Love Celebrated - MOBILE REVEREND - Wedding Officiant

Silver State's Loss, Golden State's Gain

5/21/2014

With the current patchwork state of marriage equaity in the U.S. maybe it’s not so ironic that historically liberal Las Vegas cannot extend its boast of Marriage Capital of the World to LGBT couples looking to be married. However,
same-sex couples do have a growing number of options when they’ve decided that they want to take their love to the next level.

For the Silver State’s gay residents, with regards to its close proximity, the practical, perhaps the most logical location of choice where to marry is the Golden State. Southern California as a destination wedding site is a “no brainer” with it’s year-round temperate climate, inviting sandy beaches and its many other more commercial touristy attractions.

Such was the case when Emily and Angela decided to commit to each other by legally getting married. Early in the afternoon on Friday, April 18, they packed a few belongings and drove the approximately three hundred miles to Long Beach. After a brief stroll through Pine Street to stretch their legs, they met Mobile Reverend, A Mauricio, who issued their marriage license, then officiated their wedding. Theirs was an intimate, simple and fun ceremony held at the Great Officiants’ Edgewater Chapel on Ocean Boulevard in the Historic Breakers Hotel. In the photos the newlyweds mug for the camera with Emily’s childhood friend, Brad, who relished his role as the couple’s Best Person.

Smiles Abound... and Kisses, Too!

5/13/2014

Teresa had plenty to smile about on this particular Friday in spring. She had just disembarked from a cruise ship which days earlier rested anchor in Mexico, and now here she was, in Long Beach with her toes in the sand, ready to marry Jacob, her cruise-mate and fiancé, the man with whom she would share all future travels and dreams. The photos illustrate only in small part the love that flowed from them that beautiful and happy day. Mobile Reveremd - A. Mauricio
was lucky enough to experience some of the overflow. Ahhh… ain't love grand?!

Thank you, www.GreatOfficiants.com, for the referral!

Volunteer of the Year Award presented to A.Mauricio Lubong (Mobile Reverend). . .

4/30/2014

A.Mauricio Lubong had the honor of being selected by the Registrar Recorder / County Clerk as a recipient of their 2014 Volunteer of the Year Award . The Award was presented to him at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion's Grand Hall during a luncheon on Monday, April 7th, whose attendees included Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and leaders of the County's various Departments. The program was hosted by Jessica Carrillo, entertainment correspondent for Telemundo's National number one show "Al Rojo Vivo". LA County Clerk, Dean Logan proudly joined A.Mauricio on stage as his award was resented to him by LA County CEO, William T. Fujioka.

The introduction in the souvenir program read in part, The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors celebrates our exceptional and passionate volunteers who positively impacted the departments and communities of LA County..." and that the theme, Community Heroes captured the honorees' "philanthropic and nurturing spirits..." The RRCC wrote the following specifically about A.Mauricio: "Mr. Lubong volunteers as Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages for the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. He is always ready to work with a smile. He takes great pride in what he does and [makes] sure that the ceremony is a memorable experience for each couple. Mr. Lubong is eager to help and [steps] in when a fellow volunteer is ill or has another commitment. He always volunteers for our high days... He has a great work ethic, and we are grateful to have him volunteer with the department.

In response, A.Mauricio(Mobile Reverend) had this to say, "Being a Volunteer Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages has been one of my most rewarding life-time experiences. Nothing quite compares, especially in these historic times, to standing in the presence of two people
who genuinely and sincerely love each other enough to commit to spending the rest of their lives together. An added reward has been working shoulder to shoulder with County Staff who are dedicated and hard-working, but yet retain a sense of fun!"

A Day in the Life of Mobile Reverend...

2/28/2014

One January Saturday's Journeys: First Stop, the private residence of Mark and Michael; their intimate wedding was witnessed by Michael's daughter and her husband. Second Stop, the shores of the Pacific which served as the perfect elopement site for a couple who preferred to be hidden in plain sight. Third and final stop, Eretrea, West Africa... well, ok, not quite. But, during Makda’s and Elias’ celebration --with the abundance of national dress, traditional music, ethnic foods and drink (prepared by 16 aunts!), and other cultural expressions -- for a few hours Mobile Reverend A.Mauricio was all but physically transported to a foreign land that was as exciting as it was beautiful!

Evidently, Mobile Reverend was not the only one who enjoyed (him performing) the happy couple's wedding ceremony as one of Makda's sixteen aunts insisted that when she marries he must fly to Atlanta and officiate her wedding. He'll be waiting for her call! Mobile Reverend is ready... "Going Whenver and Whenever Love Calls!" ;-)

This was a www.GreatOfficiants.com ceremony! Thank you for the referral!

From Pool Party to Harbor Cruise...

12/31/2013

Two nights before Christmas Mobile Reverend, A. Mauricio Lubong, was found officiating a wedding aboard a yacht on Newport Beach Harbor . The above photo features some the seasonal decorations encountered as the cruise began. What follows was a piece Mobile Reverend wrote about how the couple's love story began. It was incorporated into the wedding ceremony, making it that much more personal and unique.

Armie and Edward actually met in December of 2005.
So, this month the couple, in addition
to celebrating their marriage, is also celebrating the anniversary of their
first meeting.

Back then Edward, evidently, was a bit of
a “good time Charlie", but still responsible as he held a senior phar-macist position at a
medical center in the Philippines where both he and Armie worked.  That part-icular combination found Edward crashing a pool party Armie’s Department was having. And, “the moment [Edward] saw [Armie he says] the world just stop[ped]…”  And, when the world did start to orbit again, Edward was a crest-fallen to find that Armie was just out of his reach as she was then already in an established relationship.

Just the same, Edward could not help the fact that he had developed a crush on Armie – and it was a crush that, despite his actively dating other women, would not go away.  Ultimately, Edward decided that he should just focus on his career and put his trust in God to bring the right someone to him.  And, if that should happen, he was determined to do everything in his power to make that person feel as if she was “the luckiest woman in the world.”

Now, after their initial meeting Armie recalls that Edward was in the habit of coming into her department about once a week. He would just stop by to say “hello to everybody”.  It was during this time that they became just two friends among a bigger circle of friends.

But a change began to take place when one of their mutual friends encouraged Edward to send a text to a mysterious lady who turned out to be – you guessed it --Armie! You see, some of their friends knew about Edward’s unrequited crush and were also aware that Armie’s afore-mentioned relationship had seen better days.

That text was the start of a romance for Armie and Edward. For Edward it was an answer to prayer; as he put it, it was as if “God's voice [was] whispering [to Armie] to [take] a
chance with him because [Edward says he] honestly wasn't doing anything…” to encourage her at the time. Armie, on the other hand, was more succinct in saying that with the text the dating and courting began.

And, so here they are today, eight years and approximately 7400 miles later ready to be married.  Edward promised Armie a pool wedding, but he’s gone a good bit bigger with today’s ocean wedding.

"I, Mark..." "I, Cindy..."

11/27/2013

Thanks to Mark who recently sent this wonderflly edited (by him, I might add) video of his wedding ceremony and reception. He and his beautiful bride, Cindy, were the recipients of much love, including love which was specially flown in from Taiwan in the form of Cindy's mother, father and other family who know her by her childhood name, Wanjou. Mark, incidently, is better known to his family as Justin. The celebration took place at the Long Beach Museum, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean, on a picture-perfect Southern California summer day in June.

The video captures the many facets that make up a wedding ceremony officiated by Mobile Reverend -- they include being romantic, fun, uniquely personal, original and spontaneous. Cindy and Mark had the following to say about Mobile Reverend...

"[We] couldn't stop raving about you on the drive home last night...you've added more joy to our already joyful wedding!"

"You described the greatest moment of [our lives] with colorful and personalized words…it is your great attention to detail that makes you THE officiant for us... As for the water and bamboo speech, it is right on the money! ... You've described the symbolism that [we] knew subconsciously, but couldn't put into words."

"From me and Cindy, we would like to thank you... for making our wedding day smooth and successful. I've only been hearing great reviews from the guests, and its all thanks to your professionalism and talent. You've helped
made our wedding truly OUR wedding. Thank you.."

Random Shots of Love...

10/31/2013

A photo essay based on a just a few of the weddings Mobile Reverend officiated during the month of October.

Cowboy Cupid targets couple at historic Oil Can Harry's

9/30/2013

What follows was written by Mobile Reverend and included in the marriage ceremony of Christian and Rafi, a wonderful couple with whom he not only had the privilege of fulfilling the role of Wedding Officiant, but also with whom he holds the honor of being considered their friend. It is their story based on "homework assignments" they submitted. Mobile Reverend is in the habit of assigning homework to couples with whom he works, in part, as a way of building rapport which with Rafi and Christian is never a problem.

WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES Oil Can Harry’s has functioned during its 45 years as a matchmaker but, I know as do many of you, that 13 years ago this past February 6th, albeit unbeknownst to them at the time Cowboy Cupid* fired off two arrows and Christian and Rafi were his intended targets. That was on a Thursday night and for the most part it was at that time, for them, just a matter of exchanging “Hellos”.

It took three more days for the amorous darts to work, so that by the time a Sunday Beer Bust came along, never mind that it was at another venue, RAFI and Christian were ready to fall prey to Love. Christian remembers they “met eyes and were smiling…” However, it was Rafi who took the lead, literally and asked the “cute blonde guy from Thursday… ‘What’s your name?’” The cute blonde guy responded “Christian.” Rafi then made the move and said, "Christian, let’s go dancing…” It was a Shadow and as a dance a shadow can be rather seductive and can arouse (shall we say?) certain passions. After the shadow, Christian recalls they “raced outside… for [their] first kiss!” Well, one thing proverbially led to another and Rafi ended up giving Christian a ride to his apartment and (ahem) coming inside. That might have been it for our would be lovers, but as fate would have it, Rafi left his pager at Christian’s and had to return for it the following day; reunited they ended up on a proper date. Rafi says they “went for dinner and… became a couple after that.”

Christian described what followed as “a week of dates”during which they discovered that they had shared a deep love for cats, had mutual friends, and that there were a number of times when they just missed meeting each other. But he explains, “I think it wasn’t time for us, I wasn’t ready for [Rafi's] strong love…” That is, he “wasn’t ready to receive it until…” Oil Can Harry’s Cowboy Cupid brought them together and as a result they “fell in love hard.”

Rafi and Christian have since raised four beautiful cats together – three of whom com-plete their family unit now --Taylor, Bobby and JR. They have owned and sold houses where they’ve lived -- here, then Dallas and Chicago -- before the lure of Southern California and Oil Can Harry’s was too hard to resist. Christian put it this way, “…we started to feel homesick for our families and friends and Oil Can Harry’s so we came back home.” Their journey back to Southern California from Chicago came to be known as their “Big Adventure” and found them experiencing the fall colors in Vermont, Niagara Falls and Canada, it had them gazing up at Mt Rushmore and being stuck in a blizzard in Cheyenne, WY – all the while snapping photographs along the way.

Just a word about Oil Can Harry’s before closing. This particular place had already been in a sense a kind of home first to Christian, then Rafi. OCHarry's has provided for them on many levels, even work -- Christian asserts he was the best barmaid ever! But above all else OCHarry's has been a place where, not just Rafi and Christian, but many of us as well (as a particular group of people), have found acceptance, camaraderie and even family. Fortune truly smiled as
it turned out that Rafi and OCH were a perfect pairing. From the start of their relationship, Rafi loved the many OCH friends he now continues to share with Christian. And, this community loved Rafi in return… continues to love Christian and Rafi both in return.

To this day I never find it too difficult to know where the two are as all I have to do is follow the laughter… or the flash of a camera. Love, Laughter and Light
follow these two wherever they go!

* Oil Can Harry's features Country Line Dancing and Two-Stepping Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as Sunday afternoons. Retro Disco reigns on Saturday nights.

Photo credits: Claudia DellaRipa, Christian Bock (posted by) and Barry Jones.

The Summer of Love and Equality

8/31/2013

Out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary happened. People met each other, fell in love and on the day of their choosing they shared their love for each other with a public declaration that they were equal in matters of the heart and under California law… men with men and women with women got married…

Shawn and John exchanged personal vows surrounded by an intimate and literal dozen of their family and closest friends at their home.

Nina and Nikki chose the upscale Yamishiro Mountain Palace Restaurant in
Hollywood to celebrate their union in grand fashion

Tamara and Brenda had their marriage solemnized at the Great Officiants'
Edgewater Chapel in the historic Breakers Hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Long
Beach.

The above were all www.GreatOfficiants.com ceremonies. Thank you for the referrals!

Ho'omaika'i 'ana... Felicidades... Congratulations!

7/19/2013

In June Mobile Reverend had the pleasure of officiating Jessica's and Nick's Intercultural Hawaiian-Mexican wedding. It took place on a beautiful, breezy day that evoked the tropics. A few photographs from the most memorable even follow.

Blowing the conch shell or "Pu" traditionally announces that something special is about to begin... which, of course, is what the marriage of Jessica and Nick was.

"O'pea" is the Hawaiian form of hand-fasting... the cords for binding were made with the leaves of the ti plant. The recitation of a Hand Blessing was included as part of this very meaningful ritual.

In addition to the Hawaiian elements representing Jessica's cultural roots noted
here, the "lasso (symbolizing unity)" and "arras (exchange of coins)" were incor-
-porated into the ceremony to represent Nick's Mexican heritage.

This was just another example of a www.GreatOfficiants.com ceremony!

Author

Mobile Reverend is A.Mauricio Lubong. He believes in love, but knows that it is not always easy, rather it can be hard, to find. So, whenever, wherever and with whomever one finds it, it should be celebrated.

Mobile Reverend is now on Facebook! You are sincerely invited to "Like" him!

Archives

September 2015
June 2015
May 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
May 2014
April 2014
February 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012

Categories