Carlos Ernesto Villafan

***PROCESSION***

"Who gives this woman to this man to be joined in matrimony?"

"QUIEN ENTREGA ESTA MUJER A ESTE HOMBRE PARA UNION MATRIMONIAL?"

**FATHER OF THE BRIDE PRESENTS HIS DAUGHTER**

Everyone, please be seated.


Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

"We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join together Liberty Roxana and Ismael Soto Jr. in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, since the first man and the first woman walked on the earth.

Therefore; it is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

"First, I’d like to begin by welcoming everyone and thanking every one of you for being here on this happiest of days. It’s no accident that each of you is here today, and each of you was invited to be here because you represent someone important in the individual and collective lives of ISMAEL and LIBERTY.

I truly can’t think of a better venue than this beautiful wooded and peaceful place for an occasion that I know is not only monumental for the wedded couple to be but for all of us who are lucky to know and love them as individuals; but even more so as a perfect pairing.

The most remarkable moment in life is when you meet the person who makes you feel complete. The person who makes the world a beautiful and magical place. The person with whom you share a bond so special that it transcends normal relationships and becomes something so pure and so wonderful, that you can’t imagine spending another day of your life without them. For ISMAEL, that happened about 26 OR SO years ago when he met me and we became friends/family!

But about X years ago he met LIBERTY, who is pretty OK, too I guess. I know how deeply these two care for and love one another, and I feel privileged to be here today among all of you as a witness of their commitment to a lifetime of love for one another.

I think I’ve had the good fortune to meet most of you here today at some point or another, most of you are family and close friends, but for those of you whom I haven’t met, my name is Carlos and I first met Ismael through my father-in-law some 20+ years ago. We didn't really get closer as a family until my family and I returned to Colorado from California. Since then, I can say that we have grown a deep respect for each other as family, as friends and as men!

Strangely enough, I met liberty a long time ago also through my in-laws and their church. I believe we first met at Glacier View Ranch on one of their church's weekend spiritual retreats. We never did come around each other much aside from these retreats that my family and I kinda crashed, until Liberty met Ismael. I have come to know Liberty and her children better over the years and pray for the patience she will need to be with this guy for the rest of her life!

Okay enough about me. I want to begin the ceremony with a reading from the good book.

Please stand.

READING

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"A reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes, 4:9-12

Two are better than one: They get a good wage for their toil.

If the one falls, the other will help the fallen one. But woe to the solitary person! If that one should fall, there is no other to help.

So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm?

Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The word of the lord!"

And now, please bow your heads in prayer.

Let us pray

Father, as Ismael and Liberty pledge themselves to each other, help them and bless them that their love may be pure, and their vows may be true. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

**YOU MAY BE SEATED**

DECLARATION OF INTENT

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

Liberty and Ismael will now share their special vows to each other as they contemplated their love, culminating in marriage.

VOWS EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"Please face each other."

* OFFICIANT TO GROOM

"Ismael, Please share your vows to Liberty"

["Ismael, Please repeat after me:

* I , Ismael Soto Jr. take you, Liberty Roxana, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, 'til death do us part."]

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

* OFFICIANT TO BRIDE

"And now Liberty, Please share your vows to Ismael"

["And now Liberty, Please repeat after me:

* I, Liberty Roxana, take you, Ismael Soto Jr., to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and cherish, 'til death do us part."]

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

RINGS EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"Liberty Thomas and Ismael Soto will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

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 token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul."

OFFICIANT TO GROOM

"ISMAEL, Please present LIBERTY's ring, and repeat the following:

With this ring, I thee Wed"

* GROOM PRESENTS THE RING AND PLACES THE RING ON BRIDE'S FINGER.

"May this ring be blessed so he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end."

* OFFICIANT TO BRIDE

"LIBERTY, Please present ISMAEL'S ring, and repeat the following:

With this ring, I thee Wed"

* BRIDE PRESENTS THE RING AND PLACES THE RING ON GROOM'S FINGER.

"May this ring be blessed so she who gives it and he who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end."

PRAYER

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

OFFICIANT:

"PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS IN A FINAL PRAYER FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM"

"May Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are now starting to build together, that you may know the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you both all the days of your lives and fill you with His joy. Amen."

PRONOUNCEMENT

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

In so much as ISMAEL and LIBERTY have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife.

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"I ask you now to seal the promises you have made with each other this day with a kiss."

* THE COUPLE KISSES.

"Ladies and gentlemen, by the power vested in me by the State of Colorado and the American Marriage Ministries, I present to you Mr. & Mrs. Ismael & Liberty Soto!

Give it up for the bride and groom!"

RECESSIONAL

End of the Wedding Ceremony.