Ute and Dominic's Family Wedding Ceremony Script. Fountain Square Theater

Ute's ​parents are German.  My husband is German.  I got to speak a little German during the ceremony.  ;-)

The Bride walks down the aisle with here father. He shakes Grooms hand, kisses Brides and places her hand in his.


Who gives this woman to be married?


These are all the ways you can say it in German:  
Wer gibt diese Frau zu heiraten?
oder/or
Wer gibt diese Frau in der Ehe?
oder/or
wer präsentiert diese Frau verheiratet zu sein?
oder/or
Wer praesentiert die Frau zur Hochzeit?

Father or Mother of the Bride: Her Mother and I do.
Opening

Welcome and thank you all for coming to the event and marriage of the year.

As you all know Ute and Dominic are very special people with fantastic individual special tastes. This ceremony is going to be no different, it will be sincere, just as their love for each other is also sincere.

Ute and Dominic have been together now for a couple years and have had exciting times together. They have also experienced family life and today this is more than just a wedding ceremony, this is also a joining together of Ute, Dominc and their daughter Mila, as a family.

When one looks at this family one sees the energy and the love for each and everyone. 


Opening Prayer

Oh Lord, Our Heavenly Father,
our hearts are filled with great happiness on Ute and Dominic's wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage.
Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense or jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, best friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may they find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love and harmony. We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen


First reading

Since Mila just started school, maybe we can learn a couple lessons from her

All I really Need to know I Learned in Kindergarten. So, I thought I’d start there. 


Robert Fulgham points out: 


Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

(And, May I add, This is how they apply to marriage)

Share everything.

That goes without saying, You are married now. The remote, your paychecks, chores, and diaper duty
Don’t forget, feelings, hopes, dreams, desires and many hugs and kisses.


Play fair.

Yes, even when you are not perfect, as none of us are, remember there are two sides to every story and both sides are real and indeed valid! It is not an argument you are trying to win. It is an understanding you are trying to find and with that comes a deeper and truer love. You are no longer children. This is an adult relationship to last a lifetime. 

Don't hit people.

Well, that goes without saying. Hitting hurts and you can never take it back.

Put things back where you found them.

You know, toothpaste tops, car keys, Wouldn’t hurt to fill up the gas tank if you borrow the car. Always put the kids car seats back where you found them!


Clean up your own mess.


This is not only referring to socks or dishes. If you did something to make the other person upset, make amends. It’s easier to clean it up right away then to allow it sit sit and fester. Better a sponge a paper towel or a Chlorox wipe, even a mop or vacuum cleaner. It beats an exterminator, a drywaller or a fire truck if you let the mess fester.


Don't take things that aren't yours.

I could joke and refer to the last beer or cookie but in reality:

Remember that you are two becoming one today in marriage but that you will always be two distinct individuals that come together to make yourselves better by your union and what makes that great is the two of you as individuals. Always allow the other to be themselves and learn from them, allow them to make you better because of who they are. By allowing each other to grow as individuals you will bring bigger and better into your marital mix. 

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.


This would also go back to the cleaning up your mess part. 


Wash your hands before you eat.

Take a shower, shave, brush your teeth for- well, you know what I mean... 


Flush.


With that, let it go. There are things you will continue to learn about each other. The good and the interesting. If it is less then good, come to terms with it and then let it go. Flush it away and move on. It also has to do with forgive and forget. Just let it go. 


Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.


Dominic, remember this is especially true during pregnancy. And Ute, remember this on Christmas Eve when Dominic is trying to put the doll house of a million pieces together. 


Live a balanced life -


That includes the check book


Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance


Start today, on your wedding day and then remember to do it every day. Dance around the kitchen or the bathroom. Make your life a dance to enjoy.


And play and work everyday some.

And, may your work, be play

Take a nap every afternoon.


And not only on your honeymoon, but remember to love each other every day as you love each other on your honeymoon.


When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic.


And remember that traffic can do all sorts of things. Make sure you are always watching out for each other, keep each other safe. Be each other’s best friend and know when to push each other to be better and know when to let go. And know when to pull each other out of harms way!! This is the most intimate of relationships, you will deal with so many things. Don’t sweat the small stuff, but don’t ignore it either.


Hold hands and stick together.

And may you be a very old couple holding hands walking down the street that make people stop and think about and talk about how cute you are!

And Lastly:

Be aware of wonder.

Be aware of the wonder that each of you are. The wonder of your marriage. The wonder of your family if you are blessed with children and the wonder of how much more amazing life is because you are married. It is a sacred union that you are not entering into lightly. 

You did indeed learn all these things in kindergarten. But today, you begin a whole new part of your adult life where you are 

Sand Ceremony

Ute and Dominic have decided to perform a sand ceremony today. What it is, besides a family friendly craft project, is a symbol of unity that they will have to remember this day. They can look at it in the future and think of so many things. They can remember making the decision to do this. They can remember actually doing it! Mila will perhaps remember what she did at her mom’s wedding. The day her mom got married and they became an official family. It will be a prized work of art when they are done. Will it be in a prized position in their house? Will it be one thing they take with them from the home they live in now to any home they may live in the future? Will it be “Their family thing?” Will it get broken because Mila turns out to be quite the athlete and even though mom always says “don’t play ball in the house” she and Donny do?

We really don’t know. Just like marriage. We hope for the best. We give it our best. They will all give it their best.

They all chose their colors together. Black, White, and Purple. Who chose the purple here? hmmmm
They’ve also chosen to add glitter to the mix. I LOVE glitter! Mila, do you love glitter too?

I’m sure the colors picked for today have meaning now and perhaps the meaning will change? Black - Isn’t black a color that absorbs all colors? Kind of like love, the unconditional love of marriage. It carries all things. Good or bad. At the same time, white is the color white because it reflects all colors. It helps to reflect the negative perhaps? It makes things shine? Black and white are really quite striking together. But, to make things more brilliant we are adding purple. The color of royalty or the color of little girls. Does the word princess come to mind? 

When you think about unity, you take two things together. Do the two become one or do the two together create something even more amazing and bigger then themselves? Like a family? A unique mom and a unique dad make for an even more unique family. 

The glitter? That’s the magic. Yes, the magic! I mean, something has to come over it all to create something else doesn’t it? Glitter is being added today for several reasons. To remember Those who aren’t here today. That can mean a lot of things. It’s for the people who have passed away, or those who simply couldn’t make it for whatever reason. - it’s those people looking over and protecting us with their glow. And, it stands for members of the family that aren’t here yet.  Not that they’re coming any time soon mind you! But, you know how it is... first comes love, then comes marriage, then... well, you know. Sometimes it works that way. 
And Tanya has been told she isn’t getting any younger!


Ute and Dominic also want to make sure that we all acknowledge Mila today. They want her, and everyone else to know how spectacularly unique she is! Yes, You!! You are always encouraging them and those around you to be better. You are an amazing little girl and they can’t wait to see you grow into a equally amazing woman.  They know you will be a great big sister when the time comes and they appreciate the fact you say it doesn’t matter if there is a baby sister or brother, but you will never be rough and will always love them. But, Mila, you will always be the oldest, the first, and will always hold your own special place in the world and in the hearts and minds of your mom and Dominic. Thank you for being you!

And now, the moment of truth! Time to mix the sand! Yeah, the fun part!! One of the most important things about this is.... once the grains of sands are mixed, they can never be separated again. And, THAT’S a good thing!

Vows:

Do you, Dominic, take Ute 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?

Dominic: I do


Do you, Ute, take Dominc, 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?

Ute: I do

The Exchange of Rings

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 them—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.

Dominic, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Ute's finger: Ute, I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you.

Ute, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Dominic's finger:  Dominic, I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you.


The Hands Ceremony

Please face each other and take each other’s hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.

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

"Oh the Places You'll Go"
by Dr Seuss

"Congratulations! Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the couple who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "We don't choose to go there."
With your heads full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
You're too smart to go down, any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there in the wide open air,
Out there things can happen and frequently do
to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along. You'll start happening too.

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers who soar to great heights!
You won't lag behind, because you'll have all the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang, and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't. Because sometimes, you won't.
You'll get mixed up of course, as you already know.
You'll get mixed up with so many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with great care and great tact
and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)


I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride!!

Ladies and Gentleman:

The New Family!