Donato Toledo Lara

Sabrina and Jason’s Ceremony

Family, Friends and Guests,

We’re here to join Sabrina Triunfante and Jason Mattos in the spiritual union of marriage.

This truly is a family occasion. We’re all here because we’re either related by blood to Sabrina or Jason. Of course, their two beautiful children, Bria and Chance, wouldn’t be here without them. Or, you may be a friend, a long time neighbor, co-worker, or someone they’ve known for quite a while. But today, we’re not just these, we’re all family to them. I’d like to thank you on their behalf for making the time to be here.

So now the serious stuff…

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring union.

{The officiant introduces the Cord, Candle, Arras, and Veil Ceremony.}

Today, the couple has chosen to honor their love with traditional Filipino elements.

The candle lighting symbolizes wisdom and guiding light to support the couple in their marriage.

The Arras is the exchange of coins to represent provision, welfare, and prosperity in married life.

The Cord is shaped in an infinity symbol to represent the bond of everlasting love and fidelity between the couple.

And the Veil is another symbol of the couple’s unity in marriage as they face the world as one.

As is tradition, the couple has invited members of their families and friends to participate in the ceremony. In marriage and in life, love cannot exist in a silo. It needs the nourishment and support of loved ones to stay strong.

Candle Ceremony

I ask {Names of candle sponsor 1 and 2} to please bring us the candles.

{Instruction: Sponsor 1 and Sponsor 2 carry one candle each to the front, already lit. The officiant gives the couple one candle each. Sponsor 1 lights the first celebrant’s candle. Sponsor 2 lights the second celebrant’s candle.

With each of their candles, the couple then lights a third Unity candle, either held by the officiant or on a stand, depending on your ceremony. Allow the candles to continue burning. The Candle sponsors may remain standing or return to their seats.}

Let these individual candles represent each of you and your unique selves. They symbolize who you are in this very moment, and all you will be.

By lighting a third candle, the couple has made a promise of unity. It is the two of you coming together as one to create new light and a new promise. You have come together as individuals to create something new, something stronger and bolder. This is also a symbol of commitment, because it takes both of your fires, working together, to keep it ablaze.

Today, this candle is a symbol of hope. May its light and warmth guide you throughout your lives, in your love, and in your marriage together.

{The couple may blow out each of their individual candles. The Unity candle should continue to be lit for the remainder of the ceremony. The officiant may then invite the candle sponsors to return to take the individual candles from the couple.}

Veil Ceremony

I ask Kayla Erice and Jonathan Erice to join us in the laying of the veil.

This act of laying a veil over you allows you to be clothed as one. Let this veil represent the support from friends and family, who cover you in love in your marriage through good times and bad times. Let their love cloak you and make you stronger, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

{Instruction: Sponsor 1 will pin the veil on the right shoulder of the groom/first celebrant. Sponsor 2 will drape the veil over the bride/second celebrant’s head and pin it on the left side of her wedding veil. If the bride/second celebrant has no wedding veil, Sponsor 2 will pin the veil on the celebrant’s left shoulder. Sponsors may remain standing to the side, or return to their seats.}

Cord Ceremony

I now ask Poring Lim and Chris Lim to place the Unity cord over the couple.

This cord symbolizes everlasting love and fidelity. Your love, like this cord, ties you together and intertwines your destinies. You are no longer two, you are united as one, stronger together in the face of adversity and capable of facing anything. Let this cord symbolize the strength of your love, an unbreakable bond which will only grow as time passes.

{Instruction: Sponsor 1 will place the cord over the head of the first celebrant so it rests on the shoulders, and sponsor 2 will drape the cord over the head of the second celebrant so it rests on the shoulders to create a figure eight. Sponsors may remain standing to the side, or return to their seats.}

Coin Ceremony

Now I’d like to invite {Coin Sponsor Name} to bring the arras, also known as the wedding coins.

These coins represent responsibility, welfare, and prosperity in married life.

{Instruction: Sponsor opens the arras and drops the coins into the hands of the groom/first celebrant. The first celebrant then drops the coins into the hands of the bride/second celebrant}

Today Sabrina and Jason have exchanged the arras coins between them as a symbol of their commitment and mutual respect. The arras symbolizes the sharing of earthly possessions and a promise to build a beautiful future together. It is a pledge to support one another for richer or for poorer, and to create a home that belongs to them both.

{Instruction: The sponsor takes back the coins from the couple. The sponsor can remain standing or return to their seat}

Sabrina and Jason, today you are choosing to celebrate your love, wholly and unapologetically, celebrating parts of your heritage and full selves. Let the Veil represent the love that cloaks you and protects you both. Let the cord symbolize your infinite and unbreakable bond. Let the coins be your promise to build together. And let the candle, whose light continues to burn, be a symbol of your courage and commitment to keep your love ablaze.

Removal of the Cord and Veil

I would now like to call back the sponsors to remove the cord and veil.

{Cord sponsors remove the cord first, followed by the veil. All remaining sponsors return to their seats.}

{The Filipino Cord, Candle, Arras, and Veil Ceremony has ended. The officiant can now choose to move onto the exchange of vows.}

Sabrina Triunfante and Jason Jefferson will now share their vows.

*(Vows)*

Do you Sabrina Triunfante take this man Jason Mattos to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you Jason Mattos take this woman Sabrina Triunfante to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Sabrina Triunfante and Jason Mattos will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

Officiant to attendant (Best Man):

Jason, the rings please.

*(Ring Exchange)*

Jumping the Broom Unity Ceremony

Officiant to guests and couple:

We end this ceremony with the African American tradition of jumping of the broom.

As Sabrina and Jason jump, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. Today, it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past.

It marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends.

Sabrina and Jason will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!

(They jump over the broom.)

Pronouncement

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

You May Kiss!

Presentation / Introduction of the couple

I present to you, Sabrina and Jason Mattos!