Robson and Samantha Lourenço

“Hello friends and family, Samantha and Robson have asked for this to be a cell phone free ceremony. Please make sure cell phones are put away so you can enjoy the moment!”

We are here to celebrate the marriage of two amazing individuals. Marriage is sacred and divine. It is a celebration between two souls opening themselves up to one another, in a bond that cannot be measured on a worldly scale. It is about Love, trust, communication, and forgiveness. Love is not so much about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship with the person you find. It's not about how much love you have in the beginning. But how much love you both build along the way.

Robson and Samantha are honored that you, their dearest friends and family, have traveled from so far—or even from across town—to help them celebrate their love and commitment to each other. They would like to particularly thank their parents today for the unconditional love, support, and guidance you have always shown to them. We'd like to acknowledge and thank the father of the groom Manoel, for joining us via video messenger, who despite best efforts, couldn't be here for medical reasons and wish him a speedy recovery. 

Robson and Samantha would like to ask for a brief moment of silence to acknowledge their deceased loved ones who could not be here today—-- We think of them now and can feel their presence here with us today.

Robson and Samantha, this marriage does not mark the beginning of a new relationship for you; rather, it is an acknowledgement and a celebration of the love and life you share together. You are here to affirm the choice you make every day to stand together as partners and to love each other unconditionally. Love is listening to each other, supporting each other, and enjoying the journey with each other.  It is not an excuse to stop growing, not an excuse to stop making yourself better, and not an excuse to take the other person for granted.  Love is being honest with each other, having the capacity to forgive and forget, finding dreams to share and common goals to work towards, and sharing responsibilities equally. Love is learning when it is time to speak and when it is time to listen. It is trusting that as your lives continue to grow and change, you will keep in step and move forward together. Your love is not a feeling to be taken lightly, but a privilege to be cherished and nurtured.  Love is standing together, facing the world. It is not only finding the right partner, but it is continually working to be the right partner.

Sand Ceremony:

Today the two of you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other.

Your relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand; each representing all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without the need of anything else. When the two are blended together they represent an entirely new and extraordinary relationship. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination.

You may now pick up your individual vases of sand.

As you hold your sand, the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sands together, your lives also join together as one.

You may now blend the sands together, symbolizing the uniting of the bride and groom as one.

(we pour our sands until they are emptied)

The life that each of you have experienced until now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united, for the two sands are now one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into their individual containers, so will your marriage be.

Vows::

As you take these vows I would have you remember:

To love is to come together from the pathways of our past and then move forward...Hand in hand, along the uncharted roads of our future, ready to risk, to dream, and to dare.... And always believe that all things are possible with faith and love in God, and in each other.

Robson and Samantha: Having considered all that love and marriage entails, I ask that you each now make your personal vows to each other.

*Robson’s vows*

*Samantha’s vows*

I now ask you both to affirm your wedding vows.

Samantha, do you take Robson to be your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?

Samantha-I do.

Robson, do you take Samantha to be your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?

Robson-I do.

Ring Exchange:

Robson and Samantha, these rings that you will now exchange are a symbol of your love and evidence that you are never alone, but carry each other with you in everything you do. Samantha, please place this ring on Robson’s finger and repeat after me: “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Samantha: With this ring, I thee wed. 

Robson, please place this ring on Samantha’s finger and repeat after me: “With this ring, I thee wed.” 

Robson: With this ring, I thee wed.

In the presence of these family and friends I now pronounce you husband and wife!

You may kiss the bride! (Please move off to the side for the photographer to take a picture :))

Ladies and gentleman, I have the great honor to introduce to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Lourenço!

Cheering, and we exit the ceremony as music is playing.