David Roberto Martinez

PROFESSIONAL

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God, family, and friends to witness a joyous occasion - the union of Ashley Vanessa Sylvester and Peter Torres in Holy Matrimony.

The sacred covenant of marriage is a sanctuary and a home. It must not be entered into lightly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and advisedly, with God’s guidance and blessing.

We rejoice today as Ashley and Peter receive one of God’s greatest gifts – a loving partner to grow with, to share life’s joys and challenges with, to build a family with, and grow old with, and to journey within faith throughout all of their days.

So let us pray, asking for His blessing on this marriage.

Oh, Heavenly Father, bless this couple as they give themselves to one another in this holy bond of marriage. Guide them with patience and love, lighting their path brightly as they walk together in your Spirit. Bless this union with a love that is pristine and pure, and a desire to live in faith that is strong as your own. Amen.

[Ashley] and [Peter], in John 15:9-12, it’s written “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

This is the spirit of love you must carry in your hearts today – the promise to love one another as Jesus Christ has loved each of us, honestly and completely.

HOMILY

Mark 10:6-9

"But at the beginning of creation, God 'made them male and female.'' For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

YOUR OWN WISDOM AND EXPERIENCES.

This verse talks about a male once he becomes a man when God places the woman he is intended to be with. He leaves his home, leaves the covering or roof he is under to be a cover, and builds his own family and life with the Woman he marries. You no longer move, walk, alone. Same with the female, once she becomes a woman she eventually finds the man she chooses to make a home and life with. She no longer walks or moves alone. She is united with the man she chooses to marry to become one. They come together to make decisions together they become a team or as it's expressed today your "Ride or Die".

Marriage is a blessing, one of them being when one falls you have the other half to pick you up. You no longer have to go through life alone, but you have someone to share life's ups as well as life's downs. To be of encouragement for each other through

career and growth throughout life. Remember that as years pass and seasons change so will you on this journey called life. Be patient, loving, and understanding of one another as you change. Remember to always honor, Respect each other in Faithfulness and honesty. This will make your home harmonious and love will grow. If you have kids, teach them how to respect and love just as you have learned. Teach them the importance of devotion to God and Family and teach them to walk in God's righteous path.

I've had the privilege to know both Peter and Ashley and watch both of them grow as young adults. As they have grown, I've also been witness to their growth in their love. It hasn't been easy but what relationships and marriage is? They've both learned to compromise for each other and to move their relationship forward to this moment. Compromising never ends, it's one of the ingredients that make a marriage work. The first one is putting God in the center of your home and relationship 2nd one is loving each other just like Jesus Loved us and his Church, so much so that he died for our sins so that we could live. It's with that same Love and devotion that husbands are taught to love their wives just as Jesus loved his church.

Solomon 3:4 “Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

this verse forces us to reconcile exactly where we’re at from a faith and relationship perspective—past, present, and future—and whether we’ve laid a proper foundation that will withstand the trials of life and temptations of this world.

Therefore, if we’re destined to discover the one we’ll spend the rest of our lives with, how do we ensure we’re ready when that day comes? Or if we’re already married, how do we “thrive rather than survive” and finish well, remaining committed to each other till death do us part? Only through faith and God and continuously growing your love towards one another will this continue to move your love forward through the years.

[Ashley] and [Peter], as you stand here before friends, family, and God, I ask you to declare your intentions to join in the sacred covenant of marriage.

OFFICIANT TO THE BRIDE

[Ashley], Have you come here freely and without reservation to marry?

BRIDE ANSWERS “I HAVE.”

Do you take [Peter] to be your husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?

BRIDE ANSWERS “I DO.”

OFFICIANT TO THE GROOM

[Peter], Have you come here freely and without reservation to marry?

GROOM ANSWERS “I HAVE.”

Do you take [Ashley] to be your wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?

GROOM ANSWERS “I DO.”

EXCHANGE OF VOWS AND RINGS

OFFICIANT TO THE PEOPLE PRESENT

[Peter] and [Ashley] will now exchange rings as a symbol of their commitment and endless devotion.

[Peter], you may place the ring you’ve chosen on [Ashley's] hand.

And [Ashley], you may place the ring you’ve chosen on [Peter's] hand.

THE COUPLE EXCHANGES WEDDING RINGS.

OFFICIANT TO THE CONGREGATION

This marriage unites not only [Peter] and [Ashley], but all of the families sitting here today. They ask now for your blessing. Do you promise to support [Peter] and [Ashley] in their marriage, to keep them in your prayers, to hold them up with love, and to rejoice in companionship in Jesus as they walk this path together?

THE CONGREGATION ANSWERS, “WE DO.”

UNITY CEREMONY

Candle Lighting

Father, bless this marriage and bestow your spirit in the hearts of [Peter] and [Ashley]. Let the divine light illuminate their path as they build a joyous life built on profound love, compassion, devotion, and your eternal wisdom. It is written in Genesis that “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” And so it is today, with these two.

Let [Ashley] and [Peter] be a comfort to each other, and bless them with patience, so they may always find strength and endurance to fulfill the promises they have made here before You and us all. Amen.

[Ashley] and [Peter], having witnessed your marriage vows in the eyes of God and before all who are assembled here, by the authority invested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of [California], I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride!

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce you for the first time to Mr. & Mrs. [TORRES]!