Rafael and Angela of Oklahoma City, OK married at the Hefner Lake Lighthouse.

The couple wanted a sunset wedding at Hefner Lake during golden hour. It was a cloudy day on the lake and the sun was not expected to make an appearance. However, towards the end of the wedding ceremony the sun peaked out from the clouds and the couple got their dream wedding ceremony at Hefner Lake!

During the wedding ceremony Angela and Rafael chose to write their own wedding vows. The bride wore a black dress that symbolizes the bride's devotion to her husband until death. The couple looks forward to spending many happy years together!

Best wishes to Rafael and Angela!

Emma and Soniya of Oklahoma City, OK married at Lake Arcadia in Edmond, OK. The newlywed couple met over a year ago at the salon that Soniya is an esthetician at. Emma would go in and get her eyebrows done with Soniya. They both knew from the beginning that things were going to get serious between them and eventually exchanged phone numbers. Soniya and Emma have been together ever since and look forward to the many adventures ahead of them. They both feel they can be themselves around each other and also comfortable like they have found their home within each other. 

Emma and Soniya wrote their own vows and expressed how they wanted their future to look like. Their words were from the heart and emotionally driven that it made for the most romantic intimate wedding ceremony at Arcadia Lake during sunset.

From Soniya: "Thank you for being so accommodating and chill with us. We loved our intimate wedding so much and we will never forget it. Thank you for being you!"



Photo credit: David Alvarado

This year has been full of facing my fears head on. As I've mentioned earlier in the year, my mom passed away in March. There have been challenging times but I am grateful for my brother David, and my closest friends that have taken the time out of their busy day to check up on me daily. I am appreciative that they made sure that my mental health and well-being was okay. I am loved by many and my heart is full of gratitude throughout the grieving process. My mom would have been so proud of everything that I have accomplished in 2023. I'll always carry her love for me near and dear to my heart.

In 2023, I have met strangers along the way that are now considered family through performing weddings. I look forward to dinners and celebrating holidays in the upcoming year with you all.

Thank you to the brides and grooms that I have married in 2023 that continue to trust me for their big day. It truly means the world to me.

I've come a long way in my healing journey and I wholeheartedly believe in myself throughout this experience called life. This year I've been the most vulnerable that I have ever been before and I am proud of myself for that. I am able to connect with my brides and grooms on a deeper level to create one of a kind wedding ceremonies. The wedding ceremonies that I have performed have been unforgettable and will forever be a cherished memory in their lives.

That is what I strive for as a bilingual wedding officiant, to always be the best that I can be, someone that is serious about their craft, and to provide excellent service.
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I want newly-engaged couples to know that I am non-judgmental, full of love and light, and I am driven to create a one of a kind experience as a bilingual wedding officiant that performs weddings in Oklahoma City, OK.

I'd like to thank my youngest brother David. He has fully supported me in more ways than one. He's been my photographer throughout the wedding season capturing the highlights of the weddings that I've performed. He is a huge asset to my success and I'd be lost without him. I am forever grateful for his compassion, kindness, and big loving heart. 

A highlight of 2023 was being interviewed by CanvasRebel. You can read the article here:
​​https://canvasrebel.com/meet-yareni-alvarado/

Photo credit: David Alvarado

​As I shred the last wedding scripts of this year’s weddings, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be a bilingual wedding officiant in Oklahoma City, OK.

Thank you to my family, friends, and vendors that continue to support me by word of mouth. I am grateful to be considered as a bilingual wedding officiant for upcoming weddings.
 
Not a minute goes by that I don't take my profession lightly or for granted. I am grateful and I am blessed to continue to marry couples in the Oklahoma City metro.

​2024 will be my 15th year of being a bilingual wedding officiant. I look forward to marrying happy couples throughout the new year. I will also be celebrating my quinceañera (celebrating 15 years) as a wedding officiant stay tuned for details on that.
 
Lastly, may 2024 be your golden year full of many blessings, lots of laughter, and unconditional love.

Cheers to the new year!
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With gratitude,

​Rev. Yareni Alvarado

Beldar and Ornela of Edmond, OK married at Will Rogers Gardens in Oklahoma City, OK. The lovely couple are originally from Albania and relocated to Oklahoma over eight years ago. 

The couple wanted an outdoor wedding ceremony during sunset. Their wedding ceremony at Will Rogers Garden was lots of fall foliage, ducks in the pond, cool weather, and a beautiful sunset that was perfect for Beldar and Ornela to unite in holy matrimony.

Beldar and Ornela were joined by their two witnesses and it made for a heartfelt intimate wedding ceremony.

Their two witnesses enjoyed the wedding ceremony so much that they want to get married next!

Beldar and Ornela are looking forward to beginning their new chapter together as husband and wife.

Best wishes to Beldar and Ornela!

Jerry and Joie of Edmond, Oklahoma married at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown OKC.

Jerry & Joie's  intimate wedding ceremony was inside of the botanical gardens with the waterfalls being the backdrop for their elopement. The serene and peaceful ambiance made for a perfect yet romantic wedding ceremony for Jerry & Joie.

At their wedding ceremony they wanted to include their grandson Jace as a ring bearer and he did an incredible job holding the ring security case that held the wedding rings securely inside. They also had a  custom prayer that united the family of three as a whole. Furthermore, those special touches made their wedding ceremony a warmhearted and joyful occasion.

Jerry & Joie's love story is one of a kind! The couple recently relocated to OKC from New Mexico. ​Jerry & Joie originally met in high school and reconnected via Facebook. As divine timing would have it, 40 years later Jerry & Joie decided to get married. 

​Jerry & Joie's love story is a testimony that everything in life happens at exactly the right moment in time.

Best wishes to Jerry & Joie!​

Carlos & Karina of Oklahoma City, OK married at their home in South OKC. After being together for 12 years and on a whim the couple decided to get married last minute. On Monday, the decision was made and by Saturday Carlos and Karina were married.

The couple requested a Spanish wedding ceremony that included custom vows along words of affirmations of their love for one another. There was a sweet moment when their middle child started crying with tears of joy as her parents said their I DOs. 

Carlos and Karina, have a solid support system. Their family and friends, helped tremendously  by providing emotional support, decorating,  and bringing lots of food and beverages to the reception.

At the reception, one of their friend's brought over  a large pot of carnitas and chicharrones to share with everyone. I even got a to-go plate!

Best wishes to Carlos and Karina.

Review from the bride: "Thank you for making our wedding ceremony so memorable yet so spontaneous. Thank you for accommodating us into your busy schedule. We are forever grateful!"

Israel and Lizbeth of Oklahoma City, OK married at Vast in downtown Oklahoma City, OK.
Israel and Lizbeth are originally from Coahuila, Mexico. They met in Mexico when they were younger and reconnected years later in OKC.

The couple chose Vast as their wedding venue because last year Israel proposed to Lizbeth on their anniversary there. The couple had an intimate bilingual wedding ceremony that touched on key parts of their love story. Lizbeth and Israel said custom wedding vows to each other and it made for a heartwarming moment during their wedding ceremony.

At the wedding reception, guests were given the choice of ordering off of a fixed menu of the couple’s favorite dishes.

Best wishes to Lizbeth and Israel!

Review from father of the groom: “The wedding ceremony was excellent! Thank you for performing a bilingual wedding ceremony just as they wanted it.”

​Denise and Fernando of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma married at the Dove Event Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Fernando and Denise are family members of Rafael and Livier a couple that I married last year. I am happy to report that Rafael and Livier are still happily married, and look forward to spending the rest of their lives with one another.

Fernando and Denise were guests at their wedding ceremony and they enjoyed it so much that wanted me to perform theirs as well.

The lovely couple had a traditional Mexican wedding ceremony that included the arras and lazo ceremony.

Fernando and Denise also chose to do their own vows during their wedding ceremony. This act of love, of publicly affirming the love that they feel for one another made for emotions to run high.

Family and friends, fully booked to capacity the event center. Everyone cheered throughout the wedding ceremony for the joining of two hearts.

After the wedding ceremony, I was cordially invited to stay for the reception. On the menu, was carne de puerco en chile rojo, arroz rojo, ensalada de papa, and frijoles charros.

Best wishes to Fernando and Denise!

Review from the groom: “Thank you so much for being here and performing our wedding ceremony. We thoroughly enjoy your work, and will remember our special day forever.”

Craig and Cristina of Oklahoma City, OK married at the Lake Hefner Lighthouse in Northwest Oklahoma City. Cristina is originally from Guatemala and recently moved to Enid, OK. Craig is originally from Fort Worth, TX and recently moved to Oklahoma City, OK for work. Their love story is one of modern ages as the couple met off of the Facebook dating app.

The couple had a long distance relationship for over eight months. Craig would travel over an hour to see his sweetheart on a consistent basis. Their love for one another flourished as time went by and Craig wasted no time in popping the question.

Craig is a romantic at heart and proposed to his sweetheart Cristina at the Reunion Tower Observation Deck in Dallas, TX overlooking the city. 

Shortly there after they got in touch with me that they wanted a bilingual wedding ceremony at the Lake Hefner Lighthouse. Craig's family traveled from Fort Worth, TX and Cristina's family traveled from Enid, OK to be at their wedding ceremony.

It was a perfect sunset wedding ceremony at the Lake Hefner Lighthouse!

After the wedding ceremony, my brother David and myself were invited to the reception that was held at Hefner Grill. At the reception, I bumped into a couple that I had married over six years ago and it turns out that it is one of Craig's closest friends! It's such a small world!

We had such a great time celebrating Craig & Cristina and meeting both sides of the family! 

Best wishes to Craig and Cristina!

Review from Craig's stepdad, "I didn't know what to expect but you did a great job. I am very impressed!"

Holden and Mellany of Lawton, Oklahoma married at the Will Rogers Gardens.

​Mellany is of Peruvian and Ecuadorian decent and Holden is originally from Pennsylvania. The lovely couple wanted a bilingual ceremony that united two cultures into one to symbolize their love for one another. As they said their vows, I paused to give Holden and Mellany a moment to gather themselves and there was literally not a dry eye insight. So many happy tears of joy for Holden and Mellany's love.

Family and friends traveled far and wide to be present for their nuptials. Especially, Holden's parents that traveled from Pennsylvania to be at their wedding ceremony.

The couple would have met 5 years ago as they had cross paths before. However, destiny has it's perfect timing and married today in Oklahoma City, OK at the Will Rogers Gardens as it is a favorite location for the couple.

The couple plan on relocating to New York soon to begin their new chapter together.

Best wishes to Holden and Mellany!

Review from mother of the bride: "My goodness you made me cry! You had everyone crying! I've never been to a wedding with so many people crying tears of joy. Thank you for everything that you do!"