Additional
Sample Ceremonies
Dear
Bride and Groom,
Here are
four ceremony examples that include many optional passages and ideas. The
fourth one is more spiritual than the first three, but all ceremonmies can be modified to
suit you. Also, keep in mind the other suggestions for ceremony ideas at
www.themarriageman.com/ceremony.htm
Remember, you can substitute any segments (different ring exchange, for example,
for anything here) You can modify, add,
delete, do whatever you want to certain areas, passages, etc. The samples are to
give you an idea of SOME of the choices/options for a ceremony. The ceremonies
below are somewhat different, but exactly as other couples chose to have their
ceremony performed. Remember, you can mix and match segments from these
ceremonies, from the info on the www.TheMarriageMan.com
website, and from other sources. Perhaps you will get some ideas from reading
them........
Sample
Ceremony 1
Brief Welcome:
Optional:
Bride is
accompanied down aisle--stops at end of aisle, Groom walks out to greet his
bride, couple then walks together to officiant.)
Groom and Bride, We are
privileged to share today's happy occasion with you. We are here, not only to
witness your commitment to each other, but also to wish you both every happiness
in your future life together as husband and wife. Within its framework of
commitment and loyalty, marriage enables the establishment of a home, where
through trust, patience and respect, the love and affection that you have for
each other may develop into a deep and lasting relationship.
We who are witnessing your
marriage, hope that, despite the stresses inevitable in any life, your Love,
Respect, trust, and understanding of each other will increase your contentment
and heighten your joy in living.
Brief
Reading
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life.
Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is
stronger, even anger is felt more strongly, but passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life
is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, new
ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they
create a spirit unique unto themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken
or written words.
Marriage
is a promise made in the hearts of two people who love each other…..
and
the potential of marriage requires a lifetime to fulfill.
Ceremony
Before you, Groom and Bride,
are joined in marriage in the presence of God and these witnesses, I am to remind you of the
serious and binding nature of the relationship you are now about to enter.
Bride and Groom, if you now
wish to make your marriage vows, please answer, I do. I
do
(Groom
and Bride, please face each other and hold hands—give bouquet to bridesmaid)
Groom,
do you take Bride, whom you now hold by the hand to be your lawfully wedded
wife? I do
Do
you promise to love, cherish and honor her, in sickness and in health, for
richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself
only her for sol long as you both shall live? I do
Bride,
do you take Groom, whom you now hold by the hand to be your lawfully wedded
husband? I do
Do
you promise to love, cherish and honor him, in sickness and in health, for
richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself
only him for so long as you both shall live? I do
Ring Exchange:
Marriage Officiant:
Bride and Groom, nothing is
easier than saying words. And nothing is more difficult than living those
words, day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and practiced
again tomorrow, the tomorrow after that, and all the tomorrows after that.
Wedding rings are a symbol of
the unbroken circle of love. May they be a daily reminder of your vows to
each other and your resolve to live together in unity, love, and happiness.
Officiant:
Bride and Groom, as a symbol of
your love and respect for each other, do you now wish to exchange rings?
(Respond “We do” or “I do” together
(May we have the ring for
Groom? Ring given to Groom to give to Bride)
Groom, please give your ring to Bride by placing the ring on Bride’s hand with the words……..
"With this ring I thee wed"
(May we have the ring for Bride? Ring given to
Bride to give to Groom)
Bride, please give your ring to Groom by placing the ring on Groom’s
hand with the words…..
"With this ring I thee wed."
THE HAND CEREMONY
(Bride
and groom continue holding each other’s hands )
For centuries, the wedding ceremony has been described as
“Taking one’s hand in marriage.” What is the meaning of that
phrase? How did it originate?
Bride and Groom, please look at the hands holding yours 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 chase down your dreams and
build your future.
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 help you hold your family as one.
These
are the hands that will hold you tight when you struggle through difficult
times.
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.
Yes,
These are the hands, that today, you take in marriage
Blessing
:
(This optional blessing can also be move to the very end of the ceremony, after
the pronouncement)
At
this time, we ask a blessing upon the marriage of Bride and Groom. May they be
blessed with the guidance, strength and direction to make their relationship
grow and blossom in the years ahead. May their home be blessed with joy and
happiness, and may they strive together to make their hopes and dreams come
true.
Most of all, we ask that they be blessed by the love and support of
family and friends as they begin life together as husband and wife.
And, from this day forth, may their worries be few, may their joys be
many, and may their love grow more abundantly with each passing day. Amen.
Pronouncement
by officiant:
Bride and Groom, you have consented together to be bound to
one another in lawful marriage. You have made special promises to each other
which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by
the giving and receiving of rings.
By the authority vested in me,
according to the laws of the State of Delaware, I now pronounce you husband and
wife.
Kiss: "You may kiss your
bride.”
Sample Ceremony
2
Groom and Bride, We are
privileged to share today's happy occasion with you. We are here, not only to
witness your commitment to each other, but also to wish you both every happiness
in your future life together as husband and wife.
Within its framework of commitment and loyalty,
marriage enables the establishment of a home, where through trust, patience and
respect, the love and affection that you have for each other may develop into a
deep and lasting relationship.
We who are witnessing your
marriage, hope that, despite the stresses inevitable in any life, your Love,
Respect, trust, and understanding of each other will increase your contentment
and heighten your joy in living.
Marriage
deepens and enriches every facet of life.
Happiness
is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more
strongly, but passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It
encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, new ways of expressing a love
that is deeper than life.
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they
create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken
or written words.
Marriage
is a promise made in the hearts of two people who love each other…..
and
the potential of marriage requires a lifetime to fulfill.
Ceremony
Before you, Groom and Bride, are joined in marriage in the presence of God and
these witnesses, I am to remind you of the serious and binding nature of the
relationship you are now about to enter.
Bride and Groom, if you
now wish to make your marriage vows, please answer, I do.
(Example
of "repeating vows")
Groom, please repeat your
vows after me:
I, Groom, take you Bride,/
to be my lawfully wedded
wife./
\I promise to love, cherish
and honor you
/in sickness and in health/
for richer for poorer/
for better for worse/
and forsaking all others/
keep myself only unto you/
for so long as we both shall
live.
Bride,
please repeat your vows after me:
I, Bride, take you Groom
to be my lawfully wedded
husband./
I promise to love, cherish and
honor you/
in sickness and in health/
for richer for poorer/
for better for worse/
and forsaking all others/
keep myself only unto you/
for so long as we both shall
live.
Bride and Groom, nothing
is easier than saying words. And nothing is more difficult than living
them, day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and
practiced again tomorrow, the tomorrow after that, and all the tomorrows after
that.
Wedding rings are a symbol
of the unbroken circle of love. May they be a daily reminder of your
vows to each other and your resolve to live together in unity, love, and
happiness.
Officiant:
Bride and Groom, as a symbol of your love and respect for each other, do you
now wish to exchange rings? (Respond
“We do” or “I do” together)
May we have the ring for
the Groom?
Groom, please place your
ring on Bride’s hand with the words: "With this ring I pledge my love
and commitment."
May we have the ring for Bride?
Bride,
please place your ring on Groom’s hand with the words:
"With this ring I pledge my love and commitment."
THE HAND CEREMONY
Bride and groom
face each other, holding each other’s hands
REV. BRYANT:
For centuries, the wedding ceremony has been described as
“Giving one’s hand in marriage.” What is the meaningof that phrase?
How did it originate? Groom
and Bride, please look at the hands holding yours 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 and chase down
your dreams.
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 help you hold your family as one.
These are the
hands that will hold you tight when you struggle through difficult times.
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.
Yes, These
are the hands that today you take in marriage!
Unity
candle:
(There are other versions of this ceremony--see www.themarriageman.com
or ask me for info if interested )
At this
time, Groom and Bride will light a Unity Candle.
Bride and Groom, the two separate candles symbolize your separate lives, separate
families and separate sets of friends. Iask that
each of you take one of the lit candles and that together you light the center
candle.
The individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center
candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and
represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to
one.
Pronouncement by
officiant:
Bride and Groom, you have consented together to be bound to
one another in lawful marriage. You have made special promises to each other
which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, the
giving and receiving of rings and by lighting the Unity Candle.
By the authority vested in me, according to the laws of
New Jersey, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined
together, let no one put asunder.
Kiss: "You may now
seal your vows with a kiss.
Sample Ceremony 3
WELCOME:
Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, an adventure in the most intimate
of human relationships. Today Bride and Groom proclaim their love and
commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in
the new life they now undertake together. Each of you has given
something special to their lives. Your love and encouragement will forever be
appreciated. Thank you for sharing one of life's happiest moments with them.
May you be as important a part of their tomorrow as you are of their today.
PRESENTATION:
Who gives this woman in marriage? [Her
Mother and I do.]
INTRODUCTION:
Bride and Groom, marriage is the most important of all earthly relationships.
It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully and with full understanding
of its sacred nature.
Your
marriage must stand by the strength of your love and the power of faith in
each other. Just as two threads woven in opposite directions form a beautiful
tapestry, so too,
your lives when merged together will make a beautiful marriage. It is a mutual
enrichment; a mingling of two personalities which diminishes neither, and
enhances both. "Marriage is a fusion of two hearts, the union of two
lives, the coming together of two tributaries, which after being united in
marriage, will flow in the same channel in the same direction. To make your
relationship succeed it
will take 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.
And it will take
commitment, to hold true to the journey you both promised today to share
together. An intimate and secure relationship is not based solely on promises,
but also on trust, respect, faithfulness and the ability to forgive. A lasting
marriage is based on all of these, bound together by love.
READING
(by Bridesmaid):
Destiny
- by Sir Edwin Arnold (1832-1904)
Somewhere
there waiteth in this world of ours
For
one lone soul another lonely soul,
Each
choosing each through all the weary hours
And
meeting strangely at one sudden goal.
Then
blend they, like green leaves with golden flowers,
Into
one beautiful and perfect whole;
And
life's long night is ended, and the way
Lies
open onward to eternal day.
Declaration of
Intent:
Bride
and
Groom,
may that be the love that you bring into this relationship and may its essence
touch all those with whom you come incontact. As you come this day to
affirm your love and commitment in the presence of God, Family, and Friends,
may you always remember to value each
other as special and unique individuals, and that you respect each other's
thoughts, ideas and feelings. May you be able to forgive and to forget when
wronged - as from this day forward you will be each other's home, comfort
and sanctuary.
Groom, do you
take Bride
as your wife? As your companion and best friend for life, do you
promise to love, adore, and encourage her? Share the good times and
achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep her in
sickness and in sorrow and be loyal to her forevermore?
[I do]
Bride, do you take
Groom
as your husband? As your companion and best friend for life, do you
promise to love, adore, and encourage him? Share the good times and
achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep him in
sickness and in sorrow and be loyal to him forevermore?
[I do]
Sand
Blending Ceremony:
Bride
and
Groom
may your love always be as constant as the never-ending waves,
flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea.
Just as the waters touch and nourish the many shores of the earth, may
your love be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
This beautiful union is symbolized through the combining of these two
individual shells of sand. The
sand in the first shell represents you
Groom, in all that you were, are, and
ever will be, and the sand in the other shell represents you Bride, in all
that you were, are and ever will be. Each one holds its own unique beauty,
strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without
need of anything else. However when these two are blended together they create
an entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity.
Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever
enriches the combination.
Please
pour the sand into this container to symbolize the union of your two lives.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated, so will your marriage be
bonded together forming one heart, one love.
The life that each of you experienced now, individually, will hereafter
be inseparably united, for the two shall become one.
EXCHANGE
OF VOWS:
Bride
and
Groom,
the vows that you are about to exchange serve as a verbal representation of
the love you have promised to each other.
For it is not the words that you speak today which will unite you
together as one, but the inner sense of love and commitment that each of you
feels within your soul. No other
human ties are as tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.
Groom, please repeat
after me.
Bride, you are my
companion in life/
and
my one true love./
I will treasure
our friendship/
and love you
today, tomorrow, and forever./
I will trust and
honor you,/
I will laugh and
cry with you./
With unfailing
love I will stand by you/
through the best
and the worst,/
through the
difficult and the easy./
As I have given
you my hand to hold/
so I give you my
life to keep.
Bride, please repeat
after me.
Groom, you are my
companion in life/
and
my one true love./
I will treasure
our friendship/
and love you
today, tomorrow, and forever./
I will trust and
honor you,/
I will laugh and
cry with you./
With unfailing
love I will stand by you/
through the best
and the worst,/
through the
difficult and the easy./
As I have given
you my hand to hold/
so I give you my
life to keep.
RING
CEREMONY
The ring, a
circle, is one of nature’s simplest forms.
When a stone is cast upon a pond, it generates waves in ever expanding
circles. Consider this marriage as being two stones striking the water
simultaneously. The ensuing waves interlock, and the growth of the enlarging
circles show the combined energies of the lives of Bride
and
Groom. The
interlocking of these two lives will be symbolized in the exchange of rings.
RING EXCHANGE:
Groom, please place this ring on
Bride’s ring finger and repeat
after me:
Bride, I give you
this ring as I give you myself. /It is a circle without end./ Such is my love
for you.
Bride,
please place this ring on Groom's ring finger and repeat after me:
Groom,
I give you this ring as I give you myself. /It is a circle without end./ Such
is my love for you.
May the sacredness
of this moment and the vows and rings you have exchanged ever remain as a
priceless memory in the heart of each of you and may you have perfect love and
peace together.
CLOSING:
Bride
and
Groom,
if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, may it be the
love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious
union, and by love which your marriage shall endure.
Today your
separate lives with your individual memories, desires, and hopes merge into
one. You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one
person in the entire world whom you love above all others. You are adding to
your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and
blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength,
responsibilities and to share love. May you be a blessing and comfort to each
other, sharers of each other’s dreams, consolers of each other’s sorrows,
helpers to each other in all of life's challenges. May you encourage each
other in whatever you set out to achieve. May you trust each other, trust life
and be unafraid. May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a
marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and
understanding.
PRONOUNCEMENT:
Bride
and
Groom,
you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and
promises you have just made. It
is with these in mind that I pronounce you husband and wife. Groom, you may now kiss your bride.
PRESENTATION:
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present
......................
Sample Ceremony 4
Processional
-the bride and the wedding
party walk up the aisle to the altar, usually accompanied by music
Prayer
Let us
Pray: Heavenly
Father, thank you for this joyous day.
Thank you for Your Light that has entered Bride and Groom’s
life. Thank you for all the
miracles and blessings. Please bless this union.
Help Bride and Groom find the perfect place in this world for
their love to flourish. Let the radiant light of their love shine on all those
around them. May all their future
creations be blessed. God, bless
them with the inner gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness and truth that
they may live and grow together in love and peace.
In
Christ Our Lord, Amen
Welcoming
Good
evening. It is truly a blessing from heaven for two people to find one another
and to love so deeply that they embrace the holy bond of marriage.
That is why we are here today, to witness and celebrate Bride and Groom’s commitment to their union. On
behalf of Bride and Groom, I welcome
you .
Foundation
Marriage is a gift from God, a miracle.
After speaking to you both, it is obvious that you already know some of
the great blessings marriage has to offer.
It is an opportunity to feel the joy of taking care of someone who
takes care of you, to be challenged towards growth yet gently nurtured, to
love deeply and receive it in return. It
is about trust, friendship and having a partner to share all life has to
offer. It is a commitment to participate in a process of mutual evolution,
understanding and forgiveness. It is indeed a sacred union to be treated with
reverence.
Marriage is not a place to hide from the world.
It is a safe place to grow and become wiser.
It is a place to evolve into better people; so that you can go out in
the world and make a difference by spreading the joy and wisdom that you have
found with each other. Together in this marriage, you shall contribute more
fully, for you both shall be more full.
Bride, Groom is a gift to you from God, but he is not a gift for
you alone. It is God’s will
that in your love, this man might find within himself a greater sense of who
he is meant to be. You are asked
to see the good in this man, to accept him for who he is and who he shall be. In this way, God’s purpose shall be accomplished in this
relationship. May this man find
the kingdom of heaven through the love you share.
And
so it is with you also Groom, that although Bride is God’s gift to
you, she is not a gift intended for you alone. You are asked by God to so love
this woman, that in your love she might find herself as God has created her,
so beautiful and strong and brave and true, that the entire world might be
blessed by the presence of a woman who shines so. May she relax in your arms
as she has never relaxed before. May
she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend on
forever.
May you both create, with God, a piece of heaven on earth.
.
The
Hands Ceremony
Bride and Groom, Please face each other and take
each other’s hands.
For centuries, the
wedding ceremony has been described as “Taking
one’s hand in marriage.” What is the meaning of that phrase?
How did it originate? Bride
and Groom, please look at the hands holding yours 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 and chase down
your dreams.
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 help you hold your family as one.
These are the
hands that will hold you tight when you struggle through difficult times.
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.
Yes, These are
the hands that today you take in marriage!
The Questions
Who
gives this woman to be the bride of this man? (The father/parents stand up,
respond " We do" and then are seated))
Bride
and Groom, If you are ready to step into the holy circle of matrimony,
assuming all its rights, obligations and abundant joys, please so indicate by
joining hands.
Do
you, Bride take this man, Groom as your husband, to love him and to
honor him, to nurture, serve and support him, in times of joy and in times of
difficulty? Do you promise to remain by his side regardless of what trouble
befalls you, and in the presence of temptation to forsake this love, do you
promise to remain steadfast and true? Do you promise with all your heart and
soul to honor this vow till death do you part? If so, answer now, "I
do."(Bride answers, "I do")
Do
you, Groom take this woman, Bride as your wife, to love her and to
honor her, to nurture, serve and support her, in times of joy and in times of
difficulty? Do your promise to remain by her side regardless of what trouble
befalls you, and in the presence of temptation to forsake this love, do you
promise to remain steadfast and true? Do you promise with all your heart and
soul to honor this vow till death do you part? If so answer now, "I
do."(Groom answers, "I do")
Ring
Ceremony
And
so we come Bride and Groom, to the presentation of rings by which you
symbolize and bind your love. The circle has long been a symbol of
spirit and the power of God. The sky and the earth are round. The wind in its
greatest power whirls. The sun and moon, both round, come forth and go down
again in a circle. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing
and always come back again to where they were.
Without beginning or end
and with no point of weakness, the circle is a reminder of the eternal quality
of God and of unending strength. Let the seamless circle of these rings become
the symbol of your endless love and unending faithfulness.
Your wedding rings are most special because they say that even in your
uniqueness you have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another
human being to enhance who you are. Your
rings carry a potent double message: We are individuals and yet we belong; we
are not alone. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who
you are but also the union you are making, the fact that throughout the rest
of your lives each of you will be imprinted by the other, yet as yourself
remain.
God,
bless these rings and the two who exchange them. Fill them with your Holy
Presence. Keep them safe in
the circle of Your protection and love.
Groom, place the
ring on Bride's finger and repeat after me: “With this ring, I pledge my
love and faithfulness to you, today, tomorrow and always
Bride,
place the ring on Groom’s finger and repeat after me:
“With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you, today,
tomorrow and always."
Wear
these rings as the enclosing bond of reverence and trust. Fulfill the circle
of love that now makes you one.
Vows
read
phrase by phrase by minister and repeated by wedding partners;
Groom, please repeat
after me.
Bride, you are
my companion in life/
and
my one true love./
I will treasure
our friendship/
and love you
today, tomorrow, and forever./
I will trust and
honor you,/
I will laugh and
cry with you./
With unfailing
love I will stand by you/
through the best
and the worst,/
through the
difficult and the easy./
As I have given
you my hand to hold/
so I give you my
life to keep.
Bride,
please repeat after me.
Groom, you are
my companion in life/
and
my one true love./
I will treasure
our friendship/
and love you
today, tomorrow, and forever./
I will trust and
honor you,/
I will laugh and
cry with you./
With unfailing
love I will stand by you/
through the best
and the worst,/
through the
difficult and the easy./
As I have given
you my hand to hold/
so I give you my
life to keep.
Blessing
Bride
and Groom, you now have the opportunity for expressing through your
union and partnership, God’s glory, love and healing. How could this be?
Through devotion and service to eachother. Through patience, kindness, total
acceptance of each other, tempered by the willingness to change. You will be
tempted, as time goes by, to take for granted the love which today seems so
precious and dear. To speak to and treat each other in ways that do not
reflect the highest good in both of you. Resist it.
Promise to always see the goodness in your partner, even when it’s
especially difficult. God will provide you the way, if you are willing. He is
the key to your success as a married couple. Call on Him devotedly and
consistently to guide your thinking and bless your home. May this marriage be
to you a heavenly sanctuary. God bless you.
Pronouncement
Bride
and Groom, in the presence of God, your family and friends
today, you have spoken the words and performed the rites which unite your
lives. It is my legal right as a
minister and my greatest joy and privilege to now declare you husband and
wife. "You
may now kiss the bride.".
Benediction
May
God’s blessings rest upon you, may God’s peace abide with you, and may
God’s presence illuminate your hearts, now and forevermore. In
Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Conclusion:
And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you for the
first time, Mr. and Mrs.
Recessional
(Music)
Visit
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