​When I first spoke with this couple on the phone and they said they wanted to have the Unbreakable Vow in the wedding ceremony I immediately know they were a couple I wanted to marry!  After meeting with them in person a few months later I know I really wanted to perform their wedding ceremony and have the challenge of personalizing their wedding ceremony with them.  I had already written another unbreakable vow that I will be performing with another couple in a few weeks, but they are two totally different couples and have two totally different ceremonies!  

This is very much a customized ceremony.  While the body of the ceremony is based on my modern romantic ceremony, most of the ceremony is tailored for the couple.  We worked together over several months with the editing. Their wedding day was AMAZING!  

This is an incredibly long ceremony due to the 4 readings.  This it not a normal length for a ceremony.  This entire ceremony with the couple's personal vows was about 45 minutes.  That is not something I recommend unless you know your audience!  This ceremony was definitely engaging and the guests enjoyed it! 

​

Welcoming

Good Afternoon!  Thank you for gathering here together with Bride and Groom to celebrate their relationship and their choice to enter into marriage.  We are here to celebrate their love and their relationship and to share with them their delight in finding love with one other, and support their decision to be together from now until the end of time. As today is May the fourth, we are here hoping that the force will be with them always as they make their unbreakable vow!

While a marriage ceremony is the public and legal joining of two people, it is truly the result of two souls that have already been united as one.  Knowing that they have this deep love and commitment to one another, Bride and Groom are entering into their marriage, with thought and reverence, honoring their love for what it has been, what it is, and what it will become.  In doing that, they give thanks for the past, which brought them to this place and look forward with hope to what the future will bring. 

There is power in the act of marriage and the commitment to the highest form of love in a relationship. Corinthians One says that love is patient and kind. It is not jealous or boastful, not irritable or resentful, not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its’ own way. It does not rejoice in the wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things and endures all things. Love never ends. 

By basing your marriage in such an unconditional love, you create an environment to share your lives, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand open and ready for whatever our lives may bring. Your lives will bring you expansion as individuals. That expansion will continually define and redefine you as a couple. To be successful, you will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humor. So, let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again.Over time, your love for each other will deepen as you are enriched by growth and change.  What will come, will come, and with love, you will face it as it does.  

Moment of Silence

Bride and Groom thank you all for being here today.  Thank you for making the journey from near and far to be here for this evening of celebration.  At this time, We would like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Those who were unable to be here and those who have gone on to greater things. We know that they are here with us in spirit. 

Presentation of the Bride and Groom 

The marriage of Bride and Groom brings together two different families and their two unique story lines.  Today, a new chapter in their lives begins to unfold. Although this relationship was formed out of the love these two have found in each other, their marriage will ultimately be blessed by the support of their families.  At this time, I formally ask for that blessing.

Groom’s Mother and father, do you offer this couple your goodwill?
Do you welcome Bride as a member of your family and give her your
love and affection?
Parents: We do.

Bride’s Mother, do you offer this couple your goodwill?
Do you welcome Groom as a member of your family and give him
your love and affection?
Parents: We do.

As these two people join together in marriage, they ask for the
support and love of not only their families, but of their friends as
well. On this day, they ask that you be more than only friends of
Friends and family and honored guests, will you recognize this special union as well?  Welcoming the marriage of Audrey and Pete into your lives?

We will

Thank you. 

Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing on a stage, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who has meant anything to you in the past twenty-something years. So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others.

Why this moment?  Why does this one matter beyond all the rest?

Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier — our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we're doing right. That's why you both are standing here. That's why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we are reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity
All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing — and others that are exciting and full of adventure.

“For Bride and Groom they met at a time in which it was most unexpected to find love. Even more unexpected was to find love in a dingy graduate student office at Purdue University. But they did. And from that moment to today they have grown as individuals and as a couple. They’ve had adventures, sad moments, and joyous occasions with one another.”

And that brings them here. A time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.
I'm here — we're all here — because we want those moments for you. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It's not one moment — not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged — but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, binge-watching Netflix shows, getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience.

And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love — it's meant to be felt, not described.

But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.

You fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter.

You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."


All of the readers are in the ceremony so they will be at the rehearsal and they will intro the readings themselves.   


The first reading is:

James Kavanaugh’s “To Love Is Not to Possess” 

To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one's self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one's self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another—and to one's inner self.

Reading 2

Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”


All of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
These are the things I learned…
 
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Give them to someone who feels sad. Live a balanced life.
Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day.
Take a nap every afternoon.
Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
 
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.


Reading 3
 
Declaration of Principles from Babylon 5 

The Universe speaks in many languages, but only one voice.
The language is not English, Korean, or Greek.
It speaks in the language of hope. It speaks in the language of trust.
It speaks in the language of strength, and the language of compassion.
It is the language of the heart and the language of the soul.
But always it is the same voice.
It is the voice of our ancestors speaking through us.
And the voice of our inheritors waiting to be born.
It is the small, still voice that says we are One.
No matter the blood, no matter the skin,
No matter the world, no matter the star,
We are One.
No matter the pain, no matter the darkness,
No matter the loss, no matter the fear.
We are One.
Here, gathered together in common cause
We agree to recognize this singular truth and this singular rule:
That we must be kind to one another.
Because each voice enriches us and ennobles us,
And each voice lost diminishes us.
We are the voice of the universe, the soul of creation,
And the fire that will light the way to your future together.


The Fourth Reading 

 The Blessing of the Hands

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Vows

This new journey will be at times richly rewarding and extremely
difficult, but, most importantly, it will be a journey you take
together. Marriage is much more than your signatures on a legal
contract. You are promising and have asked all of these people you
love to watch you make this promise, that you want to be with each
other and only each other for the rest of your lives, and that you will
do everything in your power to honor the promises you are making
here today.

Groom, from this day onward, do you choose Bride to be your wife,
your best friend and your only love? To live together, play together
and laugh together; To work by her side and dream in her arms; To
fill her heart and feed her soul; To always seek out the best in her;
Always loving her with all your heart, until the end of your forever?

Groom: I do
 
Bride, from this day onward, do you choose Groom to be your
husband, your best friend and your only love? To live together, play
together and laugh together; To work by his side and dream in his
arms; To fill his heart and feed his soul; To always seek out the best
in him; Always loving him with all your heart, until the end of your
forever?

Bride: I do

You Exchange the vows you’ve written for each other here.  

Ring Exchange

The rings please… 

The rings are the universal symbols of marriage.  They mean many things.  From now on you will wear these rings and they will remind you...  They will remind you of the endless circle that they are.  Like love, there is no beginning and no end.  They will remind you daily that you are married.  Sometimes they will remind you of the commitment that you have made - for better or worse.  But, may they always remind you that there is one other person in the world that has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have. 


Groom, please repeat after me....

Bride, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be.  Wear it and know that I love you always.  With this ring, I marry you. 

Bride, please repeat after me....

Groom, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be.  Wear it and know that I love you always.  With this ring, I marry you. 
​

Unity Ceremony - The Unbreakable Vow


Now, we come to the part we call the unity ceremony,  It’s an act that couples do to symbolize their joining together and it looks to the future of their marriage. A unity ceremony can be fun or meaningful or both.  Today, Bride and Groom have chosen a little of both!  They have chosen to do the Unbreakable Vow inspired by Harry Potter.  

As we all know, our love for movies and literature can truly last a lifetime and the reasons why we love them are because of the deeper messages they carry that speak to us.  To be fair, Bride loves the world of Harry Potter and Groom loves all things Star Wars.  As you may see in the subtleties of the socks of the groomsmen.  And well, today is May 4th.  They will forever remember their wedding day when someone says “May the 4th be with you.”  

What both The World of Harry Potter and the World of Star Wars have in common, is this force. The force can be the spiritual world one may live in or it may be the literal magic that witches and wizards naturally harness to cast spells. In this case, on the day of a wedding, that force is Love.  We all have access to the power of the force and we are free to use it any way we like.  We can channel our power for good or bad or both. 

Bride and Groom, over the lifetime of your marriage, you will always be changing and with each change will come decisions.  Changes will happen to you personally and the changes each of you make will influence the dynamics of your marriage.  You do not know what those changes will be or how they will truly affect you.  Will it be a positive change?  Or not?  

We do know that your marriage is based in love, a magical force. It’s been proven time and time again that when we surrender to the power of love, things will always turn out well in the end.  And sometimes you may need the faith and encouragement that it will.  
So, that was the serious part.  Now the fun!

In the magical world of Harry Potter, when one makes the unbreakable vow they are vowing with their life that the will do what they will say.  If they break the vow, they will die.  In reality, I  believe that if we truly love someone and hurt them, a little bit of us dies inside because what we do to another, we do to ourselves. 

We do not know what that magical incantation is that one says when making the unbreakable vow.  We know it’s not Abracadabra or Alakazam! We do know that the two people making the vow hold hands and look at one another and there is a third person with a wand that asks questions and as they are answered, the bond is made.  This is very fitting in a wedding ceremony.  Two people making promises and an officiant between them witnesses and facilitating the promises.  Although, I have no magical power that will make a marriage last, I can help you invoke your own magic,  and, hopefully, more than kindle the flame of your love that will make it burn bright for years to come.  It is your own personal commitment that will dictate your outcome.  

Earlier in the ceremony, you were asked the typical questions of marriage, do you, take this person to have and hold…. And you answered with “I do.”  You made a public commitment that you are entering into this marriage right here, right now.  As I ask you the questions of the Unbreakable Vow, the answer is “I will.”  You are basically saying, when the time comes to make a decision you will make the decision based on your union as husband and wife and the love and trust your marriage is based on. 

So now, I ask you to join your left hands together. I have cords here made of white, gold, green, gray, and blue. Each color symbolizes different meanings; white for truth and peace, gold for wisdom and strength, green for prosperity and health, gray for balance and respect, and finally blue for fidelity and steadfastness. I now tie your hands together to physically symbolize the spiritual bond of the Unbreakable Vow. May these values be ever present as you uphold your unbreakable vows. 
I stand back a bit, ask questions, as as you answer them, 

We are gathered here to witness the the union of two faithful souls. 
What’s coming will come, Will you meet it when it does?  

We will

I ask you, Bride and Groom, do you agree that you are only as strong as you are united and weak as you are divided?

We do

Will you remember that there is no try?  There is only do or do not. 

We will 

Knowing that indifference and neglect often do more damage than outward dislike, will you promise to pay attention to one another, celebrating your diversity and continually learn from one another?

We will

If you ever find your lack of faith disturbing will you take action to remedy it?

We will

When you face any dark and difficult times that lie ahead, knowing you have a choice between what is right and what is easy, will you promise to choose what is right?

We will

At some point, 20 or 30 years from now, if you ever question your love for each other, after all this time, will your answer be Always?

It will.  

Then I declare you bonded for life!


Final Blessing and Pronouncement

Life and love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity.
May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding
as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence.
May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of all.

It is my great pleasure to acknowledge your union as “Husband and Wife.”

You may now seal your marriage with a kiss!!!

​​I am open to marrying any couple. It is my goal to meet each couple where they are and help them to have a positive wedding experience.  In order to meet you where you are, I approach every wedding with an open mind - I don’t know anything about you until you tell me and that’s only if you choose to tell me.  Wedding ceremony scripts have been written for years for brides and grooms. Now, bride and bride or groom and groom are very common. Some couples are choosing to forego traditional gender roles altogether and are  using the terms spouse or partner. If you have made the choice to use non-traditional pronouns, please let me know and I am happy to honor your preferences.   Any wedding ceremony script can be changed to reflect your personal preferences. ​

The readings in a ceremony really set the tone.  There is something about the phrase, "How do I Love thee?  Let me count the ways..." That brings a classic romance to mind.  The second reading this couple chose compliments the first.  

Not all ceremonies choose "readings."  Often scripts are created from bits and pieces of passages that speak to you and your relationship. 

Welcome! We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Bride and Groom in marriage. As they promise to love, trust in that love, honor one another as individuals, and anticipate with joy spending the rest of their lives together. They are surrounded by you - their friends and family. Thank you for gathering here to witness their marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion

Moment of Silence 

We’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Let us take this time to remember those who are here with us in spirit today: names mentioned here.

(Moment of Silence) 


Love has brought Bride and Groom together. But what do we mean by love? When we love, we see things other people do not. We see beneath the surface to the qualities, which make our beloved special and unique.  To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty. And to be loved is to be known, as we are known to no other. We who love, can look at each other’s life and say, “I touched his life,” or, “I touched her life,” just as an artist might say, “I touched this canvas.” “Those brushstrokes in the comer of this magnificent mural, those are mine. I was a part of this life, and it is a part of me.” Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together. The secret of love and marriage is to be in love and in trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. The true art of married life is an inner spiritual journey. It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments, which diminishes neither, but enhances both It is, ultimately, the emergence of the Highest Selves of each person. 

First Reading

Our first reading is: 

How Do I Love Thee? 
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 
For the ends of being and ideal grace. 
I love thee to the level of every day's 
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. 
I love thee freely, as men strive for right; 
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. 
I love with a passion put to use 
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. 
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath, 
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose, 
I shall but love thee better after death. 
​
Second Reading

Or second reading is:

Marriage Advice 
by Jane Wells 

Let your love be stronger than your hate and anger. 
Learn the wisdom of compromise, 
for it is better to bend a little than to break. 
Believe the best rather than the worst. 
People have a way of living up or down 
to your opinion of them. 
Remember that true friendship 
is the basis for any lasting relationship. 
The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies 
and kindnesses you bestow on your friends. 
Please hand this down to your children and your children's children. 

Vows 

Bride and Groom will now share the wedding vows they’ve written for each other.

Ring Exchange 

May we have the rings please?

Groom, as you place the ring on Bride's finger, please repeat after me:
Bride, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you. With this ring, I marry you. 

Bride, as you place the ring on Groom's finger, please repeat after me:

Groom, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you. With this ring, I marry you. 


UNITY SAND CEREMONY

Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand one, representing you, Bride, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, Groom, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.

Bride and Groom pour their sand and then come back together to join hands for the final blessing. 

Life and love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity. May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence. May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of all. 

It is my great pleasure to acknowledge your union as “Husband and Wife.” You may Kiss the bride!   Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to introduce to you: Mr. And Mrs. ...! ​

Leigh and Brian had the perfect Sunday morning wedding at The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens in Fishers, IN.  They wanted a ceremony that was open to all their friends and family with a pagan feel.  This was definitely the perfect ceremony for them.  I'm sharing it because if you are a couple like them, it might be perfect for you too.  
​​

Welcoming Words

Welcome! Good Morning!  We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate an act of deep love. Leigh and Brian, in their devotion, respect and love for each other wish to unite in marriage.  In doing so, they are choosing to dedicate themselves to each other’s happiness and well-being as life mates and partners. On behalf of them, I welcome you all.  

Words about Love and Marriage

Each of us knows that a marriage is not created by a law or a ceremony; rather it occurs in the hearts of two people. It grows out of loving, caring, and truly sharing ourselves with another. The ceremony you are about to witness today is not magic, it will not create a relationship where one does not already exist. Rather, it is an outward celebration of the commitments that Leigh and Brian have already made to each other, both large and small, in the days since they first met.

Today’s ceremony will serve as a symbol of how far they have come together and a symbol of the vows that they’ll make to each other — to live their lives together and to love and support each other above all others. Each of you is here because in some way — whether large or small — you have been an important part of Brian and Leigh’s lives.

The Presentation of the Bride and Groom
 
Their parents not only brought them into the world, but worked hard to create the loving and nurturing environment that would serve as the foundation for who they would ultimately become. Thank you, all three of you,  for your steadfast love, support and encouragement throughout the years.  At this time, I would like to formally ask you to extend your love and support to the person they have chosen to spend the rest of their lives with.  

Names of Brian's Parents? Do you offer Brian and Leigh your blessing? 
Do you welcome Leigh  as a member of your family?
Parents: We do.

Name of Leigh's Mom? Do you offer Brian and Leigh your blessing? 
Do you welcome Brian as a member of your family?
Mom: I do.

While parents are responsible for much, it is also their wider community of family, friends and experiences that has resulted in the Brian and Leigh you see before you today.  All of you here today are all honored guests because of the different roles you’ve had in helping them become the people they are. Thank you for the love, support, wisdom, laughter and tears you’ve shared.   As they enter into marriage, I ask you all,  Will you who are present here today, continue to surround Brian and Leigh in love and friendship, supporting them in their marriage? If you do, please say “we will.”
All:  WE WILL!

Thank you!   

In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift.  Marriage is the ultimate relationship between two people. It is a great and challenging adventure into the depths and heights of human caring, Affection, trust and understanding. Today as you make your vows, your lives are intermingled As the waters of two streams become one, Flowing together into a mighty river.

Marriage is a journey of transformation into the profound mysteries of life and creation. In marriage, we do not give ourselves to another, but rather surrender into something greater. We surrender to love itself. Today, you step into a much fuller experience and expression of the mysteries and miracles of love. 

Your precious union is lovely in its innocence, Mighty in its strength, And abundant with possibilities. It belongs to you both. Over time you will continue to give it identity. We wish for you the wisdom, strength of character, and divine creativity To make this a happy marriage, A safe harbor. And a joyful journey to share.

Declaration of Intent

Brian, from this day onward, do you choose Leigh to be your wife, your best friend, and your only love?
To live together, play together and laugh together;
To work by her side and dream in her arms;
To fill her heart and feed her soul;
To always seek out the best in her;
Always loving her with all your heart, until the end of your days?

Leigh, from this day onward, do you choose Brian to be your husband, your best friend, and your only love?
To live together, play together and laugh together;
To work by his side and dream in his arms;
To fill his heart and feed his soul;
To always seek out the best in him;
Always loving him with all your heart, until the end of your days?

Ring Exchange

Meaning of the Rings

You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. A ring is an unbroken circle, a symbol of unity and love, representative of the greater circle of life of which we all spiritually are a part of. Having neither beginning nor end but a continuous cycle of which you are an element. For you, it begins with the gift of life and will continue through the end of time. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that you’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one another today.

Ring Exchange


Brian, as you place the ring on Leigh’s finger, please repeat after me:
I Brian, take you, Leigh to be my Wife.
To have and to hold,
in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,
in joy and in sorrow,
and I promise my love to you,
for as long as we both shall live.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.

Leigh, as you place the ring on Brian’s finger, please repeat after me:
I Leigh, take you, Brian to be my Husband.
To have and to hold,
in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,
in joy and in sorrow,
and I promise my love to you,
for as long as we both shall live.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.

Handfasting

This may be the first time that some of you are attending a handfasting. Marriage is very much a sacred union, for it is a union of souls in which the bride and groom pledge unto one another their higher selves and all that is divine within themselves. In the Earth based traditions, it is considered the marriage of the God and Goddess within.

The custom of handfasting has been known the world over, through many different periods in history.  It was observed the world over long before there were legalities to marriage. During the Middle Ages to be seen in public holding hands was a sign that a couple were exclusive to one another. And while rings were for the very rich, love knows no bounds and a simple cord such as a vine would do just fine. Fastening the hands together could be where the term “Tie the knot.” came from. 

Do you both wish to have your hands fastened together today as a symbolic gesture that you choose to walk through all the days of you life together, hand in hand?
Both answer:  We do.

This is the cord with which I will bind their hands. This cord will be a part of their home for their lifetime as a memory of today and the promises they are making.

While tying first knot: 
Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
While tying second knot:
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
While tying third knot:
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
With hands on top of knots
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.  

Pronouncement of Marriage


Today we have witnessed the union of man and wife: one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever. I now declare you husband and wife!  You may kiss your bride!!

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Brian and Leigh .....!! 

Audience cheers and waves bells/wands.

Please make your way around the back of the house to the veranda for the reception. Parents and immediate family, please stay for pictures.

​Kelly and Scott are an amazing couple!  I loved working with them from start to finish.  They had a very intimate wedding with close family and friends at The Milltop in Noblesville, IN.  They had a few things they HAD to have in their wedding ceremony.  A quote from the Disney movie "Up!" and another from Harry Potter.  What made their wedding ceremony was their wedding rings.  They made their own wedding rings!  They took a workshop that taught them how to smith their own rings and walked them through the entire process.  We personalized their ring exchange to include it.  I had a such a fun time following their Instagram posts from their honeymoon as they adopted their own droid in Disney and did everything they ever wanted to do in Walt Disney Word!

This is another example of a power-packed short and sweet wedding ceremony.  It's all in the words - their substance and intent - and the delivery.  
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This is Andrew and Claire's wedding ceremony script.  They met while working on a Disney cruise ship.  Andrew was literally the understudy for Peter Pan and Claire worked in child care.  It didn't take long before they were known to their friends as “Peter Pan and Wendy.” 

Andrew in born and raised in Indiana and Claire is from the UK.  Claire's family was living in Australia.  Everyone meeting in Indy for their wedding ceremony was a VERY BIG DEAL.  Clair's mom worked double shifts for a year to pay for the trip.  When they were researching plane tickets they found out that it was almost the same price to buy a ticket to fly around the word as it was to fly to Indy.  So that's what they did.  They were married on New Years weekend.  

This wedding ceremony script was personalized perfectly for them.  It talks about their relationship, their love of Disney and their families - especially their moms - and their christian faith.  Claire was in the UK by herself more most of the year before the wedding waiting for her K1 Visa to be approved.  She had a lot of time to think.  
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​Kristi and Sean are one of the first formal wedding couples I married.  They make my job more fun and interesting then I ever thought it could be.  Sean was a confirmed bachelor.  He swore that if he ever got married he would never do it during football or basketball season.  He also insisted the ceremony be no longer then 7 minutes.  Kristi showed up to the meeting with a big wedding binder and just smiled politely as he made this announcement. She wanted a wedding!  And, well, Sean really loves Kristi, so they compromised.  They got married where he golfs - The Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis.  They had a fantastic cocktail party reception instead of a sit down dinner. We considered everything we could to to make their wedding ceremony perfect. We needed to mix a little religion, a lot of romance, and a little fun too. I explained that you could have a slightly longer and fun ceremony and he agreed to be open to it.  

One of the most interesting things about Sean and Kristi is their love for sports and their dedication to their Alma mater's.  Kristi's family is die hard Notre Dame and Sean graduated from Purdue.  Their competitive nature and sports rivalry is a big part of their life.  We ended up adding fun vows that included sports and they toasted from mugs from each other's schools.  In then end, Sean couldn't have been happier!!
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I marry a lot of international couples.  Sometimes, I perform the legal and/or American parts of the ceremony, other times we include hints of each culture in the ceremony.  
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Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We are gathered here today, to celebrate the wedding of Allison and Rohith. You have come here from nearby and from far away to share in this commitment now they make to one another, to offer your love and support to their union, and to allow Allison and Rohith to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.

As they promise to love, trust in that love, honor one another as individuals, and anticipate with joy spending the rest of their lives together. They are surrounded by you - their friends and family. They ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support, for their decision to be married.

They also remember other loved ones who cannot be here to share this moment with them today. Those people too, they hold dear in their hearts.

(Brief moment of silence)

Allison and Rohith, marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, who trust that love, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together. It enables the two separate souls to share their desires, longings, dreams, and memories, their joys and sorrows, and to help each other through all uncertainties of life. A strong marriage also nurtures each of you as separate individuals and allows you to maintain your unique identity and grow in your own way through the years ahead. It is a safe haven for each of you to become your best self while together you become better than ever could be alone. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and love. To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both.

Reading

In the Hindu faith, weddings include the Saptapadi [sup-thu-putty], or seven steps. These steps represent the promises the couple make to each other. Rohit and Allison wish to honor this tradition with a reading.


May this couple be blessed with an abundance of resources and comforts and be helpful to one another in all ways. 
May this couple be strong and complement one another. 
May this couple be blessed with prosperity and riches on all levels. 
May this couple be eternally happy. 
May this couple be blessed with a happy family life. 
May this couple live in perfect harmony… true to their personal values and their joint promises. 
May this couple always be the best of friends.

Vows

Do you Rohit, take Allison, to be your wife, to have and to hold, in good times and bad, to love without reservation? Do you promise to comfort her and encourage her, to laugh and to cry, to be honest, and open, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part or at least 200 more years?

(I do.)

Do you Allison, take Rohit, to be your husband, to have and to hold, in good times and bad, to love without reservation? Do you promise to comfort him and encourage him, to laugh and to cry, to be honest, and open, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part or at least 200 more years?

(I do.)


Exchange of Rings

May we have the rings, please...

(Rohit will have both rings. Victoria will ask for them?)

As you exchange these rings, may they be symbols of your promises to each other and remind you of your devotion. May you feel honored to call each other husband and wife. May you remember that from this day the one you love is always beside you.  

Rohit, place the ring on Allison’s finger and repeat after me:

(Rohit): Allison, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you.

Allison, place the ring on Rohit’s finger and repeat after me:
​
(Allison): Rohit, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you.


Closing

Allison and Rohit, you came here today to affirm your love for one another and formally acknowledge that which your hearts already knew…that your lives are meant to be shared as one, that you are stronger together than you are apart, and that, for all the days yet to come, you wish to share together all life’s joys and challenges, committed one to the other.

You have made this affirmation and commitment in the presence of the most important people in your lives. 

May you forever feel that the life you share is the life you have always wanted.

By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may now share your first kiss.

(Kiss)

Congratulations!

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Rohit and Allison!​

​I LOVE a good nerdy wedding!  Personalize your ceremony to your personal preference if you want to!  Make it a really fun day to remember!!

Instructions for Life in the New Millennium
by his holiness the 14th Dali Lama 

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. And that a loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. Be gentle with the earth, be gentle with one another. When disagreements come remember always to protect the spirit of your union. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.  So love yourselves, love one another, love all that is your life together and all else will follow."


"There's a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive... wormhole refactors... You know the thing you need most of all? You need a hand to hold." (Doctor Who) ...

So please join hands. There is a lot to be said about the power of holding each other's hands. You know you have someone who will be with you to continually make your burdens lighter. 

Welcome

Welcome! We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Bride and Groom in marriage. As they promise to love, trust in that love, honor one another as individuals, and anticipate with joy spending the rest of their lives together. They are surrounded by you - their family. Thank you for gathering here to witness their marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion. 

Moment of Silence

We'd like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. We know they are here with us in our hearts. (Moment of Silence)
 
Bride and Groom, today, as you two are joined in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. The possibilities and potentials of your married life are great. We join with you in hoping you make real your dreams! That you are reborn in each other as you share your loves and dreams, wants and desires and together are enriched by them.  Through your commitment to each other, may you grow and nurture a love that makes both of you better people, a love that continues to give you great joy, and also a passion for living that provides you with energy and patience to face the responsibilities of life. For "it's not enough to just live. You have to have something to live for" (Battlestar Galactica) 


There was a time when your lives were two separate paths. Gradually, they were joined as you grew closer together. Today, you proclaim to the world your choice to stay on the same path together. May you be enriched by the unique view of the other! So say we all (Battlestar). 

Irrational Season
by Madeleine L'Engle

But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take... It is indeed a fearful gamble... Because it is the nature of love to  create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature. To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take... If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation...It takes a lifetime to learn another person...When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling, and which implies such risk that it is often rejected. 


Or from a different point of view: 
So close no matter how far Couldn't be much more from the heart 
Forever trusting who we are And nothing else matters 
Never opened myself this way Life is ours, we live it our way All these words I don't just say 
And nothing else matters 
Trust I seek and I find in you Every day for us something new 
Open mind for a different view And nothing else matters (Metallica) 

Vows 

Do you Groom, take Bride, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; though all of time and space, from this day forward until death do you part. 

Do you Bride, take Groom, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; through all of time and space, from this day forward until death do you part. 

The rings please... 

The rings are the symbols of marriage. They mean many things. From now on you will wear these rings and they will remind you... They will remind you of the endless circle that they are. Like love, there is no beginning and no end. They will remind you daily that you are married. Sometimes they will remind you of the commitment that you have made - for better or worse. But, may they always remind you that there is one other person in the world that has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have. 



Groom, please repeat after me:  Bride, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure” (The Hobbit) and that someone is you. 

Bride, please repeat after me:  Groom, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure” (The Hobbit) and that someone is you. 


I have a few closing words for you about love. 
Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take a boat 
in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall 
down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home. (Serenity) 

Life and love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity.
Love is not an emotion. Love is a promise. (Doctor Who)
To love another person is to see the face of God (Victor Hugo)
May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence. May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of all. 

Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It's not the time that matters, it's the person. (Doctor Who). 


It is my great pleasure to acknowledge your union as “Husband and Wife."
You may now seal your marriage with a kiss!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, The Happy Couple, Name and Name !!

May you live happily ever after!

​Next stop: Everywhere. (Doctor Who) ​

​These two ladies were serving overseas in the military.  They chose Indy as a middle-of-America meeting spot for their friends and family to celebrate their marriage.  

​This ceremony script was personalized several years ago by two men who wanted their ceremony to be a little less romantic - as many wedding ceremonies are.  While it is still romantic, as most wedding ceremonies are, I think it also stresses their partnership which is a bit more practical.  This was a very private ceremony.