We are gathered here today to witness one of life’s greatest moments to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite ___________________ and____________________ in marriage. 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 friendship and mutual understanding have flourished in love and romance that has brought them here today. Not only are you honored guest to witness the beginning of two new lives united by love and trust, you have a part in this marriage also, to help ____________ and ______________ keep this union strong.

Who is it that brings this woman to this man? .………

____________ and _____________, life is given to each of us as individuals and yet we must learn to live together, love is given to us by our family or by our friends, we learn to love by being loved, learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life – and is the shared goal of a married life.

(if writing your own vows, they would start here.)

_______________________ will/do you take _________________________ to be your lawfully wedded wife to love, comfort, and honor her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, will/do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her as long as you both shall live………..

_______________________ will/do you take _________________________ to be your lawfully wedded Husband, to love, comfort, and honor him in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, will/do you promise to love, honor , cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him as long as you both shall live………..

The rings you will exchange are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love which freely given, has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver, for each you will give and each will receive. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken and love that has brought you together.

______________ repeat after me. I _______________________ take thee ___________________ to be my Wife – to have and to hold – in sickness and in health – for richer for poorer – and I promise my love to you forever more.

______________ repeat after me. I _______________________ take thee ___________________ to be my Husband – to have and to hold – in sickness and in health – for richer for poorer – and I promise my love to you forever more.


UNITY CANDLES

_______________________ and ________________________, the two separate candles symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. I ask that each of you take one of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle. The individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one .  


SAND CEREMONY

________________ and _________________ now come forth to seal their relationship through the mixing of the sands. One represents ________________ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. The other represents ________________ and all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be. This sand represents God, The foundation for your marriage. As the two vials of sand are poured into the vase, the individual containers of sand ceased to exist as they are now joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into individual vials, so will the love and bond between the two of you render inseparable. This covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who love each other so much and who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives.

 

 COMMUNION

 A part of the Christian heritage is the taking of the bread and wine, as Jesus did at the last supper, a coming to the table of God and sharing the very spiritually significant experience of communion.
Groom and Bride have chosen to take their very first communion in your presence to acknowledge the place that their spiritual heritage will continue to have in their new life together.
As the Bible tells us, Jesus gathered his disciples the evening before his taking to the cross and shared a meal, This meal was different than the others before it, in that Jesus asked that they make special note of the occasion, Jesus knowing of his fate wanted to ensure that each disciple understood that his presence was not fleeting, that Jesus was to remain with them always in their hearts, souls, and minds, So that they would not forget the unity of spirit, he asked that they take the bread and wine together in a Spirit of One. Jesus took the bread and blessed it, then he took the bread and he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take and eat, this is my body.

(Groom and Bride exchange bread)

And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins, who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life and I will raise them up at the last day.

(Groom and Bride exchange wine)

The taking of a meal together, especially when remembering the life and sacrifice of Jesus, ensures that we do not forget that we are all one body, one blood, and one spirit, and that the breaking of bread and sharing of a cup is more than nourishment or the quenching of thirst, but the sharing of ourselves.

_______________ and _______________ as the two of you come into this marriage you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, never go to sleep upset with each other, and live each day that you may share it together – as from this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.

A marriage ceremony represents one of life’s greatest commitments. But it also is a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love I hope you pursue in your marriage.

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them."

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with great happiness on __________________ and ________________’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 others 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, where your spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray and walk beside ____________ and _____________ throughout all their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen

May the lord bless you and keep you, may the lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, may the lord lift up his countenance unto you and give you peace.

By the powers invested in me, by the (Your State), in (Your County) 

I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Congratulations to you both. You may now kiss your bride.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure to present to you for the first time Mr. & Mrs. _________________



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I wrote this wedding ceremony for you, the couple, with love and commitment in your heart.  I do have some different ceremony options with some small changes but this is the best.... THE BEST.

I have sand ceremonies to involve family members, children and a perfect one for renewal of vows.

People tell me they read the ceremony on the website.  Said they loved it.  But to hear the words, that's when they lost it and some discovered they do cry at weddings.


Reverend Jeff