Presentation of the Bride
Aunt Tammy: Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
The Father: We do or Her mother and I or Our Family does.
Aunt Tammy: You may be seated.
Aunt Tammy: Join with me as we bow our heads to observe a moment of silence to
honor the memory of those who are not with us today, but are here in spirit. (Pause
briefly)
Minister's Welcome and Opening Remarks
Aunt Tammy: Welcome, one and all. How beautiful is the day that is touched by love!
May this be a moment to be remembered and cherished.
Marriage is a very special spiritual connection of two people united for a common
purpose, bringing love and trust together into single focus. We have come together in the
presence of Love to witness and bless the joining of this man and this woman in
Matrimony. This bond is sanctioned by the state, and blessed by God, but can only
flourish in the hearts of two.
Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and with full
understanding of its significance.
Into this union Sarah and Charlie now come to be joined
Relationship Thoughts from the Minister
Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and
romance in movies.
We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in
our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories and the foundation of our
fondest dreams.
Without love, we merely exist. With love, we truly begin to live!
We are together as friends, relatives and family to mark the end of one beginning and to
recognize officially a new beginning which for Sarah and Charlie serves as a public
affirmation of their friendship and their love.
They want this day to mean something special to you as guests. Those who are married
may want to silently renew and reaffirm your vows today by gently taking the hand of
your partner during this ceremony. Others may want to also join hands and think about
what it means to be a friend, for marriage is built first on friendship.
There are no ties on earth so sweet, none so tender as those you are about to assume.
There are no vows so solemn as those you are about to make. There is no institution of
earth so sacred as that of the union you will form, for the true home is not only the place
in which you will live, but is also the dwelling place where each lives in the heart and
mind of the other.
Charge to the Couple
Sarah and Charlie To be complete, marriage must be spiritual as well as an earthly estate.
When it is Spiritual in thought, purpose, plan and action, it becomes the harmonious,
peaceful and happy union for man and woman.
The state of matrimony is true marriage only when it is based upon a deep, inner
communion of two souls who find completion, each in the other.
Today, your separate lives, each with your individual memories, desires and hopes,
merge into one life - a new dimension.
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be
created. In the art of marriage the little things are the big things.
Remember:
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Three Key Concepts: Self-reflect, Communicate, Treat your spouse the way you
want to be treated
Not every day is going to be wonderful.
Keep a positive attitude. Don't dwell on problems. Everything has a solution.
If your spouse appears down, you need to understand why.
Keep your home neat. You'll be spending much of your life there!
Learn home improvement, you won't be able to afford paying for everything
you want.
Work together on all projects when possible.
Don't hesitate to ask advice from your parents. They have lots of life experience.
Your parents will listen and advise on problems, but also like to hear the good
things!
Take advice, but the two of you make the final decisions.
Together, be adventurous, take some chances.
Never assume that your spouse knows what you are thinking
Let them know if they did or didn't do something that bothered you.
Tools should be considered household items, they work for both of you.
Power equipment is a necessity.
Motorcycles are valid transportation.
We as your friends gathered here today, accept for you a love that brings out your
magnificence, a love that gives you the courage to stand apart and the willingness to
stand together. When times call for you to be apart, may you always return to your
togetherness in the same spirit of love that you are feeling here today.
Most of all, we want that, at the end of your lives on this planet, you will look into each
others eyes and be able to say:
"Because you have loved me, you have given me a faith in myself, and because I have
faith in myself, I have loved my fellow man. My life with you has been complete."
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Aunt Tammy: The bride and groom have asked Sarah’s brother, Bryan, to read a
passage.
Bryan – Reading of his choice
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Declaration of Consent
Aunt Tammy: Sarah and Charlie, will you release the past, bringing only those
memories, desires and hopes which will belong to each other, into your future life
together?
Both: We will.
Aunt Tammy: Please face each other.
(Bride and Groom face each other and holds hands. Bride hands her bouquet to the
Maid or Matron of Honor until after the ceremony.)
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Aunt Tammy: At this time Sarah and Charlie would like to make some personal
promises to each other.
Groom and Bride:
I, Sarah, take you Charlie, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I
will cherish our love today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will
laugh with you and cry with you. I will share in your dreams, and support you as you
strive to achieve your goals. I will listen to you with compassion and understanding, and
speak to you with encouragement. I will help you when you need it, and step aside when
you don't. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult
and the easy. Come what may I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to
hold So I give you my life to keep.
In Unison:
You are my heart and my soul. This day, before all, I devote myself to you. I promise to
love and respect you, comfort you and support you, believe in you, and take pride in you.
I promise to cherish your love forever. I give to you my trust, respect, compassion, faith
and adoration. I promise to bring joy, strength, and commitment to our love and marriage.
I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage
you to achieve your goals, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest
with you, and cherish you for eternity. No matter what we may encounter together, I will
love you; Forever and beyond.
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Exchange of Vows
Aunt Tammy: These spoken commitments to each other speak boldly of your intentions
and your actions, which speak louder than your words.
Aunt Tammy: What symbols do you give in this marriage?
Bride and Groom: Rings.
(Best Man gives rings to the Minister)
Your rings are circles and a circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth, the universe, of
wholeness, perfection, peace and unity. Like circles, your rings have no beginning and no
end and in the sacred tradition of marriage rings have come to symbolize eternal love and
the endless union of body, of mind, and spirit.
These rings will be worn by Sarah and Charlie to show to the world their love and
commitment to one another. May the presence of these rings always remind you of the
eternal love you have pledged and devotion you willingly share with one another from
this moment on.
Let each of us in his own way, may it be prayer, may it be by a thought, whatever you
and I would wish for this couple, let's pray or have our own thoughts as a blessing upon
these rings. Let us pause at this time for these silent blessings. (pause) These rings, now
blessed are a symbol of love and faithfulness. They seal the vows of marriage and
represent a promise of forever love.
Groom: Because this ring is perfectly symmetrical, it signifies the perfection of true
love. As I place it on your finger, I give you all that I am and ever hope to be this day and
forevermore.
Bride: Because this ring has no end or beginning, it signifies the continuation of true
love. As I place it on your finger, I give you all that I am and ever hope to be this day and
forevermore.
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Aunt Tammy: At this time the couple will be exchanging the san-san-kudo sake sips.
They ask their mothers to join them at this time.
Sake ceremony: Three sips from each cup, followed by the mothers each taking a sip from
their own cup.
Aunt Tammy: The sharing of sake is one of the oldest traditional Japanese wedding
ceremonial customs dating back to the 8th century. The sharing or toast of sake
symbolizes a formal bond between the bride and groom. At the conclusion of the sake
toast ceremony, both mothers drink a cup of sake to signify not only the union of the
bride and groom but the unity of two families. In Japanese, san means three. Three is an
indivisible number, and it is considered a sacred number in Buddhism. By exchanging
the nuptial sake sips, this three times three, they are now happily united. Nine means
triple happiness. But just as the san-san-kudo sake sips may not be altogether delicious,
the couple’s marriage may not always be delightful, but they will have to overcome their
hardships with the cooperative spirit of the san-san-kudo.
Pronouncement of Marriage
Sarah and Charlie, although I am officiating here today, it is not truly in my power to
santify, legitimize, or bless your relationship in anyway, because the two of you have
already done that in your hearts. So, by joining hands and looking into each others eyes,
let it be known that you are joined body and soul in this lifetime, and that this bond is
sacred and eternal. Sarah and Charlie, it gives me great joy to announce that you are not
husband and wife!
Those whom Love has joined together, let no one put asunder.
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Aunt Tammy: You may now seal your promises with a kiss.
Introduction of Couple
Aunt Tammy: Ladies and Gentlemen: It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first
time, Charlie and Sarah Brooks.
Now go in peace and forever Celebrate Love!