Frida Carolina Gillespie

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

Just kidding, hello everyone, welcome, how's everyone doing?

Claudia and Zain are getting married today. Are we excited or what? (Pause for cheers!)

I am soooo excited to be officiating this wedding and celebrate Claudia and Zain's love for each other cuz that's what we're here to do right? Celebrate their love!

Folks, are we ready to get started and welcome the bride and the groom to their wedding?

We are gathered here today to join Claudia Nataly Rodriguez and Zain Mariscal in the union of marriage.

I want to start by sharing a beautiful quote that I believe holds truth to Claudia and Zain's relationship: "God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you" - Rascal Flatts. Life has taken you both through a journey. If you go back to when you were 16 years old, neither of you would have imagined that you'd end up with each other, here, with your family, celebrating your marriage on this beautiful April day.

Through your lives, you have gone through various challenges. Some which you probably wish you wouldn't have gone through. Yet, it is those challenges and your overcoming of them that have led you to become the lovely people you are to each other. At the same time, God has blessed you with many beautiful moments throughout your lives. You both have had the wonderful experience of becoming parent, and you both are growing and guiding this lovely little girl, Cami. In it all, we can all witness how God works everything for good. And today, we join you in celebrating this wonderful commitment you share with each other. Simply formalizing what you have already been doing, loving each other, respecting each other, supporting each other, guiding each other to become the best version of yourselves.

This commitment is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. It is important to keep in mind that love, loyalty, patience, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring marriage, and thus, of a heart-warming home.

Marriage is really hard but it is the best adventure you're gonna go on. And what would be better than living it together, with this man and woman you have chosen to walk along?

There are two stories I'd like to share here real quick:

The first, it was the time that Papi Noe was in the hospital. Those were some of the most difficult days for Claudia, to see her beloved Papi living his last days on this earth. I remember one of the days, after being in the hospital for many days, I came out of the emergency room and I found Claudia and Zain holding each other, sharing the pain and the difficulty of seeing Papi's life coming to an end. That day, Zain showed what he was made out of, a heart of gold, ready to be there for his beloved, ready to stand by her side in happy times and in difficult times.

The second story I want to share is of one time when our family went camping. Zain was excited to show us around the campsite. Our family had just arrived to Texas from Ohio, driving, 20 hours in the car with little kids. We were exited to get out of the car and sleep in the sleeping bags but then, a storm came through and the tent Zain had been setting up was blowing away. So we all went back to the cars to spend the night. The next day, Zain wanted to take us on the lake and we all got in floaties. Floating down the river, having a great time and then, the lake police came by and approached us. We all got a ticket for not wearing life vests. We didn't know we were supposed to have life vests, but we did know how to have a great time!

These are the life stories you will continue to fill your lives with. May they always be filled with love and laughter!

Now, turn around, face your family and friends. They are here to hold you to your promise to each other. And to guide you always. They came here to celebrate you and will also be there to lift you both up when times are rough, when you feel discouraged. So trust them and open up to them so that your commitment to each other can grow and flourish even in the hard times, especially during the hard times.

Claudia Nataly Rodriguez and Zain Mariscal will now share their vows. Claudia... Zain...

*(Vows)*

Do you, Zain Mariscal, take this woman, Claudia Nataly Rodriguez, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and hardship, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

Do you, Claudia Nataly Rodriguez, take this man, Zain Mariscal, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and hardship, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*(Wait for Confirmation)*

*(Ring Exchange)*

Claudia Nataly Rodriguez and Zain Mariscal will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

Zain, repeat after me: I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you and my devotion to you. Let it be a reminder that I am always by your side and that I will always be a faithful partner to you. With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as yours.

Claudia, repeat after me: I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you and my devotion to you. Let it be a reminder that I am always by your side and that I will always be a faithful partner to you. With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as yours.

Marriage license:

We're gonna take a minute here to sign the marriage license. We'll be right back!

(Go back to front)

Immediate family (parents, siblings and grandparents), please stay seated for family photos after the recessional.

(Declaration)

By the authority vested in me by the State of Texas and the American Marriage Ministries, I now pronounce you wife and husband! Claudia and Zain, you have done this a couple of times but this is the first time you do so as husband and wife. Zain, you may kiss your bride! (Caro, get out of the way!!!)

(Recessional: hold everyone in place until Claudia and Zain have exited all the way!)