For This Joyous Occasion Officiating Services and Seaside Ceremonies
Andrea Purtell, New Jersey Wedding Officiant
Wedding Ceremonies and Vow Renewals
Build Your Ceremony Menu
Build Your Own Ceremony Using This Menu
Here is a collection of classic elements of a ceremony, that I have gathered from many resources. Take a look at my For This Joyous Occasion Ceremonies using the drop down menu on the Ceremonies page. You may use one of those ceremonies in whole, or you may substitute any of these elements.
You can build your own ceremony using this unique menu. All can be edited to reflect religious or non-religious ceremonies, same sex and vow renewal ceremonies. Poems may be substituted for prayers. All ceremonies can be personalized to your wishes. For example a couple may want special wording about how they met, loved ones who have passed, or wording to include children they bring to the marriage.
I am also happy to incorporate any religious customs or traditions you would like, such as breaking of the glass, jumping the broom, hand fasting, etc.. For examples of wording for these traditions see my Ceremony add-ons page.
For a description of what each element is in a ceremony, go to the Ceremonies page on my website.
Here is a collection of classic elements of a ceremony, that I have gathered from many resources. Take a look at my For This Joyous Occasion Ceremonies using the drop down menu on the Ceremonies page. You may use one of those ceremonies in whole, or you may substitute any of these elements.
You can build your own ceremony using this unique menu. All can be edited to reflect religious or non-religious ceremonies, same sex and vow renewal ceremonies. Poems may be substituted for prayers. All ceremonies can be personalized to your wishes. For example a couple may want special wording about how they met, loved ones who have passed, or wording to include children they bring to the marriage.
I am also happy to incorporate any religious customs or traditions you would like, such as breaking of the glass, jumping the broom, hand fasting, etc.. For examples of wording for these traditions see my Ceremony add-ons page.
For a description of what each element is in a ceremony, go to the Ceremonies page on my website.
I will email you a special worksheet to fill out and email back to me~
or if you prefer you can use my online worksheet
or if you prefer you can use my online worksheet
GREETING
A. We gather here today, in the presence of God, family and friends to join _____ and ___ in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of this woman and this man (or the two souls or the two women/two men). We remember that marriage is a time when growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises before God and before us. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
B. We gather here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite ______________and ______________in their marriage.
C. We gather here today, in the presence of God, family and friends to join _____ and ____ in matrimony. In witnessing this ceremony today, we are observing an outward sign of an inward union that already exists between _____ and _____ . Today they have come before God and before us to publicly affirm their love; to promise to continue to nurture themselves, each other, and this union; and to acknowledge its centrality in their lives. They do so knowing that marriage is at once the most tender, yet challenging, of all relations in life. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
D. We are gathered here together in the presence of God, family and friends to ratify in the outer, a union of souls that has already taken place in spirit.
E. *(Good for interfaith) We gather here today in the presence of God, family and friends to join _____ and ___ in Holy Matrimony. Every marriage ceremony is unique and today is especially so, for theirs is a love that knows no boundaries. ___ and _____ come from two distinct religions, each with their own beautiful traditions. They have selected elements that honor their uniqueness and commonality as well as their personal and spiritual beliefs that reflect who they are as a couple and have woven them into this ceremony, so this is not only a joyous occasion but a spiritual one as well.
F. Friends and family, we have been invited here today to share with ______ and ______ a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
G. I welcome you to this holy moment in the lives of ____ and _____ as we witness their exchange of marriage vows, the precious beginning of a lifetime commitment.
H. ~Beach Themed~
As the tides ebb and flow, so too, do the fortunes of life. Footprints in the sand are washed away; driftwood moves on in its endless quest for a peaceful harbor. Only a deep and abiding love can withstand the tides of change in two lives.
The love of this couple,_____ and ___ is enduring and profound. We gather here to witness this love and the vows they make to each other. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
I. ~Also good for outdoor, (garden, woods or beach wedding)~
We are gathered here in God’s presence, amid the beauty of God’s creation, to witness the exchange of _____ and ___vows of marriage. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
J. Dearly beloved, we have come together (in the presence of God) to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman (or these two men/women/souls) in holy matrimony. In witnessing this ceremony today we have been given the opportunity to share not only in the joy of ______ and ___'s love but also to reaffirm and appreciate the love and the friendships that we experience in our own lives.
K. We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between ____ and _____, who were brought together by love’s divine appointment and we rejoice with them as they take their first step in their new life together as husband and wife (as a married couple)
L. Welcome the wedding of _____ and ___! Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. We join in our support of them as we bear witness to the miraculous power of love. Today we celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
M. Welcome friends and family to this joyous occasion in the lives of _____ and ___!
We gather here to bear witness to the miraculous power of love. Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is a quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is a loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness. Today we celebrate this love as we join together in our support of _____ and ___ as they offer themselves to each other.
N.Welcome family and friends! We are gathered here today to witness the joining of _____ and ___in marriage.
What a gift and joy to find someone with whom to spend our life! Committing to share our brightest days and weather our darkest nights with someone is no small thing and cannot be done lightly. Marriage is about trust. It’s about patience, forgiveness, devotion, and hope. It’s what happens when a relationship becomes a home — a place of safety and love — to which each partner can return, again and again."
Perhaps the poet George Eliot expressed the significance of this day best when he wrote “What Greater Thing”
What greater thing is there for two human souls,
than to feel that they are joined for life-
to strengthen each other in all labor,
to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain,
to be one with each other
in silent unspeakable memories ...
*******************************
Optional Greeting Add On: Would you like to add a "Savor The Moment"?
I personally love a “Savor the Moment” We add this to the beginning of your ceremony, after the greeting.
All wording can be mixed/matched and tailored to your liking.
“Savor the Moment”
“____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this!
Savor this moment. Take it all in. Take in their smiles and their love. Feel the joy and the encouragement! Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
Combine “Savor the Moment with a Thank You to Your Guests”
“____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this!
Savor this moment. Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
_____ and ___ would like to thank you, their family, and friends for honoring them with your presence today, surrounding them with your love and choosing to celebrate this memorable day with them.
Combine "Savor the Moment with a Thank You to Guests Option 2"
____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this!
Savor this moment. Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
On behalf of _____ and ___, I would like to thank each one of you for sharing this happiest of days with them. As French writer Marcel Proust said, "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
You are the people who make the souls of _____ and ___ blossom. They are grateful for you for your presence here today, for surrounding them with your love and choosing to celebrate this memorial day with them.
Combine "Savor the Moment with a Group Vow or sometimes called Community Support"
“____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this! Savor this moment. Take it all in. Take in their smiles and their love. Feel the joy and the encouragement! Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
(Officiant addresses the guests): One of the great joys of this day is the joining together as a community of family and friends. ______ and ___ are filled with gratitude to each and every one of you for the loving, caring, friendship, and support that you have given them throughout their time together. Being able to share this day with you, surrounded by love and support, is a treasured blessing.
By your presence here today you celebrate them. I now ask each of you, as _____ and ___’s community will you continue to bless _____ and ___ in their marriage? Will you celebrate them in their times of joy, and support them and their marriage in times of hardship? If so, please say we will.
Guests: We will
Some couples prefer not to face their guests. They may be too nervous or shy and would feel awkward taking a moment to look at their guests. If you still want a "Savor the Moment" but just between the two of you, I have a beautiful reading we can add right before I pronounce you. Scroll down to the "Pronouncement and see the reading titled "Take a Moment"
Here is a good place to add a "thank you to guests and acknowledgement of loved ones who have passed"
Options to combine a thank you to guests with a group vow/community support?
Would you like to add a special acknowledgement and thank you to your parents? Options here: Parents
A. We gather here today, in the presence of God, family and friends to join _____ and ___ in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of this woman and this man (or the two souls or the two women/two men). We remember that marriage is a time when growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises before God and before us. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
B. We gather here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite ______________and ______________in their marriage.
C. We gather here today, in the presence of God, family and friends to join _____ and ____ in matrimony. In witnessing this ceremony today, we are observing an outward sign of an inward union that already exists between _____ and _____ . Today they have come before God and before us to publicly affirm their love; to promise to continue to nurture themselves, each other, and this union; and to acknowledge its centrality in their lives. They do so knowing that marriage is at once the most tender, yet challenging, of all relations in life. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
D. We are gathered here together in the presence of God, family and friends to ratify in the outer, a union of souls that has already taken place in spirit.
E. *(Good for interfaith) We gather here today in the presence of God, family and friends to join _____ and ___ in Holy Matrimony. Every marriage ceremony is unique and today is especially so, for theirs is a love that knows no boundaries. ___ and _____ come from two distinct religions, each with their own beautiful traditions. They have selected elements that honor their uniqueness and commonality as well as their personal and spiritual beliefs that reflect who they are as a couple and have woven them into this ceremony, so this is not only a joyous occasion but a spiritual one as well.
F. Friends and family, we have been invited here today to share with ______ and ______ a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
G. I welcome you to this holy moment in the lives of ____ and _____ as we witness their exchange of marriage vows, the precious beginning of a lifetime commitment.
H. ~Beach Themed~
As the tides ebb and flow, so too, do the fortunes of life. Footprints in the sand are washed away; driftwood moves on in its endless quest for a peaceful harbor. Only a deep and abiding love can withstand the tides of change in two lives.
The love of this couple,_____ and ___ is enduring and profound. We gather here to witness this love and the vows they make to each other. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
I. ~Also good for outdoor, (garden, woods or beach wedding)~
We are gathered here in God’s presence, amid the beauty of God’s creation, to witness the exchange of _____ and ___vows of marriage. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
J. Dearly beloved, we have come together (in the presence of God) to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman (or these two men/women/souls) in holy matrimony. In witnessing this ceremony today we have been given the opportunity to share not only in the joy of ______ and ___'s love but also to reaffirm and appreciate the love and the friendships that we experience in our own lives.
K. We are honored and grateful to be present here today to witness the sacred vows of marriage between ____ and _____, who were brought together by love’s divine appointment and we rejoice with them as they take their first step in their new life together as husband and wife (as a married couple)
L. Welcome the wedding of _____ and ___! Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. We join in our support of them as we bear witness to the miraculous power of love. Today we celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
M. Welcome friends and family to this joyous occasion in the lives of _____ and ___!
We gather here to bear witness to the miraculous power of love. Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is a quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is a loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness. Today we celebrate this love as we join together in our support of _____ and ___ as they offer themselves to each other.
N.Welcome family and friends! We are gathered here today to witness the joining of _____ and ___in marriage.
What a gift and joy to find someone with whom to spend our life! Committing to share our brightest days and weather our darkest nights with someone is no small thing and cannot be done lightly. Marriage is about trust. It’s about patience, forgiveness, devotion, and hope. It’s what happens when a relationship becomes a home — a place of safety and love — to which each partner can return, again and again."
Perhaps the poet George Eliot expressed the significance of this day best when he wrote “What Greater Thing”
What greater thing is there for two human souls,
than to feel that they are joined for life-
to strengthen each other in all labor,
to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain,
to be one with each other
in silent unspeakable memories ...
*******************************
Optional Greeting Add On: Would you like to add a "Savor The Moment"?
I personally love a “Savor the Moment” We add this to the beginning of your ceremony, after the greeting.
All wording can be mixed/matched and tailored to your liking.
“Savor the Moment”
“____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this!
Savor this moment. Take it all in. Take in their smiles and their love. Feel the joy and the encouragement! Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
Combine “Savor the Moment with a Thank You to Your Guests”
“____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this!
Savor this moment. Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
_____ and ___ would like to thank you, their family, and friends for honoring them with your presence today, surrounding them with your love and choosing to celebrate this memorable day with them.
Combine "Savor the Moment with a Thank You to Guests Option 2"
____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this!
Savor this moment. Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
On behalf of _____ and ___, I would like to thank each one of you for sharing this happiest of days with them. As French writer Marcel Proust said, "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
You are the people who make the souls of _____ and ___ blossom. They are grateful for you for your presence here today, for surrounding them with your love and choosing to celebrate this memorial day with them.
Combine "Savor the Moment with a Group Vow or sometimes called Community Support"
“____ and ___ Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So, I invite you to face your family and friends. You don't get to many moments in life like this! Savor this moment. Take it all in. Take in their smiles and their love. Feel the joy and the encouragement! Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment, surrounded by so much love and support. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind.
(Officiant addresses the guests): One of the great joys of this day is the joining together as a community of family and friends. ______ and ___ are filled with gratitude to each and every one of you for the loving, caring, friendship, and support that you have given them throughout their time together. Being able to share this day with you, surrounded by love and support, is a treasured blessing.
By your presence here today you celebrate them. I now ask each of you, as _____ and ___’s community will you continue to bless _____ and ___ in their marriage? Will you celebrate them in their times of joy, and support them and their marriage in times of hardship? If so, please say we will.
Guests: We will
Some couples prefer not to face their guests. They may be too nervous or shy and would feel awkward taking a moment to look at their guests. If you still want a "Savor the Moment" but just between the two of you, I have a beautiful reading we can add right before I pronounce you. Scroll down to the "Pronouncement and see the reading titled "Take a Moment"
Here is a good place to add a "thank you to guests and acknowledgement of loved ones who have passed"
Options to combine a thank you to guests with a group vow/community support?
Would you like to add a special acknowledgement and thank you to your parents? Options here: Parents
PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE
If you are having your father or other special person escorting you down the aisle, you may want to include the presentation of the bride wording at the beginning of your ceremony.
Not everyone includes this; many times the father/escort simply walks the bride down. However if you would like to include this tradition, here are some wording options.
The Officiant will ask:
1) Who has the honor of presenting this bride today?
2) Who has the honor of presenting this woman to be married to this man?
3) Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
4) Who brings this woman to marry this man?
5) Who stands with this woman to represent her family?** (This is a nice option if the bride is escorted by someone other than her father).
6) Who presents this bride on this happy day of her life?"
7) Doubly blessed is that couple which come to the marriage altar with the approval and blessings of their families and friends. Who has the honor of presenting this woman to be married to this man?
8) Who supports this couple in marriage? (Or presents these partners in marriage) At this point a parent or loved one may say “I do” giving the hands of the couples to one another. (this is a nice option for civil unions)
9) One of the most understated but deepest relationships in human life is that between a caring father and a loving daughter.
One of the rare occasions that this relationship is acknowledged is at a wedding ceremony. Today (Bride’s father's name) ____, not only represents his family, but even more important in this special gesture, he stands here today in his own loving support of his daughter and to give her hand to another man’s hand for her safe keeping. So it is with great pleasure that I now ask,who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Responses:
I do.
Her mother and I do.
We do (if both parents walk her down)
She gives herself freely, with my love and my blessing.
She gives herself freely, with the love and support of her family and friends.
On behalf of her family, I do. (Nice option if her escort is other than her father like a friend or Uncle)
On behalf of all who love her, I do.
Perhaps you would like to include a Participation Of Parents from both the bride and grooms family (with speaking parts where they usually stand from their seats) if so here are some wording choices:
A) Today, as we join ____ and ___ in marriage, we celebrate them as they begin a new family together. Yet we also know that this new branch of the family tree will be strengthened and enriched by the love, traditions, and knowledge of their family roots. Will the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom please stand.
Will you (parents' names) bless _____ and ___ in their marriage? Will you celebrate them in their times of joy, and support them and their marriage in times of hardship?
Answer: "We will."
INVOCATION or OPENING BLESSING It is traditional to begin a wedding ceremony with an opening prayer to invite God to bless this ceremony or a non-religious blessing, reading or poem.
Opening Prayer / Blessing of good wishes on your ceremony.
A. Our Father, love has been your richest and greatest gift to the world. Love between two souls which matures into marriage is one of your most beautiful types of loves. Today we celebrate that love. May your blessing be on this wedding service. Protect, guide, and bless ___ and ___ in their marriage. Surround them and us with your love now and always. Amen.
B. May the God who has created and sustains us, hear our words to each other and grant blessing to this couple, their families, and their friends. Amen.
C. Thank you, Father, for love. Thank you for marriage. Thank you that you have given your gift of a beautiful love to ________ and ________. Today they want to dedicate that love to each other. We pray that Thy loving presence will encircle this wedding service. We pray that Thy blessing will encircle the marriage of ________ and ________. Amen.
D. God for the joy of this occasion we thank you. For the meaning of this day we thank you. For this important moment in an ever growing relationship we thank you. For your presence here and now and for your presence at all times, we thank you.
E. This beautiful reading is perfect for a non-religious opening blessing: Blessing For A Marriage (By James Dillet Freeman)
May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults. May you enthusiastically enter into the mystery that is the awareness of one another's presence --- a bond that is as warm and near when you are side by side as when you are separated by time and circumstances. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.
OR E Short Version: May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.
F. God of Love, who gives us the longing for, and capability of loving, we give you thanks for ________ and _______, for their open hearts and willing spirits, and for the example of love that they embody here in our presence. Be with them on this joyous occasion of showing their love and making their vows; and be with us, their witnesses, that we may all be changed by what is said and witnessed here.
G. A Wedding Prayer Of Love by Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Dear God,
You have brought this couple together That they might risk the joys and sorrows of love.
They have said "yes" to you and to each other.
We now ask you that you bless them with love and compassion, righteousness and truth.
Guide them in the ways of deep and loving friendship that they may forever cherish, honor, uphold and sustain each other and the divine image that is our deepest self.Amen.
H. The Promise by Heather Berry (another beautiful non-religious option)
Within this blessed union of souls,
Where two hearts intertwine to become one,
There lies a promise perfectly born,
Divinely created,and intimately shared,
It is a place where the hope and majesty of beginnings reside.
Where all things are made possible by the astounding love shared by two spirits.
As you hold each others hands in this promise,
And eagerly look into the future in each others eyes,
May your unconditional love and devotion take you to places were you’ve both only dreamed.
Where you’ll dwell for a lifetime of happiness,
Sheltered in the warmth of each others arms.
I.Blessing (another beautiful non-religious option)
May you never take each other for granted but always experience the wonders of your union.
May your love consist not only in gazing into each other’s eyes, but also in looking outward in the same direction.
May your life together be a source of strength and inspiration to yourselves, your families and your friends.
May you never forget the beginning of your love for one another, take care of it, nurture it, and allow it to grow strong and firm in the years that are to come.
May you always concentrate on making each other happy and secure in your commitment to one another and always rely on your ability to keep the promises you have made to one another today throughout the thick and thin of life’s experiences.
And may you always be in love.
May your love be as beautiful each day you share as it is on this day of Your Wedding
And may all of your wishes come true.
J. I like this prayer as the opening prayer in the ceremony. However, I have also said this prayer in a private moment just with the couple (and their parents/wedding party if they like) prior to the start of the ceremony)
Heavenly Father, we gather in this place in a spirit of celebration and gratitude. Thank you, for bringing _____ and ___ together in such a happy way.
We ask the Universe to bless this couple and their future together.
May happiness and joy be a hallmark of their relationship.
As they explore their love for each other, establish a home, and build a life together, may they be strengthened by the love and encouragement of those gathered here today.
If times get hard, may they remember the commitment they make today and the joy that brought them together.
Help them to learn from one another and grow strong as both individuals and a couple.
K.Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the universal loving presence of God and express our gratefulness for the blessed energy of divine love.
Gracious God of all this divine wonder, we pray your light of love and joy shine down upon us as we gather today for the union of these two, _____ and ___. We thank you for the abundant energy of love and for the awesome gift of blissful marriage. Amen
*You may also use a poem, bible verse or favorite reading. Please see my collection of religious, non-religious and spiritual readings for more choices and remember we can use more than one, we can mix and match and tailor all wording to fit your desires.
CHARGE TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM / PARTNERS
A. ________and ________, the covenant which you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other. As you pledge your vows to each other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness, and yet with a deep sense of joy, with deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support and caring love.
B. I charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that love and loyalty alone will avail as the foundations of a happy and enduring home. If the solemn vows which you are about to make be kept permanently, and if steadfastly you seek to do the will of your Heavenly Father, your life will be full of peace and joy, and the home which you are establishing will abide through every change.
C. Hand in Hand you enter marriage, hand in hand you step out in faith. The hand you freely give to each other, is both the strongest and the most tender part of your body. In the years ahead you will need both strength and tenderness. Be firm in your commitment. Don't let your grip become weak. And yet, be flexible as you go through change. Don't let your hold become intolerable. Strength and tenderness...Firm commitment and flexibility....of such is a marriage made, hand in hand: Remember this well!
D. _____ and ___, I would ask that you both remember to treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your partnership deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage - as they do to every relationship at one time or another - focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.
E. _____ and ___, The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those you are about to pledge.
F. The Art of Marriage by Wilfred A. Peterson (Version 1)
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage, 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 thru 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 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 establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering what marriage can be at its best!
OR The Art of Marriage Version 2 (There are a few versions of this reading. Let me know which you like best)
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage, 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 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 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.
It is discovering what marriage can be at its best!
G. The union into which you are now about to enter is the closest and most tender into which human beings can come. It is a union founded on mutual experience and affection and to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ; it is a union in the Lord. Marriage is Gods institution, intended for the happiness and welfare of human kind.
Remember that love alone will avail as the foundation of a happy home. Let Christ be your example. Let the apostle Paul be your teacher, who wrote” Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” If you keep this steadfast love ever before you and remaining faithful to each other, resolutely endeavor to fulfill the vows you now make, God’s blessings will be upon you, and the home you establish will endure through life’s every change.
H. Now I ask you,___ and _____ to take into consideration the magnitude and significance of the vows about to be taken. There are many implications involved when two people commit to a lifetime of love. Let us take a moment to reflect on those implications and acknowledge that along with the celebration of marriage there is depth and meaning in the pledges you will be making to one another and it is with much determination, acceptance, forgiveness, respect, loyalty and love that builds the foundation for a strong and enduring marriage.
I. (From Instructions For Life In The New Millennium by His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama)
Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
And that a loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
Be gentle with the earth, be gentle with one another.
When disagreements come remember always to protect the spirit of your union.
When you realize you’ve made a mistake,take immediate steps to correct it.
Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
So love yourselves, love one another, love all that is your life together and all else will follow.
J. (This is from a reading titled: Cherish Every Moment by Leslie A. Neilson)
Today is the beginning of a dream.
A day where two souls are woven together.
Cherish every moment that life offers.
And celebrate every small pleasure.
Express your love at every chance.
And allow it to unfold gracefully.
Show your devotion and dedicate your lives to the enrichment of each other.
Strive always for honesty and integrity.
Build upon your marriage daily.
And seek to understand each other.
But above all this….
Draw upon the love you feel today
and forever etch it in your hearts
K. **This is beautiful for a beach ceremony or any ceremony*
When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand.
We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity – in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern. The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even.
Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in worry or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now. Relationships must be like islands, one must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits – islands, surrounded and interrupted by the sea, and continually visited and abandoned by the tides.(Gift From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh)
L. Marriage is more than two people standing here and repeating vows. There is an entire lifetime ahead of you and there are skills to be learned and practiced daily.
Part of marriage is finding happiness. Continue to search for the good, the fun, andthe beautiful in this life to share with each other.
Part of marriage is being flexible. So, within your marriage cultivate flexibility, patience, and understanding, all while maintaining a sense of humor and joy.
Part of marriage is companionship. Strive to comfort one another and develop the capacity to forgive and heal your differences day by day.
Remember that your love can always prevail in times of turmoil. It will drive you to not only learn and to grow as individuals, but become stronger partners together.
Today, as you join yourselves in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. Today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife; your lives blending together and expanding the ties of your family and friends. You are embarking upon a great adventure, through which all of us here know you will prevail.
M. "I Do" By Bonnie Mohr
This is your love story, come true...
Your journey of marriage begins with "I DO". Cherish this bond, it belongs to only the two of you.
Start each day with gratitude and compassion for each other, and unconditional love will follow.
Believe in each other; support each other's dreams. Remember to dream together too.
Always give more than you think the other needs.
Say, "I Love You" and "Thank You" everyday!
Trust, respect, and appreciate each other.
Be spontaneous, be fun, be romantic!
Stand together but let there be space in your togetherness.
Know when to listen, to talk, to let your heart feel.
Apologize. Forgive and forget - doing so will make you feel better!
Work together. Play together. Pray together. Allow God to be the foundation of your marriage. You have been chosen for each other...it is His plan.
With each passing year, you will grow closer together, drawing strength from on another...
And two shall become one.
You will be blessed with the greatest happiness in life. To love and to be loved.
N._____ and ___, you have chosen to walk through life together. There is no truer statement of love. The commitment you make today will be the foundation on which you will build your life together.
Marriage is an affirmation of life, an undying commitment, a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual bond between two people.
It is created from the purest of friendship, respect, and love. The institution of marriage is not to be entered into lightly, because it symbolizes commitment on every level. Therefore, as you prepare to exchange your vows of marriage, the precious beginning of a lifetime commitment, I remind you that the key to a successful relationship is love. This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today. It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want the best for each other.
It will take dedication, to stay open and honest with one another - and to learn and grow together.
It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings.
Together you will embrace the joys of life as well as meet the challenges of life head on.
O.I counsel you both, to always act with respect and compassion toward one another, sharing the spirit expressed in the Book of Ephesians: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another." I would further charge you to understand, and constantly to strengthen, the spiritual basis of your love, recognizing that it is the most precious of all God's gifts to you. Keep ever before you the words of the New Testament: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and in us shall his love be perfected.
P. As you begin your journey as a married couple, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift. It is a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely.
Let your love be stronger than your anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break.
Believe the best of your beloved rather than the worse.
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 kindness you bestow upon your friends.
Say I love you every day.
Q._____ and ___, you have chosen to walk through life together. There is no truer statement of love. The commitment you make today will be the foundation on which you will build your life together. Marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, who trust that love, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together. It enables the two separate souls to share their desires, longings, dreams, and memories, their joys, and sorrows, and to help each other through all the uncertainties of life. A strong marriage also nurtures each of you as separate individuals and allows you to maintain your unique identity and grow in your own way through the years ahead. It is a safe haven for each of you to become your best self.
You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and love.
It takes more than love to make this relationship work.
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 go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both.
R. _____ and ___, no ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that – through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping, and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest.
**You may also use a poem, bible verse or favorite reading for the charge. Please see my collection for more choices and remember we can use more than one, we can mix and match and tailor all wording to fit your desires.
BETROTHAL / PLEDGE
A. To groom/bride: _______, will you have ______to be your wife/husband, to live with her, respect her, and love her as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?
B. To groom/bride: Do you take this woman/man __________to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her/him for as long as you both shall live?
C. "Will you, _______, have _____ to be your wife/husband? Will you love her/him, comfort and keep her/him, and forsaking all other remain true to him/her as long as you both shall live?"
D. ____________, do you come before this gathering of friends and family to proclaim your love and devotion for _____________? Do you take he/him to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband. Do you promise to respect her/him, and care for her/him during times of joy and hardship? Do you commit yourself to share your feelings of happiness and sadness? Do you pledge to remain faithful to her/him?
E. ________, will you have ________ to be your (wife/husband), to live together as friend and mate?(*Can substitute Partner for Mate) Will you love (her/him) as a person, respect (her/him) as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep (her/him) beside you as long as you both shall live?
F. ________, will you have ________ to be your (wife/husband)?
G. _____ from this day forward do you choose _____ to be your husband (wife), your best friend and your only love. To live together, play together, and laugh together. To work by his/her side and dream in his/her arms. To fill his/her heart and feed his soul. To always seek out the best in him/her always loving him with all your heart for as long as you both shall live.
********************
Bride (s) and Groom (s) answer: I do or I will
Or, here is a beautiful way to answer if you would like to say more than I Do.....
Bride/Groom reply: For hearing my thoughts, understanding my dreams and being my best friend... For filling my life with joy and loving me without end...I do."
VOWS (Remember you can mix and match and tailor to your liking)
A. I, ________, pledge to you ________ the rest of my life, as your (husband/wife), your lover and your friend.
B. I, ________, give myself to you ________ completely as your (wife/husband). I accept you as, my (wife/husband) to love and to understand, to stay by your side in sickness and in health, at all times, for all the days of my life.
C. ________, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish 'til death do us part.
D. I ________ take you ________ to be my (wife/husband), and these things I promise you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you. I will respect, trust, and help and care for you. I will share my life with you. I will forgive you as we have been forgiven; and I will try with you better to understand ourselves, the world, and God; through the best and the worst of what is to come as long as we live.
E. I will be your (husband/wife). I give you all my love without reservation. We have so many joyful times ahead of us--many decisions and many possibilities. I promise to place our personal growth and the continuous growth of our love above all other considerations. I will be honest with you. I will accept you as an equal and as a unique individual. I will be open with my affection and support. Together I know that we can build a life filled with satisfactions. I'm happy we found each. I love you.
F. I, ________ take you ________, to be my (wife/husband); and I promise in the midst of our families and friends and God, to stand beside you and with you always; in times of celebration and times of sadness; in times of pleasure and times of anger; in times of pain and times of health; I will live with you and love you as long as we live.
G. ________, I take you to be my (wife/husband).
To laugh with you in joy,
to grieve with you in sorrow,
to grow with you in love,
to be faithful to you alone, as long as we both shall live.
H. I Love You...
I love you.
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.
I. I Promise, by Dorothy Colgane
I promise to give you the best of myself
and to ask of you no more than you can give.
I promise to respect you as your own person
and to realize that your interests, desires and needs
are no less important than my own.
I promise to share with you my time and my attention
and to bring joy, strength, and imagination to our relationship.
I promise to keep myself open to you,
to let you see through the window of my world into my innermost
fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.
I promise to grow along with you,
to be willing to face changes in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting.
I promise to love you in good times and bad,
with all I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how.
Completely and forever.
J. I____________ take thee to be my wife/husband ___________ To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise my love to you.
K. _____________, I take you to be my (husband/wife), to be faithful to you alone, to share all that is to come, encompassing all sorrows and joys, all hardships and triumphs, all the experiences of life, a permanent commitment made in love, kept in faith, lives in hope, and eternally made new.
L. Today I choose you, (name), to be my life partner. I promise to sleep by your side, to be the joy of your heart, the food of your soul and the best person I can be for you. I promise to laugh with you when times are good, and to suffer with you when they are bad; I promise to wash away your tears with my kisses and to hold you sweetly and gladly until our days on earth are over.
M. Today, (name), I join my life to yours, not merely as your (husband/wife), but as your friend, your lover, and your confidant. Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on which you rest, the companion of your life. With you I will walk my path from this day forward.
N. 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.
O. I,_____ take you ___, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us.
P. I will take joy in you and in our life together.
You are to me the whispering of the tides, the seduction of summer’s heat.
You are my friend, my lover. Grow old and wise with me.
I look forward to the life before us of rainbows and sunsets and a willingness to share all things. I love you. I adore you.
Q. You may say this in full or use it in part ~ tailor it to fit you.
"The Wedding Vow"
You are not the air that I breathe,
You are the sweet scent that drifts upon it
You are not the sounds that I hear,
You are the music of my life
You are not the food that I need,
You are the nourishment of my soul
You are not my will to survive
You are my reason for living
It is with you that I experience
the wonders of the world
It is with you that I triumph
over the challenges in my path
It is your partnership that will lead me
to the fulfillment of my dreams
It is your friendship that guides me
as I learn and grow
It is your patience and wisdom
that calms my restless nature
It is through you that I know my true self
I do not take you for granted, I cherish you
I do not need you, I choose you
I choose you today in witness of all the people who love us
I choose you tomorrow in the privacy of our hearts
I choose you in strength and weakness
I choose you in health and in sickness
I choose you in joy and sorrow
I will choose you, over all others,
every day for all the days of my life.
R. I, ____ take you, ___ to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.
S. I, _____, take you, ___, to be my beloved (wife/husband), to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.
T. ~Beach Themed~
I _____, take you, ___, to be my wedded wife/husband
I Pledge my love to you this day.
And I vow to you as we stand beside the ocean
That my love is never ending
Like the waves that rush to shore.
U. In the presence of God, our family and friends,
I___ take you _____, to be my beloved,
Promising with divine assistance
To be to you a loving and faithful spouse
For as long as we both shall live.
V.I take you to be my best friend
My faithful partner
And my one true love
I promise to encourage and inspire you
And to love you truly
Through good times and bad
I will forever be there
To laugh with you
To lift you up when you are down
And to love you unconditionally
Through all of our adventures in life together
W.You are my person, my inspiration,
My love and my everything.
I promise to love you in word and deed.
In good times and in bad,
In sickness and in health.
I vow to cherish you.
And to be true to you
All the days of our life
BLESSING OF THE RINGS
Words or blessings of the rings from the Officiant before the rings are exchanged.
It's common to first say a prayer of blessing on the rings, then wording about what they mean, then the words the couple says to each other while they play the rings on each others finger.
So if yours is a religious ceremony you may want to combine a prayer of blessing then choose from wording that explains what the rings represent.
For non-religious just skip the prayer and choose wording that explains the meaning of the rings.
A. (you may want to say this prayer of blessing on the rings first then add one of the other options that explains what the rings represent)
Heavenly Father, bless these rings. Grant that ________ and ________ may wear them with deep faith in each other. May they do your will and always live together in peace, love and abiding joy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!"
Or A shorter version: Heavenly Father, bless these rings. Grant that ________ and ________ may wear them with deep faith in each other. May they always live together in peace, love and abiding joy.Amen
B. Heavenly Father we ask for your blessing on these rings that _____ and ___ are about to exchange. Grant that the love which they feel for one another on this day resides always in their hearts. May these rings forever remind them of the vows which they have pledged to one another today, and may their compassion and kindness for each other always be, as these rings, with no beginning and no end. Amen
C. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, tears, celebration, grief, joy. May these rings glow in reflection of the warmth and love which flow through the wearers today.
D.These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that _______ and ______ promise to each other this day.
E.The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness
F. Although you each wear only one of them, these rings essentially belong to you both. For they are a symbol of the love you share and the promise that it will be a strong and lasting love. Through out the years they will speak softly of your vow to grow along with one another, to face the challenges of life, to remain one another’s first priority and keep your relationship rich and full. They will give you strength and comfort in times of uncertainty and heighten life’s joys as you share them. Never again do you walk alone for your love will be with you always.
G. ~Beach Themed~(you may want to say this prayer of blessing on the rings first then add one of the other options that explains what the rings represent)
Heavenly Father we ask that you bless these rings; grant that _____ and ___ may wear them with deep faith in each other. May their love always be constant, as these never ending waves that pour beneath our feet, flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea. Amen
H. The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul, you ________, may place a ring on the finger of your bride.
I.Your wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of the love you share and the commitment you have made to one another today. May they always remind you that there is one other person in the world that has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have.
J. The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of a commitment and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. May they always remind you that there is one other person in the world that has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have.
K. The circle of the ring declares the unity and the oneness of your two lives, which shall contain your devotion beyond every journey, that you may always return again to your togetherness.
L.From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness, a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending. As often as either of you look at this symbol, I hope that you will be reminded of the love you share and the commitment you make to each other today.
M. Your wedding rings symbolize your unity with one another, giving you strength to happily honor your commitments to each other. May they remind you that marriage is not a destination but a journey, with no beginning and no end, just a moment to moment opportunity to love and be loved to the best of your ability.
EXCHANGE OF RINGS
The promise each person makes to the other as they place the rings on each others finger.
This will begin with the Officiant inviting each person to take a ring and place on the others finger:
Officiant will say: _____ will you take this ring and place it upon ___’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her/him, after me, these words:
**Or another beautiful way to invite the couple to place the ring of the others finger is for the Officiant to say:
And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul, you _____, may place a ring on the finger of your bride/groom, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words: (another idea is for the officiant to use this wording when she invites you to share your vows)
Choices of words to say to each other during ring exchange:(You repeat these words after the Officiant line by line)
For any of these options you may want to change: "I give you this ring" to "Please accept this ring" Just let me know what you like best!
A. _________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal love.
As you wear it, may it be a reminder of how much I love you,
Not only on this precious day, but every single day of your life.
B. ________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.
C. _________, wear this ring as a sign of my love and the giving that will last the rest of my life.
D. __________, I give you this ring as a symbol of the love I have for you.
Wear it now as a sign of the love we share together
E. I give you this ring, as I give of myself,
With love and affection.
Wear it in peace always.
F. I_______ give you_______ this ring
As an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.
G. I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity in steadfast love.
H. ______ I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow,
And with all that I am,
And all that I have,
And with it, I marry you
And join my life with yours.
I. ~Beach Themed~
Please wear this ring
As a symbol of my commitment to you,
As powerful and endless as the sea.
J. With this ring,
I give you my heart,
I promise from this day forward,
you shall not walk alone,
may my heart be your shelter,
and my arms be your home.
K. I give you this ring
As a token of my love and devotion
I pledge to you all that I am,
And all that I will ever be
With this ring I gladly marry you
And join my life with yours.
****After the exchange of rings is a good place to add an additional element such as a Unity Sand, Candle, Wine, etc...
We can even include a Tequila or Whiskey Shot, Unity Beer..I have a lot of fun ideas, just let me know and I will send you some examples. This is also a good place to acknowledge children you bring to the marriage
We can even include a Tequila or Whiskey Shot, Unity Beer..I have a lot of fun ideas, just let me know and I will send you some examples. This is also a good place to acknowledge children you bring to the marriage
PRAYER OR BLESSING ON THIS NEW UNION
After the ring exchange the Officiant says a prayer asking God to bless this new union. You may use a prayer or substitute a poem to be read by the Officiant:, a friend, or family member. Keep in mind that you can also use these for the opening invocation or benediction. You may use all or just part of one for your vows. All can be tailored to fit your ceremony.
A. Marriage Blessing by Joanna Fuchs
May your marriage always be blessed
with the pure and profoundly loving feelings
drawing you so closely together now:
extraordinary communication,
listening and understanding,
putting yourselves in the other’s place,
as well as expressing your own needs;
eagerness to compromise,
because you love so much, you want to give
whatever is needed, wanted, for happiness;
and deep commitment to do whatever it takes
to maintain the strong bond
present on your wedding day.
May your marriage always be blessed,
now and forever.
B. Most gracious God, Thou hast kindled in these hearts the fire of a divine love. Wilt thou keep it aflame upon the alter of their souls. Wilt thou make the inward aspirations of their hearts the outward reality of their home. Wilt thou make that home a place of light and truth, a place of beauty, a place of joy and happiness all the days of their lives. Amen
C. 1 Corinthians. 13:4-13
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 with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
And now faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.
D. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old grief’s, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
E. Love, Joy, Understanding, Friendship, Courage...
In joining your lives may God grant you both...
Love... to afford each other a special quality of time together.
Joy...in the accomplishments of one another.
Understanding...that your interests and desires
will not always be the same.
Friendship...based on mutual trust.
Courage...to speak of a misunderstanding
and to work on a solution
before the setting of the sun.
Compassion...to comfort each other in pain and sorrow.
Foresight...to realize rainbows follow rainy days.
Imagination...to keep with you part of the child you used to be.
Mirth...from your sense of humor.
Awareness...to live each day with the knowledge
that there is no promise of tomorrow.
May God bless you and keep you
in the Palm of His hand.
F. Why Marriage? By, Mari Nichols-Haining
Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me...
Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...
Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship...
Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements...
Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...
Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me, I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage...
Because of this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.
G. That's Wonderful Love, By Ravi Sathasivam
How wonderful to win your heart with a smile
How wonderful to kiss your lips with hopeful
How wonderful to get your heart with love
How wonderful to see your soul in me
How wonderful to laugh with your sweet words
How wonderful to hold you tight and kiss gently
How wonderful to fly with you to the dream land
How wonderful to drive you through the mountain valleys
How wonderful to be with you within four walls
How wonderful to give you what you look for
How wonderful to hug you and keep you in my arms
How wonderful to wear our wedding rings on our wedding day
How wonderful to bind your love to last forever.
H. GOD IS LOVE
(1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4)
GOD IS LOVE
May you have His kind of love for each other.
LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND
May you be able to lovingly overlook each other’s faults and weaknesses.
LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL
May you seek praise for each other and not for yourselves.
LOVE IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE
May you give of yourselves for each other’s needs and treat one another with utmost respect.
LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY
May you genuinely listen to each other with a willingness to be wrong yourselves..
LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL
May you be tolerant of each other’s moods, always ready to forgive, never holding a grudge.
LOVE DOES NOT REJOICE AT WRONG BUT REJOICES IN THE RIGHT
May you experience happiness because of each other’s triumphs and successes.
LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS
May you seek to understand each other’s differences, knowing you will stick together through it all.
LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS
May you always expect the best in each situation, regardless of temporary setbacks.
LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS
May you never give up your commitment to work on improving your relationship.
LOVE NEVER ENDS
May you spend the rest of your lives together enjoying His love.
I. What Greater Thing, George Eliot
What greater thing is there for two human souls,
than to feel that they are joined for life-
to strengthen each other in all labor,
to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain,
to be one with each other
in silent unspeakable memories ...
J. The Key To Love”.
The key to love is understanding ...
The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word,
but those unspoken gestures,
the little things that say so much by themselves.
The key to love is forgiveness ....
to accept each others faults and pardon mistakes,
without forgetting, but with remembering
what you learn from them.
The key to love is sharing ...
Facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together;
both conquering problems, forever searching for ways
to intensify your happiness.
The key to love is giving ...
with out thought of return,
but with the hope of just a simple smile,
and by giving in but never giving up.
The key to love is respect ...
realizing that you are two separate people,
with different ideas;
that you don’t belong to each other,
that you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.
The key to love is inside us all ...
It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients
that will take you to its threshold;
it is the continual learning process
that demands a lot of work ...
but the rewards are more than worth the effort ...
and that is the key to love.”
K. The vows you have just taken, pledging love,
mean far more than mere words ever can.
May their gentle spirit move in you.
May your years fulfill the beauty
of the feelings expressed today,
and may you always put these vows
above the things that make life smaller.
May God always be with, protect,
and guide both of you, now and forever."
L. Traditional Irish Wedding Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
M. Blessing of the hands (also nice to use in a handfasting)
Please face each other and take each others hands so that you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. 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 tenderly hold your children, the hands that will join your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it, support and encouragement to pursue your dreams, and comfort you through difficult times. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
N ~Beach Themed~
May your love be as unchanging and dependable as the tide, as these waters nourish the earth and sustain life, may your constant devotion to each other nourish and sustain you until the end of time. Amen
O. We thank you O God for the joy and excitement of this blessed Occasion. It is you who has given us life and experience and you who has led us to this present moment. We ask that you bless_____ and ___ as they begin this new phase of their journey through life. Safeguard them from perils both seen and unseen. Give them such fulfillment of mutual affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others. Let the sun always rise on their good will and let it never set without it. Abide in their home as the one who imparts value to their relationship and meaning to all their efforts. Shelter them from the tragedies so common to human life, or support them that they may stand when visited by adversity. Grant that their wills may be knit together in your will, and their spirits in your spirit that they may grow in love and peace with you and one another all the days of their life. Amen
P. Let us say a prayer of blessing upon this marriage
God in heaven above please protect the ones we love.
We honor all you created as _____ and ___ pledge their hearts and lives together.
We honor mother-earth - and ask for their marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons;
We honor fire - and ask that their union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts;
We honor wind - and ask that they sail through life safe and calm as in our father's arms;
We honor water - to clean and soothe their 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.
Q. _____ and ___, God blesses you with harmony, happiness, and prosperity, and gives you peace.
May your love for each other become deeper and more wonderful with every passing year.
May you draw forth, each from the other, the highest and the best.
May you be open and receptive to divine inspiration and guidance.
May you express poise, patience and understanding with each other.
May your lives blend together in harmony and joy
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.
**You may also use a poem, bible verse or favorite reading. Please see my collection for more choices and remember we can use more than one, we can mix and match and tailor all wording to fit your desires.
PRONOUNCEMENT
A. Inasmuch as you, _____, and you ___, have thus consented in holy matrimony and have witnessed the same before God and these friends, by virtue of the authority vested in me as a Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. *(Or "Therefor what God has joined together let man not put asunder-this is from the bible and means separate)
B. Inasmuch as you__________, and you __________, have thus consented in matrimony and have witnessed the same before family and friends, by virtue of the authority vested in me as a Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. *(Optional- Therefor what love has joined together let man not separate)
C. Because ________ and ________ have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealed their vows in the giving and receiving of rings and have expressed their complete and pure dedication to one another before God and our gathering, it is in accordance with the laws of this state and the authority vested in me as officiant of this truly Joyous Occasion, that I now pronounce you husband and wife.
D. Your two hearts now beating as one, your two souls now deeply joined anew - walk forward together, forever hand in hand, May your marriage be a lifelong celebration of love! Now that the rituals are complete, you have made your promises, and exchanged your rings. May your lives together be filled with love and laughter. By the power vested in me as an Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you husband and wife!
E._____ and ______ you have pledged your love and faithfulness to each other, sealed your vows in the giving and receiving of rings, and have expressed your complete and pure dedication to one another, it is in accordance with the laws of this state and the authority vested in me as officiant of this truly Joyous Occasion, that I now pronounce you husband and wife.
F. For as much as ________ and ________ have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have pledged their trust each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands (and by giving and receiving a ring), I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
G. Now that ________ and ________ have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife.
H. Inasmuch as ______ and _____ have declared their love and devotion to each other, I now pronounce that they are husband and wife.
Optional Pronouncement Add On: Would you like a "Savor the Moment" but prefer not to face your guests as in the example at the beginning of the ceremony, and instead have this moment between the two of you? Consider adding this on as part of the pronouncement!
Take a moment wedding day reading (Author unknown)
Before I pronounce you married partners; I have just one more thing I want to do. Your wedding day is one that seems to fly. It’s a day filled with emotion, friend’s, rings and dances. Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was. So I want you to take a few seconds to look into each other’s eyes. Think about the happiness that you are feeling in this place, in this moment. Really let that feeling register in your heart and your mind. Now, I want you to think about your life together in 20 years. Where are you? What are you doing? We all know that your visions of the future are not identical but always complementary. John Lennon once said “A dream you dream alone is only a dream, a dream you dream together THAT is reality” That new reality starts now.
(If you prefer- instead of saying "John Lennon once said" I can change it to "It has been said")
BENEDICTIONS
(May also be used for prayer of blessing)
A. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace.
B. May God be always close to you and keep you.
May you walk the paths of peace, today and always.
May you always stay in love with each other.
Let all you do be done in love.
Go in his peace. Amen
C. Nourished by understanding. Warmed by friends. Fed by love ones. Matured by wisdom. Tempered by tears. Made holy by caring and sharing. Blessed by God. Go forth in peace!
D. Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others......; they too have their story. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass....nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe....the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God....in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. Go in peace.
E. May the courage of the early mornings dawning, the strength of the eternal hills, the peace of the evening’s ending, and the love of God be in your hearts now and forever. Amen
F. ____________ and ____________, you have now affirmed before your families and friends your love and your caring for each other. You have come from different backgrounds. You have walked different paths. You are different individuals. Your love has transcended these differences. In the years before you, may the richness of the traditions that have nurtured you enhance and brighten your lives as you help to create and shape the future.
G. As you begin your journey of life shared, separate beings that have come together into one light, one love. Many are the years you will share if you keep your vows, your sacred trust. May the sacred winds whisper joy into your life. May you take delight in each other for all your days. You are forever changed from this day forward. May this fire of love kindle your passions for each other throughout all your years. May your love rise anew, an eternal flame to light the day. May you grow old together and share a happy home.
H. We ask that the Holy Spirit of love may deepen the lives of ___________ and _________. May the relationship, which today has been expressed, continue to grow in the years to come. And whatever changes time may bring, let this wedding ceremony remain as a treasured memory and a guide to life. May they always experience that breathless wonder that exclaims: "Out of all this world, YOU have chosen ME. "When life is done and the sun is setting, may they be found then as now, still hand in hand, still thanking you for each other. Amen
I. May these two find happiness in their matrimony. May they live faithfully together, may they ever remain compassionate. May years be rich in the joys of life, and their days be long upon the earth.
J. Apache Wedding Prayer
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness,
for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead
and through all the years.
May happiness be your companion,
and your days together be good and long upon the earth.
K. May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon gently restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.
I encourage you to customize your ceremony by choosing a reading, prayer or poem to be read by myself or a guest. Click here to choose form my collection.
Or you may have your own favorite reading, prayer or poem you would like to include. Just let me know!
Or you may have your own favorite reading, prayer or poem you would like to include. Just let me know!
Do you want to personalize your ceremony? Some couples like to personalize their ceremony with special wording about how they met, what they love about each other/what led them to this special day, or a special story. Or maybe you both love tequila and want to include a toast in your ceremony or share a love of reading, music, chocolate or something else. I am happy to add some personal touches to your ceremony! I can email you my special
Questionnaire to Personalize your ceremony or fill out my on-line form
Renewing your vows? Congratulations! See my collection of Vow Renewal Ceremonies!
Additional elements to include in your ceremony
