When looking someone to officiate your wedding, it is paramount that the person is experienced, listens to what you want and crafts the ceremony to your liking. The person must work within your budget and create a wedding celebration that meets your needs.
Rev Bruce Byers is that person. He has ten plus years experience, is full time and his motto is “Your Wedding, Your Way”.
Most wedding ceremonies can be divided into about five to six categories;Strictly legal – a minimum of a ceremony that is required to satisfy legal requirements. I call these “Just the Papers” ceremonies; in the movies we see them as “I do, I do quick give her the ring” really basic bare bones ceremonies where the main objective is to get the documentation done so it can be filed with the county register or clerk.
Elopement– this is a quick ceremony, that is designed to be more than just a formality, but rather something a little more romantic and often include flowers, rings and getting dressed up. Often times witnesses are kept to a minimum; just a few friends and family members.
Micro/mini-wedding – Think of your closest say 20-40 friends and family in maybe your Uncle’s back yard or at a nice restaurant. Maybe you set up an isle and an arch, or maybe it’s under the bows to the tree you climbed when you were a kid.
The main thing in common with these above type of ceremonies is while they can be customized, they are not custom ceremonies. This allows your officiant, minister or Justice of the Peace to deliver a fantastic ceremony with a minimum additional input, usually they are really good at these because they do them a lot. The next level of wedding ceremony is where we customize and create a ceremony that is exclusively yours.
Semi-formal wedding ceremonies are ones where the ceremony is created with you in mind. They can include any number of things like Unity candles, Sand or Wine Ceremonies or even more unique things like Unity Cross or a wine or whiskey casking ceremony. These kinds of ceremonies where the numbers of people in the ceremony (bridesmaids and groomsmen) are not so complicated to require a formal rehearsal.
Formal weddings are all of the above, but due to the size and number in the bridal party it is pretty important that we get the timing and placing of the participants just right. The only way to do that is to practice. The couple receives a custom ceremony, a seasoned officiant used to handling large numbers of people and a worry free special day.
Deluxe formal wedding or Bespoke Service– This is the highest, and most costly of wedding ceremonies. Usually the couple and the officiant set down together months (some times years) before the ceremony. Many times the ceremony is written from scratch, starting with a clean piece of paper and A LOT of questions. Ceremonies and aspects of the ceremony may be written and rewritten, until it is a reflection of your love and story. While we love doing these, the large amount of time investment makes these kinds of ceremonies rather cost prohibitive.
Call Rev Bruce Byers505-328-7397
An example of a service.
Today you celebrate one of life’s greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauties of love, as you join together in vows of marriage. Just as two very different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful tapestry, so can your two lives merge together to form a very beautiful marriage. The two of you are those threads, and together you became that tapestry. Other threads will be added, each one an important piece in the story it tells. This will become the fabric that you wrap around yourselves and take comfort in when the world seems cold. And on days like today when everything is right in their world, that tapestry is proudly spread out and displayed for everyone to see.
To make your marriage work will take love. Love should be the core of your marriage; love is the reason you are here. But it also will take trust – to know in your hearts that you want the best for each other. It will take dedication – to stay open to one another, to learn and to grow together even when this is not always easy to do. It will take faith – to always be willing to go forward to tomorrow, never really knowing what tomorrow will bring. And it will take commitment – to hold true to the journey you both now pledge to share together.Now, would you both please turn and face each other and hold hands.
Before we go any further look into the eyes of your beloved and know;
These are the hands of your best friend, strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
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 help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Do you Take thee, Groom, for your lawful wedded Husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?
Love Never Fails – inspired by Paul’s letter to the Corinthians
Love is not proud. Love does not boast. Love after all, Matters the most.
Love does not run. Love does not hide. Love does not keep, Locked inside.
Love is the river that flows through. Love never fails you.
Love will sustain. Love will provide. Love will not cease. At the end of time.
Love will protect. Love always hopes. Love still believes, When you don’t.
Love is the arms that are holding you. Love never fails you.
When my heart won’t make a sound. When I can’t turn back around. When the sky is falling down. Nothing is greater than this. Nothing is Greater than this.
Love is right here. Love is alive. Love is the way, The truth, the life.
Love is the river than flows through. Love is the arms that are holding you. Love is the place you will fly to. Love never fails you.
So If you would repeat after me: From this day on I, choose you, to be my beloved soul mate, to live with you and laugh with you; to stand by your side and sleep in your arms; to be joy to your heart and food to your soul; to bring out the best in you always; to be the best I can be, just for you; to celebrate with you in the good times; to struggle with you in the bad; to solace you when you are downhearted; to wipe your tears with my hands; to care for you with my entire being; to share with you everything that I have; This I promise you.
May I please have the rings? The circle has long been a symbol of spirit and the power of God. Without beginning or end and with no point of weakness, the circle is a reminder of the eternal quality of God’s unending strength and God’s unending Love. Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love and unending faithfulness.
Let us bless these rings and the two who exchange them. We fill theses two wonderful people with endless blessings and Grace. Keep them safe in a circle of protection and love.
Bride, as a sign of your love for and faithfulness to each other, place the ring on Groom’s finger and please repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed with all that I am, I respect and honor you.This ring is a symbol of my unconditional love and support. You are my equal, my partner, my best friend, and my soul mate and now my Spouse.
In so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, and now having heard you make these pledges of your affection, I do by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of New Mexico, declare you to be Man and Wife!.
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon the fields. May the light of friendship guide your paths together. May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home. May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from your eye. And until eternity beckons, at the end of a life heaped high with love, May God hold you both in the palm of His hand.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to present to you for the very first time….ah, lets do this the New Mexican way…Senors Y Senoras por la prima vez, Senor Y Senora…..