Wedding Ceremonies

Non-RELIGIOUS WEDDING CEREMONY # 3 OPENING: Let us lift our hearts together as one in jubilant celebration of the marriage union we are about to witness between Bride and Groom. As they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, we are blessed to witness the magnificence of their love, their open hearts, and vibrant and willing spirits inspired by their love, let each of us rededicate ourselves to the loving relationships in our own lives. May we all be enriched for having shared this day together. GATHERING WORDS: Bride and Groom are truly blessed to be surrounded by their dearest family and friends. They are so grateful to you for all of the unconditional love, joy support, and guidance you have given the over the years. They deeply appreciate having you all here with them today to share their joy and to celebrate their marriage. READINGS: The first reading will be from The Couple’s Tao Te Ching: “ A Sacred Space” by Lau Tzu A Sacred Space Your love requires space in which to grow. This space must be safe enough to allow your hearts to be revealed. It must offer refreshment for your spirits and renewal for your mind. It must be a space made sacred by the quality of your honesty, Attention, love, and compassion. It may be anywhere, inside or out, But it must exist. MARRIAGE ADDRESS: Marriage is the essence of human relationships. It challenges us to be of one accord without abandoning the truth of our individuality. It challenges us to not lose ourselves in one another, but rather to walk side by side heading in the same direction. As with all relationships, marriage is an endless presentation of choices about how we want to be with one another. Each choice results in either more unity or more separation. Choose into that unity, Bride and Groom, every chance you get. Share the gifts of your friendship, humor, vulnerability, sensitivity and kindness. Be sure to find ways each day to protect, affirm, and support each other, and to treasure the balance and shared values that you have found with each other. Enjoy the intertwining of your independence with your intimacy. I wish you the courage to keep your loving hearts open to each other for the rest of your lives. VOWS: ______, 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 as long we both shall live. BLESSING OF RINGS & RING EXCHANGE: Bride and Groom, these wedding rings symbolize the holiness, perfection, and peace that is available to you in your marriage. They are symbols of the love, friendship and faithfulness that you share. As circles, they have no beginning or end. Just as these rings have no points of weakness, may your union be strong, and may you be blessed with joy as you journey through life together surrounded by the circle of your love. Ring Exchange: “With this ring, I thee wed.” BLESSING: Apache Wedding Blessing 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 for the other. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May your days together be good and long upon the earth. PRONOUNCEMENT: Now that Bride and Groom have joined themselves to each other by solemn vows, and by the giving and receiving of rings, I do now, by virtue of the authority vested in me, pronounce you are husband and wife. Kiss: You may now kiss the bride INTRODUCTION: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my priviledge to introduce Mr. and Mrs. ______. CONGRATULATIONS!! Non-RELIGIOUS WEDDING CEREMONY # 4 OPENING WORDS: Love is the reason we are here. In marriage we not only say, "I love you today", but also, "I promise to love you for all of our tomorrows." (Groom's Name) and (Bride's Name), in the days ahead of you, there will be stormy times and good times, times of conflict and times of joy. I ask you to remember this advice: Never go to bed angry. 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 worst. 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 kindnesses you bestow on your friends. Say "I love you" every day. READING (optional): What is Love? by Susan Polis Schutz Love is the strongest feeling known, an all-encompassing passion, an extreme strength, an overwhelming excitement. Love is trying not to hurt the other person, trying not to change the other person, trying not to dominate the other person, trying not to deceive the other person. Love is understanding each other, listening to each other, supporting each other, having fun with each other. Love is not an excuse to stop growing, not an excuse to stop making yourself better, not an excuse to lessen one's goals, not an excuse to take the other person for granted. Love is being completely honest with each other, finding dreams to share, working towards common goals, sharing responsibilities equally. Everyone in the world wants to love; Love is not a feeling to be taken lightly; Love is a feeling to be cherished, nurtured and cared for; Love is the reason for life. VOWS: Groom & Bride, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift, a lifelong commitment, and a challenge to love one another more completely each and every day. Groom/Bride, with this understanding, do you take Bride/Groom to be your wedded wife/husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her/him comfort her/him, honor and keep her/him for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others and to be faithful only to her, so long as you both shall live? Groom/Bride respond: “I do.” EXCHANGE OF RINGS: (optional) May I have the rings please? The ring, an unbroken, never-ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love. Ring Vows: Groom/Bride, as you place this ring on Bride's/Groom’s finger, repeat these words after me: ”This ring, a gift for you, symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward. As this ring has no end neither shall my love for you”. RITUAL: (optional) (please see Rituals tab for options) Blessing: (optional) Apache Blessing: 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 for 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 are three lives before you; his life, her life and your life together. PRONOUNCEMENT: Groom & Bride, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage by the exchanging of vows, and by the giving of rings. With the authority vested in me as an Interfaith Minister, it is with great joy, that I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you live together in blissful happiness from this day forward. KISS: You may seal your vow with a Kiss! INTRODUCTION: Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. ___________!