Lisa Jane Hubbs

Welcome dearest family to a beautiful "early" Sunday morning on Beacon's Beach!

Epi & Nicole have invited you here to join them in one of life's most treasured moments, their marriage ceremony. This morning, in the presence of God, & encircled by the people they love, Epi & Nicole will exchange wedding vows & celebrate their love, becoming husband & wife! Thank you for being here today for the beginning, for standing beside them in the tomorrows & for celebrating with them the joys of a lifetime.

Epi & Nicole, are you ready for this journey? Let us pray.

Thank You Father for this beautiful morning, for this inspiring backdrop, for the treasured gift of marriage & the blessings we discover as we open it day by day. Thank you for Nicole, for Epi, for this once-in-a-lifetime family and beloved friends. We offer up this day, this ceremony, this marriage, this family & our lives to Your perfect ways! In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Marriage is not about one person, in any way, shape or form. It takes two people to make a successful marriage. And if you're wise, you will invite God to join your journey & your marriage will be richly blessed. God's Word describes it in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls & has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

The story of Epi & Nicole... they met at Freedom Park, little did they know they would soon surrender their freedom for a much richer team. Epi wasn't supposed to be there, he was a last minute replacement. And yet Nicole says he came to bring her compassion, selflessness, wisdom & joy. Epi says Nicole brings someone to his corner. the first time in his life he could let his guard down, be genuine & know he was safe. She's my world; as long as I have Nicole, I'm good. She showed up at the gym with a pillow & a blanket when I had nothing & my whole world changed.

I found a beautiful poem written may years ago by a man named Ray Croft. It reminds me of the beauty I see in our children; in Nicole & Epi, in Tyler & Dil, in Natalie & Jordan... the beauty I first saw in my parents & then found with my amazing husband... the beauty we discover when we live as a team, remembering that the best is never about just one of us but about two.

Love ~ Roy Croft

"I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

I love you not only for what you have made of yourself,

but for what you are making of me.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out;

I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart

And passing over all the foolish, weak things you can't help but see there

& for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings

that no one else had looked quite far enough to find,

I love you because you are helping me

to make of the lumber of my life not a tavern but a temple...

I love you because you have done more than any creed

could have done to make me good.

And more than any fate could have done to make me happy.

You have done it ~ without a touch, without a word, without a sign.

You have done it by being yourself.

Perhaps that is what being a friend means,

After all... this is living... always & forever...life is a day at the beach...

with you, it's different...the mountains are calling, & we must go!

Blessing of the Hands:

Father, bless these hands before you today. Ensure that they always be held by one another. Give them strength to hold on during the storms of life. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture one another for a lifetime of love. Guide these hands to continue building a relationship founded in Your unfailing grace, Your unending love & Your unwavering devotion. Help Epi & Nicole to see their four hands as Your vessels of Healing, protection, shelter & guidance: for one another, for their family & for Your Majestic purposes.

Declaration of Intent:

Do you, Epi, take Nicole to be your wedded wife, to love, honor & cherish, to have and to hold? Will you stay with her for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness & in health as long as you both shall live?

Do you, Nicole, take Epi to be your wedded husband, to love, honor & cherish, to have & to hold? Will you stay with him for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness & in health as long as you both shall live?:

Exchange of Vows:

I, Epi, take you Nicole, to be my wedded 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, ‘til death us do part, according to God‘s Holyordinance.

I, Nicole, take you Epi to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness & in health, to love, cherish and obey ‘til death us do part, according to God‘s Holy ordinance.

Do you have tings as a sign of your commitment to one another?

Dedication Blessing:

As we prepare for the exchange of vows & rings, let’s stop & focus a moment on Epi & Nicole.

Nicole, please face Epi & hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, strong and vibrant. They are holding your hands on this, your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands that will passionately love you & cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, & hold you when grief shatters your heart & mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin & brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes filled with love for you.

Epi, please hold Nicole’s hands, palms up, so that you can see the gift they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young & carefree. They are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love & commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will passionately love you & cherish you through a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will tenderly embrace each new life God adds to your family. They will wipe countless tears & apply way too many bandages for a mommy’s sweet heart. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, as a family, everything you hope for can become a reality.

Blessing the Rings:

Today, you will participate in a personal & intimate blessing. Nicole & Epi have asked you to bless their rings. Mr Hubbs has the rings & will pass them within this family circle. Please take them carefully & bless them silently as we celebrate the loving message of family...

a circle of strength & love, with every birth & every union, the circle will grow, every joy shared adds more love, every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.

Exchange of Rings:

Epi: “Nicole, with this ting, I thee wed & promise: From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter & my arms will be your home.”

Nicole: “Epi, with this ring, I thee wed & promise. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter & my arms will be your home.”

Pronouncement of Marriage:

By the authority vested in me by the American Marriage Ministries and the State of California I now pronounce you husband & wife.

the Kiss:

Mr Hernandez, you may now kiss your blushing bride.

Family & Friends, I present to you Mr &Mrs Epi & Nicole Hernandez. Please take a moment to offer your love as we prepare for family pictures & “the first dance”

Bride & Groom:”Yours” Ella Henderson

Father & Daughter: “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle

Mother & New Son: “I Hope You Dance”

by Lee Ann Womack