Traditional Ceremony
Same Sex Ceremony Bride/Bride
The greeting:
Officiant: I address the couple & the guests:
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 these two women. 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.
(****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 a prayer or acknowledgment of loved ones no longer physically with us, but here in spirit. Perhaps you would like to add something personal about how you met etc.. Let me know & I will provide you with wording options***)
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer to “invoke” or ask god to be present and bless this service)
Officiant: Let us pray
God, for the joy of this occasion we thank you. For the meaning of this wedding 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.
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/Declaration of intent (this is when you declare your action or intent to marry is a matter of free will):
Officiant:
To _____: _____, 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?
_____ Responds: I will
Officiant:
To ___: ___, 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?
___ Responds: 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
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.
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.
Officiant: I address the couple & the guests:
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 these two women. 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.
(****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 a prayer or acknowledgment of loved ones no longer physically with us, but here in spirit. Perhaps you would like to add something personal about how you met etc.. Let me know & I will provide you with wording options***)
Invocation (this is the beginning prayer to “invoke” or ask god to be present and bless this service)
Officiant: Let us pray
God, for the joy of this occasion we thank you. For the meaning of this wedding 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.
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/Declaration of intent (this is when you declare your action or intent to marry is a matter of free will):
Officiant:
To _____: _____, 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?
_____ Responds: I will
Officiant:
To ___: ___, 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?
___ Responds: 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
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.
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
At this point the designated person will give the rings to the Officiant.
Officiant:
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
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,
(_____ 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 ___: ___ 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***)
Prayer: Prayer of blessing upon your new marriage
Officiant: Let us say a prayer of blessing upon this marriage
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.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
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 an Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you married. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
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 prompts couple to face their guests and says: It is with great honor I present to you for the first time as a married couple ______& _______.
Officiant: May we please have the rings
At this point the designated person will give the rings to the Officiant.
Officiant:
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
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,
(_____ 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 ___: ___ 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***)
Prayer: Prayer of blessing upon your new marriage
Officiant: Let us say a prayer of blessing upon this marriage
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.
Pronouncement:
Officiant:
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 an Officiant and the laws of this state, I now pronounce you married. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
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 prompts couple to face their guests and says: It is with great honor I present to you for the first time as a married couple ______& _______.
All wording can be tailored and personalized. Please let me know If you have a preferred pronoun .
