|
Alex and Katharine's wedding ceremony was in The Chapel at Ritz Charles in Carmel, IN. We created a ceremony that brought together both their families including their Christian and Jewish faiths. Mazel Tov!
The Presentation of The Bride more options Officiant: Everyone please stand for the bride! Katharine is escorted down the aisle. Alex meets Katharine and takes her hand. Officiant asks: Who gives this woman to be married? Dad: Her mother and I do. Officiant continues: Thank you. Please be seated. Welcoming Words more options Welcome! Thank you everyone for gathered with us here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Katharine and Alexander 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 more options At this time, we would like to take a moment to remember those who are not here with us here today. Either they were unable to join or or they are no longer with us. We know that they are here with us in spirit. (Moment of Silence) Words about Love and Marriage more options 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. 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! The first reading is from the first book of Corinthians Chapter 13 Verses 1-13. more scripture options If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have 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 do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, 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 completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a 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. The second reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 verses 1 - 12. Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: a person all alone, no parent, no sibling, no child; there is no end to his effort, her eyes were not content with her wealth. For whom, then, do I work so hard, and why am I depriving myself of pleasure? This, too, is vanity and the chasing of the wind. Better two than one alone, since thus their work is really profitable. If one should fall, the other helps her up. If one should rise, he can pull her up behind him. Woe those who stand alone with no one to help them up when they fall down. When two sleep together they find warmth, but how can one keep warm alone? Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Vows more options Katharine and Alexander, 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, indeed, 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. Please repeat after me: I Alexander, choose you Katharine, to be my wife. I promise to be your best friend, faithful partner, and one true love. I promise to encourage you, and inspire you, and to love you truly, through good times and bad. I promise to be by your side, forever, to laugh with you, to lift you up when are down, and to love you unconditionally, through all our adventures in life together. I Katharine, choose you Alexander, to be my husband. I promise to be your best friend, faithful partner, and one true love. I promise to encourage you, and inspire you, and to love you truly, through good times and bad. I promise to be by your side, forever, to laugh with you, to lift you up when are down, and to love you unconditionally, through all our adventures in life together. Meaning of the Wedding Rings more options 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. Wedding Ring Exchange more options Please repeat after me: Katharine, 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. As you place it on her finger, With this ring, I thee wed. Alexander, 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. As you place it on his finger, With this ring, I thee wed. The Kiddush Cup As many of you know. Alexander and Katharine come from different religious backgrounds. The readings today were from the New Testament, which is Katharine’s background. Now, We are going to add some Jewish wedding traditions from Alexander’s background. The first is the Seven Blessings for a Jewish Wedding. These seven blessings connect the bride and groom to each other, uniting their souls as one. The Seven Blessings promote the hope and destiny of the couple’s happiness, their delight in spirituality and each other, and that the Temple will be restored in Jerusalem. After I recite the blessings they will drink wine from the Kiddush Cup. The wine symbolizes the beginning of life, which in this case, refers to pure grape juice. But the grape juice continues to grow through the stages of fermentation, and emerges as a pure and delightful divine blessing: a sweet, sweet wine. And we hope for them, a sweet, sweet life together. Give Alex the cup Seven Blessing for a Jewish Wedding. more options May you be blessed with love. May your admiration, appreciation and understanding of each other foster a love that is passionate, tranquil and real. May this love between you be strong and enduring, and bring peace into your lives. May you be blessed with a loving home filled with warmth, humor and compassion. May you create a family together that honors traditions old and new. May you teach your children to have equal respect for themselves and others, and instill in them the value of learning and tikkun olam, making the world a better place. May you be best friends and work together to build a relationship of substance and quality. May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship. May you respect each other’s individual personality and perspective, and give each other room to grow in fulfilling your dreams. May you be blessed with wisdom. May you continually learn from one another and from the world. Together, may you grow, deepening your knowledge and understanding of each other and of your journey through life. May you be blessed with health. May life bring you wholeness of mind, body and spirit. May you keep each other well-balanced and grounded, and live long that you may share many happy years together. May your life be blessed with the art and beauty of this world. May your creative aspirations and experiences find expression, inspire you, and bring you joy and fulfillment. May you find happiness together in adventures big and small, and something to celebrate each day of your lives. May you be blessed with community. May you always be blessed with the awareness that you are an essential part of a circle of family and friends. May there always be within this group love, trust, support and laughter, and may there be many future occasions for rejoicing in their company. Breaking of the Glass more options It is a Jewish custom to end the wedding ceremony with the breaking of a glass. One interpretation of the custom is that even in the happiest of times, we must remember that there is still much suffering in the world. We are reminded that working through the challenges and celebrating the successes of life is best done together. And, of course, the breaking of the glass marks the beginning of the celebration. Will figure out during rehearsal who will take the glass from the counter and place it on the floor. Please, after the breaking of the glass, I invite everyone to shout the Hebrew words “Mazel Tov,” meaning “Congratulations.” I now pronounce you husband and wife! (Breaking of the glass) Mazel Tov!!!!!! You may kiss the bride! Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs...! Katie and Cory had the perfect Friday evening for a wedding ceremony at Avon Gardens in Avon, Indiana. They wrote vows for each other and actually gave them to me to print out to make sure they had a copy. I've shared them here in case you need inspiration to write your own.
Opening Prayer more options In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of Katie and Cory. To pray for God’s blessings on them, to share their joy and celebrate their love. Words about Love and Marriage more options Marriage symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives. This sharing must not diminish, but enhance the individuality of each partner. You do not shed your individuality, for that is what brought you together in the first place. Marriage is the loving declaration that you should be no other than yourself. A lasting marriage is not stagnant. The relationship and each individual are continually growing and developing. Your understanding of each other deepens and evolves. It is not this ceremony or the state of being married that will truly join and hold you together, but your ongoing commitment to your relationship and to the kind of life you wish to make together. In this way, your marriage will not be just a symbol; it will be more than that. It will be an action, something you work actively on every day. Readings more options Only once in your lifetime, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with a soul and they absorb everything you say, and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. They are not embarrassed to cry with you or laugh. They build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special. There is a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself because they love you for all you are. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, and you are quite content. Things that never interested you before become fascinating. You open your heart and experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to feel true pleasure and it’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are part of your life. Treat Yourselves and Each Other with Respect Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness, and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties, and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives... remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Vows more options Katie and Cory wrote the vows to each other: Cory would like to say a few personal words to Katie... Katie, I take you as my wife, with your faults and your strengths, as I offer myself to you with my faults and my strengths. I will help you when you need help and turn to you when I need help. I choose you, every day, as the person with whom I will share my life. I pledge to to love, cherish and protect you for all of my days with all my heart and soul. When the ups and downs of life happen, I will stand by your side and we will face them together because I am strongest when I am by your side. I promise you forgiveness, understanding and friendship. I will listen to you and be present in the moment with you and not worry about challenges or triumphs that tomorrow may bring.From this day until forever, I am yours. Katie would like to say a few personal words to Cory. Cory, For nearly a decade, you have loved me with such unconditional patience and care. You are my safe space. When I see you, I see home, and no matter what may come our way, I will always fiercely protect my home and I promise that I’ll always choose you and love you above all others. I am the best version of me when I’m with you. You keep me grounded and motivated to better myself. I want to be the woman you deserve and I promise to spend the rest of my life earning your love. I promise to love you fully, encourage you, respect you, support, and believe in you. I promise to listen with an open mind and an open heart. I promise to have patience through the dark times and be a safe space for your secrets and vulnerabilities. I promise to stand beside you in sickness and in health, in times of prosper and decline, in peace and in turmoil, as long as we both shall live. I am forever committed to you as your friend and as your loving wife and I cannot imagine continuing this journey with anyone but you, the love of my life. I love you. Meaning of the Wedding Rings more options This is the point in the ceremony where we usually talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings do have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metal is liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees, then molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It's the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. Ring Exchange more options Cory, please repeat after me: Katie, this ring is my promise to accept your imperfections and appreciate all that makes you unique and beautiful. Katie, please repeat after me: Cory, This ring is my promise to accept your imperfections and appreciate all that makes you unique and beautiful. Final Blessings more options Katie and Cory, May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer’s day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart and may you always feel that what you have is enough. Closing Prayer more options God, we ask for your blessings upon this man and woman, as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives. Grant them happiness and contentment as they establish their new home, create a new family and explore the depths of their love for one another and for you. Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened and sustained them throughout their lives. Bless their home as a place of love and of peace. And if times grow hard and tempers grow short, help them to look into their hearts and remember the love that brought them here today. Amen. In the presence of this good company, by the power of their love, Katie and Cory have given themselves to each other by solemn vows with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings. In the name of God the father, the son, and the holy spirit, I pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss your bride! Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Cory and Katie Are Married!!! Everyone is free to enjoy games and cocktails while the bride and groom take pictures with the families and wedding party This is the first draft of Jessica and Brandon's Wedding Ceremony. They had a very emotional wedding at The Montage in Indianapolis. It was a gathering of family and friends. We included quotes from the Beatles in memory of Jessica's mom who had passed away. The day was a celebration of Jessica and Brandon but even more, a celebration of an amazing group of people living and loving. They didn't have "sides" for the wedding party. They had them standing on risers all around them.
This is a copy of the template I sent them after our first meeting to start writing their ceremony. It's the perfect tool to choose a non-religious, traditional wedding ceremony script. The Presentation more options Jessica is escorted down the aisle by her father. He gives her a hug and kiss, shakes Brandon’s hand and places her hand in his. He steps back and the Officiant asks: Who gives this woman to be married? Dad: Her mother and I do. Officiant: Thank you. To all: Please be seated. Welcome! Thank you for joining us today to celebrate and to FINALLY witness the joining of Jessica and Brandon 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 more options We’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Either they were unable to make it or they are not longer with us. We know that they are here in spirit. We’d like to first start by having a candle lighting ceremony. One candle is being lit to represent Brandon’s father who has passed away. The other candle is for Jessica’s mom Julie. Jessica’s Aunt (name) will read a poem in honor of Julie. Poem read here Words to remember Jessica's mom and memories of the day When I first sat down with Jessica and Brandon to discuss this ceremony we talked about Jessica’s mom and not only how important she was to her but to many, if not all of you here today. They explained to me that all of you here are important to them and this is not only a celebration of their relationship but a wonderful time to spend with all of you. A reunion. It’s kind of a real bummer the venue doesn’t carry Miller light so you can all properly toast Julie. I also thought it would be fun to have some candy cigarette so we could all pretend to smoke a Virgina Slims. I’m not sure, maybe part of the dinner will be hand cranked popcorn and potato chips with barbecue sauce? Or, Maybe that’s the after party? One thing I do know for sure is that today will be filled with much love. Not just for Brandon and Jessica but between all of you. Make today a day you will remember all your lives. Remember it for the better. Remember all the things with real meaning that will never change. Show your affection for one another. Make new, wonderful memories. Like the candles here The candles will remain lit throughout not only the wedding ceremony but the reception in their honor. Words About Love And Marriage more options Jessica and Brandon, 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. 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! The first reading is This is just an example. Most weddings have 2 readings, some have none or 3 or more. Your aunt will read one. For more ideas: https://www.weddingceremonypro.com/readings.html WHY MARRIAGE? By: Mari Nichols-Haining Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person, With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body... Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me, Who won't hold them against me, Who loves me when I'm unlikable, Who sees the small child in me, and Who looks for the divine potential of me... Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night With someone who thanks God for me, With someone I feel blessed to hold... Because marriage means opportunity To grow in love in friendship... Because marriage is a discipline To be added to a list of achievements... Because marriages do not fail, people fail When they enter into marriage Expecting another to make them whole... Because, knowing this, I promise myself to take full responsibility For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness I create me, I take half of the responsibility for my marriage Together we create our marriage... Because with this understanding The possibilities are limitless. I’m putting this in here to look at too because I think it suits you Because one of the things Brandon and Jessica like to do is garden the next reading is; Thoughts In a Garden R. Gerhardt This is a special place, a place where people have brought beautiful living plants, here to establish them, to nurture and care for them, that they may forever surround us with the beauty we now see. And into this place where we stand, you have brought something beautiful -- the relationship that is becoming your marriage. Here you are declaring it and pledging it, promising to establish and nurture it. We are aware of the special beauty between the two of you, just as we are aware of the special beauty of this place. We are with you now in this appropriate place to celebrate your relationship as it is and as it is yet to be, and in doing so, we ask only that you remember how your life together will have the same seasons and needs as this garden. There will be growth like spring and loss like fall; there will be giving as the blossoming flower, and rest as the seed beneath the snow. All the seasons will be yours, but remember, too, that gardens are not must happenings. The more wonderful the garden, the more skilled the gardener. So you will have to care deeply for the life that is yours together, and nurture it. You will have to appreciate your differences and cultivate them. You will have to take care of yourself, if for no other reason than out of love for the other. And you will need the support of family and friends to reach full growth. As you caringly chose this place to declare your marriage, so remember its lessons for your life together through the seasons that are yours to share. And may those seasons bring you and yours joy and happiness. The ending of this is a very nice lead into the vows From "Union" 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, indeed, 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 Vows more options Here are 4 choices of “I do” vows. You can choose one or re-write them all into one that you do like or choose another you may find. These are updated traditional vows. I know that you are writing your own vows but some couples choose to do both, answer the “question” and then speak their own words. We can make these “repeat after me” vows. Please feel free to write you own. More vows: http://www.marrymeinindy.com/vows.html #1 Brandon, do you take Jessica to be your best friend, your faithful partner and one true love? Do you promise to encourage and inspire her and to love her truly through good times and bad? Will you be there forever? to laugh with her, to lift her up when she’s down and to love her unconditionally through all your adventures in life together? Jessica, do you take Brandon to be your best friend, your faithful partner and one true love? Do you promise to encourage and inspire him and to love him truly through good times and bad? Will you be there forever? to laugh with him, to lift him up when he’s down and to love him unconditionally through all your adventures in life together? or: #2 Do you Brandon, take Jessica to be your wife, your partner in life and one true love. To cherish your union and love her more each day than you did the day before. Will you trust her and respect her, laugh with her and cry with her, loving her faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles you may face together. Do you give her your hand, heart, and love, from this day forward for as long as you both shall live. Do you Jessica, take Brandon to be your husband, your partner in life and your one true love. Will you cherish your union and love him more each day than you did the day before. Will you trust him and respect him, laugh with him and cry with him, loving him faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles you may face together. Do you give him your hand, heart, and love, from this day forward for as long as you both shall live. Or: #3 I know that I am here today as the officiant of your wedding. However, that is really just to make it legal. What you are really doing today is making a public proclamation of your love. Here, in front of these witnesses who will hopefully stand by you. And, even beyond that, you are here to make these promises to each other. What I’d like the two of you to do now is to take each others hands (if you haven’t already) and look into each other’s eyes - because it is nearly impossible to look into each other’s eyes and lie. But even more so, by looking into each other’s eyes you are looking into each other’s soul’s. That is where your love for each other truly flows from. Take this time to have your souls speak in their language as I speak these words... Jessica and Brandon, Do you choose to be husband and wife? Do You promise to give the best of yourselves and to ask for no more than you can give? Do you promise to respect one another as your own person and to realize that your interests, needs and desires are no less important than the other’s? Do you promise to share your time and attention, and to bring joy, strength and imagination to your relationship? Do you promise to keep yourselves open to each other, to allow the other see through the windows of your world and into your innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams? Do you promise to grow along alongside each other, willing to face changes as you both change in order to keep your relationship alive and exciting? Do you promise to love one another in good times and in bad, with all you have to give, and all you feel inside, in the only way you know how ... completely and forever? Brandon, do you take Jessica to be your wife? Jessica do you take Brandon to be your husband? #4 These are the traditional vows. Often, when couples write their own vows we do these and they you can say your own vows. Sometimes this is what people envision and dream their vows to be! :-) Do you Brandon, take Jessica, 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; from this day forward until death do you part. Do you Jessica take Brandon, 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; from this day forward until death do you part. Here is another option. Sometimes, couples will choose a traditional vow to answer the “question” and then they will share their own vows and then put the rings on each other when they are done That would be here. You can decide when you read the verbiage how it flows for you. Essentially, you can skip the next part of you like. The Meaning of the Wedding Rings more options 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. Wedding Ring Exchange more options please repeat after me.... Jessica, 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. Jordan, 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. Jordan and Dominic come back together and hold hands for the final blessing: The Final Blessing more options Option: Navaho wedding Blessing Now you have lit a fire and that fire should not go out. The two of you now have a fire that represents love, understanding and a philosophy of life. It will give you heat, food, warmth and happiness. The new fire represents a new beginning - a new life and a new family. The fire should keep burning; you should stay together. You have lit the fire for life, until old age separates you. Option: May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer’s day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. Or: (you can probably do this better then me but it’s a cute idea A few last words of advice you may be familiar with: Brandon: She Loves you! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! To the two of you: Life is very short, there’s not time for fussing or fighting my friend. Sometimes, it’s Whatever gets you through the night … “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” When you are looking for the answer….. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be... And All you need is love. Jessica, in a moment, Close your eyes and He'll kiss you But first…. I now pronounce you: “Husband and Wife.” You may kiss your bride! Ladies and gentlemen, Mr and Mrs:?!??!?! May you live happily ever after! Sam and Mallory's Back Yard Wedding Ceremony Script. How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways.4/15/2020
Samuel and Mallory
Welcome! We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Mallory and Samuel 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: Mallory’s grandfather Norman Holl, Samuels Grandparents Ginny and Earl Grogan, and Genevieve and Harry Boyle. And their dear friend, Frank Urias. (Moment of Silence) Love has brought Mallory and Samuel 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 Mallory and Sam will now share the wedding vows they’ve written for each other. (Mallory reads hers first, then Sam) Ring Exchange May we have the rings please? (McKayla will grab the box containing the rings from Braxton) Samuel, as you place the ring on Mallory’s finger, please repeat after me: Mallory, 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. Mallory, as you place the ring on Samuels finger, please repeat after me: Samuel, 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, Mallory, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, Samuel, 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. Samuel and Mallory 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. ...! Marcia and Kurt's Monument Circle Elop
Good afternoon. It is truly a blessing for two people to find one another and to love so deeply that they embrace the bond of marriage. That is why we are all here today, to witness and celebrate their commitment to this union. On behalf of them, I welcome you all. Although this is their day, it is also a tribute to all of you. For knowing you and interacting with you has helped to make Marcia and Kurt who they needed to be to find each other. They would like to thank you all for that. You all hold a place in their hearts reserved for those that they have chosen to call “Family” and “Friends” and they are deeply grateful for each and every one of you here today. Marriage is a gift from God, a miracle. After speaking to you both, it is obvious that you already know some of the great blessings marriage has to offer. It is an opportunity to feel the joy of taking care of someone who takes care of you, to be challenged towards growth yet gently nurtured, to love deeply and receive it in return. It is about trust, friendship and having a partner to share all life has to offer. It is a commitment to participate in a process of mutual evolution, understanding and forgiveness. It is indeed a sacred union to be treated with reverence. Marcia, Kurt is a gift to you from God, but he is not a gift for you alone. It is God’s will that in your love, this man might find within himself a greater sense of who he is meant to be. You are asked to see the good in this man, to accept him for who he is and who he shall be. In this way, God’s purpose shall be accomplished in this relationship. May this man find the kingdom of heaven through the love you share. And so it is with you also Kurt, that although Marscia is God’s gift to you, she is not a gift intended for you alone. You are asked by God to so love this woman, that in your love she might find herself as God has created her, so beautiful and strong and brave and true, that the entire world might be blessed by the presence of a woman who shines so. May she relax in your arms as she has never relaxed before. May she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend on forever. May you both create, with God, a piece of heaven on earth. Vows Do you, Kurt, take this woman, Marcia, to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live. Kurt: “I Do” And do you, Marcia, take this man, Kurt, to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live. Marcia “I Do” 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. Marcia, 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. As you place the ring on her finger With this ring, I thee wed Kurt, 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. As you place the ring on his finger With this ring, I thee wed May the two of you be blessed by God, May you be touched by Angels, May your hearts stay full, may your spirits stay connected and may you love long, and happily in each other’s arms. I now pronounce you Husband and wife! You may kiss your bride. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson! May you live happily ever after! 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. Welcoming more options Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for being here today. We are gathered here to celebrate the union of two faithful souls. (A quote from Bill and Fleur's Wedding in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows) This wedding is a celebration of family, it is the blending of two families that have been separate up to this moment, but united from this day forward – blending their different traditions and, by doing so, strengthening the family tree. To honor this uniting of the families, Kelly and Scott wish to ask their parent’s blessing. The Presentation of the Bride and Groom more options (Names of) Kelly’s Mother and Father, do you offer this couple your goodwill? Do you welcome Scott as a member of your family and give him your love and affection? They answer: We do (Names of), Scott’s Mother, do you offer this couple your goodwill? Do you welcome Kelly as a member of your family and give her your love and affection? They answer: We do And all of you gathered here today are part of the love and support that surround Kelly and Scott. Do we also have your blessing on this marriage? The guests answer: We do! Thank You very much. And now, in the words of Albus Dumbledore, Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure. Vows more options Scott, do you take Kelly to be your best friend, your faithful partner and one true love? Do you promise to encourage and inspire her and to love her truly through good times and bad? Will you be there forever? to laugh with her to lift her up when she’s down and to love her unconditionally through all your adventures in life together? Scott: I do Kelly, do you take Scott to be your best friend, your faithful partner and one true love? Do you promise to encourage and inspire him and to love him truly through good times and bad? Will you be there forever? to laugh with him, to lift him up when he’s down and to love him unconditionally through all your adventures in life together? Kelly: I do Share your own vows here Declaration of Intent more options Kelly and Scott, do you promise to stay together “Until the very end?” We Do A lifetime from now, when someone asks “Even after all this time?” What will your answer be? Always. Ring Exchange The Meaning of the Rings more options You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. Not only were the stones formed a long time ago deep with the earth and eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. But you personally took the raw metal, liquefied it, molded it into rings, cooled them, and painstakingly polished them. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape it into something extraordinary. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. 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 other today. I would also like to point out that the two of you literally smithed these rings yourselves. You took the time, invested in the workshop, took the time to learn how to create a wedding band - starting with a practice ring - working at it until you got it right - looking at all the details - What is the size of my finger? Is it the ring going to be to big or too small? Is my finger swollen right now or not? The person helping you assured you that if you didn’t get it quite right you could just melt it down and start again. Remember THAT part. The gold that is your wedding band is malleable. You can melt it down and create a new ring. Let Love be the basis of your relationship, know that love itself is also malleable. Your love will change over the years and it will continually express itself in different ways. Ring Exchange more options Scott, as you place the ring on Kelly’s finger, please repeat after me: I Scott, take thee, Kelly 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 bring you this ring, forged by my hands for yours with love." and "you & me….we’re in a club now. And you will always be my greatest adventure. Kelly, as you place the ring on Scott’s finger, please repeat after me: I Kelly, take thee, Scott 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 bring you this ring, forged by my hands for yours with love." and "you & me….we’re in a club now. And you will always be my greatest adventure. Final Blessing more options Kelly and Scott, Go into the world and fulfill your dreams. Love, support, and help one another as you grow. Seek out opportunities to be good to each other. May the seeds of your love, now planted in marriage, continue to grow. May your life together be as a pebble dropped in a pond; an example of love and unity spread outward to your family, your friends and the wider circle of the world. Pronouncement more options I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! Scott, you may kiss your bride! Ladies and Gentlemen, The Mathlers! (This is not their real name. They are both keeping their names so they created a combination of both for fun! :-) 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 more options 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 more options 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 more options 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 more options 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 more options 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 more options 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 more handfasting script options 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 more options 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. I think Robert and Yimin were my first Chinese-American Couple. Yimin embraced the idea of an American wedding ceremony but thought it was a little funny because in China you just go to the proper authority and sign a paper. They both embraces the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings in their ceremony.
Opening Words more welcoming options Welcome friends and family of Yimin and Robert. Thank you for joining us this morning as we celebrate their love and joining together in marriage. Readings more options LOVE by Roy Croft I love you, Not only for what you are, But for what I am When I am with you. I love you, Not only for what You have made of yourself, But for what You are making of me. I love you For the part of me That you bring out; I love you For putting your hand Into my heaped-up heart And passing over All the foolish, weak things That you can't help Dimly seeing there, And for drawing out Into the light All the beautiful belongings That no one else had looked Quite far enough to find. I love you because you Are helping me to make Of the lumber of my life Not a tavern But a temple; Out of the works Of my every day Not a reproach But a song. I love you Because you have done More than any creed Could have done To make me good, And more than any fate To make me happy. You have done it Without a touch, Without a word, Without a sign. You have done it By being yourself. The Apache Wedding Blessing Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness for you. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you. May your days together be good and long upon the earth. Vows more options Do you, Robert take Yimin as your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death parts you? Groom: I do Do you, Yimin, take Robert, to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death parts you? Bride: I do The Exchange of Rings Meaning of the Rings more options Bride and Groom, your rings are an external and visible sign of the bond of love which unites you. May they serve as a seal of the vows the two of you have made to one another. Bless these rings, symbols of eternity, beauty and strength. Bless You, the couple who give them and wear them—may they ever live in love and happiness from this day forward. As you exchange rings, may you remember that from this day forward you shall not walk alone. May your hearts provide shelter and in each others’ arms may you find your home. The couple exchanges rings. The Hands Ceremony more options Bride and Groom are facing each other and holding each other’s hands, so that they may see the gift that they are to each other. 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 along side yours as together you build your future. 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 give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. 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. The Declaration of Marriage more marriage pronouncement options 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. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!! Lisa and Kevin got engaged and decided to throw an engagement party at Elliott House in Kokomo. The historic house and museum also made the perfect backdrop for their surprise wedding!! Their guests had pretty much all figured it out already, but it was good fun when they arrived ready to celebrate. Surprise weddings are more popular then you might think. It removes a LOT of stress in your wedding planning. It was catered by Olive Garden. Until then, I didn't even know you could do that!
They provided me with this ceremony to perform and I'm sharing it with you! This ceremony includes more of a traditional sermon. That's not something I generally perform in a wedding ceremony but I'm happy to perform just about any ceremony you provide me with of write a sermon for you. Welcoming Words more options Welcome! Thank you for joining us here today, to celebrate the joining together in marriage of Kevin and Lisa. We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to one another, Kevin and Lisa proclaim their love to the world, and we are happy for them. We have come here as a community of family and friends to love and support the two of you. To witness your entrance into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, and to celebrate the beginning of your journey together as husband and wife. Opening Prayer more options Let us pray. Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us,for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. We pray, O God, that you remain with Kevin and Lisa as a partner in their marriage. Grant to them, and to us all, love and understanding all of our days. Amen We are all happy that you have found each other And that through each other, You have come to know the power of love. We celebrate your union of hearts, minds, bodies, and souls and wish you great joy, a loving, and happy marriage. Declaration of Support more words about love and marriage 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. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the family and friends who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are Kevin and Lisa's support system, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. Today we have come together to celebrate the love you have found with each other. By being here with you, Each of us is declaring our support For your decision to join together in marriage. As family and friends, all of you here form the support That surrounds Them. Each of you, by your presence here today, Is being called upon to uphold them In honoring and loving each other. Always stand beside them, Never between them. Offer them your love and support, Not your judgment. Encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts, And honor this marriage into which they have come to be joined today. Marriage is the ultimate relationship because it offers the opportunity of limitless intimacy 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 forever entwined. 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 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. Kevin and Lisa, You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintances to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, 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 through texts - 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. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife. Believing this, are you, Kevin and Lisa, prepared to enter this covenant of marriage and to share all the joys and sorrow of this new marriage, whatever the future may hold? To bring your A game every time? To play fair? To work through every 3rd and long situation, working together to move toward your goals? To dedicate yourself to team work? Playing each game the best you can right through to the last whistle with the intent to not only make it to the play-off’s but to win the SuperBowl? Vows more options Do you Kevin, take Lisa 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; from this day forward until death do you part? I do Do you Lisa, take Kevin 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; from this day forward until death do you part? I do Now, the couple would like to share the vows they have written for one another. Meaning of the Rings more options The rings please... The ring is a circle... an ancient symbol of eternity and completeness, so perfect, with no beginning and no end, for love that is given comes back around again. Ring Exchange more options Repeat after me: Kevin: I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Lisa: I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Sermon Kevin and Lisa, what is the purpose of marriage? Or, to put it another way, why are you getting married? We can identify different purposes: a setting within which we may give loving and tender expression to the desires God gave us; a secure environment within which children may be born and taught to know and serve the Lord; a structure that enriches society and contributes to its orderly function. You have asked me to speak on a text that gives another reason, the most important reason, for marriage. You have asked me to speak on companionship in marriage. Do you remember what we read in Genesis after the creation of Adam? God announced, "It is not good for the man to be alone". Up to this point, everything has been pronounced "good" or "very good". But now God says something is not good: "It is not good for the man to be alone". As the old song puts it, "one is a lonely number." So what did God do? God made Eve so Adam would not be alone. In the same way, God made Lisa so Kevin would not be alone and God made Kevin so Lisa would not be alone. If one is a lonely number than two is a happy number. Now, listen to your wedding text which speaks of this companionship: (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. "Two are better than one." Do you hear the echoes of Genesis? Do you hear the old refrain going back to Adam & Eve? "Two are better than one." "It is not good for the man to be alone." So God provides a companion. When Jesus looks at this companionship, He sees something holy and mysterious. He says the two become one flesh; He says they are no longer two, but one (Mt 19:5,6). They are joined together just like Christ and the church are joined together. So, not only are two better than one but two also become one. Kevin and Lisa, the two of you are life-long companions of each other. From this point on you are each other's best friend and companion. From now on you travel the same road. None of us knows the kind of road the Lord has in mind for you. None of us knows the pitfalls, the curves, the valleys, the hills that you will face. But as you wind your way through life, you have the comfort and strength of each other as lifelong traveling companions. I saved the most important line until last. The Spirit-inspired author of Ecclesiastes ends our Scripture reading with, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." He is repeating common knowledge: everyone back then knew that a rope made of a single or double strand of cord could be broken so easily; a rope, however, made of three strands was not so easily broken. Kevin and Lisa, the author of Ecclesiastes is not trying to educate us about ropes; rather, he is trying to educate us about marriage. To have a strong marriage, a marriage that is not easily broken, you need to have three strands. Kevin, you are one strand. Lisa, you are another strand. And the third strand – that is God. I came across a poem entitled "Marriage Takes Three" that speaks to this: I once thought marriage took Just Two to make a go, But now I am convinced It takes the Lord also. And not one marriage fails Where Christ is asked to enter As lovers come together With Jesus at the center. But marriage seldom thrives, And homes are incomplete, till He is welcomed there To help avoid defeat. In homes where Christ is first It's obvious to see, Those unions really work, For marriage still takes three. Perry Tanksley 1984 "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." This is an obligation and it is a promise. First, the obligation. the Lord Jesus needs to be at the center of your home and marriage. "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." This is also a promise. When the three of you – Kevin, Lisa, and God – travel together, nothing can tear you apart. When the three of you – Kevin, Lisa, and God – travel together, you are so intertwined with each other that no one and nothing can tear you apart. According to Jesus, God designed marriage to be permanent. God did not bring Eve to Adam for a one-night stand. God did not bring Eve to Adam so that they would stay together only until the children were grown up. God did not bring Eve to Adam until someone better came along. God expected Adam and Eve to be lifelong companions. God expected them to stay together until death do them part. Likewise, Kevin and Lisa, God's will is that you live together in a lifelong, exclusive partnership of love and fidelity. As Jesus puts it, "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate". "Two are better than one." "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." God bless you as you live out these words in your marriage. Kevin and Lisa will now braid their strands. Marriage Blessing more options Kevin and Lisa, may you live happily ever after. May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. My the two of you be blessed by God, may you be touched by angels. May your heart stay full, may your spirits stay connected and may you love long and happily in one another’s arms. Closing Prayer more options Let us pray. Father in heaven, You ordained marriage for your children, and you gave us love. We present to You, Kevin and Lisa who come this day to be married. May the covenant of love they make be blessed with true devotion and spiritual commitment. We ask that You, God, will give them the ability to keep the covenant they have made. When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity; when mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength; when there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness; if suffering becomes a part of their lives, give them a strong faith and an abiding love. Amen. I now pronounce you Husband and wife! You may kiss the bride! Mr. and Mrs. Shallenberger We can reword this, it’s just something to start with, usually, I will add personalizations in real time based on everyone’s reaction. We can script the whole thing out as well. Welcome! Thank you for joining us here today, to celebrate the joining together in marriage of Bride and groom . We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction. Bride and Groom proclaim their love to the world, and we are happy for them. We have come here as a community of family and friends to love and support the two of you. To witness your entrance into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, and to celebrate the beginning of your journey together as husband and wife. Who gives this woman to be married? Mom and Dad’s: We do. Thank You! Let us pray O God, Creator of us all, we thank you for the gift of life and on this day we thank you especially for the joy that Lisa and Groom have found in each other, and for the promises they will make before you. Bless all of our families and friends who are present with us on this special occasion. We also remember those who couldn't be here today, particularly ____________ We pray, O God, that you remain with Bride and Groom as a partner in their marriage. Grant to them, and to us all, love and understanding all of our days. Amen We are all happy that you have found each other And that through each other, You have come to know the power of love. We celebrate your union of hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. And wish you great joy and a loving and happy marriage. Declaration of support: 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. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are Bride and Groom's community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because they are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way. Today we have come together to celebrate the love you have found with each other. By being here with you, Each of us is declaring our support For your decision to join together in marriage. As families and friends, all of you here form their community of support That surrounds Them. Each of you, by your presence here today, Is being called upon to uphold them In honoring and loving each other. Always stand beside them, Never between them. Offer them your love and support, Not your judgment. Encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts, And honor this marriage into which they have come to be joined today. Marriage is the ultimate relationship because it offers the opportunity of limitless intimacy 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. Perhaps these are the little secrets of life a couple share with each other? You know, funny little habits... In marriage, two become one and, the two of you together is much greater than the simple sum of your parts. 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. Today it becomes officially legal! 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 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. Bride and Groom, 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, indeed, 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 of much from one another in these last few years. of all of you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between us. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife Believing this, are you, Bride and Groom, prepared to enter this covenant of marriage and to share all the joys and sorrow of this new relationship, whatever the future may hold? To bring your A game every time? To play fair? To work through every 3rd and long situation, working together to move toward your goals? To dedicate yourself to team work? Playing each game the best you can right through to the last whistle with the intent to not only make it to the play-off’s but to win the SuperBowl? 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; from this day forward until death do you part? I do 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; from this day forward until death do you part? I do Now, the couple would like to share the vows they have written for one another. The rings please... The ring is a circle... an ancient symbol of eternity and completeness, so perfect, with no beginning and no end, for love that is given comes back around again. Repeat after me: Bride: I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Groom: I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Bride and Groom have decided to perform the ceremony of the Cord of Three Strands. It’s based on the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4, Verse 12 that says “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” It states that the two of them together are stronger than they are separate and alone. We often use the word synergy to say that the sum is greater than the parts. But what is it that actually makes us greater? What’s that magical ingredient? The ingredient is Love. As a wedding officiant, I do believe that Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It’s a power we can each lend ourselves to and allow it to be the place from where we operate. We can love ourselves and act in the world from a place of love. Imagine the world where we all operate from a place of love? No one can speak for the whole world but today, by performing this ceremony Bride and Groom are saying that they are going to act from a place of love in their marriage. They are saying that the power of love is greater than they are and that it’s a power that can make each of them better people and better together as a married couple. As your marriage changes and grows there will be times you wonder about the love that binds you. You may not always feel it and think it as gone. At those times, I hope you look at this cord and realize it’s still there. They have 3 strands here - 3 cords. One stands for each of them and the third stands for love - the tie that binds. They will now braid them together. Bride and Groom, may you live happily ever after. May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. My the two of you be blessed by God, may you be touched by angels. May your heart stay full, may your spirits stay connected and may you love long and happily in one another’s arms. I now pronounce you Husband and wife! You may kiss the bride! Mr. and Mrs. ____________! Abbigale and Coty got married on a Sunday morning at Avon Gardens in Avon, IN. I am advising couples more and more that your wedding ceremony doesn't have to be long. A short and sweet ceremony can be perfect if you pick the right words. Abbigale and Coty nalied it!!!
Welcoming more options Hello and welcome, Today we are here to witness the act of love. Love is the magic that has brought Abbigale and Coty together and through that magic we are joining them today. Words about Love and Marriage more options Marriage is a supreme sharing, perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyful uniting of two people whose care and affection and understanding have flowered into a deep and abiding love. Those who take it’s sacred vows have their lives blended together into one, as the water of two rivers are joined when they come together to form and even greater one. Our reading for today is From Blue-Eyed Devil. Written by Lisa Kleypas more wedding readings "I no longer believed in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight. But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life if you were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together." Declaration of Intent more options Coty, from this day onward, do you choose Abbigale 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? Abbigale, from this day onward, do you choose Coty 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? Vows more options Now, You have vows you’ve written for each other. The Meaning of the Wedding Rings more options May we have the rings please? The ring is an ancient symbol, so perfect and simple. It has no beginning and has no end.It is round like the sun, like the moon, like the eye, like arms that embrace. It is a circle; for love that is given comes back round again. Your rings are precious because you wear them with love. They symbolize your commitment in marriage. They remind you of who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are as individuals, but also who you are a couple. Wedding Ring Exchange more options Coty, as you place the ring on Abbigale’s finger, please repeat after me: Abbigale,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. Abbigale, as you place the ring on Coty’s finger please repeat after me: Coty, 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. Hand Ceremony more options Now, while you are holding hands and facing each other, take a moment to appreciate the gift that you are to each other: These are the hands of your best friend, loving, caring that are holding yours on your wedding day, as each of you pledges your love and commitment to one another all the days of your life. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as you build your future together, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands that will welcome you home after a very long day. These are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of Joy! These are the hands that will hold you tight when you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick and console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will love you and cherish you throughout the years for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will give you support knowing that together as a team everything you wish for can be realized. May your hands always be held by one another. May they have the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the darkness of disillusionment. Keep them tender and other in wondrous love. Pronouncement of Marriage more options Today, Abbigae and Coty honored you with their invitation to be present with them today for this ceremony. And so, this day, they declare before all of us that they shall live together in marriage. In the traditional way, they entered into their marriage with the joining of hands, the making of vows and promises, and the giving and receiving of rings, an outward symbol of their voluntary commitment to one another. Therefore, it is my pleasure, that I now pronounce them husband and wife. Mr and Mrs Coty and Abbigale ...! Allison and Davy's created a beautiful wedding ceremony. They were having two weddings. One in Indiana and another in France. They put a lot of thought into the ceremony and I think it's beautiful. Their ceremony was held at The Gazebo in Carmel.
Presentation other options Who presents this woman to be married to this man? Allison's Father stands up and says: Her mother and I. Welcoming Words other options We have come together, both families and friends, to witness Allison and Davy as they exchange their vows of marriage. We share with them their delight in finding love with each other, and we support their decision to be together from now until the end of time. As this couple enters into marriage, they do so with thought and reverence. They give thanks for the past, which brought them to this place and look forward with hope to what the future will bring. Marriage is like a great umbrella that shelters love from the elements. 1 Corinthians 13 NIV says: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This marriage is an expression of Allison & Davy’s commitment to that love. Words About Loving Others The ability and desire for one human being to love another is perhaps the most precious and fulfilling gift. Loving someone is a reason to stretch beyond our limits, to become more for the sake of the other. It is to look into the soul of your beloved and accept what you see. Loving is the ultimate commitment which challenges humans to become all that we are meant to be. As they join in marriage today, Allison and Davy are announcing to the world that they are welcoming that endeavor. Words about Love more options But what do we mean by love? When we love, we see things other people do not see. 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 remember why we love. And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other. One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us. We who love, can look at each other’s life and say “I touched his life” and “I touched her life.” Words about Marriage more options 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 in each other, 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. It is, ultimately, the emergence of the Highest Selves of each person. Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance. It is also a lifelong responsibility — a journey really. They are taking the first step of their new beginning; their new life together. Vows more options We are here today to celebrate the love, which Allison & Davy have for each other, and to give social recognition to their decision to commit their lives and accept each other totally. Rejoice! with and for them, in the new path of life they will now walk together. Do you Davy, take Allison, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to share your life openly, standing with her in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in hardship and in ease, to cherish and love forever? Davy: I do. Do you Allison, take Davy, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to share your life openly, standing with him in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in hardship and in ease, to cherish and love forever? Allison: I do. Wedding Ring Meaning more options The ring is an ancient symbol, so perfect and simple. It has no beginning and has no end. It is round like the sun, like the moon, like the eye, like arms that embrace. It is a circle; for love that is given comes back around again. Your rings are precious because you wear them with love. They symbolize your commitment in marriage. They remind you of who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are as individuals, but also who you are as a couple. Wedding Ring Exchange more options Davy, as you place the ring on Allison’s finger, please repeat after me: I, Davy, take thee, Allison, to be my Wife. To have and to hold, and I promise my love to you. And with this ring, I take you as my Wife, for as long as we both shall live. Allison, as you place the ring on Davy’s finger, please repeat after me: I, Allison, take thee, Davy, to be my Husband. To have and to hold, and I promise my love to you. And with this ring, I take you as my Husband, for as long as we both shall live. Final Blessings more options Go into the world and fulfill your dreams. Love, support, and help one another as you grow. Seek out opportunities to be good to each other. May the seeds of your love, now planted in marriage, continue to grow. May your life together be as a pebble dropped in a pond; an example of love and unity spread outward to your family, your friends and the wider circle of the world. Pronouncement more options 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 your days yet to come, you wish to share together all life's joys and challenges, committed one to the other. I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! You may kiss. Congratulations! Rachel and Dominic's Wedding Ceremony Script with a tree planting - Valle Vista County Club.4/14/2020
Rachel and Dominic were married in at Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood, IN. They included a prayer read by Rachel's grandfather and a tree planting ceremony.
The Presentation Of The Bride more options Who gives this woman to be married? Please be seated. Welcoming Words more options Welcome! We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Rachel and Dominic 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. We’d 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. Rachel and Dominic, 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.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! Wedding Prayer (Read by Bride’s Grandfather) more options Lord Jesus, grant that Rachel and Dominic may have a true and understanding love for each other. Grant that they may both be filled with faith and trust Give them the grace to live with each other in peace and harmony. May they always bear with one another’s weaknesses and grow from each other’s strengths. Help them to forgive one another’s failings and grant them patience, kindness, cheerfulness and the spirit of placing the well being of one another ahead of self. May the love that brought them together grow and mature with each passing year. Bring them both ever closer to You through their love for each other. Let their love grow to perfection. Amen. Vows more options Dominic, from this day forward, do you choose Rachel 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? Rachel, from this day forward, do you choose Dominic 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? Meaning of the Wedding Rings more options 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. Ring Exchange more options please repeat after me.... Rachel, 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. Dominic, 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. Tree Ceremony more options Rachel and Dominic, long before you two had the pleasure of knowing each other, your families provided you with a foundation of love and support which has made you the people we see before us. To honor your families and all they have given you, you each will start by adding dirt from your childhood homes’. Just as your families have been the foundation of who you have become, this dirt will be the foundation of your new family. Rachel and Dominic will plant this tree in their new home signifying the joining of their lives together, the commitment that they have made to one another, and the strength and nurturing each will provide to the relationship as they grow and mature together. Final Blessing more options 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. Marriage Pronouncement more options It is my great pleasure to acknowledge your union as “Husband and Wife.” Dominic, you may now kiss your bride! Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. ...! Anneka and Nic are both shy. They don't like attention on themselves at all - even from their very best friends and family at The Barn in Zionsville.
Announce an Unplugged Ceremony more options Family, friends, honored guests, on behalf of Anneka and Nick, I would like to warmly welcome you to the celebration of their marriage. They wish to express their gratitude for each of you who has chosen to be here today. During the ceremony this afternoon, we respectfully request that you silence and put away all cell phones and cameras so we can all be fully present in this moment. Thank you! Let us begin… Do NOT say Please stand for the bride!!! Anneka will walk in with both of her parents. Words About Love and Marriage more options 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're 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. Anneka and Nick have a cousin and a friend of a friend to thank for bringing them together. These two people thought that Anneka and Nick might be interested in meeting up at some point since they both went to Purdue and they were both in the same major. And when they finally did meet up, they found they had a lot more in common than that. They loved being outside, hiking and exploring, and they enjoyed being creative, designing and making things. So they started off on their relationship, helping each other with classes and exams and projects. They completed internships, adopted a cat, adopted another cat, and then adopted another cat. Then there was a graduation, a move to Dallas, Texas, a move back to West Lafayette, Indiana, another graduation, a move to Nashville, Tennessee, and then an adoption of a greyhound. And last year along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, Nick decided to blind-side Anneka with a proposal with her Grandmother’s original engagement ring. 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 are both 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." A Reading more options The bride and groom have asked that I read a brief excerpt from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion… That is just being ‘in love’, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches, we found that we were one tree and not two. Vows more options Will you, Nick, keep Anneka as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day? Nick: I will. Will you, Anneka, keep Nick as your favorite person — to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day? Anneka: I will. Will you both, Anneka and Nick, be each other's partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next? Anneka and Nick: We will. Ring Exchange more options May we have the rings please… For generations the passage of two people into the state of marriage has been marked by the exchange of rings. Rings hold deep symbolic meaning. The circle is an ancient symbol representing notions of totality, wholeness, perfection, and the infinite. It implies an idea of movement, and symbolizes the cycle of time. It symbolizes both the potential and the completion, the eternal cycle of life. Even as these circles, these rings, hold universal significance, they are also personally significant to these two here today. They are a constant reminder of the bond between a husband and a wife. A visible, tangible symbol of their commitment to each other. Let these rings be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that this person has been chosen, this person walks not alone through life. Please take a moment to exchange rings. (They chose not to say anything while exchanging rings.) Final Blessing more options May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitement a marriage should bring May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer’s day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. By the power vested in me by the state of Indiana I now pronounce you Husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!! Anneka and Nick are Married! Ladies and gentlemen, while pictures are being taken, please make your way to cocktails and appetizers. Thank you so much for being here and enjoy your evening! When I sat down with Alex and her mom to talk wedding ceremony we had a great conversation. I wanted to get to know Alex a little better and hear all about her relationship with Ethan. Their dog is a HUGE part of their lives - so we had to include him! They were considering having him at the ceremony but ultimately decided against it but he was definitely there in spirit! The other thing they love is Harry Potter!!! My husband and I feel the same way! LOVE LOVE LOVE Harry! When I told Alex they could have Harry Potter in the wedding we got so excited! I loved writing and performing this ceremony.
Alex and Ethan were married a the Indiana State Fairgrounds Under the covered bridge with their reception in Normandy Barn. Victoria will take her place at the front first and announce and unplugged ceremony more options Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. Please silence your phones and refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony. Thank you. The Presentation of the Bride more options Everyone, Please stand for the Bride. Who gives this woman to be married? Thank you very much. Please be seated. Welcoming Words more options Welcome! We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Alex and Ethan 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 more options We’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Either those who couldn’t be here today or who are no longer with us. We Know that they are here with us in spirit Words about Love and Marriage more options Alex and Ethan, 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. 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! A Reading more options I know there was a lot of discussion as to whether or not Slink, the wonder dog was going to be here today. He’s such an important part of your lives. That’s why, I think this reading is perfect for today. We all learn from each other and we can learn a lot from dogs! How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog by Taylor Mali First of all, it’s a big responsibility, owning a dog or falling in love... So think long and hard before deciding on love. On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security: when you’re walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on love ain’t nobody going to mess with you. Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable. Who knows what love could do in its own defense? On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises. Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs. It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy. Love doesn’t like being left alone for long. But come home and love is always happy to see you. It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long. Is love good all the time? No! No! Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love. Love makes messes. Love leaves you little surprises here and there. Love needs lots of cleaning up after. Sometimes you just want to get love fixed. Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper and swat love on the nose, not so much to cause pain, just to let love know Don’t you ever do that again! Sometimes love just wants to go out for a nice long walk. Because love loves exercise. It will run you around the block and leave you panting, breathless. Pull you in different directions at once, or wind itself around and around you until you’re all wound up and you cannot move. But love makes you meet people wherever you go. People who have nothing in common but love stop and talk to each other on the street. Throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again. But most of all, love needs love, lots of it. And in return, love loves you and never stops. A few words about Love and Marriage in the Spirit of Harry Potter more Harry! Now, I don’t think that two big Harry Potter fans, like Ethan and Alex, could think about getting married without making the Unbreakable Vow and declaring Until Avada Kedavera do us part! To you muggles that are unfamiliar with the magical lingo, The Unbreakable Vow is when you make a vow in such seriousness, if you should break the vow, you will die. On the other hand, Avada Kedavera is the killing curse! Oh, to think that nothing could ever separate you other than a killing curse in a duel! There are a few things we can learn about love and marriage from the magical world of Harry Potter… Albus Dumbledore said “We can’t choose our fate but we can choose others,” He also goes on to say that we should “be careful in knowing that.” We know that you have made a very careful choice in deciding to get married today, and you have chosen each other, knowing that whatever fate might bring, the two of you, together, know that you can face it. There may be things you face over the lifetime of your marriage that seem insurmountable, like a 12 foot mountain troll. But remember this Potter quote, “There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a 12 foot mountain troll is one of them.” Remember when you face the mountain trolls of life, you will find out things about yourselves and each other, that you would have never seen, had you not been put to the test. Good things like strength and wit, and of course, cleverness, bravery and friendship. Perhaps the best vows to make today is what James Potter declared when he said “Until the very end.” The interesting thing about that quote is that James Potter said it from beyond the grave. So, with that, may your vow today be beyond the typical “until death do us part.” May your love always connect you on a level beyond our physical understanding knowing that is where the actual magic is. Dumbledore declared, “Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” We hope your marriage is full of adventure! Along your adventure, Listen to Ron who said, “When in doubt, go to the library.” When things get challenging, remember dumbledore also said, “Time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead.” But I hope you have a helpful Marauders Map to show you what’s along the way when you need it. And may you also know when it’s exactly the right time to say “Mischief Managed!” Remember that your marriage will take on a life of it’s own and your relationship will grow. “It matters not what someone is born, it’s what they grow to be” Your marriage starts today, it’s born today, you can control what it grows to be by your choices and actions. “What’s comin’ will come and we’ll meet it when it does.” Know that, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn the light on.” Slughorn said, “It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love.” Love, simply is, you can choose to let it flow through you or not. Love is the power behind the magic. In the end, remember, “You are protected, in short, by your ability to love.” And when someone asks, “Even after all this time?” May your answer be, “Always.” Vows more options Do you Ethan, take Alex, 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; from this day forward through all your adventures in life together? Do you Alex take Ethan, 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; from this day forward through all of your adventures in life together. Alex and Ethan would now like to share their own vows here The Meaning of the Rings more options 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. Ring Exchange more options Alex, 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. Ethan, 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. The Hand Ceremony more options And now as you are holding hands take a moment, so that you may see the gift that you are to each other. 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 countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. 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. Final Blessing more options Alex and Ethan, May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer’s day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. The Pronouncement more options 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, It is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Ethan and Alex ...! Let's face it, A lot of couples aren't really into having a big formal wedding ceremony. They just want to get married. Often, the issue is they have an idea of what a wedding is supposed and what they think it's "supposed" to me, they don't want any part of. Couples are usually very happy when I tell them everything that it could be if they choose. Macy and Leland took their options and ran with it. They chose a simple non-religious wedding ceremony with a reading from Carl Sagan - It expressed them perfectly at their wedding ceremony at Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood, IN. I mean, who quotes Carl Sagan at a wedding?
Welcoming more options Welcome! We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Macy & Leland 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 & family. Thank you for gathering here to witness their marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion. We’d 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. Reading About Marriage From Carl Sagan: more reading options The size and age of the Cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. And yet our species is young and curious and brave and shows much promise. In the last few millennia, we have made the most astonishing and unexpected discoveries. They remind us that humans have evolved to wonder, that understanding is a joy, that knowledge is prerequisite to survival. Our little planet floats like a mote of dust in the morning sky. All that you see, all that we can see, exploded out of a star billions of years ago, and the particles slowly arranged themselves into living things, including all of us. We are made of star stuff. We are the mechanism by which the universe can comprehend itself. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth. We should remain grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides. The sum of all our evolution, our thinking, and our accomplishments is love. A marriage makes two fractional lives a whole. It gives to two questioning natures a renewed reason for living. IT brings a new gladness to the sunshine, a new fragrance to the flowers, a new beauty to the earth, and a new mystery to life. Vows more options Do you Leland take Macy, 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; from this day forward until death do you part. Do you Macy take Leland, 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; from this day forward until death do you part. Wedding Ring Meaning more options The rings please… The rings are 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. Ring Exchange more options Please repeat after me… Macy, 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. Leland, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and now that I love you. Macy and Leland, you have heard the words about love and marriage, have exchanged your vows and made your promises, and celebrated your union with the giving and receiving of rings. It is at this time that I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride! Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my please to introduce to you: Mr. and Mrs. ...! Jamie and Jon had a small, early spring wedding at The Sycamore at Mallow Run in Bargersville, IN. They have a room that's perfect for a small wedding. The Sycamore at Mallow Run is part of a vineyard to it's very fitting to include a wine box ceremony!
The Welcoming more options We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Jamie and Jonathan 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. Reading: From "Union" by Robert Fulghum more options Jamie and Jonathan, 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, indeed, 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 this last year. And 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 Vows more options Do you Jonathan, take Jamie, 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; until death do you part? Groom: I do Do you Jamie, take Jonathan, 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; until death do you part? Bride: I do Ring Exchange more options The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul, Jonathan as you place the ring on the finger of your bride, please repeat after me: Jamie, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you. By the same token Jamie, as you place the ring on the finger of your groom, please repeat after me: Jonathan, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you. Wine Box Ceremony: more options At this time, Jamie and Jonathan would like to do something to remember this special day. First, they have this box, created and personalized just for them. They are going to put memories in the box to keep until their 5th anniversary. The first memory is a bottle of wine. They chose to get married here, on this beautiful vineyard, so it is only fitting they choose an excellent bottle of wine produced here, at Mallow Run Winery. Also going into the box, are these two letters they have written to each other. The letters are about how they feel today about themselves, each other and their hopes for the future as a married couple. On their 5th anniversary, they will open the box, enjoy the wine and read the letters they have written. They will be able to look back and see the love they share today, their wedding day, in its innocence and beauty. Hopefully, as they look back, they will be able to see how they have grown as individuals and how their love and relationship has changed and matured through marriage. Jamie and Jonathan close the box together Let us now share a blessing more options Oh Great Power moving among us for love, may these two people now married, fulfill the covenant which they have made. May they openly give and take from each other, encouraging each other in whatever trials that befall them, sharing in each other's joys, and helping each other as each occasion requires. Having grown to trust themselves and each other, may they not only accept and give love between themselves but also experience love and consideration for others in a community of sharing. We who are here present, and those who are absent but thinking of Jamie and Jonathan, this day, hope that the inspiration of this hour will not be forgotten. May they two of them continue to love each other through all their days together. Pronouncement more options Throughout this ceremony, Jamie and Jonathan have vowed, in our presence, to be loyal and loving towards each other. They have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore, it is my pleasure to now pronounce them husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride! Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan and Jamie...!!! When Kathy and Richard decided to get remarried they chose Garfield Park Conservatory as their venue - a perfect location for a winter's day. It was a small wedding with just their son, his wife and their parents. We took the beauty of the conservatory and the multiple generations present to celebrate the seasons of our lives with this ceremony using R. Gerhardt's "Thoughts In a Garden" as inspiration.
Opening Words more options Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the presence of this company of witnesses to join together this couple in Marriage; which is an honorable estate, and therefore, not entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly and with joy. Into this Estate these two persons present come now to be joined. We are here, in this beautiful place, to celebrate this beautiful occasion, as Richard and Kathy vow to spend the rest of their lives together. The reading of the poem, Thoughts In a Garden, is very appropriate today, not only because we are in a thriving garden, but because of how it compares gardens to relationships and the different phases we go through. Sam and Karen, you are 1 ½ years into your marriage, starting your garden, showing us the hope we all have for lasting love and beauty. Jean and Wayne, after 58 years of marriage you show us that lasting love in deep, rich evergreens. Kathy and Richard, you show us the changing seasons and the necessary work. Pruning encourages growth and after the dormancy of winter, there is always a vibrant spring, in all its glory. “Thoughts In a Garden” by R. Gerhardt This is a special place, a place where people have brought beautiful living plants, here to establish them, to nurture and care for them, that they may forever surround us with the beauty we now see. And into this place where we stand, you have brought something beautiful — the relationship that is becoming your marriage. Here you are declaring it and pledging it, promising to establish and nurture it. We are aware of the special beauty between the two of you, just as we are aware of the special beauty of this place. We are with you now in this appropriate place to celebrate your relationship as it is and as it is yet to be, and in doing so, we ask only that you remember how your life together will have the same seasons and needs as this garden. There will be growth like spring and loss like fall; there will be giving as the blossoming flower, and rest as the seed beneath the snow. All the seasons will be yours, but remember, too, that gardens are not must happenings. The more wonderful the garden, the more skilled the gardener. So you will have to care deeply for the life that is yours together, and nurture it. You will have to appreciate your differences and cultivate them. You will have to take care of yourself, if for no other reason than out of love for the other. And you will need the support of family and friends to reach full growth. As you caringly chose this place to declare your marriage, so remember its lessons for your life together through the seasons that are yours to share. And may those seasons bring you and yours joy and happiness. Declaration of Intent more options Richard, will you have this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to live together in the Estate of Matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live? Kathy, will you have this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to live together Estate of Matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others keep you only unto him as long as you both shall live? Ring Exchange more options The marriage ring seals the vows of marriage and represents a promise for eternal and everlasting love. (Richard: Repeat after me) I Richard, take thee, Kathy, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever, and thereto I give thee my pledge. (Kathy: Repeat after Me) I Kathy, take thee, Richard, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever, and thereto I give thee my pledge. Pronouncement more options Those whom have chosen to be joined together, let no one put asunder! Forasmuch as Kathy and Richard have consented together in Wedlock, and have witnessed the same before this company of witnesses, and there to have given their pledge, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; by the power vested in me by the State of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride. Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you Mr And Mrs Kathy and Richard..... Rebecca and Audrey eloped with their dogs in The Hundred Acre Wood in Indianapolis. It was a beautiful snowy sunset in January.
Opening more words about love and marriage From "Union" by Robert Fulghum Audrey and Rebecca, 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, indeed, 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 of much from one another in these last few years. of all of you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between us. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my wife , this is my wife Declaration of Intent more options Audrey Herbert and Rebecca Evans, will you take vows here before all of us which symbolize the manifested vows you have already made and will continue to make to each other throughout your lives? We will. Vows/ Exchange of Rings vow options ring exchange options Rebecca, please repeat after me: I, Rebecca, take you, Audrey, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us. With this ring, I marry you. Audrey, please repeat after me: I, Audrey, take you, Rebecca, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us. With this ring, I marry you. Pronouncement of Marriage more options Because you have so affirmed, in love and knowledge of the other, so also do I declare that you are now married! You may now kiss each other!! Amy and James have been together for a long time. It took them several years to finally find the time to become husband and wife. Work, schedules, kids, dogs, all sorts of things can get in the way of finally saying "I do!" When they did, they chose to rent a beautiful, modern, hotel suite and got married by the fire with a view of the city. It was an amazing winder's day.
OPENING PRAYER more opening prayers Let us pray, Faithful God, we invoke Your name in this glad moment, because we know you are the Creator of humanity in your image and in all our diversity. You are the Author of love, the Source of passion, the Model of commitment. You stand with us, through all of life’s experiences, challenges, worries, defeats, and victories. We pray for your presence now, confident that divine blessing comes to rest wherever hearts are woven together with fidelity and love. Bless this hour for Amy and James, and let Your peace uphold all who love them and who have contributed to the lives embracing this sacred moment. Amen. WORDS ABOUT LOVE AND MARRIAGE more options here Amy and James, We are here today to celebrate your uniting in marriage and taking the first step of your new beginning: your new life together. The ability and desire for one human being to love another is perhaps the most precious and fulfilling gift that has been entrusted to us. It is an all-consuming task, a lifelong endeavor — the journey we’ve been preparing for all of our lives. Loving someone is a reason to stretch beyond our limits, to become more for the sake of the other. It is to look into the soul of your beloved and accept what you see. Loving is the ultimate commitment which challenges human beings to become all that we are meant to be. As you join in marriage today, you are announcing to the world that you are welcoming that challenge with open arms and glad hearts. MOMENT OF SILENCE more moment of silence options At this time, let us take a moment of silence to remember those who are not here to celebrate with us, due to distance, other commitments, or having been called home to God. Even though they are not here physically, they are a fundamental part of the foundation that makes Amy and James the people they are today. May we always remember (Insert name here) and the other souls who have imprinted upon this couple the unparalleled importance of love and family in this world. Please cherish the memories of these friends and family and all others who live on in our hearts. Help them to bear witness to this union and to share in the joy of these two hearts uniting. Amen. DECLARATION OF INTENT more options here Do you, James, promise to love Amy and respect her, to share your life and your dreams, to build with her a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment, and growth? James: I do. Do you promise to be a companion to her in all of her successes and failures, her happiness and sadness, to always give to her your unwavering support and above all else, the knowledge that she will always be loved for whom she truly is? James: I do. Do you, Amy, promise to love James and respect him, to share your life and your dreams, to build with him a home that is a place of love, happiness, commitment, and growth? Amy: I do. Do you promise to be a companion to him in all of his successes and failures, his happiness and sadness, to always give to him your unwavering support and above all else, the knowledge that he will always be loved for whom he truly is? Amy: I do. WEDDING VOWS Amy and James share their vows for each other MEANING OF THE RINGS more ring meanings here 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 there is someone who needs you, who wants you beside them, someone whose heart you complete. Sometimes these rings will remind you of the commitment that you have made - for better or for worse, in times that define our character and arc. May they always remind you that there is one other person in the world who has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have. Please repeat after me.... Amy, 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 and forever. James, 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 and forever. FINAL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT more options here Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place to enter the days of your togetherness. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion, and may your days together be good and long upon the earth. MARRIAGE PRONOUNCEMENT more options here Forasmuch as you have openly declared your wishes to be united in marriage, and have pledged your love to each other, and have confirmed the same by joining hands, exchanging rings and declaring vows, by the power vested in me by the State of Indiana and the Lord, our God, I do now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the Bride! I am very happy to pronounce you Mr. and Mrs…! Jordan and Dominic had chosen a traditional wedding ceremony script with Christian elements added to it. They chose The Cord of Three Strands as their unity ceremony which is based on a passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes but the actual ceremony I wrote for when they braided their cord is non-religious. Many couples are looking for the right mix between Christian and non-religious.
Jordan and Dominic's Wedding Ceremony Script The Presentation More presentation options here Jordan is escorted down the aisle by her father. He gives her a hug and kiss, shakes Dominic’s hand and places her hand in his. He steps back and the Officiant asks: Who gives this woman to be married? Dad: Her mother and I do. Officiant: Thank you. To all: Please be seated. Jordan and Dominic are facing each other and holding hands. Officiant speaks: I take your hand in mine. It is a symbolic gesture, fraught with meaning throughout centuries of time. It symbolizes friendship and I promise now to be a true and loyal friend to you. It symbolizes union and I promise to keep our union uppermost in my life. It symbolizes help and caring and I promise to be here to help you whenever and however you need me. Most of all, it symbolizes love: joyous love, total and complete. Such a love is what I feel for you. I take you hand in mine-for this hour, for this day, for this lifetime. Welcome! Thank you for joining us today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Jordan and Dominic 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. Dominic and Jordan, 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. We’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Those who have gone on to greater things.(Moment of Silence) Jordan and Dominic, 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. 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. The first reading is John 13:34,35. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” From "Union" 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, indeed, 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, 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 Dominic, do you take Jordan to be your best friend, your faithful partner and one true love? Do you promise to encourage and inspire her and to love her truly through good times and bad? Will you be there forever? to laugh with her, to lift her up when she’s down and to love her unconditionally through all your adventures in life together? Jordan, do you take Dominic to be your best friend, your faithful partner and one true love? Do you promise to encourage and inspire him and to love him truly through good times and bad? Will you be there forever? to laugh with him, to lift him up when he’s down and to love him unconditionally through all your adventures in life together? 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. please repeat after me.... Jordan, 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. Dominic, 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. The Chord of 3 Strands Jordan and Dominic have decided to perform the ceremony of the Chord or Three Strands. It’s based on the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4, verse 12 that says “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” It states that the two of them together are stronger than they are separate and alone. We often use the word synergy to say that the sum is greater than the parts. But what is it that actually makes us greater? What’s that magical ingredient? The ingredient is Love. As a wedding officiant, I do believe that Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It’s a power we can each lend ourselves to and allow it to be the place from where we operate. We can love ourselves and act in the world from a place of love. Imagine the world where we all operate from a place of love? No one can speak for the whole world but today, by performing this ceremony Jordan and Dominic are saying that they are going to act from a place of love in their marriage. They are saying that the power of love is greater than they are and that it’s a power that can make each of them better people and better together as a married couple. As your marriage changes and grows there will be times you wonder about the love that binds you. You may not always feel it and think it is gone. At those times, I hope you look at this chord and realize it’s still there. They have 3 strands here - 3 chords. One stands for each of them and the third stands for love - the tie that binds. They will now braid them together. Jordan and Dominic come back together and hold hands for the final blessing: Ok, now I’d like you to take another deep breath and remember this moment. This is the ceremony. The point of the day. You have acknowledged your relationship and made commitments to each other for life. This, is serious stuff. But it’s also the good stuff. It’s the nerves leading up to the moment of the ceremony and the thoughts of “I just want this to be over with so we can party!” Or, you just want it to be over with in general. But, remember the beauty of this. Remember walking down the aisle to each other and taking each others hands. Remember the comfort you felt because as you joined hands you realized you are in this together. Even though there are all these people around you, you found your place in it together. It’s the two of you now. And that’s a really good thing. :-) The rest of the evening will be pictures and dancing and eating and drinking and parties. Enjoy! All of you here, remember the pictures really are important. The activities and the memories of today are important. Enjoy each other. Celebrate Love. Jordan and Dominic, May the two of you be blessed by God. May you be touched by angels. May your hearts stay full, may your spirits be connected, and may you love long and happily in one another's arms. I now pronounce you: “Husband and Wife.” You may kiss your bride! Ladies and gentlemen, Mr and Mrs:....! May you live happily ever after! I love when couples choose to get married at home. Surrounded by family and friends on the family land in a beautiful place to exchange vows. A hand fasting is a pagan ritual. Paganism is an earth based religion so it is fitting that if you have a connection with the land that you would lean towards Paganism. But, well, Indiana farm country is also part of the bible belt, so handfastings can be awkward for family and friends who don't "get it." This script was written to try and find a happy medium.
Ron and Shelbi’s Handfasting click here for more handfasting ceremony scripts Shelbi and Ron would like to take a moment to thank you all for being here with them today. You have shared in some of their best and worst days, and you are an irreplaceable part of their yesterdays, their today and all of their tomorrows. We’d also like to take a moment to remember those who are not here today. We know they are here with us in spirit There is a term that we hear often at events such as this with very little explanation. The term is “Perfect Love and Perfect Trust” or “Unconditional Love” In the case of a marriage, and in the case of all loving, caring, committed relationships the ideal that this speaks of is not about perfection, but of expecting and accepting imperfection and human frailty. It means that a couple must say to one another: ‘I accept and I expect that on occasion you will anger me as I will anger you, and that you will hurt me as I will hurt you; But I know in my heart that between us there is love and affection and friendship that is stronger. I trust that at our best we will live together in love and joy and harmony and at our worst we will fight, with and for and beside each other, for the greater good without fear of abandonment. For the divinely inspired desire to be together for a lifetime in indeed something well worthy of fighting for. And these dear friends are the promises that you have been invited to bear witness to this day. This may be the first time that some of you are attending a handfasting. Shelbi and Ron thought you might be interested in the symbolism of what you will see today. The circle in which you all stand is symbolic of the cycles of life, the womb of the Great Mother, a sacred place created for mortal and divine interaction, in which any negativity from the mundane world can be left outside and all the love and joy we feel for Shelbi and Ron contained within. 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. If you are a Princess Bride or Braveheart fan - they were hand fasted. Those of you who have been to a Greek Orthodox ceremony will undoubtedly recognize the symbolic binding of the hands at the end of the service that inspired the terms “Bonds of Holy Matrimony” and to “Tie the knot.” This custom has also 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. Some couples practice handfasting once per year as part of their personal spiritual practice. They reaffirm their commitments and love each time to keep the importance of their relationship fresh. Shelbi and Ron chose the handfasting ceremony to honor their Germanic heritage. Today, they’ve chosen their own ribbons with colors and meaning important to them. The ribbons will be a part of their home for their lifetimes as a memory of today, all of you, and the promises they are making today. We are also personalizing this handfasting in order to bind the family as one. As you can see, traditions, and love, get better with age. The actual ceremony begins with an Elemental Blessing. Since ancient times, people have communed with nature to learn more about themselves by example. Since it is within nature that we all do abide, we ask for Bride and Ron the blessings of Nature’s Elements, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. We do this that they may fully come to understand the lessons each element has to offer. The attributes of which are examples of those aspects they mirror not only within divinity but within ourselves as well. The place they have chosen to do this surrounded by the fresh air, the water of the lake, the freshness of the earth around us and, (the fire of the candles lit here)if not actual fire, the fire that burns within for each other. We ask the spirits of Air to keep open the lines of communication between this couple. As Air flows freely to and from and through us all, may their hearts and minds and souls come to know the world and each other in this manner. “Spirits of Fire, we ask that their passion for each other and for life itself remain ever strong and vital, fortifying each day with a vibrancy rooted in boldness, and courage. We ask the Spirits of Water, that their love for each other and the comfort of loved ones, like the serenity of the deep blue ocean, be the oasis that forever surrounds our Bride and Groom. Spirits of Earth, we ask that you give unto those you see standing before you this day, the rock solid place to stand and fulfill their destiny. May they find the right seeds to sow to ensure a bountiful harvest. Father, Mother, Divine Spirit whose presence is felt in all things and at all times we ask your continued blessings upon this couple, upon their union and upon their family and friends who have gathered here to celebrate this joyous event with them. May they become one in truth and forever revel in the magik that is love.” Drawing Down the God and Goddess “In the drawing down of the God and Goddess into the Bride and Groom, it connects them with the divinity within themselves, reminding us that in marriage it is our higher selves and the best that we have to give, that we offer to one another. Moreover, you cannot "draw down" the God or Goddess. They are within you and we ask that arise within you and part of you. Shelbi bows her head Shelbi, I ask you to call upon all that is divine within you, Let it come forth and shine. In you dwells the essence of the Great Mother and the divine feminine principle of the Universe. You are She who has been worshiped and adored for centuries and throughout the ages. You are wife, mother, lover, friend, prophet, and confidant. In you is everything that anyone could ever aspire to be and more. In you is strength and wisdom, perfection and peace. Shine dear one and show your true nature as Goddess. Ron bows his head Ron, I ask you to call upon all that is divine within you, Let it come forth and shine. In you lives the essence of the Gods, the active force that has sparked and powered all life. You are He who has been worshiped and adored for centuries and throughout the ages. You are husband, healer, protector, visionary, friend, and confidant. In you is everything that anyone could ever aspire to be and more. In you is strength and wisdom, perfection and peace. Shine mighty one and show to all the God within. Ring Exchange The ring, a circle, is one of nature’s simplest forms. The arc of the rainbow, the halo of the moon and the smallest of raindrops simulate the circle. When a stone is cast upon a pond, it generates waves in ever expanding circles. Consider this marriage as being two stones striking the water simultaneously. The ensuing waves interlock, and the growth of the enlarging circles show the combined energies of the lives of Ron and Shelbi. The interlocking of these two lives will be symbolized in the exchange of rings. Ron, please repeat after me: Shelbi, I give you this ring as a sign of my devotion and love and with my all my heart I promise to you all that I am. With this ring I marry you and join my life to yours. Shelbi, please repeat after me: Ron, I give you this ring as a sign of my devotion and love and with my all my heart I promise to you all that I am. With this ring I marry you and join my life to yours. Handfasting Is it also your wish today that your hands be fasted in the ways of old? Shelbi and Ron: It is. Remember then as your hands are fasted, these are not the ties that bind... Tartan/chord is held aloft The role already taken by the song your hearts share shall now be strengthened by the vows taken. All things of the material world eventually return to the Earth unlike the bond and the connection your spirits share which is destined to ascend to the heavens. May you be forever as one in the passion and fire of you Shelbi and Ron’s hands are bound You are now as your hearts have always known you to be, Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride!” Apache Wedding Blessing Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness, For each of you will be companion to the other. 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. I perform many elopement ceremonies in the Indiana State House. It's always a treat to be invited to marry a couple in a formal ceremony. On Jessica and Brad's wedding day the building was empty except for the wedding. Susie Arrington from Kessler Springs provided the perfect viola music to really set the tone of the ceremony in such a majestic building.
Jessica and Brad had just found a new church but weren't ready to have the pastor there marry them. So, like many couples, they went looking for a professional wedding officiant that could perform the ceremony the way they wanted it. For them, it was this short, sweet, meaningful Christian Ceremony - They wrote it! I've included links for each part of the ceremony to help you write your own ceremony too! Jessica and Brad’s Christian Ceremony at the Indiana State House ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNPLUGGED CEREMONY more ways to word this Family and Friends, Welcome to Bradley and Jessica’s Wedding! I ask that you silence your phones and refrain from taking pictures during the wedding. There are professional photographers here to catch all the important moments. They will be happy to share those pictures with you when they are done. Thank you! Let’s begin PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE more ways to do this I’ve never met a father who was willing to give up his daughter, so instead I ask, do I have your blessing for this marriage? Dad answers: Her mother and I do, or I do. WELCOMING more ways to do this We would like to welcome all of you, friends and family, and thank you for being with us today. We are gathered here today in the presence of God to celebrate one of life's greatest moments. We are here to give recognition to the beauty of love that is shared between Bradley and Jessica as they complete their family in holy matrimony. Marriage is a contract not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously and with a deep realization of the obligations and responsibilities. Marriage is the moment where your hearts and souls are joined together for eternity. OPENING PRAYER more opening prayers Let us pray, Heavenly Father, we humbly bow before you today and we ask for your blessings upon Bradley and Jessica, as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives. Grant them happiness and contentment, as their two lives become one, as they create a new family and explore the depths of their love for one another. Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened and sustained them throughout their lives. Bless their home as a place of love and of peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen. WORDS ABOUT LOVE AND MARRIAGE more options True marriage is more than the joining of two persons in the bonds of matrimony. In its right relationship, it is the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between a man and a woman, it is proper that an outer acknowledgment be made. This acknowledgment is the prime objective of the ceremony today. The joining of two hearts as husband and wife is a commitment like no other. It offers opportunities for sharing and for personal growth that no other human relationship can equal. A husband and wife are each other's best friends, confidants, lovers, teachers, listeners, and critics. The bond between a husband and wife deepens and enriches every fact of life. Happiness is fuller, and commitments are stronger. Marriage also encourages new life and new experiences and finds new ways of expressing love through the ups and downs of life. Bradley and Jessica, as your journey begins as husband and wife, I would ask you both remember to always treat each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you here today. SCRIPTURE READING more options As the Book of Ecclesiastes notes: “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken: VOWS more Christian vow options Bradley and Jessica, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? We will Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? We will Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church? We will Bradley, Please repeat after me: I, Bradley, take you, Jessica, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. Jessica, please repeat after me: I, Jessica, take you, Brad, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. THE MEANING OF THE RINGS more ring meaning options May these rings symbolize your inherent wholeness and unity with one another, giving you the strength to happily honor your commitments to each other. May they remind you that marriage is not a destination but a journey, with no beginning and no end, just a moment to moment opportunity to love and be loved to the best of your ability. RING EXCHANGE more Christian ring exchanges And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul, you Bradley, may place a ring on the finger of your bride. Please repeat after me: Jessica, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you. Officiant: By the same token Jessica, you may place a ring on the finger of your groom. Please repeat after me: Bradley, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you MARRIAGE BLESSING more Christian marriage blessings God, we ask for your blessings upon this man and woman, as we celebrate this momentous occasion in their lives. Grant them happiness and contentment as they establish their new home, create a new family and explore the depths of their love for one another and for you. Bless their families and friends and the relationships, which have supported, strengthened and sustained them throughout their Lives. Bless their home as a place of love and of peace. And if times grow hard and tempers grow short, help them to look into their hearts and remember the love that brought them here today. Amen. MARRIAGE PRONOUNCEMENT more options Bradley and Jessica, you have heard the words about love and marriage, have exchanged your vows and made your promises, and celebrate your union with the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate. It is my pleasure to now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride! Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you for the first time as husband and wife Mr. & Mrs…. Rachael and Aiden had a fabulous wedding at the JW Marriot in Indy. It was an amazing party vibe with family and friends with their reception set up like a club for all to enjoy. They included their love for wine with a wine box ceremony.
Wedding Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen. Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Bride and Groom in marriage. Through their time together, they have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through their combined effort and mutual support, provided in love, commitment, and family; and so they have decided to live together as husband and wife. Bride and Groom had many chance encounters before their relationship began. In fact, they knew of each other for many years before they began dating. As fate would have it, they would not be formally introduced until years after their encounters in college. It is because of this that they both know their relationship and love is much more determined by fate rather than chance. There were so many opportunities for them to meet or start dating before they actually did. It was fate that waited until the perfect time for both of them. In fact, if any one small thing were different we may not be standing here today. True love is a sacred flame That burns eternally, And none can dim its special glow Or change its destiny. True love speaks in tender tones And hears with gentle ear, True love gives with open heart And true love conquers fear. True love makes no harsh demands It neither rules nor binds, And true love holds with gentle hands The hearts that it entwines. Vows Groom, please repeat after me: I, Groom, choose you, Bride as my best friend for life. I, Groom, choose you, Bride to embark upon this great journey of marriage with me. I, Groom, take you, Bride, as my soul mate and companion. I, Groom, take you, Bride to be my wife, my partner, my friend, my confidant, my soulmate. Bride, please repeat after me: I, Bride, choose you, Groom as my best friend for life. I, Bride, choose you, Groom to embark upon this great journey of marriage with me. I, Bride, take you, Groom, as my soul mate and companion. I, Bride, take you, Groom to be my husband, my partner, my friend, my confidant, my soulmate. The Ring Exchange Bride and Groom, your wedding rings are an external and visible sign of your union. May they serve as a seal of the vows the two of you have made to one another. Bless these rings, symbols of the bond that encircles you forever. Bless you, the couple who gives them and wears the - may you live in love and happiness. As you exchange rings, may you remember that from this day forward you shall not walk alone. May your hearts provide shelter, and in each others’ arms, may you find your home. Groom, Please Repeat after me: Bride, With this ring I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward you shall not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home. Bride, please Repeat after me: Groom, With this ring I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward you shall not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home. Bride and Groom join hands for The Hands Ceremony Bride and Groom are facing each other and holding each other’s hands, so that they may see the gift that they are to each other. 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 along side yours as together you build your future. 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 give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. 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. The Box Ceremony Today is filled with so much joy. Song, dance, well wishes and promises to last a lifetime. It’s a day for us all to remember. Bride and Groom have given so much thought to this day and making everything perfect. I like to tell couples to think about what they say today because there will be times that don’t feel so joyful. Life can bring challenges they will need to meet and they can look back at today for strength. As part of their ceremony today each of them have written a letter to the other expressing how they feel about them on this day and this special time in their lives. They are going to lock it in this box with a bottle of wine and 2 glasses. 10 years from now, when they celebrate their anniversary they will open it and read them, remembering how they felt today. The couple locks their letters in the box Bride and Groom, should you ever find your marriage enduring serious difficulties, I am asking that before you make any irrational decisions, that you both, as a couple, open the box, drink some wine together, and then venture off into separate rooms to read the letters that you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple. By reading these love letters, you will reflect upon the reasons that you fell in love with each other in the first place. The hope here is, that there will never be a reason for you to open this box, unless of course, it is for your 10th year anniversary! Declaration of Marriage 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. Bride and Groom, it is with great pleasure that I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss your bride! Jenny and Kimber's Short and Sweet Wedding Ceremony on The Indy Canal Walk With Family Vows7/9/2019
 It is one of life's richest surprises when the accidental meeting of two life paths lead them to proceed together along the common path as wife and wife. It is one of life's finest experiences when a casual relationship grows into a permanent bond of love. This meeting and this growth bring us together today.
Declaration of Consent Jenny and Kimber, will you take vows here before all of us which symbolize the manifested vows you have already made and will continue to make to each other throughout your lives? We will. Vows Jenny, please repeat after me: I, Jenny, take you, Kimber, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us. Kimber, please repeat after me: I, Kimber, take you, Jenny, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us. Family Vows Jenny, Kimber, Mark, and Joey, would you please join hands to form your family circle. I am going to ask all of you three questions. I would like all of you to answer each of them with, “I promise!” Do you promise to love, respect, and protect each other from this day forward? (“I promise!”) Do you promise to always try to be the best person you can be? (“I promise!”) Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being a family and encourage and support each other? (“I promise!”) You are now united as a family. Ring Exchange The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness. Jenny, as you place the ring on Kimber’s finger, please repeat after me: I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity in steadfast love. Kimber, as you place the ring on Jenny's finger, please repeat after me: I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity in steadfast love. The two of you have declared your love for each other and your intent to enter into marriage with the exchanging of vows and of rings. By the power vested in me by the state of Indiana I now pronounce you wife and wife! You may now kiss your bride!  There is nothing I like more than when I receive a text back from a bride saying "It was everything I hoped it would be!!" How cool is that? Sometimes it's a challenge to plan a wedding on a budget. You have to figure out what's important and how much you are willing and able to pay. They started with a great deal at another venue but were disappointed when they tasted the food. The Hawthorne Country Club was happy to step up and exceed expectations on a bright, sunny, Sunday afternoon. Flowers from the grocery store and an amazing wedding dress find in a thrift store, it really was a great day! Amanda and Dave wanted a short, Christian wedding ceremony for just family and close friends. One of their guests had been married in my house - I love that! This was an important day for not just the two of them, but their kids. It's often a very emotional time for children when the wedding is done and "It's "Official! We are family, we are married." Amanda and David's Wedding Ceremony Script We have come together, both families, to witness Amanda and David as they exchange their vows of marriage. We share with them their delight in finding love with each other, and support their decision to be together from now until the end of time. As this couple enters into marriage, they do so with thought and reverence. They give thanks for the past, which brought them to this place and look forward with hope to what the future will bring. Marriage is like a great umbrella that shelters love from the elements. Corinthians One says that love is patient and kind. It is not jealous or boastful, It is not irritable or resentful, nor is it 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. This marriage is a symbol of Amanda and David’s commitment to that love.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we gather here together because you have promised that wherever 2 or more are gathered in your name, you will be in the midst of them. We ask for your presence here, as we join Amanda and David in marriage. We ask your blessings over this ceremony as Amanda and David make their vows to each other. Stand by them throughout their marriage and fill them with your perfect love so that they may grow in their love for you and for each other throughout their marriage and their lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Love has gathered us here today to witness the joining of Amanda and David, Had David’s father Gary been alive today, he would have been incredibly proud to be celebrating this marriage with us. Still we feel his presence with us, as he surrounds us with his spirit and showers us with his love. It is in his memory that we now light this candle. Light candle Let us all bow our heads for a brief moment of reflection to acknowledge Gary’s presence here with us today. 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. We celebrate that you have found each other And that through each other, You have come to know the power of love. We celebrate your union of hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. And wish you great joy and a loving and happy marriage. Marriage is the ultimate relationship because it offers the opportunity of limitless intimacy 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. 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 give it identity. I 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 Vows David, do you take Amanda, to be your wife, with her faults and her strengths, do you offer yourself to her with your faults and your strengths. Will you help her when she needs help and turn to her when you need help. Do you choose Amanda as the person with whom you will spend your life? Amanda, do you take David, to be your husband, with his faults and his strengths, do you offer yourself to him with your faults and your strengths. Will you help him when he needs help and turn to him when you need help. Do you choose David as the person with whom you will spend your life? Ring Exchange Your wedding rings symbolize and bind your love. Without beginning or end and with no point of weakness, the circle is a reminder of the eternal quality of God and of unending strength. Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love and unending faithfulness. Wear these rings as the enclosing bond of reverence and trust. Fulfill the circle of love that now makes you one. May God, bless these rings and the two who exchange them. May the two of you be filled with God's Holy Presence. Safe in his circle of protection and love. David, as you place the rings on Amanda’s finger please repeat after me: With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you, today, now and always. Amanda, as you place the rings on David’s finger please repeat after me: With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you, today, now and always. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder. May the two of you be blessed by God, May you be touched by angels. May your hearts stay full, may your spirits stay connected, and may you love long and happily in one another arms. I now pronounce you married! You may seal this marriage with a kiss. Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you Mr. and Mrs... |
55 Monument Circle, Suite 922 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317)403-7379
The entrance to Circle Tower on East Market Street
|
How to find me on Monument Circle:
I am in Circle Tower - Above Starbucks. On the corner of Monument Circle and East Market Street. The entrance is on East Market Street behind Starbucks. My door says Expansive Coworking in green. Come inside to our green marble lobby. Take the elevator to the 9th floor. I'm in Suite 922. |
Indianapolis Wedding Officiant Victoria Meyer
|