Your ceremony should
be as unique as you are. Read through these sample
ceremonies and add-ons to get a feel for how they might be
tailored for you. They are merely a starting place
for creating your perfect ceremony.
Simple Modern
We are gathered here today
to celebrate one of life's greatest moments: recognizing
the worth and beauty of the love uniting two people in
matrimony.
Tracy and Raymond have pledged
their hearts and their lives to one another. Today they
ask that their pledge be made true before family and friends,
and they ask our best wishes for them throughout their
journey as husband and wife.
~
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Marriage is a partnership of
two unique people who bring out the very best in
each other; who know that as wonderful as they are
as individuals, together they are even better. Let
the foundation of this union be the love you have
for each other, not just at this moment, but for
all your days ahead. Honor faithfully the commitments
and vows that you both make here today. |
|
Commitment - Turn to each other
RJ, do you take Tracy to
be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony? To love,
honor, and cherish her, to keep her in sickness and in
health, for as long as you both shall live?
Tracy, do you take RJ to
be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony? To
love, honor, and cherish him, to keep him in sickness
and in health, for as long as you both shall live?
Consider the hands holding
yours. They will work alongside yours as you build your
future together, as you laugh and cry, and together share
your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands
of your best friend that are holding yours now as they
pledge their love and commitment to you forever.
Vows
RJ, repeat after me: I
RJ, take you Tracy to be my wife, to have and to hold from
this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for
poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.
Tracy, repeat after me: I
Tracy, take you RJ to be my husband, to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer
for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us
part.
Rings
Wedding rings are an outward
and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, signifying
to all the uniting of this man and this woman in marriage.
RJ,
place your ring on Tracy’s
finger and repeat after me: I give you this ring
as a token and pledge, of my constant faith and abiding
love.
Tracy,
place your ring on RJ’s
finger and repeat after me: I give you this ring
as a token and pledge, of my constant faith and abiding
love.
Let these rings 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.
~
Marriage is partnership and
must be nurtured. Love motivates and holds it together,
but not by itself. You must work at it together and sustain
it within yourselves.
Drink the same wine but from
different cups.
Nurture your partner’s dreams
as well as your own.
Receive truth from one another as graciously as you give
it.
Do these things, and the
loving unity you just symbolized by your commitments, vows
and rings will last forever, every day better than yesterday
and less than tomorrow.
Live
like there's no tomorrow, love like you'll never be hurt,
and dance like there’s
nobody watching. - Chinese proverb
When you realize you want
to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want
the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. -
Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally
So without
further ado, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You
may seal your union with a kiss.
Example Gift for the Children
|
Simple and Brief
Dearly
Beloved, We are here today to join this man and this
woman in Holy Matrimony. Who
gives this woman to be married to this man?
Today we celebrate one of
life's greatest moments: To give recognition to the worth
and beauty of love, which shall unite Debra and
Todd in matrimony.
Marriage is a partnership
of two unique people who bring out the very best in each
other and who know that even though they are wonderful
as individuals, together they are even better.
Todd,
do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together
in holy matrimony? To love, honor, and cherish her, to
keep her in sickness and in health, for as long as you
both shall live?
Debra, do you take this man
to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony?
To love, honor,and cherish him, to keep him in sickness
and in health, for as long as you both shall live?
Todd,
repeat after me: I Todd, take you Debra, to be
my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward,
for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness
and in health, till death do us part.
Debra, repeat after me:
I Debra, take you Todd, to be my husband, to have and to
hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for
richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death
do us part.
Wedding
rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual
grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and this
woman in marriage.
Todd,
place the ring on Debra’s
finger and repeat after me: I give you this ring
as a token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding
love.
Debra,
place the ring on Todd’s
finger and repeat after me: I give you this ring
as a token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding
love.
By the authority vested in
me under the laws of the State of Florida, I now pronounce
you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
You
are now and forever Mr. & Mrs.
______.
Christian & Jewish compromise
Welcome! We are gathered
here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments:
recognizing the worth and beauty of the love uniting
two people in holy matrimony.
Tracy and Barry have pledged
their hearts and their lives to one another. Today they
ask that their pledge be made true before family, friends
and God, and they ask our best wishes for them throughout
their journey together as husband and wife.
~
Tracy and Barry, marriage
is a partnership of two unique people who bring out the
very best in each other; who know that as wonderful as
they are as individuals, together they are even better.
Let the foundation of your union be the love you have for
each other, not just at this moment, but for all your
days ahead. Honor faithfully the commitments and vows you
will both make here today.
Almost universally, the uniting
of a man and a woman in holy matrimony has three parts:
Public Commitment, Personal Vows, and Rings which
symbolize the marriage. Whether a kebutah adorns the wall
of their home or the vows they make are in their wedding
book, the contract is the same: two lives united
as one.
Commitment
Barry, do you take Tracy
to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to
love, honor, and cherish her, to keep her in sickness and
in health, for as long as you both shall live?
Tracy, do you take Barry
to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony,
to love, honor, and cherish him, to keep him in sickness
and in health, for as long as you both shall live?
Consider the hands holding yours. They will work alongside
yours as you build your future together, as you laugh
and cry, and together share your innermost secrets and
dreams.
These are the hands of your best friend that are holding
yours now as they pledge their love and commitment to you
forever.
Vows
Barry, repeat after me: I
Barry, take you Tracy to be my wife, to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer
for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us
part.
Tracy, repeat after me: I
Tracy, take you Barry to be my husband, to have and to
hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for
richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death
do us part.
Rings
Wedding rings are an outward
and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, signifying
to all the uniting of this man and this woman in marriage.
Barry,
place your ring on Tracy’s finger and repeat
after me:
I give you this ring as a token and pledge
of my constant faith and abiding love.
Tracy,
place your ring on Barry’s finger and repeat
after me:
I give you this ring as a token and pledge
of my constant faith and abiding love.
Let these rings 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 genuine happiness, wonder and delight.
~
Tracy
and Barry, as a symbol of the union of your separate selves,
would you now light the Unity Candle.
There are many traditions
and rituals commonly included in marriage ceremonies. One
of the most beautiful and expressive is the Unity Candle.
Two fires burn separately and individually, then unite their
flames to burn as one in a meaningful and spiritual symbol
of Life, Light, and the Eternal Spirit of love and caring.
As you begin your journey
together, remember to leave the single candles lit as a
reminder of your separate selves.
~
Tracy, Barry: Marriage
is partnership and must be nurtured. Love motivates and
holds it together, but not by itself. You must work at
it together and sustain it within yourselves.
Drink the same wine but from different cups.
Nurture
your partner’s
dreams as well as your own.
Receive truth from one another as graciously as you give
it.
Do these things and the
loving unity you just symbolized by your commitments, vows
and rings will last forever, every day better than
yesterday and less than tomorrow.
~
Chinese
people have said for thousands of years,
Live like there's
no tomorrow, love like you'll never be hurt, and
dance like there’s nobody watching.
- Chinese proverb
When you realize you want
to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want
the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. -
Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally
So without further ado, I now pronounce you husband and
wife. You may kiss the bride.
Allow me to be the first
to introduce you to the world as
Mr. & Mrs. _____.
Christian Hybrid w/Stones and
Unity Sand
When you all arrived, I hope
each of you received a stone. If you did not get
one, please raise your hand and _____ will bring
one to you. At the end of the ceremony, you are invited
to throw your stone into the sea and bless this union
you are about to witness. |
A Variety of Blessing Stones
|
Dearly
Beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God,
to celebrate one of life's greatest moments: the uniting
of two people in holy matrimony.
William and
Jaime, marriage is an honorable estate, created by God,
and signifying unto us the mystical union between a man
and a woman, which also exists between Christ and the
Church.
Justin and Jaime, only love will maintain a marriage.
Mankind did not create love. Love is created by God.
Love is freely given and freely accepted, just as God's
love for us is unconditional and free. As you travel
through life together, remember that the true measure
of success, the true avenue to joy and peace,
is the love you hold in your hearts. Hold this key
to your hearts very carefully.
Commitment
Justin
do you take Jaime to be your wife? Do you promise to love,
honor, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding
only to her?
Jaime
do you take Justin to be your Husband? Do you promise to
love, honor, and protect him, forsaking all others and
holding only to him?
Vows
Justin,
repeat after me: I promise to love you, Jaime, with
an unselfish devotion. I will care for you with tenderness,
and I will always seek to strengthen you, comfort you,
encourage you, and hold you up daily in prayer before
our Heavenly Father. I pledge you my faithfulness and eternal
love, from this day forward.
Jaime, repeat after me: I
promise to love you, Justin, with an unselfish devotion.
I will care for you with tenderness, and I will always
seek to strengthen you, comfort you, encourage you, and
hold you up daily in prayer before our Heavenly Father.
I pledge you my faithfulness and eternal love, from
this day forward.
CORINTHIANS 13
The
Apostle Paul wrote about love in a letter to the Corinthians.
Love is patient, love is
kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, and it is not
proud. Love is not rude or self-seeking. Love is not easily
angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never
fails.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward
spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of
this man and this woman in marriage.
Justin place your ring on
Jaime, and repeat after me.
With this ring, I thee wed. In
the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Jaime place your ring on Justin, and repeat after me.
With this ring, I thee wed. In the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let
these rings 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.
CHARGE
THE COUPLE
Justin and Jaime, as the two of you come into this marriage
uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this
day affirm your faith and love for one another, remember
always to cherish each other as special and unique
individuals, and respect the thoughts, ideas and
suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive; do
not hold grudges; live each day that you may share
it together, as from this day forward you shall be
each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage
strengthened by your love and respect.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, Our hearts are filled with great
happiness on Justin’s and Jaime’s wedding
day, as they come before You pledging their hearts
and lives to one another. Please bless this union and
walk beside Justin and Jaime throughout their life
together. AMEN
UNITY
SAND
|
Justin and
Jaime, as a symbol of the union of your separate
selves, you have chosen to pour the Unity Sand.
Will you each take a handful of sand and pour it
together into the vessel. These different color
sands represent your individual lives before today.
As these sands join together and blend, so shall
your lives join and blend to become one family. |
Whenever
strife begins to divide your thoughts and values, remember
these sands to show you how to become unified once again.
PRONOUNCEMENT
Justin and Jaime, in so much as the two of you have agreed
to live together in holy matrimony, and promised
your love for each other by public commitment, sacred
vows, exchanging rings and joining your hands, I now
declare you husband and wife.
May the Lord bless you and
keep you, giving you peace, joy and happiness throughout
your lives.
Congratulations,
you may kiss your bride.
May your lives together and your love be as strong
and enduring as the precious stones that your guests
bless you with today.
Everyone please follow the bride and groom as they
exit to the water’s edge. You are all invited
to throw your stone in the water and give the newlyweds
a blessing as you do.
Non-Traditional
Welcome
family and friends.
We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's
greatest moments and to give recognition to the
worth and beauty of love, which shall unite Andrew
and Aislinn in Marriage.
Andrew and Aislinn,
in presenting yourselves here today you perform a
remarkable act of faith. This faith can grow and
mature and endure, but only if you both determine
to make it so. A lasting and growing love
is never automatic, nor guaranteed by any ceremony.
Let
the foundation of your marriage be the pure love
you have for each other, not just at this moment,
but for all the days ahead, honor faithfully the
statements and commitments that you bring here today.
Faults will appear where now you find contentment,
and wonder can be crushed by the routine of daily
living. But today you resolve that your love will
never be blotted out by the common-place, obscured
by the ordinary, or compromised by life's difficulties. Stand
fast in that hope and confidence, and believe in your
shared future just as strongly as you believe in yourselves
and in each other today. Only in this spirit can you
create a marriage that will sustain all the days of
your lives.
VOWS
Andrew and Aislinn, we are here to celebrate as you
begin this journey together. It is in this spirit
that you have come here to today to exchange these
vows.
Andrew,
repeat after me:
I, Andrew, take you, Aislinn, to be my wife. I promise
above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate
fully and without fear. 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.
Aislinn, repeat after
me.
I, Aislinn, take you,
Andrew, to be my husband. I promise above all else
to live in truth with you and to communicate fully
and without fear. 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.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
Wedding rings 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.
Andrew,
place the ring on Aislinn’s finger and
repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a token and pledge of
my constant faith and abiding love.
Aislinn,
place the ring on Andrew’s
finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a token and pledge of my constant
faith and abiding love.
Andrew,
please take Aislinn’s
engagement ring. This ring is the symbol of promise
and intention. Now the intention is realized and the
promise fulfilled. Please place this ring on Aislinn's
finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the
love that brought you together will always protect
and sustain your marriage.
PRONOUNCEMENT
Andrew
and Aislinn, you have invited us to be with you as
you made a more public and formal announcement of what
has been a private joy—your
love for each other and your desire to live together
as husband and wife. You have exchanged vows of
marriage and exchanged rings to symbolize this
commitment. It is my honor to pronounce that from
this day forward you are husband and wife. You may
now seal your vows with a kiss.
May
your love continue to grow in depth, in strength, in
beauty, and in compassion, enriching your life together
and the lives of those who know and love you.
Unity Candles Add-On
Tracy and Barry, as
a symbol of the union of your separate selves, would
you now light the Unity Candle. (Tracy & Barry
together light the Unity Candle)
There are many traditions
and rituals commonly included in marriage ceremonies.
One of the most beautiful
and expressive is the Unity Candle. Two fires burn separately
and individually, then unite their
flames to burn as one in a meaningful and spiritual symbol
of Life, Light, and the Eternal Spirit
of love and caring.
As you begin your journey
together, remember to leave the single candles lit as
a reminder of your separate
selves.
Sand Add-On
Start of ceremony place
the Sand and Unity Bottles on the table near the officiant
representing the Bride and Groom.
Children or Family Members may be remembered at this
time.
You may use colored sand along with sand from the beach
location where you are getting married.
Bride and Groom, as a symbol
of the union of your separate selves, would you now pour
the Unity Sand.
The
Bride and Groom take each take a small bottle and fill
it with sand from the beach and bring it back to the
table. As the Bride and Groom Pour the sand into the
center bottle the Officiant reads.
This sand represents the
days of your life before today. As they are joined
together, so shall the days of your life be joined together.
Hands Add-On
Dawna
and Anthony, turn to each other and hold hands, palms
up, so you may see the gift that they are to
you. These are the hands that will work alongside yours,
as together you build your future, as together you
laugh and cry, as together you share you innermost
secrets and dreams.
These are the hands
that will passionately love you and cherish you through
the years, for a lifetime of happiness, that are now holding
yours on your wedding day.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and
brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into
your eyes.
These are the hands
of your best friend that are holding yours as they pledge
their love and commitment to you for all the days of your
life.
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 will give you support as they
encourage you to chase down your dreams. These are the
hands of your soul mate and friend.
