Angelina Coe

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

We are gathered here together in the presence of God, family, and friends, to witness a joyous occasion, the union of Maricela Ponce and Adam Lee Rivera in the spiritual and holy union of matrimony.

Who here gives this woman to be married to this man? (Tepeated in Spanish for Father of the bride who affirmed in Spanish, "Soy yo!")

*Father of bride confirms with I do and present’s bride to groom.*

The sacred covenant of marriage is a sanctuary and home built on the foundation of God’s guidance, blessings, and love. It is a contract that is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, discreetly and soberly, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that God, love, loyalty, and understanding are the fundamentals of a happy and enduring home and marriage.

We rejoice today as Maricela and Adam receive one of God’s greatest gifts, a loving partner to grow with, to share life’s joys and challenges with, to build a life together and grow old with, and to journey with, in faith throughout all of their days.

When Maricela and Adam reconnected as friends, two years ago, they were unsure where life was taking them. They opened their hearts to faith and the grace of God to lead them on a path that grew their friendship to a relationship of being in love and spiritual growth together on this journey. It is an honor and privilege to be here to officiate this marriage ceremony before God and all of you.

So let us pray, asking God to provide His blessing on this marriage.

Dear Father God, we welcome you to this place for it says in the bible, where two or three are gathered together in your name there shall I be also. We ask that you, God, please lay your holy hands on this couple and bless them as they give themselves to one another in this holy bond of marriage. Guide them with patience and love, be a lamp unto their feet and light unto their pathways, as they walk together in your word and truth. Bless this union with a love that is pure and a desire to live in faith as strong as yours is and abide in your grace. Amen!

This is the scripture selected for our groom and bride as an example of their relationship in marriage. Bear with me as I read from the KJV of the Bible, Ephesians 5:20 -25 which reads:

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

We now come to the words that Adam and Maricela want to hear the most today, the words that move them across the threshold from being an engaged couple to being married as husband and wife.

Before you declare your vows and commitment to one another, please confirm before God, me, and all your honored guest, that it is indeed your intention to be married today.

Adam Lee Rivera, do you come here today without reservation and with love on your heart to give yourself to Maricela Ponce in marriage? If yes, answer, I do.

Maricela Ponce, do you come here today without reservation and with love in your heart to give yourself to Adam Lee Rivera in marriage? If yes, answer, I do.

Adam and Maricela, having heard your declaration, I now ask that you turn to each other and hold hands to exchange marriage vows.

*(Vows)*

Adam, please repeat after me:

I, Adam Lee Rivera, take you Maricela Ponce, to be my lawfully 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, respect, honor, and cherish, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.

Maricela, please repeat after me:

I, Maricela Ponce, take you Adam Lee Rivera, to be my lawfully 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, respect, honor, and cherish, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.

*Exchange of Wedding Rings:*

Maricela Ponce and Adam Lee Rivera will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment. The rings are a perfect circle, a circle with no beginning and no end. A symbol of the lifelong commitment and abiding love and faithfulness and trust which you as husband and wife have promised to each other before God and all present here today.

*(Ring Exchange)*

Adam, please place the ring on Maricela’s finger, and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

And Maricela, please place the ring on Adam’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

As it reads in Matthew 19: 6;

6 Wherefore they are no more twain or two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of California I now pronounce you husband and wife!

You may now greet each other as a married couple with a kiss. Adam you may now kiss your bride.

It is my honor and pleasure to be the first to congratulation and present Mr. and Mrs. Rivera.

Please join us in congratulating the newlyweds.