Location: San Antonio, Texas

Date: February 2016

Setting: The following wedding took place just south of the city on a small plot of land converted into a wedding venue, complete with large modern barn for a reception hall. The ceremony took place outside, with me at a podium, and the closed barn doors as the backdrop.

I. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Me: Welcome family and friends, please be seated.
(wait for everyone to sit)
Me: We have gathered here today to witness a turning point in the lives of two people loved by us all. And it is love, in its most genuine form, that brings us all to this shared moment. To this historic page in the Book of Life of Debbie and Carlos. A book that will fill with infinite chapters of growth as a couple, as a family, and as a living illustration of that universally sought after bliss. That, of falling in love.

II. Blessing by Parents
Me: Now, who gives this man and this woman their blessings to be married today?
Parents: I (We) do.
Me: Thank you.

III. 1 John 3:18
Me: I will commence today’s ceremony with a single verse from First John 3:18
“Dear children, let us not love with words and speech but with actions and truth.”

IV. Lasso & Arras Ceremony

Me: And it is due to these years of actions; these open actions of love that lead to that truthful question that brings Debbie and Carlos before us. And in so being allows us to perform our own loving actions to honor and guide them as a couple.

A) Bible & Rosary: Presented by Susie and Daniel NNNN

Me: I now ask Susie and Daniel NNNN to please come forward and present their gifts.

(Susie will present to Debbie and Daniel to Carlos as I speak; couple will acknowledge gifts; where in turn the gifts are taken back to their seats)

Me: They are presenting the couple with their bible and rosary. Both gifts will act as guidance for truth and understanding during their years as a couple and when the moments arise, speak words to them to strengthen their faith.

B) Los Cojines: Presented by Gracie and Pete NNNN
Me: I now call Gracie and Pete NNNN to please come forward to present their gift.
(Gracie will place cushion for Debbie and Pete for Carlos as I speak; they will help the couple to get on their knees, then return to seats)
Me: They are presenting the couple with elaborate cushions for the bride and groom to kneel on during a traditional lasso ritual in which the couple will be symbolically bound.

C. El Lazo: Presented by Rose and Raul NNNN

Me: I now call Debbie’s Godparents, Rose and Raul NNNN to please come forward.

(Wait for Garza’s to approach and help couple to their knees; then signal for them to place each loop around couple as I speak)

Me: This cord symbolizes an infinite bond of love you share that keeps your relationship strong in the face of adversity, as well as a reminder that you both are no longer two, but one in marriage. May this cord remind you to face your life together courageously and to be mutually supportive of each other in carrying out your duties and responsibilities as a couple, and may your love grow stronger and bind you closer together through the years.
(Signal to Rose and Raul NNNN to remove the Lasso and help the couple to stand and take the cushions back to their seats)

D. Arras: Presented by Carlos’ parents, Diana NNNN and Pablo NNNN
Me: I would now like to ask Carlos’ parents, Diana NNNN and Pablo NNNN to please come forward.
Me: Originally, there was the belief that the husband was the sole “bread winner” and the wife was the sole “home maker”, so the coins were given and received not in the spirit of reciprocity but in a give and take relationship. Today the coins are a reminder of good stewardship for all couples; that they will mutually support each other, their children and the world around them. May God bless these coins that symbolize mutual support and responsibility.

Me: We will now begin this exchange.
(Signal to Diana to open coin chest and place coins into Pablo’s hands, who in turn places them into Carlos’ hands.)
Me: Carlos, repeat these words to Debbie as you place the coins in her hands.
Me: Debbie, please receive these coins as tokens –
Carlos: Debbie, please receive these coins as tokens –
Me: – of the care that I will have for you –
Carlos: – of the care that I will have for you –
Me: – in that we will not lack what is necessary.
Carlos: – in that we will not lack what is necessary.
(Carlos places coins in Debbie’s hands if not already done)
Me: Debbie, repeat these words to Carlos as you place the coins in his hands.
Me: Carlos, please receive these coins as a token –
Debbie: Carlos, please receive these coins as a token –
Me: – of God’s blessing upon us –
Debbie: – of God’s blessing upon us –
Me: – and as a sign of the goods that we will share together –
Debbie: – and as a sign of the goods that we will share together –
(Debbie places coins in Carlos’ hands, who returns them to Pablo, who places them back in the box)

V. Ephesians 4:2 & 1 Peter 4:8
Me: And now some possible guiding words from Ephesians 4:2 & 1 Peter 4:8
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

VI. Vows and I Do’s

Me: We now come to the defining moment of today’s ceremony. That of the Vows and the I do’s. Carlos, please take Debbie’s hands and repeat these vows to her.

A) Vows:

Me: I, Carlos take you Debbie to be my wife –
Carlos: I, Carlos take you Debbie to be my wife –
Me: – my partner in life –
Carlos: – my partner in life –
Me: – and my one true love –
Carlos: – and my one true love –
Me: – I will cherish our friendship –
Carlos: – I will cherish our friendship –
Me: – and love you today, tomorrow, and forever –
Carlos: – and love you today, tomorrow, and forever –
Me: – I will trust you and honor you –
Carlos: – I will trust you and honor you –
Me: – I will laugh with you and cry with you –
Carlos: – I will laugh with you and cry with you –
Me: – I will love you faithfully –
Carlos: – I will love you faithfully –
Me: – Through the best and the worst –
Carlos: – Through the best and the worst –
Me: – Through the difficult and the easy –
Carlos: – Through the difficult and the easy –
Me: – Whatever may come I will always be there –
Carlos: – Whatever may come I will always be there –
Me: – As I have given you my hand to hold –
Carlos: – As I have given you my hand to hold –
Me: – So I give you my life to keep.
Carlos: – So I give you my life to keep.

Me: Debbie, please repeat the same vows back to Carlos.

Me: I, Debbie take you Carlos to be my husband –
Debbie: I, Debbie take you Carlos to be my husband –
Me: – my partner in life –
Debbie: – my partner in life –
Me: – and my one true love –
Debbie: – and my one true love –
Me: – I will cherish our friendship –
Debbie: – I will cherish our friendship –
Me: – and love you today, tomorrow, and forever –
Debbie: – and love you today, tomorrow, and forever –
Me: – I will trust you and honor you –
Debbie: – I will trust you and honor you –
Me: – I will laugh with you and cry with you –
Debbie: – I will laugh with you and cry with you –
Me: – I will love you faithfully –
Debbie: – I will love you faithfully –
Me: – Through the best and the worst –
Debbie: – Through the best and the worst –
Me: – Through the difficult and the easy –
Debbie: – Through the difficult and the easy –
Me: – Whatever may come I will always be there –
Debbie: – Whatever may come I will always be there –
Me: – As I have given you my hand to hold –
Debbie: – As I have given you my hand to hold –
Me: – So I give you my life to keep.
Debbie: – So I give you my life to keep.

B) I Do’s:
Me: We finally come to the most important questions of the afternoon.

Me: Carlos, do you take Debbie to be your Wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her forevermore?
Carlos: I do

Me: Debbie, do you take Carlos to be your Husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him forevermore?
Debbie: I do

VII. Ring Exchange
Me: The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no single giver and no single receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken and the love to be shared.

Me: Andrew please give Carlos Debbie’s ring.
Me: Carlos, please place the ring on Debbie’s finger and repeat after me.
Me: I Carlos, take thee Debbie –
Carlos: I Carlos, take thee Debbie –
Me: – to have and to hold –
Carlos: – to have and to hold –
Me: – in sickness and in health –
Carlos: – in sickness and in health –
Me: – for richer or for poorer –
Carlos: – for richer or for poorer –
Me: – in joy and sorrow –
Carlos: – in joy and sorrow –
Me: – and I promise my love to you –
Carlos: – and I promise my love to you –
Me: – so with this ring, I take you as my wife –
Carlos: – so with this ring, I take you as my wife –
Me: – for as long as we both shall live.
Carlos: – for as long as we both shall live.

Me: Erica please give Debbie Carlos’ ring.
Me: Debbie, please place the ring on Carlos’ finger and repeat after me.
Me: I Debbie, take thee Carlos –
Debbie: I Debbie, take thee Carlos –
Me: – to have and to hold –
Debbie: – to have and to hold –
Me: – in sickness and in health –
Debbie: – in sickness and in health –
Me: – for richer or for poorer –
Debbie: – for richer or for poorer –
Me: – in joy and sorrow –
Debbie: – in joy and sorrow –
Me: – and I promise my love to you –
Debbie: – and I promise my love to you –
Me: – so with this ring, I take you as my husband –
Debbie: – so with this ring, I take you as my husband –
Me: – for as long as we both shall live.
Debbie: – for as long as we both shall live.

VIII. Legal Pronouncement
Me: And now, by the power vested in me, by the Great State of Texas, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss your Bride.
(Wait for cheering)

IX. Closing Announcement
Me: It is my great pleasure to introduce to you all, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos NNNN!
(Wait for all of procession and couple to exit)

X. Reception Announcement
Me: And for my final announcement, the reception will begin as soon as the large wooden doors behind me have opened completely.