Spiritual Wedding Ceremony
Same Sex Marriage Bride/Bride
For This Joyous Occasion Spiritual Ceremony
The greeting:
Officiant:
We are gathered here together in the presence of God and friends to ratify in the outer, a union of souls that has already taken place in spirit.
On behalf of the _____ and ____, I would like to express thanks and gratitude to you, and to all those very important persons involved in their lives that are not with us physically but remain with us spiritually in our hearts. For it is the love, strength, support, and encouragement of all these friends and family that has helped to carry _____ and ___ to this glorious day. The love that is shared and expressed here today is inseparably joined to the love that has created and molded their unique lives.
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer to “invoke” or ask god to be present and bless this service)
Officiant:
Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the Holy Presence as we pray,
We acknowledge Thy Presence and Thy Power, Blessed Spirit. We give thanks that these two souls have been drawn together by divine appointment, and will be held together by the power of divine love. We rejoice that through this mystical union, these two, now become one, will experience soul satisfaction and fulfillment, and that your blessing, Dear God, is upon them and that your love is expressing through them now and always. Amen
Charge (the charge is address to the couple. It is a preparation for the vows you are about to take):
Officiant:
________and ________, the estate of wedlock is a holy one, one not to be entered into lightly, but only under the guidance of Infinite Wisdom and the inspiration of Divine Love.
Dear Ones, you are entering into that relationship which is the expression of the uniting, harmonizing power of divine love. Marriage is the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When there is a true bond such as this, it is proper that public acknowledgement of it be made. We are here to bear witness to your entering into this closer relationship of marriage, and we believe you are already one in spirit.
Betrothal/Declaration of intent (this is when you declare your action or intent to marry is a matter of free will):
Officiant:
To Bride: _______, will you have ______to be your wife, 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?
Bride Responds: I will
Officiant:
To Bride_______, will you have ______to be your Bride, 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?
Bride responds: I will.
Vows:
Officiant:
Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
_____, repeat to ___, after me, these words:
___, I take you to be my wife
(_____Says): ___, I take you to be my wife
To be faithful to you alone,
(_____ Says): To be faithful to you alone,
To share all that is to come,
(_____ Says): To share all that is to come,
Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
(_____ Says): Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
All hardships and triumphs,
(_____ Says): All hardships and triumphs,
All the experiences of life,
(_____ Says): All the experiences of life,
A permanent commitment made in love,
(_____ Says): A permanent commitment made in love,
Kept in faith,
(_____ Says): Kept in faith,
Lives in hope,
(_____ Says): Lives in hope,
And eternally made new.
(_____ Says): And eternally made new.
___, repeat to _____, after me, these words:
_____, I take you to be my wife
(___ Says): _____, I take you to be my wife
To be faithful to you alone,
(___ Says): To be faithful to you alone,
To share all that is to come,
(___ Says): To share all that is to come,
Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
(___ Says): Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
All hardships and triumphs,
(___ Says): All hardships and triumphs,
All the experiences of life,
(___ Says): All the experiences of life,
A permanent commitment made in love,
(___ Says): A permanent commitment made in love,
Kept in faith,
(___ Says): Kept in faith,
Lives in hope,
(___ Says): Lives in hope,
And eternally made new.
(___ Says): And eternally made new.
The greeting:
Officiant:
We are gathered here together in the presence of God and friends to ratify in the outer, a union of souls that has already taken place in spirit.
On behalf of the _____ and ____, I would like to express thanks and gratitude to you, and to all those very important persons involved in their lives that are not with us physically but remain with us spiritually in our hearts. For it is the love, strength, support, and encouragement of all these friends and family that has helped to carry _____ and ___ to this glorious day. The love that is shared and expressed here today is inseparably joined to the love that has created and molded their unique lives.
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer to “invoke” or ask god to be present and bless this service)
Officiant:
Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the Holy Presence as we pray,
We acknowledge Thy Presence and Thy Power, Blessed Spirit. We give thanks that these two souls have been drawn together by divine appointment, and will be held together by the power of divine love. We rejoice that through this mystical union, these two, now become one, will experience soul satisfaction and fulfillment, and that your blessing, Dear God, is upon them and that your love is expressing through them now and always. Amen
Charge (the charge is address to the couple. It is a preparation for the vows you are about to take):
Officiant:
________and ________, the estate of wedlock is a holy one, one not to be entered into lightly, but only under the guidance of Infinite Wisdom and the inspiration of Divine Love.
Dear Ones, you are entering into that relationship which is the expression of the uniting, harmonizing power of divine love. Marriage is the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When there is a true bond such as this, it is proper that public acknowledgement of it be made. We are here to bear witness to your entering into this closer relationship of marriage, and we believe you are already one in spirit.
Betrothal/Declaration of intent (this is when you declare your action or intent to marry is a matter of free will):
Officiant:
To Bride: _______, will you have ______to be your wife, 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?
Bride Responds: I will
Officiant:
To Bride_______, will you have ______to be your Bride, 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?
Bride responds: I will.
Vows:
Officiant:
Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another.
_____, repeat to ___, after me, these words:
___, I take you to be my wife
(_____Says): ___, I take you to be my wife
To be faithful to you alone,
(_____ Says): To be faithful to you alone,
To share all that is to come,
(_____ Says): To share all that is to come,
Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
(_____ Says): Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
All hardships and triumphs,
(_____ Says): All hardships and triumphs,
All the experiences of life,
(_____ Says): All the experiences of life,
A permanent commitment made in love,
(_____ Says): A permanent commitment made in love,
Kept in faith,
(_____ Says): Kept in faith,
Lives in hope,
(_____ Says): Lives in hope,
And eternally made new.
(_____ Says): And eternally made new.
___, repeat to _____, after me, these words:
_____, I take you to be my wife
(___ Says): _____, I take you to be my wife
To be faithful to you alone,
(___ Says): To be faithful to you alone,
To share all that is to come,
(___ Says): To share all that is to come,
Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
(___ Says): Encompassing all sorrows and joys,
All hardships and triumphs,
(___ Says): All hardships and triumphs,
All the experiences of life,
(___ Says): All the experiences of life,
A permanent commitment made in love,
(___ Says): A permanent commitment made in love,
Kept in faith,
(___ Says): Kept in faith,
Lives in hope,
(___ Says): Lives in hope,
And eternally made new.
(___ Says): And eternally made new.
Exchange of rings:
Officiant “May we now have the rings”
At this point the designated person will give the rings to the Officiant.
Officiant:
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.
To _____: 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, 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.
To ___: 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, 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, reading, 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.)
Prayer (Prayer of blessing upon your new marriage ):
Officiant:
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. Amen.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
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 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, by the power vested in me as an 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 the courage of the early morning’s 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.
Officiant “May we now have the rings”
At this point the designated person will give the rings to the Officiant.
Officiant:
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.
To _____: 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, 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.
To ___: 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, 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, reading, 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.)
Prayer (Prayer of blessing upon your new marriage ):
Officiant:
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. Amen.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
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 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, by the power vested in me as an 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 the courage of the early morning’s 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.