Officiant: Good evening to everyone. On behalf of Kristina and Daniel, I would like to welcome all of their families, friends, and guest to this beautiful setting and to this very special event in their lives together. They are both very grateful and wish to extend their mutual thanks to each of you for being here to share this special moment in time with them.
We are gathered here this evening to witness the marriage of Kristina Gupta and Daniel Castro.
Kristina and Daniel stand in front of you today, deeply in love and excited about the years of marriage ahead.
Up to this point the bond between them has been private, but tonight their commitment to each other is made public. It is appropriate that they make this commitment in front of you, their friends and family, for you have supported and nurtured their love, and they will continue to need your support in the future. We celebrate with them, and we are happy that their love has brought them and us to the joyous occasion of their marriage ceremony.
Daniel and Kristina, if you will please turn to me: Because you will be safe in marriage, you can risk; because you have been promised a future, you can take extraordinary chances. Because you know you are loved, you can step beyond your fears; because you have been chosen, you can transcend your insecurities. You can make mistakes, knowing the other will be there to catch you. And because mistakes and risks are the very essence of change, of expansion, in marriage you will expand to your fullest capacity. Within the nurturing shelter of marriage, you will continue to grow and develop, so you can discover your individual paths and offer your gifts back to each other and the world. Marriage, then, makes you free—to see, to be seen, to love. Your souls are protected so your hearts can open.
The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to pledge.
Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, now join your hands and face one another.
[Pause as Kristina takes Daniel’s hands]
Do you, Daniel, offer yourself wholly and joyfully, and do you choose Kristina as the person with whom you will share your life, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, loving what you know of her, and trusting what you do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find you?
Daniel: I do!
Do you, Kristina, offer yourself wholly and joyfully, and do you choose Daniel as the person with whom you will share your life, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, loving what you know of him, and trusting what you do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find you?
Kristina: I do!
Will you now give and receive a ring?
Bride and Groom: We will.
[Judge Person will have the rings. He will hand Kristina the ring for Daniel.]
Kristina, please take this ring and place it on Daniel’s finger and as you place the ring on his finger will you repeat after me: May this ring/ forever be to you/ the symbol of my growing love. With this ring,/ I thee wed.
Kristina: May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love. With this ring, I thee wed.
[Judge Person will hand Daniel the ring for Kristina.]
Daniel, please take this ring and place it on Kristina’s finger and as you place the ring on her finger will you repeat after me: May this ring/ forever be to you/ the symbol of my growing love. With this ring,/ I thee wed.
Daniel: May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love. With this ring, I thee wed.
Please turn outwards now.
Before these witnesses, you have joined yourselves in solemn matrimony. May you strive all your lives to meet this commitment with the same love and devotion you now possess. For love is truly the greatest gift we are given to share. Delight in each other’s company and never take each other for granted.
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.
Kristina, you may kiss the groom.