Word of welcome
Welcome. My name is Todd Kaufman and I have the privilege of performing this marriage ceremony
today.
On behalf of _______, welcome and thank you for being here. They are delighted that you are here today
to share in their joy during this wonderful moment in their lives.
By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and you support
their decision to commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives.
Address to the assembly
Today _________ show their mutual love and respect in front of you, in a ceremony that binds them
together. This is not something done lightly, not something that can be casually revoked, but a lifelong
commitment the two of them have agreed to. They tell me, they will never take the other for granted, but
that the two of them have found something special in each other, a love they believe will grow, but must
be continually nurtured with mutual kindness, consideration and understanding.
You who are gathered here as witnesses are called to continue your support and encouragement as they
unite in marriage.
Address to the couple
The bride and groom would now like to have ____________come up to do a reading by Robert Fulghum.
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment.
At some point, you decided to marry.
From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, you have been making promises and agreements in an
informal way.
All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks — all those
sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we
will” — those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” — and all those
promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those
things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed — well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time.
Before this moment you have been many things to one another — acquaintance, friend, companion,
lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few
years.
Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the
same between you.
For after these vows, you shall say to the world,
this is my husband,
this is my wife.
The Exchange of vows
____________, we now come to your vows. These are promises made today, that must be renewed
tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you.
Will you now please turn and face each other and hold hands.
_______, please repeat after me:
I _______ choose you ________ to be my wife.
I promise to laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow.
I promise to listen to you with compassion and understanding, and speak to you with encouragement.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard.
I promise to remain faithful to you for better or worse, as long as we both are living.
These things, I promise to you today, and for all the days of my life.
________, please repeat after me:
I _________ choose you _________ to be my husband.
I promise to laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow.
I promise to listen to you with compassion and understanding, and speak to you with encouragement.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard.
I promise to remain faithful to you for better or worse, as long as we both are living.
These things, I promise to you today, and for all the days of my life.
The giving and receiving of rings
May I have the rings please.
___________, please repeat after me:
___________, I give you this ring, that you may wear it, as a symbol of the vows we have made this day.
Now, ___________, please repeat after me:
___________, I give you this ring that you may wear it as a symbol of the vows we have made this day.
Now may those who wear these rings live in love all the of their lives.
Affirmation of the marriage
Now may the love which has brought you together continue to grow and enrich your lives.
May you meet with courage the problems which arise to challenge you and may your relationship always
be one of love and trust.
May the happiness you share today be with you always and may every word you have pledged here be a
living truth in your lives.
Signing of the register
Declaration of Marriage
___________ and ___________, we have heard your promise to share your lives in marriage. We
recognize and respect the covenant of marriage you have made here this day before each one of us as
witnesses.
Therefore, in the honesty and sincerity of what you have said and done here today, and by the power
invested in me by The Province of Ontario, it is my honour and delight to declare you to be ________ and
___________.
You may seal your vows with a kiss.
Introduction of the couple ( couple face guests, officiant presents 'Record of Marriage' and
introduces them )
It is my personal privilege and a great joy to be the first one to introduce ___________ and ___________
as husband and wife.
The Recessional (couple leave back down the aisle when music starts)[end]