Angela Dionne Young

Wedding + Sand Ceremony & Script #2023-1028

Seating of the Families

Entrance of Officiant

Processional

Entrance of Nicole & Amarilys

WELCOME

Hello family and friends! On behalf of Nicole and Amarilys (pronounced AMATALESE), …WELCOME! My name is Angela, and a little over a year ago, Nicole and Mari asked me to officiate their wedding. I don’t think I can exactly tell you how amazing it is to be trusted to do so. It is truly an honor and a great privilege. THANK YOU for having that faith in me! With that being said, we are excited to be gathered here today to witness the union of these two beautiful souls.

OFFICIANT SPEECH/INTRODUCTION

We celebrate the joining of Nicole and Amarilys’ paths coming together as one. Marriage is a promise between two people who love, trust, and honor each other as individuals, and who choose to spend the rest of their lives together. It is a symbol of how far you have come these past few years, as well as, the promises you will make to each other to continue growing stronger as individuals and as partners, no matter what challenges you face.

DECLARATION OF INTENT

Officiant (to Couple):

Nicole and Amarilys no words of mine or any other person can “marry” you to one another. That is done only when you exchange your promises and commit yourselves to this marriage and each other….. So I ask you:

Officiant (to Partner 1):

Do you, Nicole take Amarilys to be your lawfully wedded spouse? To honor and to cherish her from this day forward, sharing your life through good times and bad, offering kindness, patience, and comfort each day, for as long as you both shall live?

Partner 1:

I do.

Officiant (to Partner 2):

Do you, Amarilys take Nicole to be your lawfully wedded spouse? To honor and to cherish her from this day forward, sharing your life through good times and bad, offering kindness, patience, and comfort each day, for as long as you both shall live?

Partner 2:

I do.

Officiant (to Couple):

As we come to your vows. May I remind you that saying your vows is one thing but nothing is more challenging than living them day-by-day. What you promise today must be renewed tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you. (Will you now please turn and face each other and hold hands, looking at one another.)

Officiant (to Partner 1):

Nicole, please repeat after me:

In the presence of our family and friends,

I Nicole choose you Amarilys,

to be my wedded spouse,

to have and to hold from this day forward,

for better for worse,

for richer for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

in joy and in sorrow,

to love and to cherish,

and to be faithful to you alone.

This is my solemn vow.

Officiant (to Partner 2):

Amarilys, please repeat after me:

In the presence of our family and friends,

I Amarilys choose you Nicole,

to be my wedded spouse,

to have and to hold from this day forward,

for better for worse,

for richer for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

in joy and in sorrow,

to love and to cherish,

and to be faithful to you alone.

This is my solemn vow.

EXCHANGING OF RINGS

May I have the rings please?

Officiant (to couple):

The ring, an unbroken circle, represents unending love. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you be reminded of this moment and the love you have promised to one another.

Officiant (to Partner 1):

Nicole, place your ring on Amarilys’ finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring,

that you may wear it,

as a symbol of the vows we have made this day.

I pledge you my love,

My respect,

my laughter and my tears.

With all that I am, I honor you.

Officiant (to Partner 2):

Amarilys, place your ring on Nicole’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring,

that you may wear it,

as a symbol of the vows we have made this day.

I pledge you my love,

and respect,

my laughter and my tears.

With all that I am, I honor you.

SAND CEREMONY

Officiant (to couple & children):

Nicole and Amarilys, please step this way and stand side by side facing the vessels of sand. Will the children of Nicole please join us at the table.

You are here together to share this moment, to support one another as your family changes, and to see this as a positive challenge in your lives, an opportunity to grow together.

Officiant (to couple):

Nicole and Amarilys today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with

each other and to honor your children as well. Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these 5 individual containers of sand -- each one representing all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, as individuals and as a family.

Officiant (to couple & children): (everyone picks up their vial of sand)

As each of you hold your sand, the separate containers represent your lives up to this moment, individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives are also joined together as one family.

Marriage strengthens your connection as a family. It connects your lives in many ways, physically, emotionally, and strategically. You each bring with you your individuality, your own history, your particular relationship to your family, and together you’ll help create a new version of this family as you grow and change together. You’ll create a future together that will be affected by each of your own personalities and decisions in life. How you demonstrate your love for each other will define your family. As you continue to support and love and care for each other, your lives intertwine and become as inseparable as the layers of sand that you have combined here today.

Children, you may return to your places…

AFFIRMATION OF THE MARRIAGE

Officiant (to couple):

Now may the love, which has brought you together, continue to grow and enrich your lives. May you continue to meet with courage any problems, which may arise to challenge you. May your relationship always be one of love and trust. May the happiness you share today be with you always. And may everything you have said and done here today become a living truth in your lives.

BLESSING

Officiant (to guests):

Before we conclude, I’d like to invite everyone to bow their heads in prayer. Gracious God, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this the wedding day of Nicole and Amarilys. They come before you, pledging their lives and their hearts to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and help them to be sweethearts, helpmates, friends and guides. And together, may they meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. May their home truly be a place of love and harmony where your Spirit is ever present. Bless their wedding day, we pray, and walk beside them, through all their life together. Amen.

PRONOUNCEMENT

Officiant (to guests):

Nicole and Amarilys, we have heard your promise to share your lives in marriage. We recognize and

respect the covenant you have made here this day before each one of us as witnesses. Therefore in

the honesty and sincerity of what you have said and done here today and by the power vested in me

by YOU, it is my honor and delight to declare you married together in life…for life! Now it is time to

celebrate your spouse. You may kiss one another!

RECESSIONAL