Roch S. Jones

Welcome:

Thank you to the friends and family that are here today to celebrate the union of Sinclair and Teresa in holy matrimony.

They have already created a loving and nurturing family with their daughter Sofia, filled with laughter and happiness. Today marks the beginning of their marriage commitment together, built on trust, compassion, and mutual respect.

Life has a beautiful way of bringing the right people together at the right time. What seemed like a chance meeting was always meant to happen — a crossing of paths that led to love, partnership, and bringing their incredible daughter Sofia into the world. Today, we celebrate not just their union, but the family they were always meant to build.

As the Bible reminds us in Corinthians, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”

And as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Where there is love, there is life.” May their love continue to grow, and may their lives together be filled with endless happiness and meaning.

Please face each other and join hands. Teresa and Sinclair, you are combining your strengths and hopes in this marriage. You have already given each other the greatest gifts of your lives – your love and your daughter Sofia. Today we acknowledge and celebrate not only the creation of a marriage, but also your beautiful family made up of Sinclair, Teresa, and Sofia. Each of you contribute your individual blossoms, combining your special selves into a rich and beautiful bouquet that is your family.

Vows:

Sinclair, please repeat after me: I, Sinclair, take you Teresa, as my Wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. This is my solemn vow.

Teresa, please repeat after me: I, Teresa, take you Sinclair, as my Husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. This is my solemn vow.

Sinclair and Teresa, please repeat after me. Sofia, we promise to love you forever, to keep you safe, and to always be here for you. No matter how big you grow, you will always be our baby, and we will always be with you.

Sofia now has some things she would like to say:

[Roch: Sofia said she wants to say some things on her own, without repeating after you. She may say, “Mama and Dada, I love you! I love you love you love you! And I will still love you when I am bigger!” Or she may say some new things on the spot.]

Declaration of Intent:

Sinclair, do you take Teresa as your cherished Wife, with your daughter Sofia and in front of these witnesses and God, and promise to stay by her side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?

Sinclair: I do.

Teresa, will you take Sinclair as your cherished Husband, with your daughter Sofia and in front of these witnesses and God, and promise to stay by his side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?

Teresa: I do.

Sofia, do you take Mama and Dada as your cherished parents, to love and laugh with and hug, every day?

Sofia: I do.

Ring exchange:

The wedding rings perfectly symbolize the never-ending love you have for each other. By exchanging these rings, you solidify your commitment to each other. Let these rings be the symbol of unity and peace in which your lives are joined in one unbroken circle.

Sinclair, as you place the ring on Teresa’s finger, please repeat after me:

I, Sinclair, give you Teresa this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, you complete me.

Teresa, as you place the ring on Sinclair’s finger, please repeat after me:

I, Teresa, give you Sinclair this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, you complete me.

Sinclair and Teresa, as you place the ring on Sofia’s finger, please repeat after me:

We give you, Sofia, this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our love for you forever. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, you complete us.

You are two souls who have shared life’s journey, weaving your paths together into something beautiful. In each other, you’ve found not only companionship but a deep, lasting love that has only grown stronger with time. Above all, your greatest joy is your incredible daughter Sofia – your everything – and the beautiful life you have created with her. Your love for each other, rooted in understanding and care, will continue to guide you in your marriage, and fill your lives with happiness, adventure, and lots of surfing. As you navigate life together, hold firmly to hope and trust, always believing in each other and in the strength of your love for each other.

Pronouncement:

In as much as Sinclair, Teresa, and Sofia have come before family and friends, and have declared their love and devotion to each other and Sofia, by the power vested in me by the state of Hawaii, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Kiss: You may now share your first married kiss.