CEREMONY STYLES & SAMPLES
(Songs, poem reading, candle lighting may be added during ceremony)
________________, we are here to celebrate your marriage. This day you have chosen to affirm your love for each other with spoken words, with prayer, with the sharing of symbols,
And most of all with the up lifting of the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Marriage is a commitment to life... To the best that two people can find and bring out of each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth no other human relationship can equal, a physical, and emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, and listener.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher; commitment is stronger.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences; and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life.
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, made in the hearts of two people who love each other, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.
As you have chosen to affirm your love for each other by committing your lives together, the foundation that has been laid down for you to build your relationship upon; is based on the holy scriptures.
from 1 Corinthians
It is written, love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(Declaration Of Intention):
_______, do you wish for _______, to be your wife? If so, please say, "I do."
_______, do you wish for _______, to be your husband? If so, please say, "I do."
________________, do you promise to let your love for each other grow? As it will, as it must; so that in the years to come you will renew your acceptance, your understanding; and your
trust of one another? If so, please say, "We promise."
(Marriage Vows. Bride and groom repeat after minister):
As you have chosen to affirm your willingness to enter into this covenant of marriage, before god, and these witnesses; repeat after me, your marriage vows.
I _______, take you _______, to be my wife. I promise to love you, only you, and cherish you; I will be a companion to you. I will share my strengths, and my achievements. I promise to respect you, and be a friend to you. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall Live.
I _______, take you _______, to be my husband. I promise to love you, only you, and to cherish you; i will be a companion to You. I will share my strengths, and my achievements. I promise to respect you, and be a friend to you. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.
(Ring Ceremony):
The weddings rings are a symbol of longevity in the Marriage covenant. The circle of the rings symbolizes a never ending circle of love and commitment which you are making.
Always see the best in each other and each day that you are together, let it be full of the beauty of the never ending love you have for each other through the symbols of these rings. (any other vows can be inserted here)
(_______, repeat after me your ring ceremony):
_______, I give this ring to you, as a sign of my love
I give myself to you to be your husband,
So that from this day forward, you shall not walk alone.
I feel so honored, to have you as my wife.
I vow to love and sustain you,
In the covenant of our marriage.
As long as we both shall live.
(_______, repeat after me your ring ceremony):
_______, I give this ring to you, as a sign of my love.
I give myself to you to be your wife,
So that from this day forward, you shall not walk alone.
I feel so honored, to have you as my husband.
I vow to love and sustain you,
In the covenant of our marriage.
As long as we both shall live.
(Pronouncement):
We have been witnesses to this special day. Therefore, I and those of us here with you have recognized that you have become husband and wife, and we and all of your families and friends shall honor you as the same from this day forward.
(Blessings)
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of his spirit be with you always.
May God bless you and keep you, may God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May God lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
(benedicition):
__________________, remember this day with joy and thanksgiving, and may you love to live, and live to love.
Now by the authority given unto me as an ordained clergy and by the laws of this state; I now pronounce that you are husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!
Whom God has joined together let no man put asunder!
I present to you as husband and wife, Mr. And Mrs. __________________!
ELOPEMENT B CEREMONY
(This it a brief elopement ceremony - shortest non religious ceremony - only about 5 minutes - but still more meaningful than an courthouse wedding.)
___________ & __________, today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, as you join together in vows of marriage.
(Groom ) ___________________, do you take ________________ to be your Wife? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her? ("I do")
(Bride _____________________ , do you take __________________ to be your Husband? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him? ("I do")
(If rings are exchanged each does so before repeating the following vows - unless you do not wish to repeat vows. It is not required to repeat vows.) Rings are NOT required)
(Groom) ,I _____________, take thee, ________________ to be my Wife- To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you. or (With this ring, I thee wed.)
(Bride), I _________________ , take thee _______________, to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise My love to you. or (With this ring, I thee wed.)
____________________________ and ___________________________, 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 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 so 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.
________________________ and _________________________, 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, Now by the power given unto me as an ordained clergy and by the laws of this state; I now pronounce that you are husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!
Congratulations
CONTEMPORARY I (NON RELIGIOUS CEREMONY)
(This is a contemporary, non religious ceremony. You may change it anyway you wish or construct your own ceremony)
(Opening Words)
Good afternoon (morning/evening)! We are gathered here today, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is!
Today we celebrate with __________________ and ___________ the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives.
(The Celebration Of Marriage)
As you take these vows, I would have you remember: To love is to enter a whole New World, a world of togetherness, a world of sharing.
Always remember those unique qualities that drew you to each other in the beginning...the thrill of discovery.... That wonderful feeling of oneness when your eyes met.
To love is to constantly search for new ways to bring each other to happiness, to make the most of every moment you share together.
With love there is no need to pretend...where you can be yourselves.... And know within your hearts, you will be accepted by one another.
To love is to always believe and trust in one another.
To love is to dream, and to dare.... And always believe that all things are possible with faith and love.
So what do we mean by love? When we love, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface, to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty . And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other.
One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us.
To make this relationship work will take more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other.
It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so.
And it takes faith, to stay true to the journey you both now pledge to share.
Through this journey, we give ourselves, our lives and love; into the hands of the one we love. We do so trustingly and generously.
And so, each of us receives a gift: the life and love of the other. We receive this gift, not only from the one we love, but also from the parents who brought us into the world, and from our friends and families as well.
And so as _______________ and _________________s friends and family, we are here to share with them this joy and hope, and to see them off on the path they will walk together.
vows
Would you please face each other and join hands.
(Groom ) ___________________do you take _________________to be your wife?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her forevermore? ("I do")
(Bride ) ________________do you take_________________ to be your Husband?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him forevermore? ("I do")
(Ceremony of the Rings)
Traditionally, the marking- of the passage to that of husband and wife is marked by the exchange of rings. These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love.
Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken.
(Each places the ring on the other’s finger and repeats this simple vow or any vows of your choosing:)
"With this ring, I thee wed."
________________ and _________________, remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
If each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight.
(The Unity Candle and/or The Rose Ceremony may be added at this point if you wish. You also may add the Cherokee Wedding Prayer or a Traditional Prayer of Blessing. )
PRONOUNCEMENT
Inasmuch as you have consented to join in matrimony and have promised your love for each other with these vows, now by the authority given unto me as an ordained clergy and by the laws of this State, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are Husband and Wife.
Congratulations, you make kiss!
(Recessional)
verses and prayers to add or replace within your chosen ceremony.
[Groom/Bride] I,________________ take thee _________________, to be my wife/husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.
(Groom/Bride ) ___________________do you take _________________to be your wife/husband?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her forevermore? ("I do")
BLESSING
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you,
and give you peace.
" Dear heavenly Father (or "Oh Lord"), our hearts are filled with great happiness on _____________ and _________________’s wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense of jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may the home they are creating today, truly be a place of love and harmony, where your spirit is ever present.
(optional mention of children in prayer here; see prayer including children below)
Bless this union we pray, and walk beside _________________ and ________________ throughout all their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; AMEN
PRAYER INCLUDING CHILDREN:
(This is added to the Prayer above)
"Oh Lord, today we not only celebrate this marriage, but we also celebrate the formation and affirmation of a family with - (child or children's names) -
We pray that you guide _______ and ________ as parents to raise and teach (child/children’s names) with love and respect; and that you protect this new family and keep them always in your care..."
Classic Reading from"The Prophet"
" Love one another, but make not a bond of that love. Let it rather be like a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
And stand together, and yet not too near together. For even the pillars of the temple must stand apart; and the oak tree and the cypress will not grow in each other’s shadow.
Remember that love gives nothing but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.
And think not that you can direct the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, will direct your course."
"God in heaven above please protect the ones we love.
We honour all you created as these two pledge their hearts and lives together.
We honour mother-earth - and ask for this marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honour fire - and ask that this union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts;
We honour wind - and ask they sail though life safe and calm as in our father's arms;
We honour water - to cleanse and soothe this relationship - that it may never thirsts for love;
With all the forces of the universe you created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as they forever grow young together. Amen."
Involving children in the ceremony
If children are coming into the marriage, there are many different ways to involve the children in the wedding ceremony itself. I believe it is very important that if children are coming into the marriage that they be recognized or participate in some aspect of the wedding ceremony itself. Children often can not express fears or doubts they have.
I am very aware as to how much children will be an influence in the couple's life together. Involving children in the ceremony help them to transition to the new relationship they are now a part of. They can easily be involved in the Unity Sand, Unity Candle or even walking down the aisle.
MENTIONING THE CHILDREN:
I think it is much more important that children hear their names mentioned in the ceremony, than it is that they play any major part of the ceremony. Mentioning their name during the wedding assures that they are an important part of the occasion and have special status which guests and other family members attending do not. Children need to feel important to their parents.
If children are coming into the marriage, it is appropriate to mention in the ceremony that not only is a marriage being formed, but also a family - and then name each child. If a prayer is in the ceremony, each child's name will be stated in the prayer.
24 Contemporary Wedding Vows
To replace vows in any of the ceremonies
(to help you say what's in your heart. Many different options to choose from to fit your style and feelings.)
1. (Name), I take you to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife). Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you, with all your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.
2. I love you, (Name). You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.
3. Name), I pledge to you to be your loving friend and partner in marriage. To talk and to listen, to trust and appreciate you; to respect and cherish your uniqueness; and to support, comfort, and strengthen you through life's joys and sorrows. I promise to share hopes, thoughts, and dreams as we build our lives together. May our lives be ever intertwined, our love keeping us together. May we build a home that is compassionate to all, full of respect and honor for others and each other. And may our home be forever filled with peace, happiness, and love.
4. (Name), today I will marry you, my friend, the one I will live with, dream with, and love forever. I take you to be my (husband/wife). From this day forward I will cherish you. I will look with joy down the path of our tomorrows, knowing we will walk it together side by side, hand in hand, and heart to heart.
5. (Name), I promise to love you above all others, and to value your friendship as a precious gift. I look forward to raising our family, and building our relationship, under the care and guidance of God. I promise to stand beside you in sickness or health, in times of prosperity and decline, in peace and in turmoil, as long as we both shall live.
6. I, (Name), take you (Name), to be my (husband/wife), and companion of my days. We shall bear together whatever of sorrow and adversity life may place upon us, and share together whatever of joy and fulfillment life may hold in store. I commit my life to you; a commitment made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope and eternally made anew. I pledge to you a life of giving and of hoping, of growing and of loving. I shall be with you in your tears and in your laughter, just as I shall bring to you my own joys and my own sorrows. You will be my (husband/wife), as long as love remains. My commitment is made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope and eternally made anew.
7. I, (Name), take you (Name), to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, trusting what our future will bring to us. Whatsoever life may bring to you, I will be at your side, for all the risings and settings of the sun, for all the days of fullness and in barren times. In the foreknowledge of joy and pain, strength and weariness, I pledge myself to deepening in love and understanding as long as love remains. My commitment is made in love, kept in faith, lived in hope and eternally made anew.
8. I, (Name), choose you (Name), as my (husband/wife), in friendship and in love, in strength and weakness, to share the good times and misfortune, in achievement and failure. I will cherish and respect you through all the changes of our lives, forever giving thanks that we found each other.
9. I (Name), in the Name of the spirit of God, that resides within us all, and the love that resides within my heart, take you (Name) to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember and love again. I shall not seek to change you in any way. I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people, and your ways as I respect myself. This is my solemn vow.
10. (Name), in the presence of our dear family and friends, I pledge to be your (husband/wife) from this day forward. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where there was darkness, you have brought light. Our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together. I enter this marriage with you, knowing that the true magic of love is not to avoid changes, but to follow the path together, hand in hand. Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work, together. Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, we will face together. Distance may test us for a time, and time may try us. But if we look to each other first, we will always see a friend. For better or worse, richer of poorer, in sickness and health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish, to be faithful to you alone Today, I take my place as your (husband/wife). May our days be long, and may they be seasoned with faith, love, understanding, and respect, forever and ever. Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives. I choose to spend today, and all of my tomorrows, with you.
11. (Name), this day, before our family and friends, with joy in my heart, I pledge myself to you as your (husband/wife), promising to love you, to cherish our moments together, for now and forever.
12. My beloved (Name), emptying my heart of all others, I fill it now with you, to love you until the end of my days as my most treasured spouse. I promise that I will love you, hold you, and enjoy you, console you, delight you, astound you when I can, and cherish you dearly.
13. I (Name), take you (Name), to by my (husband/wife), secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special day, I give you in the presence of God and all those in attendance, my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful (husband/wife), in sickness and in heath, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.
14. (Name), I take you to be my partner; to have and to hold, from this day forward. I give to you my unending love and devotion. I promise to be true to you, to cherish you, and to share my thoughts, hopes, and dreams with you. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you, my best friend. I will love you forever.
I take you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, and I will love and honor you all the days of my life.
15. (Name), I promise to be there when you need me, to fill your days with sunshine, to comfort you and encourage you, to help you reach your goals, to be your best friend ever, and to love you all my life, with all my heart.
16. (Name), I take you to be my lifetime partner, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, and my one true love. On this special day, (Name), I give to you, in the presence of [God and] all these witnesses, my promise to stay by your side, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you, for as long as we both shall live.
**17. I, (Name), take (you/thee), (Name), to be my (husband/wife), knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. (**easy vows to repeat yet very meaninful)
18. I, (Name), ask you, (Name), to be my (husband/wife), as my friend and my love. On this day I affirm the relationship we have enjoyed, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. Together we will dream, will stumble but restore each other. We will share all things, serving each other and our fellow humanity. I will cherish and respect you, comfort and encourage you, be open with you, and stay with you as long as we shall live, freed and bound by our Love.
19. (Name), I offer you my Love. I offer you my strength. I offer you my weaknesses. I offer you my support. I offer you my loyalty. I offer you my faith, for as long as we both shall live.
20. (Name), I take you to be my (husband/wife), from this time (onward/forward); to join with you and to share all that is to come; to be your faithful (husband/wife); to give and to receive; to speak and to listen; to inspire and to respond; a commitment made in love, kept in faith, and eternally made new.
21. (Name), you are my best friend for life. I pledge to honor, encourage, and support you through our walk together. When our way becomes difficult, I promise to stand by you and uplift you, so that through our bond we can accomplish more than we could alone. I promise to work at our love, and always make you a priority in my life. With every beat of my heart, I will love you. This is my solemn vow.
22. (Name), all that I am, and all that I have, I offer to you, in love and in joy. From this day forward I will love and comfort you, hold you close, prize you above all others, and remain faithful to you all the days of our lives.
23. (Name), I bring myself to you this day to share my life with you. You can trust my love, for it's real. I promise to be a faithful mate, and to unfailingly share and support your hopes, dreams, and goals. I vow to be there for you always. When you fall, I will catch you; when you cry, I will comfort you; when you laugh, I will share your joy. Everything I am, and everything I have is yours, from this moment forth, and for eternity.
24. (Name), the sun smiles on us today, our wedding day, and how can it not, for our love is stronger than forever, and our hearts beat together as one. I promise to be a true and faithful partner, from this day forward, in all life's circumstances, as we face them together. In the joys and sorrows, the good times and bad, in sickness or in health, I will always be there for you, to comfort you, love you, honor and cherish you, now and forevermore.
25. I yearn to be held, In the great hands of your heart___ Oh let them take me now. Into them I place these fragments, my life....
Vow Renewal Sample Vows :
minister may state the following "Declaration of Intent" before the couple takes the standard wedding vows:
"When you first joined hands and hearts __ years ago, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult tribulations. Therefore, you have fulfilled your promise. And God is smiling! So, as you come here today to reaffirm
your wedding vows and as you reflect back over all the years as husband and wife, do you now reaffirm the vows you took __ years ago? If so, repeat after me. (Insert personal vows).
Writing your own vows would be most appropriate. Try the following to help you with the writing of your personalized wedding vows:
Go through a book of vows and jot down all the words and phrases you like on a piece of paper.
Answer these questions:
How do I love my wife/husband? How has our love grown over the years?
How has my husband/wife made me a better person?
For what am I most grateful to my wife/husband? What is my pledge to him/her for the future?
Equipped with the research and their answers, a couple is often better able to express what is in their heart. Remember that love brings even the most reticent tongue to verse! Some of the most beautiful vows I have heard come from those who have never written before. Also, in answering these questions, you are creating a precious document. How often do we take the time to complete such an exercise? You will cherish these words for the rest of your lives---and perhaps can even pass it along to your children one day.
WEDDING VOW RENEWAL TIPS
Involve the children: Involve children in the vow renewal.
It is customary for the husband to escort the bride down the aisle.
Recreate your original bouquet and/or wedding cake.
Return to your original honeymoon destination, staying at the same hotel if possible.
Display your first wedding photograph.
Display photographs of your first wedding specially framed on reception tables and allow guests to take them home as favors.
Read more about wedding vow renewal etiquette
Wedding Vow Renewal Sample Vows
“Once before, I have stood with you before family and friends; once again, I take your hand as my partner. (Name), I take you this day, and for all days, as my (husband/wife)."
“I am proud to marry you on this day. I promise to wipe away your tears with my laughter and your pain with my caring and compassion. We will wipe clean the old canvases of our lives and let God, with His amazing artistic talent, fill them with new colors, harmony and beauty. I give myself to you completely, and I promise to love you always, from this day forth."
“I believe in this marriage more strongly than ever. (Name), it is with joy born of experience and trust that I commit myself once again to be your (husband/wife)."
"I, (name), give to you, (name), a new promise, and yet not so new; a new (husband/wife), and yet not so new; and a new affirmation of love from the heart that has loved you for (__) years and will love you for as many more as God allots to it."
NON-DENOMINATIONAL CEREMONY
OUTDOORS-NATURE-SPIRITUAL
(ceremony modified for whichever season
taking place during)
We are here today to celebrate the coming together of Groom and Bride, whose hearts and spirits are in harmony as one. We will seal this union with Ceremony, Symbols, Promises and Prayer. For today they announce to the world their intentions to live, grow and experience life together.
To these two special people, this marriage signifies the birth of a new spirit. This spirit is a part of each of us, but not any one of us alone.
This new beginning reminds us of Spring, the season when all life is reborn and springs forth with new joy and hope. It is appropriate that this wedding of Groom and Bride be in the Summer, a time to celebrate the relationship that has now blossomed into a life-long commitment, with strong roots to support this marriage as it matures and grows. Through the seasons and the years it will become stronger.
It is also fitting that this sacred union take place under the open sky with Nature as our honored guest. Here, we are closest to the Earth; in this beautiful setting, we are one with the unity of all life. Surrounded by all of this beauty, we can appreciate Nature and all that it brings to our lives.
May the winds of communication blow ever between you.
May the fires of love sustain you.
May the waters of life heal and soothe you,
and may the strength of the Earth bind and steady you throughout your life together.
So now let us begin with Ceremony and Symbols. Do you have the rings?
Do you, Bride, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, takeGroom to be your lawfully wedded husband?
BRIDE: I do.
Please place the ring on his finger.
Do you Groom, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Bride, to be your lawfully wedded wife?
GROOM: I do.
Please place the ring on her finger.
These rings are not locks binding you together, but keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to love and know, bringing you closer together forever.
I will now read from "The Prophet"
" Love one another, but make not a bond of that love. Let it rather be like a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
And stand together, and yet not too near together. For even the pillars of the temple must stand apart; and the oak tree and the cypress will not grow in each other’s shadow.
Remember that love gives nothing but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.
And think not that you can direct the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, will direct your course."
Turn towards each other and we will begin with Promises
I, Groom, take you, Bride, to be my wife, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
I, Bride, take you, Groom, to be my husband, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
We will now Bless this marriage with Prayer.
"God in heaven above please protect the ones we love.
We honour all you created as these two pledge their hearts and lives together.
We honour mother-earth - and ask for this marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honour fire - and ask that this union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts;
We honour wind - and ask they sail though life safe and calm as in our father's arms;
We honour water - to cleanse and soothe this relationship - that it may never thirsts for love;
With all the forces of the universe you created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as they forever grow young together. Amen."
Groom...Bride, Today you have honored the sacred union of marriage through Promises of love, Exchanging of rings, and we have prayed for blessing upon your marriage.
I would ask that the two of you embrace each day with Love in your hearts. Begin and end each day with kind words and affection towards each other. Do not Judge...Criticize or assume. Communication, understanding and forgiveness will allow your relationship to grow and your marriage to be strong.
Now, by the authority given unto me as an Ordained Clergy, and by the laws of the State of Oregon, I now pronouce you Husband and Wife.
You may kiss the bride!
Congratulations
___________ & __________, today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, as you join together in vows of marriage.
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 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 so 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.
Groom ) ___________________, do you take ________________ to be your Wife? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her? ("I do")
(Bride _____________________ , do you take __________________ to be your Husband? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him? ("I do")
(If rings are exchanged each does so before repeating the following vows - unless you wish other vows or do not wish to repeat vows. It is not required to repeat vows.) Rings are NOT required)
I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my wife, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my husband, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
It is written, love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
________________________ and _________________________, 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, Now by the power given unto me as a minister of the gospel and by the laws of this state; I now pronounce that you are husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!
Congratulations
