Non-Religious Same-Sex Marriage Ceremony Bride/Bride
For This Joyous Occasion non-religious Ceremony
**Presentation of the bride**? Not everyone includes this; many times the father/escort simply walks the bride down. However if you would like to include this tradition, I have many wording options to choose from-example:
Officiant: Who has the honor of presenting these brides today?
Fathers each take turns responding: Her mother and I do
Greeting:
Officiant:
We gather here today, in the presence of family and friends to join _____ and ___ in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of these women. We remember that marriage is a time when growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a special thank you to friends and family for sharing this happiest of days with you and an acknowledgment of loved ones no longer physically with us, but who’s love and support will be felt by the bride and groom always. Maybe you would like to add something personal like how you met etc.. Let me know & I will provide you with wording options***)
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer or blessing/good wishes on this ceremony)
Officiant:
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.
Charge (the charge is addressed to the couple. It is a preparation for the vows you are about to take):
**Presentation of the bride**? Not everyone includes this; many times the father/escort simply walks the bride down. However if you would like to include this tradition, I have many wording options to choose from-example:
Officiant: Who has the honor of presenting these brides today?
Fathers each take turns responding: Her mother and I do
Greeting:
Officiant:
We gather here today, in the presence of family and friends to join _____ and ___ in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of these women. We remember that marriage is a time when growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a special thank you to friends and family for sharing this happiest of days with you and an acknowledgment of loved ones no longer physically with us, but who’s love and support will be felt by the bride and groom always. Maybe you would like to add something personal like how you met etc.. Let me know & I will provide you with wording options***)
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer or blessing/good wishes on this ceremony)
Officiant:
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.
Charge (the charge is addressed to the couple. It is a preparation for the vows you are about to take):
Officiant:
_____ 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.
Betrothal/Pledge (this is when you declare your action or intent to marry is a matter of free will)**Let me know if you would like to use full legal first and last names for this part, or just first names. Would you like this to be asked with the response being I DO- or I Will.
Officiant:
To _____: Will you, _____ have ___ to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?"
_____- I will
Officiant:
To ___: Will you, ___, have _____ to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?"
___: I will
Vows:
Officiant: Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
Officiant: _____, repeat to ___, after me, these words:
___, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded wife.
(_____ says) ___, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded wife.
have and to hold from this day forward
(says) To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
(_____ says) For better, for worse;
For richer, for poorer
(_____ says) For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
(_____ says) In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.
(_____ says) To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.
_____ 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.
Betrothal/Pledge (this is when you declare your action or intent to marry is a matter of free will)**Let me know if you would like to use full legal first and last names for this part, or just first names. Would you like this to be asked with the response being I DO- or I Will.
Officiant:
To _____: Will you, _____ have ___ to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?"
_____- I will
Officiant:
To ___: Will you, ___, have _____ to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her as long as you both shall live?"
___: I will
Vows:
Officiant: Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
Officiant: _____, repeat to ___, after me, these words:
___, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded wife.
(_____ says) ___, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded wife.
have and to hold from this day forward
(says) To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
(_____ says) For better, for worse;
For richer, for poorer
(_____ says) For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
(_____ says) In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.
(_____ says) To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.
Officiant: ___, repeat to _____, after me, these words:
_____, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded wife.
(___ says) _____, I have chosen you alone from all the world to be my wedded wife
To have and to hold from this day forward
(___ says) To have and to hold from this day forward
For better, for worse
(___ says) For better, for worse;
For richer, for poorer
(___ says) For richer, for poorer
In sickness and in health,
(___ says) In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.
(___ says) To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.
Exchange of rings:
Officiant: May we please have the rings
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.
To _____: _____ will you take this ring and place it upon ___’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
I give you this ring.
(_____ will say): I give you this ring,
As I give you myself,
(_____ will say) as I give you myself,
With love and affection
(_____ will say) with love and affection.
Wear it in peace always
(_____ will say) Wear it in peace always.
To ___: ___ will you take this ring and place it upon _____’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
I give you this ring,
(___ says) I give you this ring,
As I give you myself
(___ says) as I give you myself,
With love and affection
(___ says) with love and affection.
Wear it in peace always
(___ says) Wear it in peace always.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a poem, or reading by myself, or maybe a family member or friend. This is also a good place to include an acknowledgment of children that you bring to the marriage, or even an add on ceremony, such as a sand ceremony, unity candle, rose or wine ceremony. Take a look at my collection of poems and readings on my website. I am happy to provide you with additional wording options if you like, just let me know***)
Blessing: Prayer of blessing/good wishes upon your new marriage (You may use this prayer or I am happy to substitute a favorite prayer or poem of yours or if you would like to write one of your own)
Officiant: (The Day, Author unknown)
May this be the start of a happy new life
That’s full of special moments to share
May this be the first of your dreams come true
And of hope that will always be there…
May this be the start of a lifetime of trust
And of caring that’s just now begun…
May today be a day that you’ll always remember
the day when your hearts become one…
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
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 married
You may seal your marriage with a kiss!
Benediction (It brings ceremony to an end. It is another blessing):
Officiant:
May these two find happiness in their matrimony. May they live faithfully together, may they ever remain compassionate. May their years be rich in the joys of life, and their days be long upon the earth.
Officiant: May we please have the rings
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.
To _____: _____ will you take this ring and place it upon ___’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
I give you this ring.
(_____ will say): I give you this ring,
As I give you myself,
(_____ will say) as I give you myself,
With love and affection
(_____ will say) with love and affection.
Wear it in peace always
(_____ will say) Wear it in peace always.
To ___: ___ will you take this ring and place it upon _____’s finger, and as you do, repeat to her, after me, these words:
I give you this ring,
(___ says) I give you this ring,
As I give you myself
(___ says) as I give you myself,
With love and affection
(___ says) with love and affection.
Wear it in peace always
(___ says) Wear it in peace always.
(****If you would like, this is a good place to add a poem, or reading by myself, or maybe a family member or friend. This is also a good place to include an acknowledgment of children that you bring to the marriage, or even an add on ceremony, such as a sand ceremony, unity candle, rose or wine ceremony. Take a look at my collection of poems and readings on my website. I am happy to provide you with additional wording options if you like, just let me know***)
Blessing: Prayer of blessing/good wishes upon your new marriage (You may use this prayer or I am happy to substitute a favorite prayer or poem of yours or if you would like to write one of your own)
Officiant: (The Day, Author unknown)
May this be the start of a happy new life
That’s full of special moments to share
May this be the first of your dreams come true
And of hope that will always be there…
May this be the start of a lifetime of trust
And of caring that’s just now begun…
May today be a day that you’ll always remember
the day when your hearts become one…
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
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 married
You may seal your marriage with a kiss!
Benediction (It brings ceremony to an end. It is another blessing):
Officiant:
May these two find happiness in their matrimony. May they live faithfully together, may they ever remain compassionate. May their years be rich in the joys of life, and their days be long upon the earth.
All wording can be tailored and personalized. Please let me know If you have a preferred pronoun .
