Readings, songs, or poetry can be added to personalize these services further.
Service A
Opening Words
Welcome friends, families, and honored guests. We are here to celebrate love. Love organizes our large and sometimes unpredictable world. It is that which enshrines and ennobles our human experience. It is the basis for the peace of family, and the peace of the peoples of the earth. The greatest gift bestowed upon humans is the gift of love freely given between two persons. Officiant's Address
In marriage, two people turn to each other in search of a greater fulfillment than either can achieve alone. Marriage is a bold step, taken together, into an unknown future. It is risking who we are for the sake of who we can be. Only in giving of ourselves fully, and sharing our lives with another, can the mysterious process of growth take place. Only in loyalty and devotion bestowed upon another can that which is eternal in life emerge and be known. Two among us, who have stood apart, come together now, to declare their love and to be united in marriage. The words we say today have no magic or prophetic powers. The power of the wedding vows is merely a reflection of a reality that already exists in the hearts and minds of these two people. _____________ and ___________, nothing I can say, or nothing you can say to each other, will ensure a long and happy, satisfying and committed marriage. Only your love for one another, and your integrity to make your commitment real can do that. I humbly offer the words of Author William A. Peterson in "The Art of Marriage", who I believe has captured in words, the essence of that commitment. I hope you will keep his words upon your heart, and refer to them again. The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation,
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which
the independence is equal, dependence is mutual,
and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is BEING the right partner.
This is "The Art of Marriage".
(Optional) Parent and Community Blessing
Since the dawn of man, people have been united in marriage in all lands, all cultures, and all religions. In marriages everywhere, this is a time for two individuals to leave the families that raised them, to begin a new family. At this time, we ask the parents of the Bride and Groom to come forth to bless this marriage.Do you, _________________ and ____________________, and _____________________ and ____________________, who have lovingly raised and nurtured these two individuals, offer your blessing for their marriage, promising to support them, guide them, understand them, and encourage them in their solemn endeavor, in the years ahead? If you agree, please say, "We do". (Parent's respond.)And to the witnesses and honored guests here today, I ask the same question. Do you offer your blessing for their marriage, promising to support them, guide them, understand them, and encourage them in their solemn endeavor, in the years ahead? If you agree, please say, "We do". Vows
Please join hands, and in so doing, join your hearts. (Couple can repeat after Officiant or read this from a card.) I, _________________, take you, ______________,
to be my lawfully wedded ___________________,
to be the Mother/Father of my children, and
to be the companion of my days.
We shall bear together whatever sorrow and adversity life may lay upon us.
We shall share together whatever joy and fulfillment life may hold in store.
Together in love,
to work and to share,
to grow and to understand,
and to discover a deeper, fuller life.
I pledge to support you in your hopes and dreams, as if they were my own.
I pledge to care for you, respect you, honor you, cherish you, and to love you.
(Repeat vows for second person.)
Exchange of Rings
Love freely given has no giver and no receiver. You are each the giver and each the receiver. The wedding ring is a symbol, in visible form, of the unbroken circle of you love, so that wherever you go, you may always return to your shared life together. May these rings always call to mind the power of your love. As you place this ring on the finger of your beloved, please repeat after me, "I give you this ring, to wear upon your hand, as a symbol of my endless commitment and love for you."(Repeat for the second person.)
Pronouncement
____________________ and _________________, in the presence of your family and friends who have joined you to share this moment of joy in your lives, you have declared your deep love and affection for each other. You have stated your wish to live together, always open to a deeper, richer friendship and partnership. Your have formed your own union, based on respect and honor. Therefore, it is my joyful responsibility to officially acknowledge your union as "Husband and Wife". You may now seal your marriage with a kiss.Final Blessing for Your Marriage
May the glory which rests upon all who love, bless you and keep you, filling you with happiness and a gracious spirit. Despite all changes of fortune and time, may that which is noble and lovely and true remain abundantly in your hearts, giving you strength for all that lies ahead. Introduction of Bride and Groom
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs.__________ and _________ ________________________ !Service B
Gathering Words
Welcome. We are here on this glorious day to celebrate the love that _____ and _____ have for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to journey forward together in their lives as marriage partners.We gather to support them as they embark upon the voyage of discovery as husband and wife. Let us also be there for them throughout their marriage.
Declaration of Support
(Officiant speaks to those gathered): Honored guests, you have been invited her today to represent the families, friends and traditions that have brought ______ and _______ to this point in their lives. ______ and ________ have asked you to join them out of their love and respect for you. Please affirm your support for their marriage by responding, "Yes, I do" to the following questions.As part of the community that surrounds _______ and _______, do you offer your love and support to strengthen their marriage and bless this family created by their union?Guests: Yes, we do.Declaration of Intent
The covenant of marriage can only be entered into by those persons who are legally and spiritually free to offer their hand to another. _____________ and _______________, is it your intention to marry your Beloved on this day?(Both partners answer, 'Yes". )Vows
Please join your hands, and in so doing, join your hearts. Repeat after me:Groom:
_________, I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to respect you always. I promise to participate fully in our marriage relationship. I will give completely of my mind, body, heart and soul. I promise to make your plans and dreams as important to me as my own. I promise to do my share so that our lives together can be healthy, happy, and abundantly satisfying. I promise to lovingly fulfill these vows each and every day for all of my days. Bride:
_________, I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to respect you always. I promise to participate fully in our marriage relationship. I will give completely of my mind, body, heart and soul. I promise to make your plans and dreams as important to me as my own. I promise to do my share so that our lives together can be healthy, happy, and abundantly satisfying. I promise to lovingly fulfill these vows each and every day for all of my days. Ring Exchange
Officiant: Do you have the rings?________, please place the ring on _________'s finger and repeat after me__________, this ring is a symbol of the strength and beauty of our love. May it belong to your hand as my heart belongs to you, separate but close, simple yet miraculous.
Officiant: ________, please place the ring on _______'s hand and repeat after me:________, this ring is a symbol of the strength and beauty of our love. May it belong to your hand as my heart belongs to you, separate but close, simple yet miraculous.
Final Blessing
Now, because you have chosen one another and pledged to love each other for all the days of your lives, before (God and) this loving community of family and friends, it is my honor to pronounce you husband and wife! ______________, you may kiss you bride!Introduction of Bride and Groom
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. ___________________________ !Service C
From Humanist Celebrant Terri Campfield
Gathering Words
Good evening, and welcome to the ceremony
that will unite Bride and Groom in marriage.
We gather here today to celebrate their union,
and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another,
but to looking outward together in the same direction.
Today Bride and Groom proclaim their love to the world,
and we rejoice with and for them.
In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously
into the hands of the one we love,
and in doing so, each of us receives
the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift.
But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love,
it also touches the friends and family members
who support and contribute to the relationship.
All of you are Bride and Groom’s community,
and one of the reasons gathering as a community
is such an important part of a wedding ceremony
is because you are witnessing Leo and Dana
taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form,
they become part of their community in a new way.
Bride and Groom, we are here to celebrate your love
and acknowledge your lifelong commitment to one another,
and also to be reminded that it is love that guides us on our path.
It is in this spirit that you have come here to today
to exchange these vows.
Vows
I Groom take you Bride to be my wife/
I promise above all else to live to live in truth with you/
and to communiate fully and fearlessly/
I give you my hand and my heart/
as a sanctuary of warmth and peace/
and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor
as I join my life to yours.
I Bride take you Groom to be my wife/
I promise above all else to live to live in truth with you/
and to communiate fully and fearlessly/
I give you my hand and my heart/
as a sanctuary of warmth and peace/
and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor
as I join my life to yours.
Rings
For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings
as a token of their vows.
These simple gold bands are not of great value in themselves,
but are made precious by our wearing of them.
Your rings say that even in your uniqueness
you have chosen to be bound together.
Let these rings also be a sign that love
has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past,
and that, despite its occasional sorrows,
love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight
Groom, take Bride's ring and put it on her finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal/
Just as it is made of indestructible substance/
my commitment to you will never fail/
With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life.
Bride, take Groom's ring and put it on her finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal/
Just as it is made of indestructible substance/
my commitment to you will never fail/
With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante and partner for life.
Pronouncement
Bride and Groom, although I’m officiating here today,
it is not truly in my power to sanctify, legitimize or bless your relationship in any way,
because the two of you have already done that in your hearts.
So, by joining hands right now and looking into each other’s eyes,
let it be known that you are joined, body and soul in this lifetime,
and that this bond is sacred and eternal.
And now that you have stood before me and exchanged these rings and these vows,
and have agreed to be married according to the laws of the state of California,
it gives me gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are Husband and Wife.
Service D
Shared by Officiant Kayelily Middleton of AWeddingMinister.com
Welcome
Welcome everyone. ________ and ________ thank you for being with them today. We gather here in joy to witness and celebrate an act of deep love. ________ and ________, in their devotion, respect, and love for each other, wish to unite in the sacred bond of marriage and to dedicate themselves to each other’s happiness and well being as life mates and partners.
Officiant's Address: On Love and Marriage
Marriage is a sacred agreement to love and support each other to the best of our ability and to use the relationship as a means for changing and healing our individual barriers to love. Marriage requires that both people in the relationship work to help each other learn, grow and prosper. Marriage teaches us to be more responsible for what we think and feel, say and do, and the level of awareness and willingness each person brings goes a long way toward making the relationship work. It is about learning to become less self-centered in ways that we could never have seen before. And mostly, it’s about looking at the big picture—realizing that arguments and conflicts pale in comparison to the deep and true love we discover as we move through life and confront its challenges together as husband and wife.
Not only does marriage take patience and understanding, it takes time and work. Each person must be completely honest and willing to open up their private worlds to each other. It requires continuous communication, lest a disconnect or distancing begin, which can be very difficult to undo. Marriage takes the willingness to be wrong a lot of the time even though your ego would insist that you are right, but reason tells you differently. And it takes a willingness to risk the bruising of your own ego in favor of surrender to the greater Self that both partners in the relationship have agreed to discover together.
We need to recognize, as often as we can, how precious and unique our chosen partner is. Within each of us, there is an inherent quality that can be discovered by seeing it in the other person, despite what the other is saying or doing. The sheer pain and frustration from conflicts that arise in a marriage relationship can serve as the perfect motivation for turning inward to accessing the help of our inner connection with each other and find the invisible strength and sanity within the middle of our minds. This inner strength, universal to us all understands our need for healing and can take our misperceptions, our anger, our guilt and frustrations and transform them into sane and healed perceptions of our partner. This way each partner learns to release the past and join in mutual love and respect.
Vows of Support
To the parents of ________ and ________, congratulations on the part you have played in raising a daughter and a son of such serious purpose. They accept a very mature and meaningful task in taking on this marriage. On their behalf, and on behalf of all those gathered here, I thank you. I remind you that it is more than their blood that is joined here; it is yours as well. Although ________ and ________ have embarked on this marriage through personal choice, their marriage will be enriched by the families from which they come.
With this in mind, I ask you, ________'s parents, to take this man, ________, into your hearts, that he might live from this day as your son, for he is dear and beloved to ________ and shall be so to you and your family. Do you?
________'s parents: "We do."
And of you, ________'s parents, I ask the same. I ask that you take this woman, ________, into your hearts, that she might live from this day as your daughter, for she is dear and beloved to ________, and shall be so to you and your family. Do you?
________'s parents: "We do."
________, hold this man as a gift. It is in your love that this man might find a greater understanding of himself. You are asked to see the good in this man, to accept him for who he is and to strengthen him so that he might realize his full potential.
________, hold this woman close to you, one to be honored, a treasure of the spirit. You are asked to grow with her in love, and in so loving this woman, she might discover the vast strength and fullness of purpose that blesses you and everyone she touches.
To the families and friends of ________ and ________, we ask you to nurture this union with your love and understanding. Help them to keep their hearts open and ever tender, full of forgiveness and compassion, of happiness and light. Help ________ and ________ see that through the love they’ve discovered in one another, they will no doubt find their way in the world together.
Presentation of the Rings
The wedding ring is a traditional symbol of lasting commitment and enduring love, a universal expression of that which is without beginning and without end. This ring expresses two other ideals – the ring itself, apprehensible to hand and eye, and the center, less tangible, and yet its essence. At the center lies love, on which this marriage must put its faith, and from which it draws its sustenance and inspiration. The center will hold as long as there is love.
Vows and Ring Exchange
________, please say these words as you place this ring on your bride's finger:
"________, I accept you just as you are today. I give to you my promise that from this day forward, you will not walk alone. We will walk forever side by side, rich in laughter, close in friendship. Feel deeply loved, for you are. With this ring, I give you my heart. I have no greater gift to give. I promise to dream with you, and to work to make our dreams come true. I promise to be faithful to you, and never to allow anything to build a wall between us. I feel so honored to call you mine. With this ring, a symbol of my love for you, I ask you, will you be my wife?"
________'s response: "I will."
________, please say these words as you place this ring on your bridegroom's finger:
"________, I accept you just as you are today. I give to you my promise that from this day forward, you will not walk alone. We will walk forever side by side, rich in laughter, close in friendship. Feel deeply loved, for you are. With this ring, I give you my heart. I have no greater gift to give. I promise to dream with you, and to work to make our dreams come true. I promise to be faithful to you, and never to allow anything to build a wall between us. I feel so honored to call you mine With this ring, a symbol of my love for you, I ask you, will you be my husband?"
________: “I will.”
Pronouncement
________ and ________, because you have made these vows professing your love and devotion to one another, it is my privilege and my great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.
________, you may kiss your bride.
Benediction and Presentation
May every desire you have for your love be fulfilled, and may you be given the vision with which to clearly behold one another, the listening with which to perceive one another most genuinely, and the endless generosity of spirit with which to nourish one another's soul and sweetly keep the promises you make here today.
"Family and Friends, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs.
________ _______"
Service E
Shared by Officiant Minister Lula Carter
Processional
Opening Comments
Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening. We are here today to celebrate the joining in matrimony of _________ and __________. They have asked all of you to be present this day and in this beautiful place to witness their vows of union, marriage and love for one another.
Tonight is also about love: the love between the two people before you, the power of love to heal and transform, and the notion that with love, all things are possible.
We would like to begin by acknowledging the bride and groom’s families:________’s parents, ____________________, and ________________ parents, _____________________,. _________________ and _____________ would also like to thank each of you for joining them for this joyous occasion.
This is an especially eventful occasion because it offers ____________ and ____________ each a second chance at happiness. They have each walked miles to be here together, and this wedding is a joy to behold. I think I speak for everyone here when I say we all wish you the happiness that you deserve. We are so glad that you have found one another, and that when life handed you difficulties, it did not make you bitter; it made you better.
Its is fitting that we are in a location that has captured a moment in time through its architecture. One thinks of how art evoke emotion; the powerful words of Pablo Neruda, the melancholy of songs by Robert Johnson, the wonder of Pollock’s drops of paint. The wide range of emotion we experience from art --- exhilaration, euphoric anticipation, wonder, joy and most definitely love --- can be found in this passage by the poet Ana Rosetti, whose words perfectly symbolize the emotion _____________________ share:
This is the enigma, the moving attraction
To know, the irresistible eagerness to throw the anchor
In you
What will be the perplexity of being you.
What, the mystery, the beauty of being you and to know
What, the dream of being you, truly you
With your eyes, to see me
What will be perceived, that I love you
What will be, being you, to hear me say it.
What, then, what you would feel.
____________________ , we are here to remember and rejoice with you and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together.
Ring Exchange
Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?
Bride and Groom: “Yes we have.”
For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness, you have chosen to be bound together.
Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight.
Ring Vows
__________ , take ____________’s hand, place the ring on her finger, and repeat after me:
_________ : ___________, I take you to be no other than yourself
loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, with respect for your integrity and faith in your love for me through all our years and in all that life may bring us.
___________, take _____________’s hand, place the ring of his finger, and repeat after me:
_________: ________, I take you to be no other than yourself
Loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, with respect for your integrity and faith in your love for me through all our years and in all that life may bring us.
Hand Blessing
___________, please hold ___________’s hands palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
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 comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief engulfs your heart. These are the hands that when wrinkles and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes; eyes that filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
Now ___________, I would like for you to look at your hands right now, really look and them and remember this moment, because I truly hope that you realize that this will be the very last time you will ever have the upper hand! (Laughter …)
_________, please hold ___________’s hands palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she promises to passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.
These are the hands that when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourage you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.
God, bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection. May __________ and ___________ see their four hands as healers, protectors, shelter and guides. We ask this in your name. Amen
Blessing
__________ and ___________, love set you on a path towards each other and to this moment. From the rich encouragement of your affection, may you be inspired to open your doors to the needs you perceive in the world. In the embrace of mutual respect, may you each complete the unfinished pattern of your true selves. May you strive all the rest of your lives to meet this commitment to each other with the same love and devotion you now posses.
Pronouncement
Now, since you have publicly promised your commitment to each other for all time, I call upon all gathered here to witness that according to the laws of the State of ___________, you are now husband and wife.
Kiss
You may now kiss the bride.
Presentation
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my honor and privilege to introduce for the first timeMr. And Mrs. ______________ and _______________ ________________.
Recessional
Service F
PROCESSIONAL
WORDS OF WELCOME
We have been invited here on this important day to celebrate the very special love between (Name) and (Name), by joining them in marriage.
(Names), your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts. Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, to face life and the world, hand-in-hand.
Marriage will expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another. To be successful you will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humor.
So let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with one another all over again.
OPENING READING
(Couple's choice.)
DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE
One of the most surprising things I have learned about marriage is how much it can serve to strengthen us as individuals. Rather than subsume the partners into the sole definition of a couple, marriage can define who each of you are and who you can become. As a reflection of the grandeur of the universe, a marriage is more than the sum of its parts.
(Names) by coming here today, you have taken the initial step in what will be a wonderful and lasting life together. A union between two people takes effort and neither is a relationship ever complete. It is a process and a journey requiring constant nurturing.
When you don't feel particularly loving, act loving. The tenderness exhibited by kind and loving acts translates almost seamlessly into the compassion necessary for loving feelings to grow. A good marriage is one that fosters respect, a devoted love, a willingness to make sacrifices as well as support one another by remaining true to your values and convictions.
A strong and healthy marriage is an eternal gift we cultivate within the context of our lives. But bear in mind that eternity is something other than endless time. It is outside of time. It is not the past and not the future, but now. This moment. But as soon as we contemplate the moment it is gone. That is eternity. So if one seeks a relationship of love throughout eternity, it must be a continual process of the here and the now.
Symbolically you have been brought together as one, yet are still two separate people with unique ideas, talents and ways of being. Respect and value those differences and your relationship will flourish. In the words of Kahlil Gibran, “Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together yet not too near together. For the pillars of the temple stand apart and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.”
(Names) please face your friends and family and join hands as you exchange your marriage vows.
WEDDING VOWS
(Bride), please repeat after me...
(Name), you are my one true love, my best friend, my soul mate....
You complete my spirit and compliment my soul...
Today, before our family, our friends and the heavens I pledge my love to you...
And promise to share the rest of my life with you....
(Groom), please repeat after me...
(Name), you are my one true love, my best friend, my soul mate...
You complete my spirit and compliment my soul...
Today, before our family, our friends and the heavens I pledge my love to you...
And promise to share the rest of my life with you...
(Names), do you promise to...
Trust, respect and celebrate each other?
Grow together by unselfishly encouraging, appreciating, nurturing and supporting each other?
Laugh, play and enjoy the simple pleasures together?
Help each other stay focused on the important things in life and not sweat the small stuff?
Be there and comfort each other always?
Be faithful to each other?
Begin and end each day with the words, "I love you?"
(Bride), please repeat after me
(Name), I will honor these promises until the end of time....
Because when two souls believe their love is forever, the heavens make it so....
(Groom), please repeat after me.
(Name), I will honor these promises until the end of time...
Because when two souls believe their love is forever, the heavens make it so...
Together, please repeat after me.
We swear by peace and love to stand...
heart to heart and hand in hand...
Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now...
Confirming this our sacred vow.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
Marriage is a state in which two people come together and create a union which is greater than the sum of its parts. It is difficult to express in words the profound relationship that is love. The ring has long been a symbol of the sincerity and permanence of a couple's love for one another and regard for their marriage. As the circle can begin anew at any point, so a good marriage can pick any point to renew itself. These rings are symbols of your eternal love.
As you place the ring on her finger, please repeat after me:
I, (Groom), give you, (Bride), this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.
As you place the ring on his finger, please repeat after me:
I, (Bride), give you, (Groom), this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.
LIGHTING OF UNITY CANDLE
Fire is believed by many to represent passion and purity. It is also associated with the security of home as the warmth of the hearth and the "home fires." Lise and Johny will light candles representing the light of their individual selves and then come together to light the single candle representing their union. May it be known to all that they are individuals each unique and different and have chosen the common commitment to share their lives, their hearth and their home together.
REFLECTIVE READING
CLOSING WORDS
It is love that brings you here today. It is love that makes yours a glorious union. And it will be love that makes your marriage endure. Love has given you wings, and your journey begins today. This is a journey no two have traveled before, it is unique to you. Wherever life may take you, you will stay by each other's side. I therefore join with everyone gathered today in our wish for your relationship to flourish and grow throughout a long and happy life together.
PROCLAMATION OF MARRIAGE
(Names), you have publicly declared you will live together in marriage. You have made special promises to each other, symbolized by the joining of hands, taking of vows and the giving and receiving of rings. By the authority vested in me as a Minister in the state of ______ I pronounce you husband and wife.
CLOSING READING
(Couple's choice)
INTRODUCTION OF NEWLYWEDS
With greatest pleasure, I present to you for the first time, Mr. & Mrs. (Names).
RECESSIONAL
Service G
"Short but beautiful"
From the American Association of Wedding Officiant's website
Welcome to family and friends:
We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to cherish the words which shall unite ____________ and ____________ in marriage.
Opening:
____________ and ____________, in the days ahead of you, there will be times of difficulty and conflict. When you find yourselves in these situations, I ask you to reflect on this marriage advice:
Let your love be stronger than your anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break.
Look for the best in your beloved rather than the worst.
Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Say "I love you" every day.
You may wish to add a reading or song here.
Vows:
____________ and ____________, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift; a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.
With this understanding, do you ____________, take ____________ to be your beloved wife?
Do you promise to be a tender, faithful husband?
Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto her?
With this understanding, do you ____________, take ____________ to be your beloved husband?
Do you promise to be a tender, faithful wife?
Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto him?
You may wish to add a reading or song here.
Rings:
____________ and ____________ have chosen rings as outward symbols of the commitment they make today.
From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of wedded love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to love that is also never ending.
____________, take the ring which you have selected, place it on ____________'s finger, and say to her these words.
This ring, a gift for you, symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward.
____________, take the ring which you have selected, place it on ____________'s finger, and say to him these words.
This ring, a gift for you, symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward.
Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.
Unity Candle (Optional)
This candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love.
This candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame.
This candle is also a candle of Unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light.
Would you both now light the candle?
As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness. Warmth and safety in the cold. And strength and joy in your bodies, minds and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.
Closing:
May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.
Pronouncement:
____________ and ____________, having witnessed your vows for marriage with all who are assembled here, and by the authority vested in me, I announce with great joy that you are husband and wife.
Kiss:
You may seal your vows with a kiss.
Presentation:
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, for the first time as husband and wife: ____________ and ____________ !
Service H
From the American Association of Wedding Officiants
Family and friends, we welcome you today to witness the marriage of Groom and Bride. You have shared and contributed to their lives in the past, and by witnessing their marriage ceremony today, Groom and Bride ask you to share in their future.
Marriage is a promise, made in the hearts of two people who love each other, which takes a lifetime to fulfill. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A husband and wife are each other's lover, teacher, listener, critic, and best friend. It is into this state that Groom and Bride wish to enter.
Who is here to bless to this union? (Parents/Family: "We do.")
If anyone present can show just cause why this couple may not be legally joined together, declare it now, or hereafter hold your peace.
Groom and Bride, I require and charge you both, in the presence of these witnesses, that if either of you know of any legal or moral impediment to this marriage, you do now reveal the same.
Groom, do you take Bride to be your wife? Will you love, honour, and cherish her, in good times and in bad, and do you promise to stay true to her as long as you both shall live? (I do.)
Bride, do you take Groom to be your husband? Will you love, honour, and cherish him, in good times and in bad, and do you promise to stay true to him as long as you both shall live? (I do.)
Groom and Bride, may you pledge to each other to be loving friends and partners in marriage. To talk and
to listen, to trust and appreciate one another; to respect and cherish each other's uniqueness, and to support, comfort, and strengthen each other through life's joys and sorrows. May you promise to share hopes, thoughts, and dreams as you build your lives together. May your lives be ever intertwined, your love keeping you together. May you build a home that is compassionate to all, full of respect and honour for others and each other. May your home be forever filled with peace, happiness, and love.
Groom and Bride, please face each other and hold hands. Groom, as you look at Bride, repeat these words after me:
I, Groom, take you Bride, to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forth, to love, honour, and cherish, to comfort and respect, in sorrow or in joy, in hardship or in plenty, so long as we both shall live.
Bride, as you look at Groom, repeat these words after me:
I, Bride, take you Groom, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forth, to love, honour, and cherish, to comfort and respect, in sorrow or in joy, in hardship or in plenty, so long as we both shall live.
The ring is a symbol of unity into which your two lives are now joined in an unbroken circle; in which, wherever you go, you will return to one another. Groom, repeat after me:
Bride, I offer this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion. Let it always be a reminder of my vows to you.
Groom, I offer this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion. Let it always be a reminder of my vows to you.
Bride and Groom, these two candles symbolize your separate lives, separate families and sets of friends. I ask that each of you take one of these candles and that together you light the center candle. These individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting this center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and your two families and circles of friends are joined into one. Bride and Groom, may your home be a haven of peace and your relationship be one of truth and understanding. May you enjoy length of days, fulfillment of hopes, and peace and content of mind as you, day by day, live and fulfill the terms of this covenant you have made with one another.
And now, in that you have exchanged vows, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving your rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. Groom, you may kiss your bride.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I am please to present to you, Mr & Mrs Groomslastname (or however you would like to be announced)!
Service I
A CONTEMPORARY CEREMONY OF LASTING VOWS - Humanist style
PROCESSIONAL
Who offers their blessing for the union of this man and this woman? WELCOME
We have gathered here for the marriage of ______________ and __________________. On behalf of _____________ and ______________, we welcome all of you, and we warmly thank each of you for your presence here today. We know some of you have journeyed long distances to be here. Your love and support for _________ and __________ are very much appreci