James David Langton

Good afternoon to all you friends and family of Bryce and Ashley. I am Jim Langton, the proud grandfather of the bride. On this 25th day of September, 2025, (whisper loudly), which is, not by coincidence, my 73rd birthday, I am greatly honored to perform the marriage of Ashley Kay Carrasco to Bryce Joseph Stoklasa.

*To Daniel* Who gives this woman in marriage?

**Wait for the answer and for Daniel and Ashley to hug **

*Prayer* Dear Heavenly Father, today is the glad day that Ashley and Bryce have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time. We ask Your blessing not only on this time of exchanging vows, but especially on their future together. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

*Message* Before we get down to the actual vows, I’d like to speak to those of you assembled together today. If there was ever a time when God’s views of marriage needed to be emphasized, today is that time. Marriage, itself, and the establishment of a new home, were God’s idea.

We learn from Genesis, the first book of the Bible’s Old Testament, that God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden. Each animal of the creation had a mate, but Adam was alone. God caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam, and from his side God took a rib and created the first woman, Eve. Adam said, “this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called ‘Woman’ because she was taken out of man.” It was then that God stated his intent for man and woman to live as one in the marriage relationship. “Therefore, man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Then, in the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus stated “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jesus honored the institution of marriage by performing His very first miracle at a joyous wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. The institution of marriage is not a casual one and should not be taken lightly. Since we live in an age where so many people have no respect for it, we need to constantly reaffirm that God-ordained marriage is for our good and should be viewed as holy. So holy is the relationship of marriage that the apostle Paul likened it to the relationship of Christ to His church.

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies, he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” As important as it is to have a great marriage, the most important thing in anyone’s life is the relationship they have with Jesus Christ. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been living under the sentence of death, or eternal separation from God. The Bible tells us that the wages, or penalty, for sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. God sent His son Jesus, to earth to live sinlessly and then to die on a Roman cross to pay that penalty for our sins and then to show victory over death by rising from the dead. All people have to do is to confess to God that they have sinned, believe that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin, and believe that Jesus was raised from the grave and is now living in Heaven, where He will one day welcome us.

Both Ashley and Bryce have let me know that they have accepted God’s free gift of salvation, and that they are committed to the sanctity of marriage. They understand that they are to respect each other and be unfailingly devoted to each other’s welfare and Christ-likeness – being strongly aware of their responsibilities to each other and to God.

Bryce and Ashley, your marriage should be the union of two lives—two hearts that beat as one. Remember, the vows you are about to take are as binding in adversity as they are in prosperity and that these vows are to be broken only by death. I want you both to remember the great responsibilities you have -- love and submission. These are serious, yet magnificent. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, gave us the perfect example of them. Bryce, Christ loved the church. He said , “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus showed the greatest love to the church by the sacrifice of His own life. He shed his precious blood for the church to demonstrate how deep and abiding his love was and to leave us the greatest example of love this world has ever known. Bryce, follow the example of Christ. Consider Ashley your closest friend and love her even to the sacrifice of your wants, desires and your very life. Ashley, Christ gave us the perfect example of submission. Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Ashley, the Lord Jesus Christ, out of love, humbled himself and became submissive for our sake. Just as you would obey Jesus, submit with love in your heart to Bryce as your husband.

The union of husband and wife is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.

Into this holy union Bryce and Ashley now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now or else forever hold your peace.

**Vows and Exchanging of Rings**

Ashley, will you have Bryce to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you 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?

**Wait for Response**

Bryce, will you have Ashley to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you 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?

**Wait for Response**

Bryce , please take Ashley's right hand and repeat after me.

"I, Bryce, take you Ashley, to be my 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 and to cherish, until we are parted by death."

Ashley, please take Bryce's right hand and repeat after me.

"I, Ashley, take you Bryce, to be my 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 and to cherish, until we are parted by death."

May I have the rings please?

The circular wedding ring symbolizes the never-ending nature of their love. And symbolizes to all the uniting of this man and woman in holy matrimony.

*Give smaller ring to Bryce*

Bryce, please place this ring on Ashley’s finger, and repeat after me: "I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."

*Give larger ring to Ashley*

Ashley, please place this ring on Bryce’s finger and repeat after me: "I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."

**Prayer**

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

We are thankful that You not only meet our needs in the physical and spiritual realms, but that You also have made provision for our happiness. We rejoice in that You have given us the institution of marriage so that we can properly express the great love between a man and a woman.

Lord we pray that You will now look down favorably upon Bryce and Ashley and the union they are forming today. May they start this relationship free from sin and with much love. May they always have You and Your Will as a part of it, realizing that their commitment is not only to one another but to You and Your Son. May their love for you and for one another continue to grow and abound. In the name of Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, we pray, Amen.

Now that Bryce and Ashley have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings in the presence of this company, by the authority of the state of North Carolina, American Marriage Ministries and that of all-mighty God, I pronounce that they are husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

Bryce. You may kiss your bride.

**Smack**

Ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to present Mr. and Mrs. Stoklasa.