- Prepared by John Hoad
LEADER: There are moments in our lives that we mark with special ceremonies - ceremonies of celebration and of commitment - ceremonies that express our thoughts and feelings at a special time in our lives.
Today we are here to share the marriage ceremony of:
_______________________________ and _____________________________
In this ceremony, they will make public declaration of the private commitment they have already made to one another, and they will establish themselves socially and legally in a union of mutual caring and mutual responsibility.
In this union, each is saying to the other: Because I like you, because I care for you and know that you care for me, because I believe we are good for each other, because I love you - I want to share life with you.
We have joined them here today to celebrate their love, to acknowledge their union, and to support their commitment - a commitment for the good times and the hard times they will face. So we wish for them such goodwill and respect towards one another, and such support from others, that they may grow more strong in their love and be able to turn every crisis and challenge into an opportunity for the renewal and deepening of their relationship.
LEADER: We surround you now ____________ and ____________ with our good wishes and our loving thoughts, as you state your intentions and make public your commitment to one another.
LEADER: ____________, do you take ____________ to be your legal and wedded wife?
GROOM: I do.
LEADER: ____________ , do you take, ____________ to be your legal and wedded husband?
BRIDE: I do.
Groom and Bride say their promises to each other, repeating after the Leader:
GROOM: I, _____________, choose you, _____________, to be my wife,
to respect you, to care for you, and to grow with you,
through good times and hard times,
to love you and be your friend,
to share with you and be your companion,
giving the best that I can to fulfill our lives together.
BRIDE: I, _____________, choose you, _____________, to be my husband,
to respect you, to care for you, and to grow with you,
through good times and hard times,
to love you and be your friend,
to share with you and be your companion,
giving the best that I can to fulfill our lives together.
[A statement, or reading, may be be inserted here.]
LEADER: Marriage is a life born of sharing and sustained by sharing - a joining of two lives in mutual respect for mutual benefit - a union in which two people take responsibility for one another without taking over the life of the other, for love seeks to do right by the other, and to make life fulfilling and happy for both.
Such love gives expression to the best in human thought and experience.
From many different sources, we are taught: "Hold fast to the highest,"
"Do no harm," "Love the other as you love yourself," "Do for others as you would want them to do for you," and "So act as to bring our the best in your self and in the other person."
Inspired by this ideal of love, ____________ and ____________, now exchange rings, as symbols of their union in marriage:
GROOM: I, _______________, give you, _______________, this ring,
as a symbol of my love for you,
and my commitment to our marriage.
BRIDE: I, _______________, give you, _______________, this ring,
as a symbol of my love for you,
and my commitment to our marriage.
(The couple join hands.)
LEADER: And now, ____________, and ____________,
since you have made your commitment to one another,
and have exchanged rings to symbolize your union,
I give voice to your commitment and by the authority vested in me,
I PRONOUNCE YOU HUSBAND AND WIFE.
LEADER: May you have light to guide you on your way,
strength to uphold you at all times,
hope to lift you and inspire you,
and love to cheer your nights and days.
May you always rejoice in the blessings of family,
and the companionship of friends.
May your labors satisfy and your rest renew you.
May you go forth now in the spirit of adventure,
and grow together in understanding and helpfulness.
And may your union enrich the lives of all whom you touch.
(The couple kiss.)
LEADER: I present to you, ____________, and ____________,
husband and wife.