Sample wedding ceremony'S
SAMPLE SEMI-RELIGIOUS WEDDING CEREMONY
Everyone Please Rise for our Bride
Who presents this woman to be Bride to this man?
Good evening. It is truly a blessing from heaven
for two people to find one another and to love so deeply
that they embrace the holy bond of marriage.
That is why we are all here today, to witness and celebrate
Groom & Bride’s commitment to their union.
On behalf of them, I welcome you all.
Although this is their day, it is also a tribute to all of you.
For knowing you and interacting with you
has helped to make our Bride and Groom who they needed to be to find each other.
They would like to thank all of you for that.
All of you are the threads of which are woven the tapestry of their lives.
Each one of you is an important piece in the story it tells.
It is the fabric that they wrap around themselves
and take comfort in when the world seems cold.
And on days like today when everything is right in their world,
that tapestry is proudly spread out and displayed for everyone to see,
with all the glorious colors and textures that your diversity adds.
You hold a place in their hearts reserved for those
that they have chosen to call 'Family' and “Friends”
and they are deeply grateful for each and every one of you here today.
Let us Pray
Lord God, I thank you for this day and this opportunity to bring Groom& Bride together as husband and wife. I ask that you join us in this ceremony and to bless Groom, Bride their family and friends. I thank you for this. Amen.
You all may be seated
Parental Honoring
Groom & Bride want to acknowledge their parents on this occasion.
Groom and Bride offer their profound gratitude to you
for all the love and care that you showed in raising them.
The unconditional gifts of love and support that you have continually offered
have inspired them to become who they are today,
and they thank you, from the bottom of their hearts,
for guiding them to this celebration of love here today.
Without you, this day would not be possible.
Foundation
Groom & Bride marriage is a gift from God, its a miracle.
After speaking to you both, it is obvious that you already know
some of the great blessings marriage has to offer.
I would like to take this time to share with you
some of the other great blessings marriage has to offer you.
It is an opportunity to feel the joy of taking care of someone who takes care of you,
to be challenged towards growth yet gently nurtured,
to love deeply and receive it in return.
It is about trust, friendship and having a partner to share all life has to offer.
It is a commitment to participate in a process of mutual evolution,
understanding and forgiveness.
It is indeed a sacred union to be treated with reverence.
Marriage is not a place to hide from the world.
It is a safe place to grow and become wiser.
It is a place to evolve into better people;
so that you can go out in the world and make a difference
by spreading the joy and wisdom that you have found with each other.
Together in this marriage, you shall contribute more fully,
for you both shall be more full.
Bride, Groom is a gift to you from God,
but he is not a gift for you alone.
It is God’s will that in your love,
this man might find within himself a greater sense of who he is meant to be.
You are asked to see the good in this man,
to accept him for who he is and who he shall be.
In this way, God’s purpose shall be accomplished in this relationship.
May this man find the kingdom of heaven through the love you share.
And so it is with you also Groom,
that although Bride is God’s gift to you,
she is not a gift intended for you alone.
You are asked by God to so love this woman,
that in your love she might find herself as God has created her,
so beautiful and strong and brave and true,
that the entire world might be blessed by the presence of a woman who shines so.
May she relax in your arms feeling safe and secure,
as she has never relaxed before.
May she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend on forever.
Questions/Ring Ceremony Combined
May we have the rings please?
The circle has long been a symbol of God.
Without beginning or end and with no point of weakness,
the circle is a reminder of the eternal quality of God and of his unending strength.
Your wedding rings are most special
because they say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bonded,
to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are.
Your rings carry a potent double message:
We are individuals and yet we belong; we are not alone.
As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are
but also the glorious union that you are now creating.
Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love.
God, bless these rings and the two who exchange them. Fill them with your Holy Presence. Keep them safe in the circle of Your protection and love.
Groom place the ring on your Bride’s finger and repeat after me:
“With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you, today, tomorrow and always
Bride, place the ring on Groom's finger and repeat after me:
“With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you, today, tomorrow and always."
Wear these rings as the enclosing bond of reverence and trust.
Fulfill the circle of love that now makes you one.
Vows
Please join hands, look into each other’s eyes, and repeat after me:
I, Groom, take thee, Bride, to be my lawfully wedded 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, for as long as we both shall live.
I, Bride, take thee, Groom, to be my lawfully wedded 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, for as long as we both shall live.
The Hands Ceremony
Groom & Bride, please face each other and take each other’s hands,
so that you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you,
that are holding yours on your wedding day
as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.
These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will 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 cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Pronouncement
Groom & Bride, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Holy Matrimony, having 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
whom God hath joined together, let no one separate.
Congratulations Groom you may kiss your bride.
Benediction
Please join hands
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face and shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you and give you peace. Amen.
Conclusion
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
it is my pleasure to present to you for the first time,
Mr. and Mrs.
SAMPLE CIVIL WEDDING CEREMONY
Everyone Please Rise for our Bride
Good afternoon, It is truly a blessing to find for two people
to find one another and to love so deeply
that they embrace the bond of marriage.
That is why we are all here today, to witness and celebrate
_______ and _____’s commitment to their union.
On behalf of them, I welcome you all.
Who presents this woman to be married to this man?
You all may be seated
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 _______ and _____in marriage.
Words to the Bride & Groom
_______ 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.
Declaration of Intent
______, do you before these witness take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife;
and do you promise that from this day forward you will be her faithful husband,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health,
to love her and to cherish her, till death do you part?
______, do you before these witness take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband;
and do you promise that from this day forward you will be his faithful wife,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health,
to love him and to cherish him, till death do you part?
Exchange of Rings & Vows
May we have the rings please?
These rings are a circle and a symbol of love
that the two of you have promised to one another.
I remind you that love endures as we grow together.
As you present these rings to each other and to this world
you both saying that you will remain in remembrance of your vows that you say here today.
_______ as you place this ring on _____ finger, I ask that you repeat after me your vows.
I ____, take you ______, to be my wedded wife. And I promise, before these witness, to be your loving and faithful husband, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.
I ______, take you ______, to be my wedded husband. And I promise, before these witness, to be your loving and faithful wife, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.
Sand Ceremony
Today, Xx and Yy, have chosen to honor their marriage
through the celebration of the Sand Ceremony.
This ceremony symbolizes the inseparable union of Groom and Bride
into a new and eternal martial relationship.
They will at the same time pour separate containers of sand into another glass vessel.
Each grain of sand in their separate containers represents
a unique and separate moment, decision, feeling or event
that helped shaped XX and YY into the separate and unique individuals that they are today.
As they pour their separate containers of sand into another glass vessel,
those separate and independent individuals will cease to exist.
Instead they will merge into a loving and supportive martial couple.
XX and YY, just as the grains of sand can never be separated
into their individual containers again, so will your marriage be.
XX and YY, take your separate glass of sand and alternate the pouring of sand
into this joining vessel and together, repeat after me.
You are my love for eternity, I blend with you. My heart is like these grains of sands, merging with yours. I am yours. You are mine. We are together forever like the sand, like the wind. We are one.
Pronouncement
_______ and _____, in so much as the two of you
have agreed to live together in Matrimony,
having promised your love for each other by these vows,
the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings.
By the power vested into me by this state,
I now pronounce them husband and wife.
Congratulations _____, you may kiss the bride.
Introduction
Ladies and gentleman its my honor and privilege to introduce to you Mr. & Mrs. __________