This is a compilation of all six sample ceremonies.

Remember, it is your ceremony and I am here to assist you in making the day memorable. Do not hesitate to include your own changes. Click HERE to use the ceremony wizard to tailor this document with your unique wedding information.

Civil Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Ceremony for

GroomFull & BrideFull

Place

Date

Introduction

We are gathered here today to celebrate 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 Bride and Groom in marriage.

Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace.

Who is it that brings this woman to this man?

Sponsors: I/We do.

Unity Candle

The mothers of the Bride and Groom are lighting two separate candles symbolizing your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. 

The Challenge

Bride and Groom , I would ask that you both remember to treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage - as they do to every relationship at one time or another - focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

Vows and Ring Exchange

Groom places ring halfway on Bride 's finger and says: 

I Groom , take thee, Bride to be my Wife- To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow and I promise my love to you. 

With this ring, I take you as my wife, for as long as we both shall live

Bride places ring halfway on Groom 's finger and says: 

I Bride , take thee, Groom to be my Husband.  To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow and I promise my love to you. 

With this ring, I take you as my husband, for as long as we both shall live

Affirmation of Love

Bride and Groom as the two of you come into this marriage uniting 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, 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.

Just as two threads woven in opposite directions will form a most beautiful tapestry, so too can your two lives merged together make a beautiful marriage. To make your relationship work will take love. This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today. It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you truly want the best for each other. It will take dedication, to stay open to one another - and to learn and grow together. It will take faith, to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment; to hold true to the journey you both pledge today to share together.

Unity Candle

Bride and Groom , 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.

Declaration of Marriage

Bride and Groom , in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife.

Congratulations, you may kiss Bride .

It is my privilege to present to you Mrs. Bride and Mr. GroomFull

Non-Religion Specific Ceremony

Wedding Ceremony for

GroomFull & BrideFull

Place

Date

Opening Logistics

• Background music
• Music changes (this is the official start of the ceremony)
• Grandparents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Parents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Music changes
• Maid of honor and Bride s maids enter individually
• Ring barer,  and flower children, and bell ringer enter individually
• Music changes to bridal march
• Bride is escorted in
• Music stops briefly then continues (low volume) throughout ceremony

Introduction

Audience is seated

Lance: Good afternoon (morning/evening)! 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 Bride and Groom and their friends and families the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives.

Who accompanies this Bride to Groom ?

Whomever is escorting Bride : I do.

Escort sits

The Celebration Of 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 comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance. Today Bride and Groom 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 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 similar to that of 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.

Reading 1 : Reading1

Click HERE to see sample readings. A new window will open that then you can close once you are finished looking at the readings with out loosing your place here. 

On Marriage

Mingling in marriage is a mutual dedication, a cooperative venture in every sense. It is a relationship based on love, respect, and a determination by both partners to adjust to each other and support one another, in health and in sickness, in joy and in sadness, in ease and in hardship.

Through this co-operation, 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 the world, and from our friends and families as well.

And so as Bride and Groom 's friends and family, 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 out eternity.

The Commitment

Bride and Groom this celebration is the outward token of your sacred and inward union of hearts, which the church and temple may bless, and the state make legal, but which neither state nor church can create nor annul. It is a union created by your loving purpose and kept by your abiding will. It is in this spirit and for this purpose that you have come here to be joined together.

Exchange Of Vows
 
Lance: Bride and Groom , as you dedicate yourselves to one another, we are mindful of the presence of God around us. 

(Selection One)

Groom : Bride , we entered into each others lives and experienced love and happiness. Today I am confirming my promise for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give you encouragement, strength and trust, to stand together in our times of joy and of sorrow. I pray that our home will be one of love and understanding and patience ... not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the passing of time, and through the love we have for one another. Our lives have become joined with the times we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your husband, to walk with you throughout all your tomorrows. I love you. 
  
Bride : Groom , we entered into each others lives and experienced love and happiness. Today I am confirming my promise for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give you encouragement, strength and trust, to stand together in our times of joy and of sorrow. I pray that our home will be one of love and understanding and patience ... not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the passing of time, and through the love we have for one another. Our lives have become joined 
with the times we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, 
ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your wife, 
to walk with you throughout all your tomorrows. I love you. 
  

(SELECTION 2:) 
  
Groom : 
  
I, Groom , take you, Bride , 
to be my wife, 
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, or for worse, 
for richer, or for poorer, 
in sickness, and in health, 
to love and to honor 
and to cherish unconditionally. 
Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen. 
  
  
Bride : 
  
I, Bride , take you, Groom , 
to be my husband, 
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, or for worse, 
for richer, or for poorer, 
in sickness, and in health, 
to love and to honor 
and to cherish unconditionally. 
Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen. 



(SELECTION 3:) 
  
Groom : 
  
Bride , I give myself to you 
to be your husband. 
I promise to love and sustain you 
in the covenant of marriage, 
from this day forward, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
in joy and in sorrow, 
as long as we both shall live. 
  


Bride : 
  
Groom , I give myself to you 
to be your wife. 
I promise to love and sustain you 
in the covenant of marriage, 
from this day forward, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
in joy and in sorrow, 
as long as we both shall live. 
  


(SELECTION 4:) 

Groom : 
  
Bride , I want you to be my wife. 
I promise to give you the best of myself 
and to ask of you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person 
and to realize 
that your interests, needs and desires 
are no less important than my own. 
I promise to share with you 
my time and my attention, 
and to bring joy, strength and imagination 
to our relationship. 
I promise to keep myself open to you, 
to let you see through the windows of my world 
into my innermost fears and feelings, 
secrets and dreams. 
I promise to grow along with you, 
to be willing to face changes 
as we both change 
in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. 
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, 
with all I have to give, 
and all I feel inside, 
in the only way I know how ... 
completely and forever. 

Bride : 
  
Groom , I want you to be my husband. 
I promise to give you the best of myself 
and to ask of you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and to realize that your interests, needs and desires 
are no less important than my own. 
I promise to share with you 
my time and my attention, 
and to bring joy, strength and imagination 
to our relationship. 
I promise to keep myself open to you, 
to let you see through the windows of my world 
into my innermost fears and feelings, 
secrets and dreams. 
I promise to grow along with you, 
to be willing to face changes 
as we both change 
in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. 
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, 
with all I have to give, 
and all I feel inside, 
in the only way I know how ... 
completely and forever. 
  


(SELECTION 5) 
  
Groom : 
  
I, Groom , take you, Bride , to be my wife, 
my faithful partner in life, 
my constant friend 
and my one true love. 
 promise to love you without reservation, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
to stand together in our times of joy and sorrow, 
always to be open and honest with you, 
for as long as we both shall live. 
  

Bride : 
  
 
I, Bride , take you, Groom , to be my husband, 
my faithful partner in life, 
my constant friend 
and my one true love. 
 promise to love you without reservation, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
to stand together in our times of joy and sorrow, 
always to be open and honest with you, 
for as long as we both shall live. 
  

Apache Wedding Blessing 

(ask audience to stand)

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for each other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before.
Go now to your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Bride and Groom , remember to treat both yourself 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, difficulty or fear assail your relationship – as they threatened all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part that seems wrong.

In this way, you can ride out the times 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 lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight.

(ask audience to sit)

Pronouncement

Inasmuch 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 of these rings, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are now husband and wife.

Congratulations, you make kiss Bride !!

Short Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Ceremony for

GroomFull & BrideFull

Place

Date

Opening Logistics

• Background music
• Music changes (this is the official start of the ceremony)
• Grandparents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Parents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Music changes
• Maid of honor and Bride s maids enter individually
• Ring barer,  and flower children, and bell ringer enter individually
• Music changes to bridal march
• Bride is escorted in
• Music stops briefly then continues (low volume) throughout ceremony

Introduction

Dearly beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God and these witnesses to celebrate the joining of this man and this woman in the unity of marriage. There are no obligations on earth sweeter or tender than those you are about to assume. There are no vows more solemn than those you are about to make.

There is no human institution more sacred than that of the home you are about to form. True marriage is the holiest of all earthly relationships. The state of matrimony is based this deep, invisible union of two souls who seek to find completion in one another.

Do you understand this? (Respond by yes, nodding, etc.)

Giving of the Bride and Groom

Who gives this woman in marriage?

Parents or Sponsors: We do.

Who gives this man?

Parents or Sponsors: We do

The Challenge

Will you please face each other and join hands?

Groom , will you take this woman, whose hands you hold, choosing her alone to be your wedded wife? Will you live with her in the state of true matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health, honor her at all times, and be faithful to her?

Bride , will you take this man, whose hands you hold, choosing him alone to be your wedded husband? Will you live with him in the state of true matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health, honor him at all times, and be faithful to him?

Exchange of Vows and Rings

As you take these I would have you remember:

To love is to come together from the pathways of our past and then move forward...Hand in hand, along the uncharted roads of our future, ready to risk, to dream, and to dare.... And always believe that all things are possible with faith and love in God, and in each other.

Will you repeat after me?

I Groom , take you Bride  to be my wife, to love and cherish, from this day forward, and thereto pledge you my faith,

I, Bride , take you Groom , to be my husband, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, and thereto pledge you my faith.

I understand you have brought rings as a token of your sincerity?

Bless O God these rings, that each gives, receives, and wears as a token of the covenant between them and God, and may they ever abide in thy peace, living together in unity, in love, and in happiness, and with good purpose do thy will. Amen.

Groom , will you repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed. Let it ever be to us a symbol of our love.

Bride , will you repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed. Let it ever be to us a symbol of our love.

Declaration of Marriage

In as much as you, Groom , and you Bride , have consented together in the union of matrimony and you have pledged your faith each to the other in the presence of God and this company, now by the authority vested in me as a minister, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife!

You may kiss  Bride !

Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present Mrs. Bride and Mr. GroomFull

Ending Logistics

• Bride and Groom depart to the back and position themselves to the right or left to begin the formation of a receiving line.
• Groomsmen and Bride 's Maids recess.
• Groomsmen return to usher Parents out to join the Bride and Groom at the reception line.
• Audience is now dismissed.

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Contemporary Christian Ceremony

Wedding Ceremony for

GroomFull & BrideFull

Place

Date

Opening Logistics

• Background music
• Music changes (this is the official start of the ceremony)
• Grandparents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Parents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Music changes
• Maid of honor and Bride s maids enter individually
• Ring barer,  and flower children, and bell ringer enter individually
• Music changes to bridal march
• Bride is escorted in
• Music stops briefly then continues (low volume) throughout ceremony

Entrance Rite
  
Lance: May the Grace and Peace of God the Father, and of our Brother Jesus Christ, and the all-embracing Love of the Holy Spirit be with you all! 
  
People: And also with you! 
  
Lance: Welcome, all of you. We are gathered here today for one of the happiest occasions in all human life, to celebrate before God the marriage of a man and woman who love each other. 
  
Bride and Groom , it is our joy to witness and celebrate your wedding in a rich spiritual heritage, sustained as we are in the mysterious power of all creation, in God who is the begetter and sustainer of all life, and whose core is Love. You come here today as individuals. You come to become one -- not to lose yourselves, but to promise a new life of unity and love.
  
And we, your family and friends, come to share in your joy and to ask God, the infinite power in creation, to bless you. Marriage is a gift of God, sealed by a sacred covenant. God powers all of human love, because God is love. 
  
And God gives joy. Through that joy, husband and wife may share their new life with others. We pray that you may fulfill God’s purpose for the whole of your lives by always living within this love and this joy. With our love we support you as you freely give yourselves to each other.   

To this moment you bring the fullness of your hearts as a treasure to share with one another. You bring dreams which bind you together. You bring your particular personalities and spirits out of which will flow the reality of your lives together. We rejoice with you now as you express the outward symbol of your inward union of hearts. It is a union that has already been created by friendship, by respect and by love. 

Lighting of the Individual Candles for the Unity Candle 
  
Lance: The mothers of Bride and Groom will now light two individual candles, symbolic of the individuality to this point. (Mothers move forward, aided if required by a groomsman, and light the individual candles.
  
 
Reading 1: Reading1

Declaration of Intent
  
Lance: In this sacred and joyful moment, we call upon the highest in you, Bride and Groom , the divine inner presence that brought you to love and has chosen for you the sweet commitment of marriage. For you we ask every blessing of this moment; a confirmation of the wisdom of your choice; great happiness on the path that is set before you; discretion, kindness and care as you walk upon it, strength to live out your purpose, grace and peace through each step of your journey, and beloved family and friends to support you. 
  
Lance: Bride , are you here to ask Groom to be your partner, your lover, your friend and your husband? Do you intend to give him your deepest friendship and love, not only when you are feeling bright and alive, but also when you are feeling down? Not only when you remember clearly that you are a manifestation of God, but even in those times when you forget? Do you announce before God and those here present that you will seek always to see the Light of Divinity within Groom , and seek always to share the Light of Divinity within you? 
  
Bride : I do. 
  
Lance: Groom , are you here to ask Bride to be your partner, your lover, your friend and your wife? Do you intend to give her your deepest friendship and love, not only when you are feeling bright and alive, but also when you are feeling down? Not only when you remember clearly that you are a manifestation of God, but even in those times when you forget? Do you announce before God and those here present that you will seek always to see the Light of Divinity within Bride , and seek always to share the Light of Divinity within you? 
  
Groom : I do. 

Pledge Of Support 
  
Lance: Who presents Bride to Groom to be married? 
Bride ’s Parents: We do. 
  
Lance: Who presents Groom to Bride to be married? 
Groom ’s Parents: We do. 
 

Exchange Of Symbols 
  
BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS 
  
Lance: Who holds the rings?

Best Man: I do 
(and holds his hand up to display the rings and holds them up to be blessed by the Lance.)

Lance: Let us bless these rings! O God, these rings are circles, symbols that remind us of the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. 

Symbols of holiness, of perfection and peace ... that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, bring your blessing to these rings to also be symbols of unity, of joining and of commitment. Grant that the love which Bride and Groom  have for each other now may always be just this way. 
  
Lance: These are the rings that Bride and Groom will wear for the rest of their lives, that express the love that they have for one another. Let us take a moment and send our prayers, our thoughts and our love to these rings, so that as they wear them, they will carry our love with them as well. 
  
  
Exchange Of Vows 
 
Lance: Bride and Groom , as you dedicate yourselves to one another, we are mindful of the presence of God around us. 

Vows are here Here. Rings are exchanged during vows.

Reading 2: Reading2

Lighting of the Unity Candle 
  
Lance: At the beginning of this ceremony, the mothers of Bride and Groom lit two individual candles, symbolic of their individuality to this point. Now Bride and Groom will light their unity candle, symbolic of the light of their love and unity to the world from this day forward. 

The Nuptial Blessing 
  
Lance (& People): Please stand and join me in the nuptial blessing of Bride and Groom . PAUSE. 
  
May the peace of Christ live always in your hearts and in your home. 
  
May you have true friends to stand by you, both in joy and in sorrow. 
  
May you be ready and willing to help and comfort all who come to you in need. 
  
May the blessings promised to the compassionate be yours in abundance. 
  
May you find happiness and satisfaction in your work. May daily problems never cause you undue anxiety, nor the desire for earthly possessions dominate your lives. But may your hearts’ first desire be always the abundance of good things awaiting you from our loving God. 
  
May the Lord bless you with many happy years together, so that you may enjoy the rewards 
of a good, long and healthy life. And after serving God by your love of others in this physical world, may God welcome you into the eternal spiritual world for all ages to come. 

(Audience may be seated)

Traditional Christian Ceremony

Wedding Ceremony for

GroomFull & BrideFull

Place

Date

Opening Logistics

• Background music
• Music changes (this is the official start of the ceremony)
• Grandparents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Parents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Music changes
• Maid of honor and Bride s maids enter individually
• Ring barer,  and flower children, and bell ringer enter individually
• Music changes to bridal march
• Bride is escorted in
• Music stops briefly then continues (low volume) throughout ceremony

Introduction

(Ask audience to be seated, father or other stays for a moment)

Lance: We are gathered here today in the sight of God and angels, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and blessings to the words which shall unite Bride and Groom in holy matrimony.  Marriage is a most honorable estate, created and Instituted by God, signifying unto us the mystical union, which also exists between Christ and the Church; so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love.

Who is it that brings this woman to this man?

I do.

(Father or other kisses Bride , then sits)

Lance: Bride and Groom , although life is a gift given to each of us as individuals, we also learn to live together in harmony. Love is a gift to us from our family and friends. Through these gifts of love we learn to ourselves to gift it back. Learning to love and live together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life.

Mankind did not create love; love is created by God.  Therefore, a husband and wife should not confuse love of worldly things with that of Godly love of one another. For even if worldly success is found, only love for one another  will maintain a marriage. The measure of true love is a love both freely given and freely accepted, just as God's love is unconditional and free.

Today is truly a glorious day which the Lord hath made - as today both of you are blessed with God's greatest of all gifts - the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today - and those here in heart - wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success and the world has to offer.

Pledge Of Support 
  
Lance: Who presents Bride to Groom to be married? 
Bride ’s Parents or Sponsors: We do. 
  
Lance: Who presents Groom to Bride to be married? 
Groom ’s Parents or Sponsors: We do. 

Unity Candle

The mothers of Bride and Groom will now come forward to light to individual candles that represent the individuality of this couple at this time. They are truly two individuals who will shortly agree to join for a life of deep abiding love.

Reading 1 : Reading 1

Click HERE to see sample readings. A new window will open that then you can close once you are finished looking at the readings with out loosing your place here. 

On Love

As you travel through life together, I caution you to remember that the true measure of success, the true avenue to joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. I would ask that you hold the key to your heart very tightly.

Within the Bible, nothing holds greater importance that Love. We are told the crystalline and beautiful truth: "God is Love". We are assured that "Love conquers all".  It is love which brings you here today, the union of two hearts and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one pattern, remember that it was love that brought you here today, it is love that will make this a glorious union, and it is love which will cause this union to endure.

Exchange Of Symbols 
  
BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF RINGS 
  
Lance: Who holds the rings?

Best Man: I do 
(and holds his hand up to display the rings and holds them up to be blessed by the Lance.)

Lance: Let us bless these rings! O God, these rings are circles, symbols that remind us of the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. 

Symbols of holiness, of perfection and peace ... that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, bring your blessing to these rings to also be symbols of unity, of joining and of commitment. Grant that the love which Bride and Groom  have for each other now may always be just this way. 
  
Lance: These are the rings that Bride and Groom will wear for the rest of their lives, that express the love that they have for one another. Let us take a moment and send our prayers, our thoughts and our love to these rings, so that as they wear them, they will carry our love with them as well. 

Exchange Of Vows 
 
Lance: Bride and Groom , as you dedicate yourselves to one another, we are mindful of the presence of God around us. 

(Selection One)

Groom : Bride , we entered into each others lives and experienced love and happiness. Today I am confirming my promise for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give you encouragement, strength and trust, to stand together in our times of joy and of sorrow. I pray that our home will be one of love and understanding and patience ... not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the passing of time, and through the love we have for one another. Our lives have become joined with the times we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your husband, to walk with you throughout all your tomorrows. I love you. 
  
Bride : Groom , we entered into each others lives and experienced love and happiness. Today I am confirming my promise for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give you encouragement, strength and trust, to stand together in our times of joy and of sorrow. I pray that our home will be one of love and understanding and patience ... not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the passing of time, and through the love we have for one another. Our lives have become joined 
with the times we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, 
ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your wife, 
to walk with you throughout all your tomorrows. I love you. 
  

(SELECTION 2:) 
  
Groom : 
  
I, Groom , take you, Bride , 
to be my wife, 
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, or for worse, 
for richer, or for poorer, 
in sickness, and in health, 
to love and to honor 
and to cherish unconditionally. 
Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen. 
  
  
Bride : 
  
I, Bride , take you, Groom , 
to be my husband, 
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, or for worse, 
for richer, or for poorer, 
in sickness, and in health, 
to love and to honor 
and to cherish unconditionally. 
Forsaking all others, I will be faithful to you. In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. 
Amen. 



(SELECTION 3:) 
  
Groom : 
  
Bride , I give myself to you 
to be your husband. 
I promise to love and sustain you 
in the covenant of marriage, 
from this day forward, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
in joy and in sorrow, 
as long as we both shall live. 
  


Bride : 
  
Groom , I give myself to you 
to be your wife. 
I promise to love and sustain you 
in the covenant of marriage, 
from this day forward, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
in joy and in sorrow, 
as long as we both shall live. 
  


(SELECTION 4:) 

Groom : 
  
Bride , I want you to be my wife. 
I promise to give you the best of myself 
and to ask of you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person 
and to realize 
that your interests, needs and desires 
are no less important than my own. 
I promise to share with you 
my time and my attention, 
and to bring joy, strength and imagination 
to our relationship. 
I promise to keep myself open to you, 
to let you see through the windows of my world 
into my innermost fears and feelings, 
secrets and dreams. 
I promise to grow along with you, 
to be willing to face changes 
as we both change 
in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. 
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, 
with all I have to give, 
and all I feel inside, 
in the only way I know how ... 
completely and forever. 

Bride : 
  
Groom , I want you to be my husband. 
I promise to give you the best of myself 
and to ask of you no more than you can give. I promise to respect you as your own person and to realize that your interests, needs and desires 
are no less important than my own. 
I promise to share with you 
my time and my attention, 
and to bring joy, strength and imagination 
to our relationship. 
I promise to keep myself open to you, 
to let you see through the windows of my world 
into my innermost fears and feelings, 
secrets and dreams. 
I promise to grow along with you, 
to be willing to face changes 
as we both change 
in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. 
I promise to love you in good times and in bad, 
with all I have to give, 
and all I feel inside, 
in the only way I know how ... 
completely and forever. 
  


(SELECTION 5) 
  
Groom : 
  
I, Groom , take you, Bride , to be my wife, 
my faithful partner in life, 
my constant friend 
and my one true love. 
 promise to love you without reservation, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
to stand together in our times of joy and sorrow, 
always to be open and honest with you, 
for as long as we both shall live. 
  

Bride : 
  
 
I, Bride , take you, Groom , to be my husband, 
my faithful partner in life, 
my constant friend 
and my one true love. 
 promise to love you without reservation, 
in sickness and in health, 
in plenty and in want, 
to stand together in our times of joy and sorrow, 
always to be open and honest with you, 
for as long as we both shall live. 

Reading 2: Reading2

Charge to the Couple

Bride and Groom as the two of you come into this marriage uniting 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, 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.

Prayer

Lance: Oh Lord, our hearts are filled with great happiness on this wedding day. They come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living together is such a way as to bring happiness to the marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense of jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may the home they are creating today, truly be a place of love and harmony, where your spirit is ever present.

Bless this union we pray, and walk beside Bride and Groom throughout all their lives together. AMEN

Lighting of the Unity Candle 
  
Lance: At the beginning of this ceremony, the mothers of Bride and Groom lit two individual candles, symbolic of their individuality to this point. Now Bride and Groom will light their unity candle, symbolic of the light of their love and unity to the world from this day forward. 

Optional Reading #3: Reading3

Pronouncement as Husband & Wife

Bride and Groom , in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of your hands, I now declare you to be husband and wife.

Benediction

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.

Congratulations, you may kiss your Bride .

I present to you Mrs. Bride and Mr. GroomFull

Hand Fasting Ceremony for

GroomFull & BrideFull

Place

Date

Opening Logistics

• Background music
• Music changes (this is the official start of the ceremony)
• Grandparents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Parents are ushered in by groomsmen, best man, or Groom
• Music changes
• Maid of honor and Bride s maids enter individually
• Ring barer,  and flower children, and bell ringer enter individually
• Music changes to bridal march
• Bride is escorted in
• Music stops briefly then continues (low volume) throughout ceremony

This ceremony is very effective when with smaller number of guests they stand in a circle around the couple.

Introduction

Bride and Groom , it is our joy to witness and celebrate your wedding in a rich celebration, sustained as we are in the mysterious power of all creation and whose core is Love. 

You come here today as individuals. You come to become one -- of course not to lose yourselves, but instead to promise a new life of unity and love.
And we, your family and friends, have gathered here to share in your joy and to ask the infinite power in creation to bless you. We hold that marriage is a gift, sealed by an achiest, lasting sacred covenant. 

Giving of the Bride & Groom

Who presents this couple to be married? 

Sponsors (may be family, friends, or all): We do. 

Reading 1: Reading1  

Explanation of Hand fasting Tradition

Bride & Groom have chosen a traditional hand fasting ceremony. In Europe, until the mid 1700’s, few unions were sanctified in a church or synagogue. Rather, they were celebrated by a simple hand fasting ceremony in which the two partners joined hands over the village anvil, in the fields or in the groves of trees. Today, we build upon this tradition. The couple linked hands, to form an infinity circle, symbolizing the entirety of the universe as represented in their relationship.

Groom and Bride , please join hands. 

Handfasting/ Vows

Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. 

With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to God. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth. 

Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? 

Couple: Yes, We Seek to Enter. 

In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony. 
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings 
with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences. 

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home The heat of the heart's passion The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times. 

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all encompassing passion of the sea. 

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North Firm foundation on which to build Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives A stable home to which you may always return. 

Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union. 

I bid you look into each others eyes. 

Groom , Will you cause her pain? 
I May (What was actually said was an emphatic yes) 
Is that your intent? 
No 

Bride , Will you cause him pain? 
I may 
Is that your intent? 
No 

*To Both* 
Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? 
Yes 

And so the binding is made. Join your hands 
*First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands* 

Bride , Will you share his laughter? 
Yes 

Groom Will you share her laughter? 
Yes 

*To Both* 
Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? 
Yes 

And so the binding is made. 
*Second chord is draped across the couples hands* 

Bride , Will you burden him? 
I may 
Is that your intent? 
No 

Groom Will you burden her? 
I may 
Is that your intent? 
No 

*To Both* 
Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union? 
Yes 

And so the binding is made. 
*Drape third chord across the couples hands* 

Bride , will you share his dreams? 
Yes 

Groom will you share her dreams? 
Yes 

*To Both* 
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes? 
Yes 

And so the binding is made. 
*Drape fourth chord across the couples hands* 

Groom will you cause her anger? 
I may 
Is that your intent? 
No 

Bride , will you cause him anger? 
I may 
Is that your intent? 
No 

*To Both* 
Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union? 
We Will 

And so the binding is made. 
*Drape fifth chord across the couples hands* 

Bride , Will you honor him? 
I will 

Groom Will you honor her? 
I will 

*To Both* 
Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor? 
We shall never do so 

And so the binding is made. 
*Drape sixth chord across the couples hands* 

*Tie chords together while saying:* 
The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. 

*Once chords are tied together they are removed and placed on altar*

Blessing and Exchange of Rings 

Who holds the rings?

Assignees: We do 

(the hold their hands up to display the rings and holds them up to be blessed )

Let us bless these rings! These rings are circles, symbols that remind us of the Sun, and the Earth, and the universe. Symbols of holiness, of perfection and peace ... that which has no beginning and no end. And so, in this moment, bring your blessing to these rings to also be symbols of unity, of joining and of commitment. Grant that the love which Bride and Groom have for each other now may always be just this way. 

These are the rings that Bride and Groom will wear for the rest of their lives, that express the love that they have for one another. Let us take a moment and send our prayers, our thoughts and our love to these rings, so that as they wear them, they will carry our love with them as well. 

Exchange rings and state for each, “with this ring, I thee wed”

Recognition Of Marriage 

Only a couple can administer the sacrament of marriage to each other, and only a couple can sanctify it. Neither the church, nor any power vested in me by the state, can grant me the authority to declare what only two hearts can declare, and what only two souls can make real. 

And so now, inasmuch as you, Groom , and you, Bride , have announced the truths that are already written in your hearts, and have witnessed the same in the presence of these, your family and friends, -- we observe joyfully that you have declared yourselves to be ... husband and wife. 

I present to you Mrs. Bride and Mr. GroomFull . You may to may now kiss!