Wedding Vows

Christy Loftin Events

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Wedding Vows

Please choose from one of the following sets of vows, or contact Christy directly to discuss customizing your vows.

Traditional:

Officiant to Congregation:

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God and in the face of this company to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

Marriage is a union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind. It is intended for thier mutual joy, and for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly, it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained.

Through marriage, ________ and ________ make a commitment together to face thier disappointments, embrace thier dreams, realize their hopes and accept each other's failures. _____ and _____ will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together, through mutual understanding, openness, and sensitivity to each other.

We are here today before God because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes, to witness the joining in marriage of _____ and _____. This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now, through me, He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds.

Officiant to Father of the Bride:

Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?

"Her mother and I."

Officiant to Congregation:

This is a beginning and a continuation of thier growth as individuals. With mutual care, respect, responsibility, and knowledge comes the affirmation of each one's own life, happiness, growth and freedom. With respect for individual boundaries comes the freedom to love unconditionally. Within the emotional safety of a loving relationship, the knowledge self-offered one another becomes the fertile soil for continued growth. With care and responsibility towards self and one antoher comes the potential for full and happy lives.

By gathering together all the wishes of happiness and our fondest hopes for _____ and _____ from all present here we assure them that our hearts are in tune with thiers. These moments are so meaningful to all of us, for "what greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together, to strenghthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness.

This relationship stands for love, loyalty, honesty and trust but most of all for friendship. Before they knew love they were friends, and it was from this seed of friendship that is thier destiny. Do not think that you can direct the course of love. For if it finds you worthy, love shall direct you.

Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between them. It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage should be a life long consecration of the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to make it last.

Officiant to Groom :

Do you ____ take _____ to be your wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keeping youself only unto her as long as you both shall live?

"I will."

Officiant to Bride :

Do you _____ take _____ to be your husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better for worse, in sadness and in joy to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keeping yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?

"I will."

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

What token of your love do you offer?

(Rings are presented to the Officiant).

Officiant to Congregation:

May this / these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Where they go, may they always return to one another. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place that many will find a friend there. May this/these rings on their fingers symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in ther hearts.

Officiant to Groom:

_____ , in placing this ring on ____ 's finger, repeat after me. ____, you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward, and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this ring, I thee wed.

Officiant to Bride:

_____ in placing this ring on ____'s finger, repeat after me. _____, you are now consecrated to me as my husband from this day forward, and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this I thee wed.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

May you always share with each other the gifts of love, be one in heart and mind. May you always create a home together that puts in your hearts love, generosity, and kindness.

Officiant to Congregation:

In as much as _____ and _____ have consented together in marriage before this comapny of friends and family and have pledged thier faith and declared their unity by the giving and receiving of rings, they are now joined.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

You have pronounced yourselves husband and wife, but remember to always be each others best friend.

Officiant to Groom:

You may now kiss your bride.

Officiant to Congregation:

What therefore God has joined let no man put asunder.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

And so , by the power vested in me by the State of South Carolina and Almighty God, I now pronounce you man and wife. May your days be good and long upon the earth .

Officiant to Congregation:

It is my pleasure to announce for the first time as husband and wife, Mr and Mrs. _____

Non-Traditional:

Officiant to Congregation:

Friends and Family, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of _____ and ____ in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. They now dedicate themselves to serving others, helping them awaken their inner potential. This marriage is the vehicle to practice serving others. Since their marriage is dedicated toward the happiness of all living beings, those gathered here today are the representatives of all living beings.

Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind. It is intended for mutual joy, and for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly, it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained. It is the equal commitment to the happiness of your partner, toward their awakening.

Through marriage _____ and _____ make a commitment together to face their disappointments, embrace their dreams, realize their hopes, and accept each other's failures. _____ and _____ will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together, through mutual understanding , openness, and sensitivity to each other.

(Prayer or scripture reading inserted here... the following Buddist wedding prayer is an example)

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind. In this life in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly. The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.

_____ and _____ are happy today not only because they can share the joy of their love for each other with friends and family, but also because they have the opportunity to express their aspirations for the future.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

___ and ___ , do you pledge to help each other to develop your hearts and minds, cultivating compassion , generosity, ethics, patience, enthusiasm, concentration and wisdom as you age and undergo the various ups and downs of life, and to transform them into the path of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity?

"We do."

Recognizing that the external conditions in life will not always be smooth and that your own minds and emotions will sometimes get stuck in negativity, do you pledge to see all these circumstances as a challenge to help you grow, to open your hearts, to accept yourselves and each other; and to generate compassion for others who are suffering? Do you pledge to avoid becoming narrow, closed, or opinonated, and to help each other to see various sides of situations?

"We do."

Understanding that just as we are a mystery to ourselves, each other person is also a mystery to us... Do you pledge to seek to understand yourselves, each other, and all living beings; to examine your own minds continually and to regard all the mysteries of life with curiosity and joy?

"We do. "

Do you pledge to preserve and enrich your affection for each other, and to share it with all beings; to take the loving feelings you have for one another and your vision of each other's potential and inner beauty as an example and rather than spiraling inwards and becoming self absorbed; to radiate this love outwards to all beings?

"We do."

When it comes time to part, do you pledge to look back at your time together with joy, joy that you met and shared what you have, and acceptance that we cannot hold on to anything forever?

"We do."

Do you pledge to remember the disadvantages of ignorance, anger, and clinging attachment, to apply antidotes when these arise in your minds, and to remember the kindness of all other beings and your connections to them? Do you pledge to work for the welfare of others, with all of your compassion , wisdom, and skill?

"We do."

Do you pledge to work to develop the wisdom, understanding the relative functioning nature of things, and the wisdom knowing their deeper way of existence, that they are empty of inherent existence; and to remember the laws of cause and effect?

"We do."

Do you pledge day to day to be patient with yourselves and others, knowing that changes come slowly and gradually, and to seek inspiration from your teachers not to become discouraged?

"We do."

Do you pledge continuously to strive to remember your own nature as well as the nature of all living beings? To maintain the awareness that all things are temporary, and to remain optimistic that you can achieve your greatest potential and lasting happiness ?

"We do."

(Rings are exchanged).

Officiant to Congregation:

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in partnership.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

And now by the power vested in me by the State of South Carolina ,it is my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.

Officiant to Groom:

You may kiss your bride !

Non-Traditional #2:

Officiant to Congregation:

We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of two people, ____________ and ____________, whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one. They now desire to profess before all the world their intention henceforth to walk the road of life together.

To these two young people, this marriage signifies the birth of a new spirit, a spirit which is a part of each of us, yet not of any one of us alone. This "birth of spirit" reminds us of spring, the season when all life is reborn and looms again. It is appropriate, therefore, that this wedding of ____________ and ____________ be in the spring, and that it be under the open sky, where we are close to the earth and to the unity of life, the totality of living things of which we are part.

The beliefs and thoughts about love which motivate these two people are perhaps best expressed in the words of poet Kahlil Gibran:

"You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in your silent memory.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heaven dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bondage of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not of the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone, though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping,
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together,
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in shadow."

Officiant to Bride:

Do you ____________, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take ____________ to be your lawfully wedded husband?

"I do."

Officiant to Bride:

Place the ring on his finger.

Officiant to Groom:

Do you ____________, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning form them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take ____________ to be your lawfully wedded wife?

"I do."

Officiant to Groom:

Place the ring on her finger. Let these rings serve as locks–not binding you together–but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.

Officiant to Congregation:

And now ____________ and ____________, seeking the fulfillment of love and marriage, find again that the poet Gibran speaks for them:

"Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks to another day of loving.
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home eventide with gratitude, and then sleep with a prayer
For the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."

Offciant to Bride and Groom:

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Non-Traditional #3:

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

____________ and ____________, in presenting yourselves here today to be joined in marriage, you perform an act of faith. This faith can grow and develop and last, but only if you both decide to make it so. A lasting and growing love is not guaranteed by any ritual.

If you would have the foundation of your marriage be the devotion you have for one another, not just at this moment, but for all the days to come, then treasure the hopes and dreams that you bring here today. Establish that your love will never be blotted out by the common nor obscured by the ordinary in life. Faults will surface where now you find comfort, and admiration can be shattered by the routine of daily life.

Dedication, love, and joy can grow only when you nourish them together. Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today. Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all the days of your lives.

Groom to Bride:

I, ____________, take you, ____________, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us.

(Groom places the Bride’s ring on her finger).

Groom to Bride:

____________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God.

Bride to Groom:

I, ____________, take you, ____________, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us.

(Bride places the Groom’s ring on his finger).

Bride to Groom:

____________ , I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God.

Officiant to Congregation:

With this statement made of love and trust, which we have just heard, I now wish you to greet ____________ and ____________ as husband and wife.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

May this day shine eternally in your lives.
May it add brilliance to every achievement and cast a divine light over any misfortune.
May you care for each other in all sadness.
May you give cheer to each other.
May you give vitality to each other in all undertakings.
May all that is virtuous, beautiful and honest, remain with you always.

Non-Traditional #4:

Officiant to Congregation:

We, who have gathered in this circle, are now privileged to witness and to participate in a ceremony celebrating, the public acknowledgment of a love which ____________ and ____________ have for each other, knowing that by our presence here with them, we are saying that they, together, are loved by many others. We have come to surround them as they stand before us in this center, where now ____________ and ____________ in essence say, "Welcome to our marriage!

Welcome to the Celebration!"

Marriage is too for children! For them it is, or can be, more than just witnessing. There is an opportunity for them to bring themselves into the new family and in a symbolic sense to give themselves to this new venture as they bring a "Gift of love" which they will present now to ____________ and ___________.

(The children come bearing flowers, which are given to the Bride and Groom).

When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. That is impossible. It is even a disservice to pretend it is possible. Yet that is what most of us demand. We have such little faith in the ebb and flow of life and of love and of relationships.

We leap forward at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb, for we are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanence, on duration, on continuity. But the only continuity possible in life, as in love, is in growth, in fluidity and in freedom, as dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in creating the same pattern.

I speak now to ____________ and ____________ of love, in which, the trust and freedom of the other person becomes as significant as the trust and freedom of one's self. I speak to them of generosity, which gathers the beauty of earth for riches and the kindness which turns away the wrath of foolish men and women. I speak of all our hopes for their continued growth through patience, one for the other. May ____________ and ____________ keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this Earth, our home.

(Groom places ring on Bride’s finger).

Groom to Bride:

May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love.

(Bride places ring on Groom’s finger).

Bride to Groom:

May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love.

Officiant to Congregation:

May these two find happiness in their union. May they live faithfully together, executing the vows they have made between them; and may they ever remain compassionate and encouraging, that their years may be rich with the joys of life, and their days be long upon the Earth.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Non-Traditional #5:

Officiant to Congregation:

We are gathered here today to take part in the most time-honored celebration of the human family, uniting a woman and a man in marriage. ____________ and ____________ have come to witness before us, telling of their love for each other. We remember, theirs is a love whose source is the affection of those who loved them into being.

We remind them that they are performing an act of complete faith, each in the other; that the heart of their marriage will be the relationship they create. In a world where faith often falls short of expectation, it is a tribute to these two who now join hands and hearts in perfect faith.

Officiant to Groom:

____________, will you receive ____________ as your wife? Will you pledge to her your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing her with a husband's loyalty and devotion?

"I will."

Officiant to Bride:

____________, will you receive ____________ as your husband? Will you pledge to him your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing him with a wife’s loyalty and devotion?

"I will."

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

_____________ and _____________, receive each other from your fathers and mothers, who give you into each other's keeping, by saying now, each to the other, words which will tell of your love.

Groom to Bride:

I, ____________, take you, ____________ to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love.

Bride to Groom:

I, ____________, take you, ____________ to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

Will you now give and receive a ring?

"We will."

(Rings are presented to Officiant).

Officiant to Congregation:

This circle of precious metal is justly regarded as a fitting emblem of the purity and perpetuity of the Marriage State. The ancients were reminded by the circle of eternity, as it is so fashioned as to have neither beginning nor end; while gold is so incorruptible that it cannot be tarnished by use or time. So may the union, at this time solemnized, be incorruptible in its purity and more lasting that time itself.

(Officiant hands the ring to the Groom, who places it on the Bride’s finger).

Groom to Bride:

Wear this ring forever, ____________, as a symbol of love and peace and of all that is unending.

(Officiant hands the ring to the Bride, who places it on the Groom’s finger).

Bride to Groom:

Wear this ring forever, ____________, as a symbol of love and peace and of all that is unending.

Officiant to Congregation:

We speak to ____________ and ____________ of love, in which the trust and freedom of the other person becomes as significant as the trust and freedom of one's self. We speak to them of generosity, which gathers the beauty of earth for riches, and the kindness which turns away the wrath of foolish men and women. We speak of each of our hopes for their continued growth through patience, one for the other. We speak of our confidence that new levels of understanding, discovered by them in experiences of sorrow and tribulation, shall bring ever new surprises of strength and fortitude they do not now know.

In the years which shall bring ____________ and ____________ into greater age and wisdom, we pray that their love shall be ever young; that they shall be able always to recover from moments of despair, the lithesome ways of buoyant youth. In this hope may they keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other; that they are all of us, and that together we share joyously the fruits of life.

Inasmuch as ____________ and ____________ have declared their love and devotion to each other before family and friends, I now greet them with you as husband and wife.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be sanctuary to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no isolation for you. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two, but there is only one life in front of you.

Go now and enter into the days of your togetherness.

Custom:

Officiant to Congregation:
:

Good afternoon! We are gathered here today, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is! We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however celebrate with _________ and ___________ and their families and friends the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives.

So let the ceremony begin!

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. Today _________ and __________ proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.

The joy we feel now is a solemn joy, because the act of marriage has many consequences, both social and personal. Marriage requires love, a word we often use with vagueness and sentimentality. We may assume that love is some rare and mystical event, when in fact it is our natural state of being.

So 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 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” or "I touched her life," just as an artist might say “I touched this canvas.” Those brushstrokes in the corner of the 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 similar to that of a religion itself. It is the emergence of the larger self. It is the finding of one’s life by losing it. Such is the privilege of husband and wife – to be each himself, herself, and yet another - to face the world strong, with the courage of two.

To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love. It takes trust , to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They are not a destination, but a journey.

The true art of married life is in this 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.

Through this cooperation, we give ourselves, our lives, and love - into the hands of the one we love. We do so trustingly and generously. And so, each of us receives a gift – the life and love of the other. We receive this gift not only from the one we love, but also from the parents who brought us into this world, and from our family and friends as well.

And so as ___________ and ___________'s family and friends, we are here to share with them this joy and hope, and to see them off on the path they will walk together. May it be a path of blessedness, bright with flowers of prosperity and spiritual awakening, a path of ever deepening, ever broadening love that they will travel arm in arm through eternity.

Officiant to Groom:

Repeat after me.

_____________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow from this day forward.

I promise to be your lover, companion and best friend.

Your partner in parenthood

Your ally in conflict

Your greatest fan

Your comrade in adventure

Your student and your teacher

Your consolation in disappointment

Your accomplice in mischief

Your strength in your need and vulnerable to you in my own.

I honor you as my wife.

Officiant to Bride:

Repeat after me:

_____________, I give your this ring as a symbol of my vow.

I __________ choose you, _____________ as my best friend, my love for life.

I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future.

I promise to be faithful to you.

I promise to love you, to commit to you, and support you.

I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities, to lend you strength for all of your dreams.

You have shown me what love feels like and for that I thank you.

From this day forward, you shall not walk alone.

My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home.

As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my heart to keep.

I honor you as my husband.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

In as much as you have consented together in this ceremony to live in wedlock and have sealed your vows in the presence of this company and by the giving and receiving of these rings, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are husband and wife.

Congratulations! You may kiss !

Officiant to Congregation:

Please help me welcome for the first time as husband and wife, Mr & Mrs. _____________________.

And now, in remembrance and honor to our ancestors, join us in our leap of faith as we jump the broom.

Custom #2:

Officiant to Congregation:

I would like to welcome the families of __________ and ___________, who have come to celebrate under the open sky the love these two people share. Their marriage signifies the birth of a new spirit which is a part of all of us. _________ and __________ want you to know how much each one of you here has contributed to the journey that brings us here today.

Let us pray a prayer written 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, work, the food,

And the bright skies that make our lives delightful;

For our friends in all parts of the earth

Amen.

And now __________ and ______________ have chosen a poem that exemplifies their feelings for each other, Love, by Roy Croft.

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 work, without a sing, you have done it by being yourself.

Officiant to Groom:

____________, do you pledge to honor, encourage, and support ___________ through your journey together? When your way becomes difficult, do you promise to stand by her and uplift her, so that through your union you can accomplish more than you could alone? Do you promise to always warm and massage ______________ feet when they are cold? I should remind you, they are cold often.

"I do."

Officiant to Bride:

___________, do you pledge to honor, encourage and support ___________ through your journey together ? When your way becomes difficult, do you promise to stand by him and uplift him so that through your union you can accomplish more than you could alone? Do you promise to always share with ____________ half the closet space, because you know he does have clothes and shoes too?

"I do."

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

____________ and _____________, you will now exchange rings as an outward symbol of your love. But first I ask you to face each other, please 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 passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your check 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 yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

(Officiant presents Groom with ring, which he places on Bride's finger).

Groom to Bride:

_____________, from this day forward you shall not walk alone. My heart is your shelter. My arms will be your home. I will love you forever.

(Officiant presents Bride with ring, which she places on Groom's finger).

Bride to Groom:

_____________, from this day forward you shall not walk alone. My heart is your shelter. My arms will be your home. I will love you forever.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

Now you will feel no rain for each of you will be a sanctuary to the other.

Now you will feel no cold for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no isolation for you.

Now there is no more loneliness.

Now you are two, but there is only one life in front of you.

May you always share with each other the gifts of love, be one in heart and in mind. May you always create a home together that puts in your hearts love, generosity and kindness, and may the home you establish together be such a place that many will find there a friend.

Officiant to Congregation:

In as much as __________ and _________ have consented together in marriage before this company of family and have pledged their faith and declared the unity by the giving and receiving of rings , they are now husband and wife.

Officiant to Groom:

You may kiss your bride.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

You have pronounced yourselves as husband and wife, but remember to always be each others best friend.

Officiant to Congregation:

And now please join me in congratulating our newly married couple.

Ta da!

Custom #3:

Officiant to Congregation:

Love is a miraculous gift, and a wedding is a celebration of magic, and that is what we are here to do today. We are gathered to be overjoyed for and with _________ and __________, who are so wonderfully suited to one another that it is a pure delight for the rest of us to see how happy two people can be.

When we think of love, we sometimes talk about people who deserve one another. Not only do __________ and ___________ deserve one another; they are a perfect match, and their marriage is an example of their happiness.

They are the embodiment of true romance, which matured becomes true love. They are the example of love that in its lightheartedness dissolves the notion of love as hard work. They are the promise of possibility - the exception of joyful surprise.

We are here to celebrate, to honor, to laugh, to dance, and to be glad with them.

Love is alive!

Join with us this happy afternoon and let it be one of gladness, thanksgiving, possibility, and great good fortune for us all, but especially for _________ and _________, who are coming together to demonstrate the wonder of love through the celebration of their vows.

We all love in hope of loving and being loved, and their marriage is an inspiration. Therefore we give thanks for the happiness of _________ and _________. Their enthusiasm is electric. Their belief in the destiny of their love is inspiring. Their great expectations encourage us beyond measure.

Marriage is a very special place; the sheltered environment in which we can endlessly explore ourselves in the presence of another, and in which we can offer the possibility of the true reflection of another. We are so happy that __________ and ___________ have found each other, that they know in their souls how perfectly matched they are, and that they are choosing on this most special day to become for all time the accurate and beautiful reflection of each other's essence. We ask that the vision they have of one another be always informed by the power that first brought them together, and that they always hold each other in the light of all light, the love of all love.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the wedding vows of ______________ and __________. We are excited because frankly it is wonderful that they have fallen in love, that they feel so strongly about each other, so delighted and encouraged, so known and supported, that they have chosen to risk life for love, to take the great emotional leap of pairing with one another. Their optimism is an inspiration. Out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordianry has happened.

Through all of the initial stages of romance, they have discovered a love of substance and depth. Romance is play, but tru love is intention, and it is their intending to love for life that we are celebrating today. But this is also a celebration for the rest of us, for it is also a pleasure for us to see love so strong and to participate in the celebration of love so solid. It lifts our spirits to be in the presence of such a love of two people who want to play together, laugh together, walk together for a lifetime. Love untarnished is the gift ________ and _________ give to us today.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

Therefore, we thank you. Thanks for letting us celebrate with you. Thanks for showing us that love can bloom, that marriage is a worthy enterprise.

Marriage is a happy occasion, flawless in good humor - a joyful sense of well being. But, it will not always be like this. There are seasons; high times as well as lulls. From time to time the delightful spirit of thsi day will not be with you, and when it is not you will have to reach deep in yourselves for the love that is strong.

Your marriage will be a many textured thing. In it, both magic and sorrows will befall you. You will intend one thing and end up doing another. You will imagine your partner in one way and find they are a person unto their own self. You will say mean words: for love, be able to forget them. For all of your love, forgive wrong doings and go on.

Remember that love is a progression. There is an old Chinese proverb that says:

                                                                "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

For you, ___________ and ____________, your vows today are another exquisite and beautifully choreographed first step. Wherever the journey takes you, there will be surprises. This is the mark of a true loving relationship.

Therefore, remember especially when you are repeating your vows, that you are also promising to love for the long and ambiguous future. If you can hold on to this intention, you can ride out the storms with confidence, knowing that the thunderhead clouded skies are temporary, and not a reflection of your relationship as a whole.

Above all, remember tat love is what matters. Love will prevail. It is the love you feel for one another that will be the answer to all of your difficulties. Love will be stronger than the conflicts - bigger than the changes. Love will be the miracle, always inviting you to learn, to blossom, to expand, and it is love you are celebrating, embodying, and radiating on this special afternoon that you must always return.

So remember these things as you go out into the world: your love will have seasons, your relationship is a progression, love will prevail. Remember these things, and hold them in your hearts and minds.

Congratulations _______________ and __________________!

May the desire you have for your love be fulfilled, and may you be given the vision with which to clearly behold on another, listening with which to perceive one another most genuinely, and the endless generosity of spirit with which to nourish one another's soul and keep the promise you make here today.

___________ and ____________, now that you have heard about the magicand mysteries of marriage, the way it will continuously surprise you, the strength and wisdom it will always ask of you - do you choose still, happily, and in our midst to make the promises of marriage?

"We do."

Officiant to Bride:

Do you, ____________, want to marry ____________ - to happily hold him above all, and have him as your partner?

"I do."

Officiant to Groom:

Do you, ____________, want to marry ____________ - to happily hold her above all, and have her as your partner?

"I do."

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

These rings are made of precious metals, a symbol of the riches that reside in each of you. As any metal is ourified by the white heat of testing, so will your love be purified by the test facing you through the many seasons of your life. These rings are made with precious jewels. As the elements from which these jewels are formed are as ancient as the stars, as mysterious as moonlight, and as shining as the miracle of your bond, wear them as the sign of love.

(Officant presents Bride with ring, which she places on Groom's finger).

Bride to Groom:

__________, this ring is a token of my love, and of the hopes and joys I most dearly behold in you.

You are my promise and my plea.

You are my wish, my dream, and my quest.

You are my gift, my lover, and my perfect mate.

You are my closest friend.

I marry you with this ring, with all that I have, and all that I am.

(Officiant presents Groom with ring, which he places of Bride's finger).

Groom to Bride:

___________, this ring is a token of my love, and of the hopes and joys I most dearly behold in you.

You are my promise and my plea.

You are my wish, my dream, and my quest.

You are my gift, my lover, and my perfect mate.

You are my closest friend.

I marry you with this ring, with all that I have, and all that I am.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

____________ and _______________, now that you have heard the word about love and marriage, shown us the example of your love, and celebrated your union by giving each other these beautiful rings, it is with great joy and happiness that I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Officiant to Groom:

You may now kiss your bride.

Officiant to Bride and Groom:

May the wings of angels uphold you through all the life of your love. May you live forever in happiness with each other. May your hearts be full. May your love grow strong. May you live long and happily in each other's arms.

Officiant to Congregation:

It is my pleaseure to introduce __________ and __________   _____________.