Standard Marriage Ceremony

Welcome
Welcome! What a joy it is to come together today to celebrate the love of ________and___________, to share in this ceremony of their commitment to each other in marriage. They are grateful you could be here with them on this very special day.

Who gives this bride in marriage? optional

Prayer - optional
Let us begin by acknowledging the presence of God and the love that draws us all together with a time of prayer.

Dear God
In stillness and in trust we recognize your presence. We know your love drew these two together, _______and_________ that they may live the adventure of life as one. We also know that your love drew each of us together so that we might add our love and blessings to this marriage. We affirm that you are with us now as always guiding us, upholding us and blessing us with abundance of health, success and faith. Amen

Thoughts on Marriage
It is Divine love that has brought these two souls together in this adventure called life. ____________and____________are entering into this commitment fully aware of the purpose of marriage.

May we each take this occasion to remember there are no categories of love. The love that is real is the love that lies at the heart of every relationship. This love does not change with form nor circumstance. This relationship between _____________and__________ creates the stage where love can be expressed.

And to you _________and ________ you are reminded that the purpose of marriage reminds you to respond in love. To offer gentleness, to forgive, to nurture, and to support and encourage each other. The commitment of sharing love with each other is an invitation to knowing you are a friend to each other. Friends share their secret hopes, their dreams and aspirations. Friends encourage each other to explore and enjoy life.

Vows
_________and_________ would like to publicly share a vow of commitment with each other in your presence.

________ do you choose _________ as your wife? Do you pledge to share your life with her openly, to tell the truth to her in love? Do you promise to honor and tenderly care for her, to cherish and encourage her own fulfillment as an individual, and to love and respect her through all the changes of your lives?
If so, please answer, "I do."

________, do you choose ________ as your husband? Do you pledge to share your life with him openly, to tell the truth to him in love? Do you promise to honor and tenderly care for him, to cherish and encourage his own fulfillment as an individual, and to love and respect him through all the changes of your lives?
If so, please answer, "I do."

Blessing of the Rings -
You have chosen to exchange rings as a symbol of your love. These rings come in the shape of a circle - reminding you love is a continuous journey: there is no beginning and no end to love. The substance from which these rings are made of symbolized purity - this is a new beginning in your with one another. Exchanging rings reminds you that you no longer live for your self-alone, but for each other as well.

Please repeat after me
I _______, join with you ________, in marriage, as my partner in life. I commit to be with you... as your support, and friend.. to love, respect and to cherish you throughout life's journey Wear this ring as a symbol of my love.

I _______, join with you ________, in marriage, as my partner in life. I commit to be with you... as your support, and friend.. to love, respect and to cherish you throughout life's journey Wear this ring as a symbol of my love.

CLOSING PRAYER - OPTIONAL

Pronouncement

Kiss

Alternative Ring Exchange

MINISTER (first to groom, then to bride if double ring ceremony).  Repeat after me: With this ring I thee wed, and with it I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, heart, and hands.

Civil Ceremony

We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words that shall untie _________and _________in marriage.

______________and ____________, I would ask that you both remember to treat each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness, and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage - as they do in every relationship at one time or the other - focus on what still seems right between you and not only on the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you loose sight of it for the moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked with abundance and delight.

________, do you, take_______ to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only onto her?

________, do you, take_______ to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only onto him?

Ring symbolism

I _________, take you ____________as my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, in joy and in sorrow. I promise my love to you.

I ________,take you ____________as my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, in joy and in sorrow. I promise my love to you.

Pronouncement

Kiss