the Wedding Ceremony.