GREETING
Friends, Family and honored guests we are assembled here to
bear witness to the love that _________ and __________ share. As
recognition of love and commitment, we are joining together a
man and woman who wish to continue life’s journey bound as
partners, friends, and confidants. Created in the Heaven’s, the
souls of ___________ and ___________ are meant to be together
through their time here and thereafter. Blessed are those who
come before God and profess their love and commitment to Him.
Belief in each other and in their faith will provide a foundation for
(Children’s names) and their families for years to come. There is
uniting of not just a man and woman on this ____ day of ______, but
a joining of families. So welcome all, to the joining of the _________
and ______________ families.
*** Doubly blessed is the couple which comes to the marriage
altar with the approval and blessings of their families and
friends. Who presents this woman to this man to be married to
each other?****
?????????????????
__________ and ____________, the vows that are going to be
mentioned today are meant to be given with an understanding of
commitment and love. The dedication that will be given by the
both of you will be remembered in your hearts forever. For in
them, you are committing yourselves exclusively the one to the
other for as long as you both shall live. This love is not to be
diminished by difficult circumstances, and it is only to be
dissolved by death.
As the challenges of the future present themselves _______________
and ___________ will have to rely on each other and their families
for the strength to persevere. The perseverance that they share
will bring them closer and temper the strength of their marriage.
The blessing of a marriage is present when both dedicate their
love and time to each other. Today you are going to be stepping
into a place were “I” becomes “we” and separate paths become
shared journeys. The amazing journey is just beginning, where
the future is limitless, and the rewards of hard work will result in
eternal love and friendship.
Scriptures
Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
17
Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the LORD do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
16
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the
gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I
am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my
body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease;
where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is
knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we
prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect
disappears. When I was a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned
like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind
me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we
shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love.
Vows
:
__________, do you take________to be your wife and your best friend
through life’s journey through the good and the bad? “I do”
Will you support her, love her, embrace her, and commit your life
to her as her lover and protector? “I do”
:
_________________, do you take ______________ to be your husband
and your best friend through life’s journey through the good and
the bad? “I do”
Will you support him, love him, and commit your life to him as his
lover and confidant? “I do”
****What the rings symbolize****
“Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward
spiritual grace and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all
the union of this man and this woman in marriage.” This is a
testament of the love that is shared between both ____________
and ______________ , for all to see they are to be together forever.
“MAY WE HAVE THE RINGS PLEASE”
__________Place the ring on her finger and now repeat after me:
I, _________________, take you __________________ to be my wife, my
partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and
love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you
and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you
faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the
obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart,
and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall
live.
_____________Place the ring on his finger and now repeat after me:
I, __________________, take you, ______________________ to be my
husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love
from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and
friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in
sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as
well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to
support you in you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to
laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as
we both shall live.
Sand Ceremony
Love is the eternal force of life. Love is the force that allows us
to face fear and uncertainty with courage. Today, Bride and
Groom, have chosen to commemorate their marriage through the
celebration of the sand ceremony. Bride and Groom will
simultaneously pour separate containers of sand into a common
vessel. Each grain of sand represents a unique and separate
moment, decision, feeling or event that helped shaped Bride and
Groom into the separate and unique individuals that they are
today. Although you will be sharing one life, never forget you are
two separate people. Cherish and affirm your differences. Love
each other. Keep your commitment primary. Together you will
laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and
grow. Grow sometimes together, sometimes separately. To
symbolize the importance of the individuals within the marriage
and the joining of two lives into one entity, 3 colors of sand will
now be layered into a vase. (Bride will be handed a clear jar of
Pink sand, the Groom will be handed a clear jar of Black sand,
the officiate will hold a clear jar of neutral white sand.) The
Officiate speaks again: We begin with a layer of neutral sand
which symbolizes that the marriage is grounded. (The officiate
pours a little of the neutral sand into the vase.) Then we layer the
individual colors. This symbolizes that the marriage is based on
the strength of the individuals. (Groom pours a little of the black
sand in first, followed by a little more of the neutral sand from
the officiate. The Bride then adds a little of the pink sand
followed by additional sand from the officiate.) Now we combine
the color, which symbolizes two lives joined as one together
forever. (Groom and Bride simultaneously pour their remaining
sand into the vase until their jars are empty. The officiate caps of
the sand with the last of the neutral sand.) Bride and Groom, just
as the grains of sand can never be separated into their individual
containers again, so will your marriage be.
“PLEASE JOIN ME IN BOWING YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER”
Bless this marriage, O God, as ____________ and __________ begin
their journey down the road of life together.
We don't know what lies ahead for the road turns and bends. But
help them to make the best of whatever comes their way.
Help them to hug each other often, talk and laugh a lot.
Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they
first met.
Help them to realize that nothing nor anyone is perfect and to
look for the good in all things and all people including
themselves.
Help them to respect each other's likes and dislikes, opinion and
beliefs, hopes and dreams and fears.
Help them to learn from each other and to help each other to
grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Help them to realize that there is design and purpose in their
lives as in the world, and if they will hold onto each other, they
will know that things have a way of working out for the good.
Help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of
love as a foundation on which they can build their lives.
But most of all, dear God, help them to keep lit the torch of love'
that they now share in their hearts so that by their loving
example they may pass on the light of love to their children and
to their children's children forever. Amen
***Closing Remarks***
______________ and ______________, in so much as the two of you
have agreed to live together in Holy Matrimony, have promised
your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your hands
and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be Husband
and Wife. Whom God hath joined together, let no one put
asunder.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his
face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the lord lift
up his countenance unto you, and give you peace.
Congratulations, you may now kiss your bride.
It is my privilege to present to you Mr. and Mrs.
___________________________.