LaTasha Bacon

*(Procession)*

[Guests are seated, Augusto and Officiant enters]

Good evening everyone, and thank you for being here on this special day. We will be getting started soon, but first I would like to make an announcement on behalf of our couple. Yvonne and Augusto invited you to be truly present at this special time. So please take a moment to put your phones on silent. Pictures are welcome, but social media posts are not.

*Begin bridal music

Everyone please rise (Hand motion)

*Enter Yvonne and Mr. Rivera. Music stops once bride and father are in front of officiant.

Who gives this woman to be lawfully married?

(Mr. River responds)

You may be seated (Hand motion)

*(Invocation)*

Dear friends and family, we are gathered together here to join Yvonne Garza and Augusto Cobaxin in the spiritual union of marriage. Through their time together they have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through the combined effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment, and family. And so they have decided to live together as husband and wife. Through your commitments to each other, may you grow and nurture a love that makes both of you better people, a love that continues to give you great joy, and also a passion for living that provides you with the energy and patience to face the responsibilities of life. The story of your life together is still yours to write. All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment this day, eager to be a part of the story not yet told. Later in the ceremony as Augusto and Yvonne exchange rings they will do so with not only a symbol of infinite love and dedication to each other, but also with our continuous support.

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 home.

*(Reading)*

*(Declaration of Intent)*

Yvonne, Augusto, I’d like you to face each other and hold hands. Now, look at each other’s hands.

These are the hands of your best friend.

These are the hands of the person you love and are choosing to love forever.

These are the hands of the person you will walk alongside in both good times and bad for the rest of your lives.

Do you Augusto, take Yvonne to be your wife – to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life’s tough moments, to be proud of her, to grow old with her, and love her when she drives you crazy, and to find new reasons to love him every day?

Reply: “I do”

Do you Yvonne, take a Augusto to be your husband – to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life’s tough moments, to be proud of him, to grow old with him, love him when he drives you crazy, and to find new reasons to love him every day?

Reply: “I do”

Yvonne Garza and Augusto Cobaxin will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

*(Wait for ringbearers)*

Your wedding rings are the outward and visible signs of the inward and invisible bond which already unites your two hearts in love.

*(Ring Exchange)*

Augusto, place the ring on Yvonne’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy.

As this ring has no end, my love is also forever.

Yvonne, place the ring on Augusto’s finger and repeat after me.

(Ringbearers can have a seat)

With this ring, I marry you.

I will wear this ring forever, as a sign of my unconditional love for you.

May the wedding rings you exchange today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love.

*(Unity Candle)*

Yvonne and Augusto have chosen to affirm their love by the lighting of the unity candle. Yvonne and Augusto come from two different families, that are unifying as one. We are especially grateful for the values which half load into them from those who have loved and nurtured them along life‘s way. Out of these two families, a new family will be created. At this time I would like Mrs. Rivera to represent the brides family come forward and Abraham to come forward in honor of the grooms parents and to represent the grooms family to come forward to assist us in starting the Unity Candle ceremony. The Unity Candle ceremony is a ceremony of spiritual symbolism. The candles that Mrs. Rivera and Abraham are lighting represent not only Yvonne and Augusto, but also their families, for it is their families who, through love and support, help shaped who they are.

*(Light candles)*

These two individual flames, one representing each family, will demonstrate to us – in a very beautiful way – the symbol of two will become one as well as the faith, wisdom, and love that Yvonne and Augusto have received from their families.

The center candle represents their new life together. It’s fire is magical because it represents the lights of two people in love. This handled before you is a candle of commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it lit. This candle is also a candle of unity because both must come together, giving flame of them selves to create the new light.

Yvonne, Augusto please take the two taper candles, representing your individual selves and like the center candle representing your marriage.

(Light candle together at the same time and hold in the flame)

As you light this candle today, made the brightness of the flame sign throughout your lives. Making a union be forever blessed.

(Move taper candles from Unity Candle)

Yvonne will you extinguish Augustos candle and Augusto will you extinguish Yvonnes candle signifying the closing of your past chapters and the start of your new lives.

*(Pronouncement)*

Yvonne and Augusto, I wish you both much love and happiness as you begin your new journey together. Remember to keep lots of laughter in your life and love will never be far behind. You have heard the words about love and marriage, have exchanged your love and commitment and made your promises, and celebrated your union with the giving and receiving of rings and with the lighting of the Unity Candle.

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

You may now kiss your bride!

And now, to all the friends and family who have come to celebrate this marriage, I would like to present, for the first time anywhere, Mr. and Mrs. Augusto and Yvonne Cobaxin.