Kvetch » Vows » Sample Ceremony Repository
| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #905351] |
Sat, 20 September 2008 23:21   |
 lindseykaye
Messages: 336
Registered: August 2007
Location: Gainesville, FL |
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Here is ours - It ended up reading (several, several times in practice) about 15 minutes long allowing for pauses and walking, and all that. We wrote it all ourselves (with help from here, as you will see) and let our officiant add his own words to the address and benediction. I think it turned out well, and it's just perfect for us.
Hope it brings you all as much help as those before me did for us!
Guests will most likely stand at the Bride’s entrance, ask them to please be seated, if they don’t do so on their own.
Convocation
Good Afternoon, Everyone! Welcome, ALL OF YOU, on this wonderful, beautiful, important day! FH and Lindseykaye are so excited to have you with them here today.
Giving away of the Bride
Lindseykaye’s mom stands on Lindseykaye’s left side when she and Lindseykaye’s dad reach the end of the aisle.
Who gives this bride in marriage?
Lindseykaye’s dad: I do
FH shakes Lindseykaye’s dad's hand, hugs Lindseykaye’s mom.
Address
I know many of you came a long way to be here, but short or long, your efforts and your presence honor FH and Lindseykaye, and they thank you so very much for being here
See this program you should have in your hand?
You can keep it as a memento, of course, but if the bugs are bad it makes a good face swatter
I’m Officiant Lastname. My wife, Officiant wife, and I are very lucky to be neighbors of FH’s parents, FH’s dad and FH’s mom, for many, many years now and it’s my distinct honor to officiate at today’s ceremony.
Christmas…….it’s a magical time, isn’t it? It’s all about wonderful things, especially love for one another, and celebration of that love. How do we manifest that love? Through gifts, of course. The Fh lastname and the Lastnames often visit each other next door on Christmas Day to see who’s opening what, and we’ve seen a lot of surprises opened over the years, but nothing like what we saw on Christmas Day 2006. Gifts were being exchanged and opened when we all heard a gasp, dropped what we were saying or doing, and looked at Lindseykaye just in time to see her stunned…over a ring, and while we were all stunned into being silent witnesses, FH asked Lindseykaye to marry him. It’s one of those beautiful moments frozen forever in time for us, and FH’s gift was the gift that truly keeps on giving, because, here we are today, to celebrate that gift, that love.
FH and Lindseykaye, marriage challenges us to share the same journey without abandoning the truth of our individuality; to not lose ourselves in one another, but rather walk side by side, heading in the same direction. As with all relationships, marriage is an endless presentation of choices about how we want to be with one another. Always protect, affirm, and support each other, and be brave about sharing your vulnerabilities. Always remember that your friendship and the shared values of respect, honesty and trust are the reason that you have chosen to build a life together. Enjoy the intertwining of your independence with your intimacy. As your relationship began, distance separated you both. Your love could only be shared from the sound of your voice, and communicating that love, that practice which you follow to this day, has helped make the bond between you strong. I wish you the courage to keep your hearts open to each other for the rest of your lives.
I will now ask Bridesmaid, FH’s sister, to read a few words by two of Lindseykaye’s favorite authors
no need to say titles or authors, readings are printed in the program for guests.
Reading #1 – read by Bridesmaid
"We never need to say anything to each other when we're together. This is - for the times when we won't be together. I love you... as selfishly as the fact that I exist. As selfishly as my lungs breathe air. I breathe for my own necessity, for the fuel of my body, for my survival. I've given you, not my sacrifice nor my pity, but my ego and my naked need. This is the only way you can wish to be loved. This is the only way I can want you to love me.... that love is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. ...Once you've felt what it means to love as you and I know it – the total passion for the total height – you're incapable of anything less."
Ayn Rand - an excerpt from The Fountainhead
For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Consecration
In the words of the Supreme Court of California, “Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other brings stability to our society… Civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life's momentous acts of self-definition.”
Marriage may shape your lives through your personalities, giving them potential to take on exciting new interests, traditions, hobbies and ambitions. It may strengthen your faith, your drive; it may skew your schedule, nay, become your schedule, but only one thing is certain – marriage will change your lives.
This meaningful decision should be based purely in love. Always remember that your ability to marry the person you love is a privilege - and that your chosen partner in life should never be taken for granted.
If you will, please take a moment to enjoy the nature that surrounds you as FH’s soul brother, Groomsman Lastname, recites a short reading of Scripture from Song of Solomon.
Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7
Reading #2
10 My beloved spoke and said unto me, `Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.'"
6 "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame."
7 "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it; if a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised."
I ask you to remember that love is faith. Love is not only a faith in God, but a faith in one another. Love is trust; it is acceptance. Love will be the foundation of all abiding and deepening relationships. No other vows are more sacred than those you assume today. Your vows are to be given to each other, and you will need the continuing love, support and understanding of your other to keep them. If able to keep the vows you take here today, not because of any religious or civic law, but out of a desire to love and be loved by another person fully, without limitation, then your life will have joy and the home you establish will be a place in which you both will find the direction of your growth, your freedom, and your responsibility.
Expression of Intent
Do you, Lindseykaye, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, freely choose now to speak the words that will unite yours and FH’s lives in marriage? Do you promise to treat him with boundless love and respect, to be faithful in mind, heart, and hands, and to honor the vows you will make here today for the rest of your lives?
response: I do
Do you, FH, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, freely choose now to speak the words that will unite yours and Lindseykaye’s lives in marriage? Do you promise to treat her with boundless love and respect, to be faithful in mind, heart, and hands, and to honor the vows you will make here today for the rest of your lives?
response: I do
Vows
From that moment of yes when your engagement began until this moment of Yes, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or on long walks—all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will"—those late-night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe"—and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of wedding.
The symbolic vows you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word."
Please repeat after me;
I, Lindseykaye, take you, FH, to be my husband,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live.
Lindseykaye repeats
I, FH, take you, Lindseykaye, to be my wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live.
FH repeats
Tartan Pinning Ceremony
FH and Lindseykaye’s love is strong and growing stronger, but in reality, the community around them is what will truly support the growth of that love. Not just this county, city or neighborhood, but all of you, the ones whose love is present here today. You are precious to them; precious throughout their lives and their history together, and in sharing this special day with the Lk lastname and Fh lastname. In Scottish wedding lore, the uniting of families through marriage brought forth peace and good will among clans, strengthening all extended family in love and support. The pinning of the groom’s tartan upon the bride is a tradition of the Scots that has existed for millennia, and we ask you kindly to join in that tradition by reciting with us the Scottish wedding blessing.
Through these words, may you bestow your wishes for everlasting love, your high hopes and prayers for FH and Lindseykaye as they begin their new lives together. In all the experiences of life, may they always stay close to you and to each other as they share the joys and blessings as well as the trials and heartaches. Help them to honor and keep the promises made here today, and remind them of your great love for them, so they in turn, may reach out in love to others.
FH’s mom and FH’s dad, will you join us here under the Oak?
FH’s dad then reads/says his words (FH’s mom/FH’s dad write a few short words "with this tartan we welcome you - and your family - to the clan Fh lastname") while FH’s mom pins the tartan, then hugs all around, then FH and I join hands again and recite the blessing along with everyone, FH’s mom and FH’s dad remain at front for the blessing.
Officiant starts blessing by reading the first line.
Officiant: If there is righteousness in the heart,
All: there will be beauty in the character.
Officiant: If there is beauty in the character,
All: there will be harmony in the home.
Officiant: If there is harmony in the home,
All: there will be order in the nation.
Officiant: If there is order in the nation,
All: there will be peace in the world.
So let it be.
FH’s mom and FH’s dad then go sit down unprompted.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please?
Bm/moh/whoever has the rings hands them to Officiant
A ring is a circle, and the circle is sacred and absolute. It is the circle of the planets and their paths, of the sun and the moon, of time and timelessness. Of LP's, CD's and 45's. Of drum shells and the microscope lens. The path we make when we leave and come back to where we started, and the earth from which we are born and to which we shall return. Complete and never-ending, the circle, and these rings, symbolize the unity in which your lives are now joined and to which, wherever you go, you shall always return.
These rings will serve as a constant reminder to each of you the vows you have made on this special day. Let them not determine the path of your lives, but instead keep in your memory the beautiful affection and admiration you share for one another.
Lindseykaye, please repeat after me and place this ring on FH’s finger;
FH, I give to you this ring as a token of my love and devotion, my faith in our strength together, and my promise to learn and grow with you,
With this ring, I thee wed.
FH, please repeat after me and place this ring on Lindseykaye’s finger;
Lindseykaye, I give to you this ring as a token of my love and devotion, my faith in our strength together, and my promise to learn and grow with you.
With this ring, I thee wed.
Benediction and Pronouncement of Marriage
with increasing excitement
May God be with you and bless you,
May you see your children’s children,
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
I now pronounce you husband and wife,
you may kiss the bride!
Recessional
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #905626] |
Mon, 22 September 2008 12:00 |
JennyLN913
Messages: 50
Registered: April 2008
Location: Bloomington, IN |
Member |
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I was wondering if anyone had a good sample ceremony for a bride and groom and groom's son. My fiance has a son who will be 8 at the time of our wedding next May. This is my fiance's first marriage, however, and his little boy and i have a very strong bond (i've been in his life since he was 3). I looked through all of the sample ceremonies and got lots of great ideas for other parts of our ceremony, but we'd really love some ideas of how to incorporate his son and to acknowledge the new family we're creating. Thanks in advance!
Jenny
http://www.soontobethegrises.com
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #905836] |
Mon, 22 September 2008 20:04 |
boo-wed
Messages: 20
Registered: February 2008
Location: yarmouthport, ma/seattle |
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hi jenny.
i just got married on the 21st of august and dealt with your EXACT situation. my now step son is 9 and have known him since he was 3. i wanted a way to acknowledge him during our ceremony and also have him acknowledge that this ceremony signifies a new level of commitment for us. i decided that publicly honoring him and giving gratitude to him would be really meaningful for me. here's what i said...
Me to Sam:
Sam- I have loved watching you grow from a little 3-year old boy into a sensitive, thoughtful, adventurous, fun, artistic, curious chef. I love hearing you laugh. I love cuddling with you and daddy on Saturday mornings. I love your excitement when you come home and I am cooking and you come in and tell me how great it smells. I love playing Mad Libs with you. I love going for bike rides together. There is so much I love and appreciate about you. I look forward to our times together each week and if a week goes by that I don’t see you I feel something missing from my life. I have felt like you have been my family for many years now, but this ceremony today signifies the start of an even deeper connection between us. I want you to know that your dad and I have created a home for you where you will always be welcome. I hope it is a place where you can share your feelings and be yourself. Daddy and I love you so much, Sam. You make our family special.
Officiant:
To Sam- do you support the commitment that Liz and your Dad are making today?
Sam: I do.
To Elizabeth: Liz- do you bring Sam into this family? Making it a new family? Do you affirm that Sam is a sacred responsibility, and do you welcome him into this family with love: I do.
____________________________________________________________ ______________________
Our whole ceremony was really moving for me, but people commented after about what a special part of the ceremony this was for them. let me know if you have any more questions.
Remember to breathe
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #905967] |
Tue, 23 September 2008 10:56 |
JennyLN913
Messages: 50
Registered: April 2008
Location: Bloomington, IN |
Member |
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boo-wed: You made me cry! That's just lovely!! I feel the same way about my fiance's son. You gave me some great ideas about what I want to do with our ceremony. Thank you so much!
http://www.soontobethegrises.com
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #906197] |
Tue, 23 September 2008 18:57 |
ladyluck
Messages: 256
Registered: May 2007
Location: San Francisco |
Member |
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Here's our ceremony, from our wedding last weekend. It came out great - better than I had even hoped. People who had never cried at weddings cried. People cheered and laughed, and really were involved with the whole thing. Several people told us it was the best wedding ceremony they had ever been to. I am *so* glad that we had our friend get ordained online and officiate our wedding, and that he spent the time and effort that he did making my draft ceremony into what you see below, which flowed so well. Every word was personal, and there was no filler. The surprises (for me & DH) were the parents' blessings (an idea I got from IB) and the officiants charge. My vows got some help from IB too. Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas, and I hope this can help! We also got a lot of inspiration from Robert Fulghum's "Union" in his book From Beginning to End. I bought a lot of other wedding ceremony books, but that was the one we used the most.
I think it came out slightly different than this in real life, but this is what our officiant had written down in his last draft that he shared with me. It took about half an hour.
Pre-Ceremony Introduction
Before we get started,
Let me introduce myself and explain a little about the ceremony.
My name is <Officiant> .
As many of you already know, I am a good friend of <Groom> and <Bride>'s and this is the first wedding I have officiated.
When they ask me to officiate their wedding, I was greatly honored, and humbled.
<Bride>, <Groom>, and I have worked together to create a ceremony that is meaningful for them.
A ceremony that honors them and celebrates the love and affection they share with you: their family and friends.
You all are as much a part of this as much <Bride>, <Groom>, and even myself.
You are not here to simply hear words uttered in ceremony, or just to witness the first kiss between husband and wife.
Your participation in this ceremony is as important as your participation in their lives.
So, we ask for your active participation in this ceremony.
You should feel free to clap and cheer and laugh when it strikes you.
And towards the end,
I will ask you to join me,
in pronouncing them married.
We are about to start. Everyone, please stand.
Processional
[<Bride> and <Groom> walk in from opposite sides, simultaneously, with their parents on either side of them. They are followed by their attendants. Song: Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros]
Introduction/Invitation
Everyone, please be seated.
<Bride>, <Groom>,
You're gettin' married!
Before we started,
take a breath
and look around you.
All the planning,
preparation,
has come to fruition.
The anticipation,
worry
and stress is over.
Here we are.
Take a look.
Your family,
your friends,
have all come to your adopted
home of San Francisco
to share in this
with you.
We've come from Pittsburgh,
Rhode Island,
Cleveland,
New York,
here in San Francisco,
and so many places in between.
We have friends from childhood,
high school,
college,
and grad school.
We have brothers,
and sisters
and cousins,
aunts, uncles and
dearest of all,
mom and dad.
Thank you all for coming.
[<Bride> & <Groom> say thank you]
Joining of Families
Today, we bring together
not just two wonderful people,
but two wonderful families.
<Groom>, <Bride>,
I know how important family is
to the both of you.
You would not be the people you are today
without the love and guidance of your parents,
and the childhood shared with your brothers and sisters.
<FOG> and <MOG>,
you taught your son to drive a stick-shift.
Through the grounding gears and
near misses in parking lots you
encouraged him to learn something
that might otherwise be frustrating.
A lesson that even something as simple
as learning to drive can take
patience, practice and dedication.
<FOB>, you and <MOB>
fought with <Bride> when she was 12
to get her to learn the distributive theorem of algebra,
and then you taught her the calculus
to go with the physics she was learning in high school.
Your support of her
in math and science laid the foundation
for her career in engineering.
But <Bride> is no engineering geek.
Her outgoing personality and gregarious nature she
attributes to you, <SMOB>,
for inspiring her to meet new people and make new friends.
These are just some small examples how
your families have shaped your lives thus far.
As you make a new life together,
you will make with it with your
combined family;
Sharing the good times as well
as the bad.
Giving your full support to them, and
knowing that you can rely on theirs
in return.
And know that from this moment forward,
every time you talk to your parents,
you're going to hear the word "grandchild"
at least once.
<Groom>,
Standing beside you today,
beaming with pride,
are your parents:
<FOG> and <MOG>.
You honor them by marrying <Bride>,
and joining her family with yours.
They would like to
give you both their blessing:
[Blessing: <MOG>]
When <Bride> came into <Groom>’s life, I noticed a gradual change in him. We’d talk on the phone and he’d say things like “I’m fine” or “Everything’s good” and then gradually it would be “I’m FINE” and "Things are Great!!” Yeah, something’s up.
Then we met <Bride>, and instantly I knew. What an amazing, wonderful young lady. It’s hard to describe the joy I felt for <Groom>, because I knew she HAD to be the one! They had everything in common and when they looked at each other, well, I knew. It was all I could do to keep from nagging <Groom> to pop the question! <Groom>, you have to thank your father for nipping it in the bud every time I got close.
<Bride>, we are so honored to have you as our daughter, and our blessing couldn’t be more loving and sincere. Thank you, <Bride>, for saying ‘Yes’ to our <Groom>. We love you both!
<Bride>,
Standing beside you today,
and also beaming with pride are
your parents:
<FOB> and <SMOB>.
They are joined by your Uncle <brother of MOB>,
who holds a special flower in loving
memory of your mother <MOB>.
Bert, please place this flower in <Bride>'s bouquet
as a symbol and reminder that
<MOB> still lives on in in the hearts and
memories of her family.
<Bride>, you honor them all by marrying <Groom>,
and joining his family with yours.
<FOB> and <SMOB> would like to
give you both their blessing:
[Blessing: <FOB>]
As parents watching <Bride> grow up and develop over the years, first with her mother <MOB>, and later with <SMOB>, the traits that come to mind are: inquisitive, happy, bright, adventurous. As she matured, I would add: considerate, independent, and committed to her goals.
It is every parents dream that their child will find a soulmate who is compatible, and appreciates those qualities. In <Groom>, she has found that person. I have seen them interact with love, respect, and a total acceptance of each other.
Today we celebrate their commitment to each other, but also the adventurous spirit they share, which will bring them lasting satisfaction of successfully meeting life’s challenges together. <Groom>, we welcome you into our family. We extend our love and support to you and to <Bride> as you begin your life together.
You have our blessing.
Thank you, please be seated. [to parents]
Charge
This is the part,
in a traditional ceremony,
where the holy man
offers advice
and words of wisdom
distilled from thousands of years
of religious literature.
Well, I'm no holy man.
And I don't consider myself
particularly wise.
But, I am your friend.
And as your friend,
there are a few things
I'd like to say to you both.
First,
keep on doing what you're doing.
I mean, you've made it this far.
I know planning and organizing a wedding is a challenge in itself,
and you've done it while being thousands of miles apart.
Ok, maybe that helped a little 
I've known you both
your whole relationship.
I remember meeting <Bride> like it was yesterday.
We've all shared so many great times together
and I've seen the two of you two grow,
party, have fun,
and support and care for each other,
through the stress of graduate school,
the pain of a torn ACL,
and probably tomorrow morning if the reception lives up to its billing.
When I think of you,
my dear friends,
I have so many fantastic memories:
floating through fluffy powder at Kirkwood
followed by an evening of fantastic food and wine;
or, with a big group
getting down with our bad selves at a Future Primitive;
and also something as simple
as sharing a Sunday brunch,
recounting our week and our weekend,
enjoying our friendship, basking in
the late-morning sun
in our adopted home of San Francisco.
These are all fantastic memories of fantastic times,
and as much as I wish more of the same upon you,
I know there will be challenges.
But, I said before,
I am no wisened, holy man.
And for these future challenges,
I can offer you no solutions,
no particular advice.
But what I can offer you
is something perhaps more valuable: a promise.
I am here for you.
Look around you.
Many have come
from far and wide,
not just for a great party,
which we'll have,
but to pledge
their support for you,
to say not only
"yes, I am here for your wedding",
but also
"yes, I am here for your marriage".
I am your parent,
your brother, your sister,
your dear friend.
I'm here for the both of you.
If you need my advice,
a different perspective,
or just someone to listen.
We are all here for you.
And, let me speak for everyone here today,
when I say,
I love you both.
[pause]
And now that we have pledged our support to you,
it is time for you each
to declare your love
and promise to each other.
May I have the rings please.
Vows
[<Officiant> give ring to <Groom>]
[<Groom>]
<Bride>, you have been my best friend for so long
I have difficulty recalling what life was like before you.
I do know that there was something missing,
a life only half formed.
Since meeting you memories are vivid, colorful and complete.
In my life you fill in the missing lines of poetry,
the melody of music and the giggles of comedy.
For all that you have brought to me
I pledge to you all that I am and mean to be.
I will comfort you when sad,
nurse you when sick,
dance with you when happy,
and plot with you when mischievous.
I promise to support your dreams, as they are now my dreams too.
For as long as I walk this Earth,
I promise to be your partner,
lover, guardian, and husband.
Thank you for filling in all the missing pieces.
[<Groom> puts ring halfway on <Bride>'s finger]
I love you, will you be my wife?
<Bride>: I will.
[<Bride> puts ring the rest of the way on her finger]
[<Officiant> give ring to <Bride>]
[<Bride>]
Over the years we've been in our relationship,
I've become more and more certain
that there is no one I would rather have by my side than you,
for the fun times and for the hard times.
This isn't just about you being a wonderful man;
it's about how well we complement each other.
We are greater as a whole than as the sum of our parts:
stronger, more innovative, more stable, more adventurous, and more fun.
Our lives together are deeper, richer,
more love-filled, more challenging, more rewarding,
and more balanced than they ever could be without each other.
Today, I take you as my husband.
I promise to love and support you through all of our years,
when life seems easy and when life seems hard,
when our relationship is simple and when it is an effort.
I will be attentive to your ideas, your interests, your desires, and your needs and I will give you the space you need to keep growing.
I will work with you to make sure we both grow in the same direction,
and to make sure that we make our lives fulfilling.
I will take each year as it comes, but I will never take you for granted;
I will work, even when the work is hard, to honor these promises and build an eternal marriage.
[<Bride> puts ring halfway on <Groom>'s finger]
I love you, and there's nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you be my husband?
<Groom>: I will.
[<Groom> puts ring the rest of the way on his finger]
Rings
Your rings
are both an outward symbol,
telling the world
that you have chosen each other,
and also a personal reminder
of the promise you made here today.
Everytime you look upon your ring,
or feel the cool metallic
touch on your finger,
remember this day.
Remember the feeling of excitement,
the look in each other's eyes,
and the love in your heart.
Pronouncement
<Groom> and <Bride>,
before this service
you signed the legal papers.
You have received the blessing
of your family and friends,
made vows,
and exchanged rings.
Now, I ask everyone to stand
[pause for standing]
and join me in this pronouncement,
saying together:
"Repeat after me"
All: "We, your family and friends, now pronounce you married!"
[<Bride> and <Groom> *kiss*! Everyone else *cheers*!]
[<Groom> and <Bride> turn and face the audience]
Conclusion & Recessional
I am very happy to introduce,
for the first time as a married couple,
<Bride> and <Groom>!
[<Bride> and <Groom> walk out, followed by attendants and families to a song To Know You Is To Love You - BB King.]
Everyone, follow me to the log cabin where we will start the celebration.
[Updated on: Tue, 23 September 2008 19:00]
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #912190] |
Tue, 14 October 2008 09:22 |
cheese
Messages: 8
Registered: September 2008
Location: Hudson Valley, NY |
Member |
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We just got married on Sunday, and now I'm about to get a root canal, so we're returning back to earth very quickly 
I wanted to share my ceremony, which was partially written by our celebrant, and partially written by us.
We wanted something that has some grave elements to it -- like a rabbi or minister might have done, so that is the 'Charge/Pronouncement' that we wrote. We didn't want it to be overly fluffy.
Everyone walks 5 minutes from the pre-wedding reception, to a pasture on the farm where we were married. We drove the grandparents & brought a few chairs, but everyone else stood around us, all under a huge oak tree. We led the parade sometimes, and we were in the middle of it sometimes, but there was no separate 'processional'
Opening reading;
“ I hereby give myself. I love you. You are the only being whom I can love absolutely with my complete self, with all my flesh and mind and heart. You are my mate; my perfect partner, and I am yours. You must feel this now, as I do. It was a marvel that we ever met. It is some kind of divine luck that we are together now. As we look at each other we verify, we know, the perfection of our love, we recognize each other. Here is my life.” From the author Iris Murdoch.
Welcome to all this afternoon! At this bright and beautiful edge of fall, in the middle of a country field, we gather in joy and expectation. We rejoice as we see the fruits of our labor, a harvest of the seeds we have sown and nurtured. Even as we feel a certain bittersweet sadness at the fading of summer, the crisp air awakens us, and the faint smell of smoke on the wind warms us. The tawny hues of the leaves inspire us to look forward to the brilliant colors and the bounty of the coming season. Autumn is here once more, and as in every season, we take our inspiration and comfort from the fertility of our earth.
It is almost unimaginable that we could be celebrating Bride & Groom’s partnership anywhere else. A farm is a space that celebrates the work of body, mind, and spirit in bountiful partnership with nature.
Few things are as hopeful, as joyous, as a wedding, for getting married is the supreme act of trust. It is at once a union and a move of independence; it takes an absolute confidence in one’s self to be able to give so fully to another. Each step taken together enhances the steps taken individually; it is quite a wonderful paradox.
We are just several days past the holiest time in the Jewish calendar. The past two weeks have been a time to reexamine our selves and our actions, being mindful of all those that we touch – positively or negatively – since last Autumn. A time to think about the events of the last year and the twists and turns that we never could have predicted – those that have left us, new pursuits, a commitment to begin a lifetime. What a perfect way to begin the New Year – now that we are most aware of all that we bring to a marriage and all that we can’t predict – Bride & Groom humbly stand in front of each other, aware of who they are, and how they have blossomed in each other’s presence.
Marriage is a partnership that thrives when each person gives all they can without concern of what will come back. Each partner gives love in freedom, knowing that loving well is a gift that is its own reward. It is a continuous commitment that refocuses even the smallest moments within a grander frame of gratitude.
All of you are so important to them; this day is made more meaningful because you can share it with them; to bear witness to the commitment which they have already made to each other. This gift of your presence is a sweeter gift than you could ever imagine. Groom & Bride have been inspired by so many of you, you have touched their lives and their partnership is informed and strengthened by your example For marriage is more than simply an agreement between two people; it is a chance for us to embrace them as a couple, as a family and as part of a larger community. As you all walked to the ceremony site together, so it is that you will continue to walk with Groom & Bride as their life together evolves.
We include in our thoughts this afternoon, those who are here with us in spirit. Let us take a moment of silent meditation to remember them with fondness. We know they all rejoice with us.
Love Story
[Waaay too long retelling of how we met. I kept trying to cut it, but Groomy liked it. I'll spare you all]
Edna St. Vincent Millay writes these tender words about love:
Not in a silver casket cool with pearls
Or rich with red corundum or with blue,
Locked, and the key withheld, as other girls
Have given their loves, I give my love to you;
Not in a lovers'-knot, not in a ring
Worked in such fashion, and the legend plain—
Semper fidelis, where a secret spring
Kennels a drop of mischief for the brain:
Love in the open hand, no thing but that,
Ungemmed, unhidden, wishing not to hurt,
As one should bring you cowslips in a hat
Swung from the hand, or apples in her skirt,
I bring you, calling out as children do:
"Look what I have!—And these are all for you."
Now, there is a wonderful Chinese myth about the “red thread”. This myth tells us that when each of us is born, we are connected by invisible threads to those who will mean the most to us. As we grow older, those threads shorten until we are within arms’ distance, close enough to touch.
But we don’t always know that this is happening, even as we watch and even as we hope ! Whenever two people find each other, whether they are across town, down the hall or shimmying their way off a flooded barge, we realize that the universe, or God, or that red thread has worked magic.
As a celebrant, I have the best job on the planet: it is a job, a calling, that gives me hope. It proves to me that there are, indeed, soul mates, and when they find each other, it is the sweetest, rarest moment; a fleeting moment to cherish and nurture. To witness this is inspiring to all of us; it renews our commitment to our own relationships.
This is a partnership that was forged with quiet time spent together; evenings cooking and eating, hours spent on the train, and weekends spent on all the projects they can dream up. Together, they help each other recognize the beautiful patterns and rhythms that punctuate every day when we are just aware enough to notice them. Theirs is a partnership of awareness and appreciation for the marvels around them; both grand and subtle.
The Charge
When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb.
We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity - in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern. from ``A Gift from the Sea'' by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
No ceremony can create a marriage. The commitment we celebrate
today has been evolving in Bride & Groom's hearts and dreams since the day they met.
You are here, in the presence of your family and friends to be joined together in marriage. This is a commitment of great faith; a promise that binds you in a relationship of love, trust, and hope; excluding all others.
In your private talks, you have already made these promises to each other, but the vows that you are about to exchange are more than just romantic words on a country walk. These vows are your gifts, and we all stand together as witnesses. When you promise to stand beside your partner, you are giving the gift of yourself and your freedom. You will no longer walk alone – meaning your decisions are not just your own to make. You will need to consider each other, and respect each other’s wishes, and, as an individual, you won’t always get what you want.
Why will you make this promise to each other and take on burdens that you can’t even imagine yet? Because you no longer walk alone – meaning there are two of you to face every hardship, every trial, and every joy. The strength that you two have shown individually will form a force of power when combined – and any test to your relationship will be feeble in it’s shadow.
It is a relationship that is more glorious and rewarding than perhaps any other, but it is one that doesn’t always come easily. Together, you need to work at being patient and kind; you need to try not to be envious or aloof. You will, inevitably, have to compromise, and some days (as we all know) will be more difficult than others.
You must show, in your every action and word, that your love for each other is the most important thing in your life. Pick a flower; give a hug, say the kind words that you think; it is the small acts of life that are the most meaningful. If the stress of your job or worries about money keep these kind intentions a secret from your partner, then these promises are just words with no meaning. Everyday, you have a chance to renew these vows, and you must make that effort, and look at your partner, and say again and again, “Yes. I do. I will”
The Asking
Celebrant to the Groom/Bride;
Do you take ***** to be your partner, your friend and your groom/wife?
Will you love and respect her, be honest with her,
And stand joyfully beside her, in whatever the future may bring?
Groom/Bride: I will
Vows
Celebrant:
Repeat after me;
I, *****,/ take you *****/to be my partner, my friend and my husband,/
To laugh loudly and to cry softly/; to work and to play/; to create a life together/ that cannot be imagined separately.
I vow to be your strength and your sanctuary,/ as long we both shall live.
Ring Vows and Parents’ blessings
[Our parents gave their "blessings" -- a 100 words ending with them giving their child the ring and offering us their blessing]
Rings are an ancient symbol, blessed and simple. Round like the sun, like the eye, like arms that embrace. Circles, for love that is given comes back round again and again. Therefore may these symbols remind you that your love, like the sun, illuminates, that your love, like the eye, must see clearly. And that your love, like arms that embrace, is a grace upon this world.
Now I ask ***** will you take the ring and place it on the fourth finger *****'s left hand, and repeat after me...
I give you my ring as I give you my heart; may you wear it with joy and love.
In this circle of community, in this embrace of spirit, in the presence of God, Jim and Raheli have created a union marked by taking vows and exchanging rings. They have declared that they trust each other’s kind intentions. They have promised that they will work to preserve this precious gift: to place that gift above everything else. As a civil celebrant, authorized by the state of New Jersey, it is my honor and my JOY!!!! to pronounce you husband and wife, partners and family. You may kiss each other!
Love Song, by Williams Carlos Williams
SWEEP the house clean,
hang fresh curtains
in the windows
put on a new dress
and come with me!
The elm is scattering
its little loaves
of sweet smells
from a white sky!
Who shall hear of us
in the time to come?
Let him say there was
a burst of fragrance
from black branches.
Here our ceremony ends, and the journey of joy and happiness continues! Peace be with you!
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #917866] |
Sun, 02 November 2008 18:12 |
molo
Messages: 1
Registered: November 2008
Location: Seattle |
Member |
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Laurie & Molly's Wedding Ceremony
October 25, 2008, Guemes Island, WA
Music "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz begins.
Charlie holding the rings & Avery holding flowers walk down the aisle
Guests stand and Laurie and Molly walk down the aisle.
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome!
Laurie and Molly are extremely grateful for your presence here today as they celebrate and affirm their joining together as a family. Each of you have journeyed with Laurie and Molly over the years in a variety of ways, and it is only fitting that you should be here to share this significant moment with them.
We come together not to mark the start of a new relationship, but to recognize a bond that already exists. Many of us here have had the pleasure of watching these two fall madly, wildly, deeply in love and then, stay there. It was love at first sight, then love at long distance, and then a love so strong and so sure, they built a home together in Seattle. And now, before their family and friends, they enter into marriage. Our presence today infuses Laurie's and Molly's vows with meaning the dictionary can't capture. We convey to them that we love and support this union and we will do what we can to make their union work for the rest of all of our lives.
Song: "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin – sung by Kerry
Celebrant Roxanne Speaks
Soon, Laurie and Molly will publicly declare their love and lifelong commitment to each other, and they will do so in your presence. They ask that you hear the words and the sounds of this ceremony and their vows not just with your ears but with your hearts(and with your love).
Laurie and Molly are of course two women. Legally, this ceremony has no significance at all. We call it a wedding, but until we have marriage equality, it is nothing more than a gathering in the eyes of the law. This makes our listening, our witnesses and our support even more important.
Laurie and Molly are choosing to get married in the face of some family, societal, and governmental opposition. I think that makes their commitment that much more courageous and romantic. Don't you? [there were many "yeses" from the guests!]
As Laurie and Molly begin this next part of their life's journey, I thank them for sharing their love with us, because I believe we are all the richer for it. I also congratulate them, because the greatest gift any of us can give to family, friends and the community in general, is to be truly authentic, no matter how hard the 'truth' may be for others.
Reading: Laurie's Brother Dave
Why Love is the Most Powerful, Lasting Form of Activism,
Adapted from an article by Courtney E. Martin
Reflections on ritual, commitment and partnership are quite radical in a world that is pushing us to link our love to a market, to spend conspicuously and to believe in propaganda about what love is. Muting the cacophony of outside myths about love, weddings and marriage -- and listening to our own inner answer -- is incredibly difficult and morally necessary.
What kind of relationship do you want to be in? What sort of partnership will push you -- and your beloved -- to be your best, freest, most authentic selves? It is not just a matter of rejecting roles or reacting to models you have seen before, it is wiping the slate clean and then imagining the most humane and transcendent of unions and possibilities. How good could your love be? How fortifying? How just? How do you create a love that reflects your values instead of parroting someone else's definitions?
Love often chooses us, it grabs us by the collar and drags us in whatever direction it feels magnetized. Yet, the moment we critically and consciously choose how to shape our love - we move towards freedom. It is a critical response to our commercialized culture of romance, a rejection of that which feels outdated, a vision and a creation of a more inclusive, more honest, more liberating relationship. In fact, the moment we choose to create new possibilities for love, we take the first, and most critical step in shaping the whole world.
Family Blessing
As we all know, families have a huge impact on whom we become. Parents catch us as we stumble on our first steps, siblings cover for us when we're in trouble and understand things that parents just can't. Aunts and uncles are trusted adults who provide wisdom and advice that is different from our parents and often easier to listen to and there's nothing like the unconditional love of a grandparent. As children and siblings find partners and find homes for the next generation, each family is enriched and enlarged. Would Laurie and Molly's immediate family here today please stand.
This occasion is a special celebration for you. It is you that have nurtured Laurie and Molly into adulthood. Without you, this marriage would not, could not be possible.
All the love and caring you gave to Laurie and Molly, they will give to each other. And it will not end here. For in turn, they will pass it along to their own families. And we will see firsthand how this lineage of love gets passed along from generation to generation and how, in a very real sense, we become immortal.
Today, you will witness another stage in the lives of your loved one, and your continuing support and encouragement will be needed as Laurie and Molly unite in marriage. Please signify your commitment by answering, "We will."
Will you who have loved and nurtured these two, with the greatest love and wisdom you have, support this marriage in every way?
"We will!"
Thank you. please be seated. [Molly thanks them again with a catch in her voice]
Community Support
Laurie and Molly, today you make formal the commitment I have seen between the two of you for as long as I have known you. By being here as witnesses, each of us is declaring our support for your decision to join together in marriage.
……Please respond with a resounding, "We will!"
Will you surround Laurie and Molly with love?
Will you offer them the strength of your wisest counsel (when it is requested)? [Laughter, especially from where the landmark people were sitting]
Will you offer them the joy of your love and friendship?
Will each of you gathered today support Laurie and Molly in growing together and upholding the promises they will make to each other today?
(WE WILL!!!!)
Reading: Molly's Sister Becky
Marriage Chant
by Greg Brown
marriage is impossible
marriage is dull
your dance card is empty
your plate is too full
it's something no sensible person would do
i wish i was married i wish i was married i wish i was married to you
marriage is unnatural
marriage is hard
you rotate your tires
you work in the yard
you fight about nothing
every hour or two
i wish i was married i wish i was married i wish i was married to you
the children throw fits
in airports and such,
they projectile vomit
on aunt ruthie at lunch;
your in-laws know just what you should do
i wish i was married i wish i was married i wish i was married to you
i'd like to fix you my special broth when you're sick
i'd like to fight with you when you're bein' real thick
there is no end to what i would like to do
i wish i was married i wish i was married i wish i was married to you
i like the roll in rock and roll,
all i know is you're the sister of my soul
& we make a circle
just we two
i wish i was married i wish i was married i wish i was married to you
the grass is always greener
is what they say to me
and as your spouse maybe I'd agree
but i like brown grass & vows that stay true
i wish i was married i wish i was married i wish i was married to you to you to you to you
[Becky reads with a softer voice than usual, and her voice breaks with tears]
Words About Love and Marriage
Love is the ultimate expression of the divine. When we love, we are at our closest to the infinite. Today is a reminder not only to Laurie and Molly, but also to each of us to live and love, fully and joyfully.
Love is not the giddy energy of a new relationship, nor is it the physical attraction two people feel for another. Those things may be present in a relationship based on love, and it is wonderful when they are. The foundation of love is in the will to serve each other in sickness, and in health, in a lost cell phone, and in morning breath. It is the part of us that loves, even when we do not want to.
Sometimes love brings home flowers for no reason. Sometimes, love points out a lack of integrity. (again, knowing noises, especially from the landmark contingent) It has been said that love is patient and kind. And it can be. But love can also be demanding, as it wants to see the best of our beloved, and nothing less. Underneath every action, love will strive to transform the mundane into the divine. Love is an emotion and it is an act of will.
Love is something that knows no boundaries. It is not something with exclusive rights to be bestowed upon one group and withheld from another. There is no denying that love is a divinely inspired gift, and that the one way to make it even better is by sharing it with those who are nearest and dearest to us.
Laurie and Molly, feel the ineffable joy of this moment that you have planned so carefully and waited for so long. Take a moment to look out at the people who have come to celebrate with you. Feel their love for you, your love for them, and the creation of a new level of connection and community that you are creating in this moment.
Vows
You've been a couple for 4 years, talking about the future, dreaming of things to come "someday." Today is another step on that journey.
From the Yes of moving to the same city, to the yes of purchasing a home together, to the yes of your engagement until this moment of Yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or on long walks—all those sentences that began with I will and you will and we will—those late-night talks that included and "somehow" and "one day"—and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of wedding.
The symbolic vows you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word."
Before this moment, you have been many things to one another—acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last four years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never be quite the same between you. For after these vows you shall say to the world:
This—is my wife.
Take each other's hands now. [Laurie says, "FINALLY!!!" and practically shoves Roxanne out of the way to get to molly, well, okay, she didn't, but it was clear that she would have moved mountains to get there...]
Roxanne whispers to Laurie and Molly: Take each other hands now and face one another to make your vows. Look at one another— take time to breathe in this precious moment, this precious other.
Molly's Vows
Laurie, I love your wit. I love that you make my omelets with mushrooms even though you don't like mushrooms. I love that librarians know you by name. I love how you remain calm in the face of emergency. Even gross emergencies. I love your laugh and that you don't mind when I use spreadsheets to make trivial decisions. I love that you watch Top Model just to spend time with me. I love that you seek new ways of looking at the world and then turn your knowledge into cool things like the house we live in. I am in awe of how you push beyond your comfort zone because you know it will be worth it. I want to be the person you read your stories to.
I promise to be a safe place for you particularly when you're overwhelmed.
I promise to take care of my health and continually develop myself.
I promise to build a home that is compassionate to all.
I promise to celebrate your individuality and support your creativity.
I promise to get spiders out of your way and fill your world with romance.
I promise to be open and proud of our love. [molly tears up here]
There is no greater joy for me than knowing that, no matter where life leads us, I will come home to you, and you to me.
[Roxanne whispers, you got it? to Laurie. Laurie nods emphatically]
Laurie's Vows
Molly, I love the way you dance. I love the fun and laughter you bring to my life. I love that you fall asleep on the couch and wake up just to come to bed with me. I love that you give me freedom and support to grow as an individual. I love that you eat ice cream in winter. I love that you love me just the way I am. I want to cheer the loudest at your races.
I promise to hug you when you're happy, sad or even grumpy
I promise to build a home that is compassionate to all.
I promise to put vegetables in your lunch [major laughter]
I promise to admire your muscles, even if they start to sag
I promise to take care of my health and continually develop myself.
I promise to be open and proud of our love
There is no greater joy for me than knowing that, no matter where life leads us, I will come home to you, and you to me.
Community Vows
You have heard Laurie and Molly declare their love and commitment to each other. It is their wish that each of you close your eyes and take a moment in silence to consider how you can commit or re-commit to expressing love in your life and in the world.
[moment or two of silence]
Ring Warming
[Big Charlie comes up with the rings. I ask him to wait there while I talk]
It is true that circles have no beginning and no end. But rings do. They begin deep in the earth, from which ore is mined. The ore is thrust into unimaginable heat to melt it and render it pure. The metal is pounded into shape, and polished until it shines. What starts as dirt ends as gleaming tokens of love and forever.
Laurie and Molly made these rings for each other, and they know first-hand the work that goes into creating such enduring beauty. They wanted to do this as a token of their love, as the most wonderful of gifts. And now they are asking you to contribute to this gift as well.
In a few moments, I will hand the rings to be passed around. Please take a moment to hold them, infusing them with your physical, emotional, and spiritual warmth in whatever form that takes for you, and then pass them to the next person. Laurie and Molly will wear them every day, knowing that they symbolize not just their love for each other, but the love they have from their friends and family.
Hand out rings
[Charlie does a meticulous job of keeping track of where the rings are and standing at the end of the row so I know exactly where they are and can estimate what we need to fill the time remaining.]
Song: "To You" by Amy Martin - sung by Chris
Reading: Laurie's sister Debbie
The Art Of A Good Marriage
Wilferd Arlan Peterson
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the "little" things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is saying, "I love you" on a daily basis.
It is going to sleep with peace between you.
It is having mutual values and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is placing your faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person -- it is being the right partner.
Music "You're My Best Friend" by Queen & "It's Amazing" by Jem play while rings are warmed.
Ring Exchange
I give you this ring, wear it with love and joy.
I choose you to be my wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward
for better for worse, for richer for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish
as long as we both shall live.
Declaration
It is Laurie's and Molly's hope that you will leave here today knowing how much they love you, that you have learned more about the love they bear for each other and that you celebrate with them.
[Roxanne walks forward, puffs her chest and loudly and powerfully declares….]
By the power unlawfully seized by me in defiance of the State of Washington's laws prohibiting marriage equality, it is my great pleasure to declare you MARRIED!
Please kiss the brides!!!!
Music "Everytime We Touch (Radio Mix)" by Cascada begins and Laurie and Molly walk jubilantly back down the aisle.
[Updated on: Tue, 04 November 2008 18:08]
mollyandlaurie.nearlyweds.com
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #918099] |
Mon, 03 November 2008 16:08 |
carbonation
Messages: 109
Registered: May 2008
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I often feel like something is lost in translation when I see people's ceremonies written out, or I am just too ADD to read through the whole thing -- but wow, molo, I was just spellbound by this. What a totally gorgeous, badassed, genuine, touching wedding you two had. Congratulations.
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #939586] |
Fri, 06 February 2009 12:21 |
meghann
Messages: 93
Registered: July 2008
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Member |
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The first draft- nearly all from "The Wedding Ceremony Planner" by Judith Johnson:
Meghann & Andy
June 6th 2009
Gathering Words
4, Pg 85
Whenever we attend a wedding celebration,
we are given the opportunity
to re-examine our own lives.
We might look at the radiance
of the couple before us
and be tempted to compare their obvious joy
to the quality of our own primary relationships.
The truth is that each one of us
is a powerful creator
in the dance of love and marriage.
Each one of us,
each moment of every day,
has the choice to rededicate ourselves to one another
or to withhold our love and caring.
Love is powerful.
It is simple.
Yet is very complex.
In order for love to flow between two people,
four things must be happening at once.
Each person gives their love to the other
and each is the receive of the other's love.
Love requires us to be vulnerable to each other
so that our love may flow back and forth
through these four doors.
There are so many ways that we can choose
to be in relationships to each other.
It is only through love
that our spirits are lifted into a oneness
that transcends all the dualities
we experience in our lives.
Loving is the only experience that enables us to see
that our separation is only a condition
of the physical and material level of being -
that our souls can soar and merge as one.
It is love that gives the deepest meaning to our lives.
It is our highest calling,
our greatest purpose,
and our finest achievement.
13, pg 93
Being married is like trying to keep your balance
in a three-legged race.
You are walking side by side in a forward momentum,
yet each of you is making choices,
moment by moment,
that will either help you maintain balance together
or cause you to lose your rhythm,
your balance, or your way.
While you are two separate individuals,
you walk along one path together.
Your every gesture, word, expression, and action,
and those you withhold or omit,
will determine the quality of your experience together.
It is through loving, kindness, caring, and sharing
that a successful marriage journey is created.
A good marriage takes patience,
dedication, humor, and forgiveness.
You keep your love alive
through the choices you make moment by moment,
day after day, and year after year.
Through patience,
you learn how to love yourselves and each other
with devotion and freedom.
Spiders build webs, birds build nests,
and we build safe and comfortable havens
through our loving.
Meghann and Andy,
through your marriage, and through your love,
may you give the gifts of tenderness,
comfort, joy, and peace to each other
to nurture you throughout the years.
Remembrances
2, pg 10
Meghann and Andy
have asked that we take a moment
to honor the memory of those loved ones
who could only be here today in spirit.
3, pg 10
There are many honored people
who are unable to be here with us today
for one reason or another.
So let us call them forward in our hearts.
We would especially like to remember
Roy and Maisy Foster
who were unable to make the trip,
and Bride's maternal grandmother, Bette Smythe VonHacht,
who has passed away.
Charge for the Couple (needed?)
Declaration of Support
combo of 1, pg 117 & 6, pg 124
Meghann and Andy,
today we have come together
to celebrate the love you have found with each other.
By being here with you,
each of us is declaring our support
for your decision to join together in marriage.
(to guests)
As families and friends,
you form the community of support
that surrounds Meghann and Andy.
Each of you, by your presence here today,
is being called upon
to uphold them in honoring and loving each other.
Please affirm your support for this marriage
by responding “Yes, I do” to the following question:
Do you offer your love and support
to strengthen their marriage
and promise to always stand beside them, never between them?
Guest: Yes, I do!
Marriage Address
5, pg 132
Marriage is a magnificent opportunity
to share one's life with another
and to enjoy the adventures inherent
in this most intimate of human relationships.
Today, we gather here
to rejoice with and for Meghann and Andy
as they embark on this voyage of discovery.
Meghann and Andy
from this day forward,
this date, June 6th,
will always have special meaning for you
as the day you vowed to love and to cherish each other
in all ways, always.
Each year when you come upon your anniversary
I encourage you to rededicate yourselves
to the vows you make here today.
Take stock of where you are in your marriage
and how you are doing as marriage partners.
Express your gratitude to each other
for the ways that you have effectively loved
and supported one another,
and forgive yourselves and each other
for and judgements that have come between you.
Show each other
that you can be trusted and counted on as a comfortable when facing difficult times
and celebrate abundantly
the successes and joys life brings your way.
Let you love lead the way
and be more important than anything else.
Then, your lives together
will be filled with blessings and joy.
Reading
Ceremony
Water ceremony? P150?
Wedding Vows
5, pg 157.
I, Andy, choose you, Meghann,
in the presence of our friends and families,
to be my wife from this time forward;
to love you,
to be a comfort and safe haven in your life,
to hold you close,
to listen deeply when you speak,
to nourish you with my gentleness,
to uphold you with my gentleness,
to uphold you with my strength,
to weight the effects of the words I speak
and the things I do,
to never take you for granted,
and to always give thanks
for your presence in my life.
20, pg 164
I choose you, Andy,
to be my lifelong partner.
I will always be faithful to you,
and be at your side
to laugh with you in times of joy
and comfort you in times of sorry.
Wherever our paths leads us,
it takes us together.
I will encourage and support you,
honor and love you.
I will respect our difference
and do my part to work through
our challenges.
Andy, I'll be your safe haven and your home.
With purity of hear and love in my soul.
I stand before our loved ones
as your lifelong partner.
26, pg 169.
I, Andy, choose you, Meghann,
to be my wife.
From this day forward,
I promise to love you,
to honor you,
to respect you,
and to support you,
as long as we both shall live.
35, pg 177.
Andy, I choose you
to be my lifelong partner.
I offer myself completely to you
and promise to be faithful and at your side,
honoring and loving you
each and every day,
now and forever,
where our life may lead us.
Prelude
1, pg 194
These rings are symbols of the love
that joins you.
They represent the oneness, eternity, and renewal
inherent in the marriage union.
May these rings serve you
and those who see them upon your fingers
as reminders of the vows you have made here today
and of our need to be faithful in all our relationships.
6, pg 196
Rings are adornments,
carefully chosen for their beauty and simplicity.
They quietly sit upon our fingers,
reminding us of the power of love
and the pledge of the wearer to his or her partner
to be faithful and true;
and to nurture their love so it will last a lifetime.
Meghann and Andy,
may these rings be for you always your most treasured adornment,
and may the love they symbolize
be your most treasured possession.
9, pg 198
Wedding rings are a symbol
that has been carried forward from antiquity.
They are simple and strong.
They are round like the sun and moon,
life the eye, and like the embrace of love.
As circles, wedding rings remind us
that as we give our love,
so it comes back around to us,
and that we give and receive love around and around
in the circle of love.
May your wedding rings always serve as a reminder to you
that your love, like the sun and moon, illumines;
like the eye, lets you see clearly;
and like an embrace, is a grace upon this world.
Ring Exchange
1, pg 199
Giver: I love you.
Receiver: I wed you.
9, pg 201
This ring is my gift to you.
May it always remind you
that from this day forward,
you will be surrounded by my love.
11, pg 201
With this ring, I thee wed.
Final Blessing
3, pg 205
Meghann and Andy,
on behalf of your loved ones
who are here with you today,
I would like to mention some of the things
we wish for you:
First, we with for you a love
that is a rich, deep, and powerful enough
to inspire other and to support you both
in bring forth the best that is within you.
May you lavishly love one another
and love being loved by one another
today, tomorrow and always.
Second, we wish for you the kind of home
that will be a sanctuary for you both,
a place of peace, freedom, vitality, growth, and humor.
And in this home,
we hope that you are blessed
with a healthy and happy family.
Finally we wish that at the end of your lives
you will be able to look back
and smile upon the life that you have shared together,
pleased, satisfied, and fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams.
And now, by the power vested in me by the State of Pennsylvania,
it is my greatest pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.
Mr. and Mrs. Horner-Smith,
you may now kiss as husband and wife for the first time.
Congratulations!
7, pg
Meghann and Andy
I wish you the courage
to keep your loving hearts open to each other
for the rest of your lives,
and to cherish the precious love you share.
May you continue to find delight in each other
and in your being together.
May your love forever nourish you and keep you strong.
I now pronounce that you are husband and wife.
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #941288] |
Fri, 13 February 2009 16:54 |
colette
Messages: 302
Registered: October 2007
Location: oakland, ca |
Member |
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We borrowed like crazy from the vows/ceremony repositories on IB to write a lot of our ceremony. I don't actually have the texts from our minister, but this will show the vow bits and the overall structure. It all went over really well--not too long, and very personal and us. We got lots of positive feedback, and we're both really glad that we took the time to make the ceremony our own: it's one of the things I'm most positive about, post-wedding. [the brackets are some notes and stage directions!]
Welcome
[by our officiant: short, a "glad you're here and off we go" kind of thing]
Couple’s Declaration of Intent
[because I wanted an "I do" in there somewhere!]
Officiant:Adam: “Colette, do you come here freely and without reservation to enter into marriage with Mr. Colette?”
Colette: “I do.”
(repeat with Mr. Colette)
Pledges of Support from Parents and Community
Officiant: (asks parents to stand) “Parents of Colette, do you pledge to support Ms. and Mr. Colette in their life together, sharing your knowledge and experience so they can build on the love of their families to create a family of their own?”
Parents: “We do.”
(repeat with Mr. Colette and his parents)
Officiant: (asks rest of guests to stand): “Do you, the friends and family of Mr. and Ms. Colette, pledge to support them as a couple, while recognizing their identity as individuals, acting as sources of solace and companions in celebration?
Guests: “We do!”
Reflection
[by officiant. about 5 minutes, based on discussions we had with him, but written entirely by him. we hadn't heard it until the ceremony. very personal, non-religious]
Music
“The Ballad of Love and Hate,” The Avett Brothers
Performed by MOH and MOH's boyfriend, voice and ukelele
A Word from Mr. Colette to Colette
A Word from Colette to Mr. Colette
[these were statements/vows we each wrote independently and didn't share before the ceremony. the guidelines we were working with were basically "say why I want to marry you."]
Couple’s Marriage Vows
[call and response with the officiant. our "traditional" vows]
Colette: "I, Colette, take you, Mr. Colette, to be my husband.
Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not,
I pledge to delight in your company and encourage your aspirations,
For richer and for poorer
In sickness and in health
Through triumphs and defeats
From nearby and from a distance
I pledge to respect and adore you
As an individual, my equal, and my partner,
Through all our life together.”
(Mr. Colette takes his turn)
Exchange of Rings
[We wanted the idea of rings as a symbol, not as a the embodiment of our relationship (I have lost jewelry!) and I was trying to avoid the word "bless." Instead, we went with the idea of rings=gifts]
Mr. Colette: “Colette, I give you this ring as a token of my love, a continuing reminder of my commitment to you and to our marriage. I am proud to become your husband.”
(I take my turn)
Pronouncement of Marriage
Kiss!
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #956871] |
Wed, 22 April 2009 19:15 |
txuknycbride
Messages: 417
Registered: March 2008
Location: New York, NY |
Member |
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We loved our ceremony! We put so much thought into it, and it turned out really beautifully IMHO. Feel free to steal!
We also surprised each other with our vows, below. It was so wonderful to hear his for the first time, up there in front of everyone.
Bridal Processional Begins
• Readers are seated, and DH’s parents enter
• Officiant and DH enter from stage right.
• Bridesmaids escorted by Groomsmen, enter, down the center aisle, one at a time.
• MOH enters, escorted by Best Man.
• Flower Girl enters.
Wedding March Begins
Tex and her parents enter. Officiant announces, "All rise for the Bride."
Tex walks up to the front.
Opening Remarks
Officiant: Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Tex and DH. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Tex and DH to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.
So welcome to one and all, who have traveled from near and far. Tex and DH thank you for your presence here today, and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support, for their decision to be married.
The Opening Prayer
(up to Officiant)
Officiant: Please be seated. Reader 1 (DH’s friend) will now share a reading from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
READING #1 – DH’s friend walks up and reads
from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, by Louis de Bernieres
Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.
The Charge to the Bride and Groom
Officiant: Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that – through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as partners in life.
The Pledge
Officiant: Do you, Tex, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, freely choose now to speak the words that will unite yours and DH’s lives in marriage? Do you promise to treat him with boundless love and respect, to be faithful in mind, heart, and hands, and to honor the vows you will make here today for the rest of your lives? Do you take DH to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward, all the days of your life?
Tex: I do
Officiant: Do you, DH, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, freely choose now to speak the words that will unite yours and Tex’s lives in marriage? Do you promise to treat her with boundless love and respect, to be faithful in mind, heart, and hands, and to honor the vows you will make here today for the rest of your lives? Do you take Tex to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward, all the days of your life?
DH: I do
Officiant: You have both promised to always honor the vows that you make today. Please make them now.
Wedding Vows
Tex: DH,
I have experienced no greater bond than the one I share with you.
I have felt no greater joy than to pledge my love to you before an audience of our closest family and friends. With this pledge, I promise to always remember how lucky I am to have found you. I will not take you for granted.
I promise to be there for you, encourage you, and be your biggest fan in all your endeavors.
I will delight in your happiness, and comfort you in sorrow.
I promise to trust you, and to be worthy of your trust.
I promise to communicate openly, and to listen carefully.
I will laugh with you, have a pint with you, hold your hand when we’re walking down the street, and make room for your bikes.
I choose you to grown with me as my partner in life, and I am proud to call you my husband, because wherever on earth we are together, you are my home.
DH: Tex,
Four and a half years ago it was pure chance that saw us standing next to each other, and so, as we now stand together again, I promise to never forget just how fortunate I am to have found you.
For two years while we were apart, I would live for the times we managed to spend together and so, as we now look forward to spending the rest of our lives together, I promise to cherish every moment with you and never take for granted that which at times we both worried we might never have.
If luck brought us together, it was hard work, determination, and supporting each other through frustrations and setbacks that made today possible. With some challenges behind us and others undoubtedly in front I promise you my unending commitment to making this the marriage you dreamed of and our life together the one you deserve.
Most of all, I promise simply to honor and to love you, as well as I know how, for the rest of my life.
READING #2
Officiant: DH’s sister will now share a reading.
DH’s sister walks up and reads
“Scaffolding,” by Seamus Heaney
Masons, when they start upon a building,
are careful to test out the scaffolding;
Make sure the planks won't slip at busy points,
Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.
And yet, all this comes down when the job's done
Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.
So if, my dear, there sometimes seems to be
old bridges breaking between you and me,
Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall,
confident that we have built our wall.
Exchanging of the Rings
Officiant: The ring is the symbol of the commitment which binds these two together. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. There are two rings because there are two people, each to make a contribution to the life of the other, and to their new life together.
And now as a token of your love, you, DH, may place a ring on the finger of your Bride.
DH: Tex, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.
Officiant: By the same token Tex, you may place a ring on the finger of your Groom.
Tex: DH, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.
The Pronouncement
Officiant: Because Tex and DH desire to be united together in marriage, and have witnessed this before our gathering, affirming their acceptance of the responsibilities of such a union, and have pledged their love and faith to each other, sealing their vows in the giving and receiving of rings, I proclaim that their union is valid. Let all people here and everywhere recognize and respect this union, now and forever.
By the power of your love and commitment, I now pronounce you husband and wife! DH, you may kiss the bride!
Recessional
The wedding party exits the platform, in the following order, and goes toward the front of the Foundry:
Tex and DH
MOH and Best Man
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
Flower GIrl
Tex’s Mom
DH’s Parents
Tex’s Dad and Jean
Readers
Officiant: Please join us in the courtyard for cocktails (directs people to go the opposite direction, through the doors to the courtyard)
The Foundry 4/19/09 Recap!
6 Month Honeymoon Blog
You can call me Tex
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #957657] |
Sat, 25 April 2009 14:00 |
ballofwax
Messages: 242
Registered: February 2007
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Member |
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*bump*
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 Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #959913] |
Wed, 06 May 2009 01:01 |
farre11kat
Messages: 11
Registered: May 2009
Location: Wisconsin |
Member |
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Just finished! WOO!
Welcome
Boy and Girl have invited us here this evening to share in the celebration of their marriage. They have invited you, because you are their community - the people who they hope will be a part of their lives in the years to come. Today we are honored, and at the same time we honor them by sharing in the ultimate public expression of their commitment to one another. As much as today is a celebration of Boy and Girl's marriage, we also celebrate it’s finally taking place - just shy of ten years of friendship and courtship. We come together tonight not only to mark the start of a marriage, but to recognize a bond that already exists. Their love for each other is obvious. Plainly visible to everyone around them, and seen in the myriad of ways in which their lives are already joined. Their passage into marriage tonight is by no means an endpoint of their individual journeys, but rather, a doorway that they’ve chosen to step through together.
Albert Einstein said: “Strange is our situation here upon the Earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. However, there is one thing that we do know: that we are here for the sake of others. Above all, for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends.”
The universe gifts us with more blessings than we can ever fully understand. It is one of the great ironies of being human: such big brains, and so little awareness of the gift of every moment. Sometimes, though, the universe makes it very easy for us. Sometimes we have experiences that transcend the circumstances of our daily lives and help us feel the gift of the human experience: like when out of this tangled world, two souls come together, drawn by mutual love and respect, and make a pledge to share their lives.
Reading 1.
Thoughts by Robert Senghas:
“Each of us was brought into the world without any decision of our own; stamped with the condition of mortality from the very first moments. When we examine the three most profound events in our lives - birth, marriage, and death - we find that it’s only in marriage that we have the full power of personal decision, and celebrate with a conscious awareness.
In marriage, the greatest courage is required. We’re put to the test of continuing to accept our partner with all defects revealed. Beyond this, we’re faced with having to acknowledge our own weaknesses as well. But marriage also offers us the supreme fulfillment of human life: embracing our spouse with all their strengths and weaknesses, our works of love, and above all - our acceptance of ourselves as we are. This opens us to the very ground of our being, and to the glory of existence.”
Family Blessings
Boy, Girl . . . take a moment to just breathe, and simply enjoy your friends and family who gathered here to spend this day with you. This group of loved ones may never be together in the same place again. Take some time to think about how they have touched your lives, and why they’re here with you today.
The intimate, yet public, nature of this ceremony reminds us all that none of us exists in isolation. We are social beings. Our identities, even our very existence, is nurtured and defined by our family and friends. It’s through community that we call into being the power of love to build bridges, to make us feel whole, to allow us to feel at home in the universe. Your presence (*gesture*) here tonight is a visible expression of your love and respect for Boy & Girl’s decision to marry, and reminds them that they don’t belong to one another alone, but to a larger community of friends and relatives who wish them well.
Marriage isn’t just the joining together of two lives, but the joining together of two families. Let me draw special attention to the families who have cherished and loved Boy and Girl all their lives. Today you look with love and affirmation on the faces of your children, whose independence you’ve nurtured with your love, guidance, and support. Notwithstanding all the challenges of their upbringings, they now represent the fullness of your lives. Each one of you is an enduring part of who they are, having made an indelible mark on their characters. May you be for both of them now, what you were to the one: accepting, supportive, caring, and with a generosity of spirit that always includes them both.
So I ask you now, Girl's family, do you welcome Boy as a member of your family, and grant your blessings, love and acceptance?
“We do.”
Boy's family do you welcome Girl as a member of your family, and grant your blessings, love and acceptance?
“We do.”
* * * Interlude as give flowers to / hug mothers & grandmothers.) * * *
A good marriage reaches beyond itself to other people. Community plays an integral part in Boy & Girl's lives, as their home is very often a gathering place for family and friends. Events are warranted by very minimal criteria, and if there’s not a holiday or reason to celebrate, one is very often made up. I know they count themselves very lucky to enjoy such a wide network of support, and also to have friends who can allegedly be talked into just about anything.
As a part of that community, I invite all of you to play your part - by lending an ear, a hand of kindness, a voice of experience, an encouraging smile, and the gift of your company. Stand beside them, and never between them. Offer them your love and your support, but not your judgment. In sum, support their union with your friendship.
Its true friendship, as Boy & Girl already know, that is the very foundation on which to build an enduring relationship. The person you choose to marry is deserving of all the courtesies and kindnesses you bestow upon your friends. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential. True friendship holds a mirror to our flaws and failings, without destroying our sense of worth. Boy & Girl came together as friends. Tonight, they pledge to each other not only that friendship, but also the strength, warmth and the fun of adoring love.
Reading 2.
“The Art of Marriage”
By Wilferd Peterson
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In the art of marriage, it’s the little things that are the big things.
It’s remembering to say "I love you" at least once each day.
It’s never going to sleep angry.
It’s at no time taking the other for granted.
It’s having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It’s standing together to face the world.
It’s forming a circle of love that gathers others.
It’s doing things for one another, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy and giving.
It’s speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It’s not looking for perfection in each other.
Its cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding, and a sense of humor.
It’s having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It’s giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It’s finding room for things of the spirit.
It’s a common sense for the good and the beautiful.
It’s establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
the dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
It’s not only marrying the right partner, but being the right partner.
- By Wilferd Peterson
Preface to the Vows
Today, Boy & Girl will first declare their intent to marry, and each make a promise – an explicit statement of what their love and friendship means to them. What they promise today must be renewed tomorrow, and each day of their lives together. Boy & Girl, I ask you both now in front of your family and friends, gathered here in witness and support:
Do you freely choose to unite in marriage, to be faithful in mind, heart, and hands, and to trust one another as you and your love evolve?
(WE DO)
I invite you to join hands as you repeat your vows.
Vows (line by line)
I, Boy, take you Girl,
to be my friend, my partner, and my wife.
I promise to trust and support you,
To love you for who you are,
And to accept who you become.
I will listen to you openly,
Communicate honestly,
And be present with an open mind.
I will celebrate our differences,
Nurture what we share,
And work to honor these promises, for the rest of my life.
Exchange of Rings
This is the point in the ceremony when we usually speak about wedding bands being a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end. We all know, however, that these rings do, in fact, have a beginning: Rock is dug up from the earth. Metal is liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. Hot metal is poured into a mold, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements.
Love is like that. It’s hot, dirty work. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was seemingly nothing at all. It’s our wearing them which makes them precious. Your rings say, that even as individuals you’ve chosen to be joined together . .
. . and that above all, despite its occasional challenges, love is a circle of trust. Years from now, the indentations made by your rings will not only be visible, but felt as well.
May I have Girl's ring, please?
This ring is a symbol of your unity, and a visible reminder of your pledge of partnership and love. May it always call to mind both the freedom and the power of that love.
Boy, please place this ring on Girl’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a symbol of my promise. (repeats)
May I have Boy's ring, please?
Girl, please place this ring on Boy’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a symbol of my promise. (repeats)
Reading 3.
In closing, I’d like to read an excerpt from “Blessing for a Marriage”, by James Dillet Freeman.
May your marriage bring you all the exquisite
excitements a marriage should bring,
and may life grant you also patience,
tolerance, and understanding.
May you always need one another –
not to fill your emptiness, but to know your fullness.
May you always want one another –
but not out of lack.
May you always need one another –
but not out of weakness.
May you succeed in all the important things,
and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise,
and take no notice of small faults.
If your quarrels push you apart,
may you both have the good sense to take the first step back.
May you have happiness,
and may you find it in making one another happy.
May you have love,
and may you find it in loving one another.
Closing Words / Pronouncement
Boy & Girl, go now into the world and fulfill your lives. Live vibrantly. Hold fast to your ideals. Challenge one another, and give each other new experiences of joy. Strive to love one another in sickness and in health, for better or for worse; and may the life you build together be better than anything you could have imagined living by yourselves.
Now, through the statement of common spirit and the exchange of rings, you have done what, in truth, neither state nor church can do: you have joined yourselves in a shared
destiny. By the love that has brought you here today, by the vows you have exchanged, and by the integrity of your commitment… in the presence of your dearest family and friends,
It is my pleasure and my honor to present for the first time, Boy & Girl!
You may now kiss the groom! (or something like it.)
~ FANFARE!~
[Updated on: Fri, 08 May 2009 09:13]
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #962871] |
Wed, 20 May 2009 02:18 |
miss_cathy
Messages: 377
Registered: January 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA |
Member |
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[Introduction by officiant]
[Acknowledgement of family & friends]
In his book, A Man Without A Country, Kurt Vonnegut has this to say about family:
A husband, a wife and some kids is not a family. It's a terribly vulnerable survival unit.
I met a man in Nigeria one time, an Ibo who had six hundred relatives he knew quite well. His wife had just had a baby, the best possible news in any extended family.
They were going to take it to meet all its relatives, Ibos of all ages and sizes and shapes. It would even meet other babies, cousins not much older than it was. Everybody who was big enough and steady enough was going to get to hold it, cuddle it, gurgle to it, and say how pretty or how handsome it was.
Wouldn't you have loved to be that baby?
I sure wish I could wave a wand, and give every one of you an extended family, make you an Ibo or a Navaho--or a Kennedy.
Today, Cathy & George have gathered us together to acknowledge and celebrate the creation of a new extended family and as they commit to each other, they ask for a commitment from all of us as well. Will you all promise to support this union and each other in the years to come, strengthening and enriching this extended family with your love?
[We will!]
After today we will all have something in common. Together, and with your encouragement, George & Cathy will be better, faster, stronger, and ready to give their own love and support back to this extended family that have given them so much.
Cathy, George, you are here today to give public expression to your personal commitment. You have already chosen together to enter into a partnership based on your love for each other, forming a bond that is separate from you as individuals. Today you will each promise to continue your support of each other and this bond, strengthening it with your ongoing affection and care.
[Matching vows] - these are our brainstormed ideas so far, we haven't finalized the vows yet
Will you promise to laugh with me?
Be patient with me and agree to try things that might make us mad at each other?
Encourage my curiosity and participate in new adventures with me?
Respect the differences that make us individuals, knowing that we don’t complete but complement each other?
Will you promise to pretend to share my outrage, even if you don’t really it’s justified?
When you do think it’s justified, will you get all fired up and fight for our cause by my side?
Will you accept this ring from me, as a daily reminder to ourselves and a message to others of our commitment and love for each other?
[I will.]
[Closing + kiss]
All the daisies you can eat! Goats for cuddling!! - MellySue
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #963621] |
Sat, 23 May 2009 19:34 |
sarahk99
Messages: 171
Registered: December 2008
Location: d.c. |
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We're two weeks away, so still tweaking, but here's our ceremony, which is cribbed from many sources (including IB) and our own imaginations. I'm concerned it's a little long, but we'll time it and see how it goes.....we haven't written our vows and I didn't include the readings, although both can be found on the readings thread.
Welcome
Joanna: Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Sarah and John. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Sarah and John to start their married life together surrounded by the people most important to them – their friends and their family.
So welcome to one and all, those who have travelled across the ocean to be here, or just across the Potomac. John and Sarah thank you for your presence here today, and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support for their decision to be married.
Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging of human relationships. Friends, no matter how close they are, aren’t family. And unlike the families were are born into, spouses are the family we choose. The truth is that marriage is a choice, and it only lasts forever when two people want it to. This might sound like a weakness, but it is not. The fact that we must renew these commitments to each other, in different ways, almost every day, that makes the bond of marriage stronger than anything on earth.
No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that – through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together.
Declaration of Intent
Officiant: Will you, John, take Sarah to be your wife?
Groom: I will
Officiant: Will you, Sarah, take John to be your husband?
Bride I will
Readings
Joanna: In the spirit of friendship and love, John and Sarah have asked their friends and family to participate in this wedding by reading poems or playing songs that are meaningful to them.
Nathalie, a friend of Sarah’s who has travelled here from Paris to attend this wedding, will read Sonnet III, by Robert Nathan.
(reading)
Joanna: As any successful relationship is equal parts romance and good humor, John and Sarah have asked their friend Wendy to read a somewhat more lighthearted poem, “Litany,” by Billy Collins.
(reading #2)
.
Joanna: As many of you know, John is a writer by trade and inclination, a talent he has passed onto his son, L, who would like to read a poem he has written specifically for today.
(reading #3-short)
Joanna: Because John and Sarah love music as they do literature, they have asked their friend M to play a song that he has chosen for this occasion, “Sparkle and Shine,” by Steve Earle, with additional lyrics written by John
(song)
Joanna: One of the joys of a wedding is that is not just the joining together of two people – it the joining of two families. (here we name our family members, or at least most). After today, all these people will be joined together by the cords of love that begin here, with John and Sarah.
In this spirit of love and family, John has asked his brother to read a poem that John has written for today.
(poem)
Wedding Vows
Joanna: We've come to the point of your ceremony where you're going to say your vows to one another. But before you do that, I ask you to remember that love – which is rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance - will be the foundation of your relationship. No other ties are more tender, no other vows powerful than those you now take. If you are able to keep the vows you take here today, not because of any religious or civic law, but out of a desire to love and be loved by your spouse fully, without limitation, then your life will have joy and the home you establish will be a place in which you both will find the direction of your growth, your freedom, and your responsibility.
Please now read the vows you have written for each other.
Sarah: reads vows
John reads vows
Joanna: You have each made a verbal commitment to love, support and honor each other. The exchange of rings is a physical symbol of that emotional commitment. May I have the rings?
Matt hands Joanna the Rings.
Please repeat after me: I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.
Sarah repeats, puts ring on John’s finger.
John repeats and puts ring on Sarah’s finger.
Joanna: Sarah and John would like to conclude their ceremony with the breaking of the glass, a Jewish tradition that has many different interpretations. Some say that it reminds us that marriage, like the breaking of the glass, is a permanent act that cannot easily be undone. For others, the shattering of the glass is a reminder of the destruction of the temple, or in more contemporary terms, the strife and struggle and pain that continues to exist in the world, and which we must not forget, even as we celebrate with joy. And there is the interpretation that Sarah prefers, which is that life should be full of exuberance, lived with gusto, and celebrated with good cheer; a broken glass or two is a small price to pay for a life well lived and well loved. So, in the spirit of joyous accident, will Sarah's brother M bring the glass?
John proceeds to smash it with his right foot. The crowd roars Mazel Tov!
Officiant: By the power of your love and commitment, and the authority vested in me by the District of Columbia, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss each other!
(recessional to "two of us" on acoustic guitar).
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #963747] |
Mon, 25 May 2009 12:11 |
bluespurrs
Messages: 32
Registered: April 2009
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Here's ours!
Welcome
Good evening, I am Rev. M. 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 Dee and John’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 them who they needed to be to find each other. They would like to thank you all 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 all 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
Invocation
Beloved Creator, Essence of Love, and Source of Hope, Open our hearts and fill us with Your Presence. You graciously give to us the longing for love and the capability of loving, and we give you thanks for Dee and John, for their beautiful hearts and willing spirits, and for the example of love that they embody here today.
Elevate us to an awareness of the Sacred and the Eternal, as we celebrate this miraculous moment in their lives. Be with them on this joyous occasion of showing their love and making their vows; and be with us, their witnesses, that we might all be inspired by the blessings shared today. Amen
Foundation
Marriage is a gift from God, a miracle, offering great blessings. 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.
John, that although Dee 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 as she has never relaxed before. May she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend on forever.
And so it is with you also Dee, that although John is a gift to you from God, 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.
May you both create, with God, a piece of heaven on earth.
Silent Blessing
We now close our eyes and bring to mind any loved ones who could not be here today. Though they are absent physically, we invoke, through our thought and prayers, their loving presence. We pray that God might multiply beyond measure the blessings from these loved ones to this loving couple. Now, from our hearts, we ourselves visualize and sanctify all the blessings we would bestow on Dee and John in their lives as a couple. And in our sincere desire to bless, we in turn, are blessed also.
Honoring the Four Directions
In many ancient religious traditions, it is customary to bring a service of worship or celebration by calling on the four directions. This is a way of symbolically inviting all of creation to be present and take part in the festivities. This evening, we, too, want to invite the whole of creation to be with us here and now.
Oh Great Spirit of the North, we come to you and ask for the strength and the power to bear what is cold and harsh in life. We come like the buffalo ready to receive the winds that truly can be overwhelming at times. Whatever is cold and uncertain in our life, we ask you to give us the strength to bear it. Do not let the winter blow us away. Oh Spirit of Life and Spirit of the North, we ask you for strength and for warmth.
Oh Great Spirit of the East, we turn to you where the sun comes up, from where the power of light and refreshment come. Everything that is born comes up in this direction the birth of ideas and the birth of friendship. Let there be the light. Oh Spirit of the East, let the color of fresh rising in our life be glory to you.
Oh Great Spirit of the South, spirit of all that is warm and gentle and refreshing, we ask you to give us this spirit of growth, of fertility, of gentleness. Caress us with a cool breeze when the days are hot. Give us seeds that the flowers, trees and fruits of the earth may grow. Give us the warmth of good friendships. Oh Spirit of the South, send the warmth and the growth of your blessings.
Oh Great Spirit of the West, where the sun goes down each day to come up the next, we turn to you in praise of sunsets and in thanksgiving for changes. You are the great colored sunset of the red west, which illuminates us. You are the powerful cycle, which pulls us to transformation. We ask for the blessings of the sunset. Keep us open to life's changes.
Navajo Prayer
When you were children, you talked like children, But now that you've grown, you should be done with childish things and put them away. When you were children, you looked into a mirror that gave only a blurred reflection of reality. But with love and maturity, you shouldn't be afraid to look into that mirror and see each other face to face. Be swift like the wind in loving each other. Be brave like the sea in loving each other.
Be gentle like the breeze in loving each other. Be patient like the sun who waits and watches the four changes of the earth in loving each other. Be wise like the roaring of the thunder clouds and lightning in loving each other. Be shining like the morning dawn in loving each other. Be proud like the tree who stands without bending in loving each other. Be brilliant like the rainbow colors in loving each other. Now, forever, forever, there will be no more loneliness because your worlds are joined together with the world. Forever, forever.
Vows/Ring Ceremony
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 unending strength. Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love. 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 also 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.
May 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.
John, as you place this ring on Dee, I now ask you:
Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer?
Do you promise God, Dee and all of us here that from this point forward, your arms may be her shelter and your heart may be her guide?
Do you promise to support her and nourish her and to love and respect and honor her for the rest of your days on earth?
If so please answer “I do.”
Dee, as you place this ring on John, I now ask you:
Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer?
Do you promise God, John and all of us here that from this point forward, your arms may be his shelter and your heart may be his guide? Do you promise to support him and nourish him and to love and respect and honor him for the rest of your days on earth?
If so please answer “I do.”
Benediction
Dee and John, you now have the opportunity for expressing through your union and partnership, God’s glory, love and healing. How could this be? Through devotion and service to each other. Through patience, kindness, total acceptance of each other, tempered by the willingness to change.
The two of you are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, may you always return to one another in your togetherness. May you two find in each other the love for which all men and women long. May you grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home that you establish be such a place of sanctuary that all who visit will find there a friend. And may the Lord bless you and keep you forevermore. Amen.
Pronouncement
Dee and John, in the presence of God, your family and friends today, you have spoken the words and performed the rites which unite your lives. It is my legal right as a minister and my greatest joy and privilege to declare you husband and wife.
John, you may kiss your wife.
Introduction
And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to present to you, for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. John K.
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| Interfaith Lesbian Jewish ceremony (Part 1) [message #963844] |
Tue, 26 May 2009 00:19 |
2dBride
Messages: 360
Registered: March 2009
Location: Washington, DC |
Member |
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Hmm, I thought I'd posted here, but I'm not seeing it. Here is ours--which will likely take two posts, since it's got lots of graphics:
PRELUDES
Cantata 156 - Bach
Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven
Nocturne in E flat major Op. 9 # 2 – Chopin
PROCESSIONAL
Air, from Water Music – Handel
BRIDAL PROCESSIONAL
La Rejouissance (Music for the Royal Fireworks) - Handel
Opening
Rabbi:
We welcome all of you here today to rejoice with NotFroofy and 2dBride. NotFroofy and 2dBride have asked us to share with them in this celebration of their love for one another. [More introductory stuff at the rabbi's discretion.]
In Jewish tradition, a marriage ceremony has three elements: a ketubah (marriage contract), the giving of property (typically, a ring), and cohabitation. NotFroofy and 2dBride have written a ketubah, a contract, which they will sign, and we will then invite all of you to sign as witnesses. They will exchange rings, gifts given to one another as an expression of their intention to maintain their covenant with one another. The ceremony is conducted under this chuppah, or canopy, which symbolizes the home that they will make together.
Let us all join together in the traditional blessing:
Congregation:
B'rukhot ha-ba'ot b'shem Adonai, ivdu et Adonai b'simchah bo'u l'fanav birnanah. Hodu la-Adonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo. Mi adir al ha-kol mi barukh al ha-kol hu y'varekh et ba'alot ha-brit. Hodu la-Adonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo.
Blessed are you who come here, under this chuppah. May these two who enter here be blessed with love and hope and joy. Make their home a shelter against the storm, a haven of peace, a stronghold of love.
General Marriage Blessings
[Whatever the rabbi wants to say here]
Kiddush
Rabbi:
This cup of wine is symbolic of the cup of life. As you share the one cup of wine, you undertake to share all that the future may bring. All the sweetness life's cup may hold for you should be the sweeter because you drink it together; whatever drops of bitterness it may contain should be less bitter because you share them. As we recite the blessing over wine, we hope that fullness of joy will come to you:
Congregation:
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam borei p'ri ha-gafen.
Blessed is the human capacity for joy, embodied in the symbol of wine.
Shehechiyanu
Rabbi:
We now recite the Shehechiyanu, the traditional blessing for important milestones in life:
Congregation:
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam she-hechiyanu v'kiy'manu v'higianu la-z'man ha-zeh.
Blessed are we that we have been given life, and been sustained, and have lived to see this day.
Ketubah
Rabbi:
On this day of great celebration and joy, on the third day of the week, the eighteenth day of the month of Tishri, in the year 5770, which corresponds to the sixth day of the month of October, in the year 2009, in the city of Winchester, Massachusetts, 2dBride, daughter of _____ and _____, and NotFroofy, daughter of ____ and ____, spoke the words and performed the rites which united their lives and affirmed their love. On this day, we promise to honor our vibrant love, to nurture and protect it. Our lives, enriched by our unique traditions and faiths, will embody trust, constancy, and compromise. We will cherish and sustain each other, meeting life’s trials with quiet strength and courage, and embracing life’s blessings with wonder, joy, and laughter. We will grow as individuals and delight in an elegant freedom borne from mutual respect. May there be peace in our home, may we be blessed with good fortune, health, and happiness, and may our devotion to one another ennoble us. “With my beloved by my side, every day is good to awaken to, and every moment is a gift.” Our sacred covenant is valid and binding.
[NotFroofy and 2dBride sign the ketubah.]
The members of the congregation are now invited to come up to the chuppah and sign the ketubah as witnesses.
MUSIC FOR KETUBAH SIGNING
Shostakovich - Jazz Suite 2 parts 6, 4 and 2 (Waltz 2, Waltz 1 and Lyric Waltz)
Declarations
Rabbi
Please recite with me together the words of the prophet Hosea 2:19—
Rabbi, NotFroofy and 2dBride:
And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice and in loving kindness and in compassion. And I will betroth you to me in faithfulness.
Rabbi:
NotFroofy, will you take 2dBride to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
NotFroofy:
I will.
Rabbi:
2dBride, will you take NotFroofy to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
2dBride:
I will.
Rabbi:
Will you, the families and friends of 2dBride and NotFroofy, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?
Congregation:
We will.
(A few words announcing the Reading and inviting Reader #1 to give it)
Reading
Reader #1: Rainer Maria Rilke, From "Letters"
The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of his solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust. A merging of two people is an impossibility, and where it seems to exist, it is a hemming-in, a mutual consent that robs one party or both parties of their fullest freedom and development. But once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side-by-side can grow up for them, if they succeed in loving the expanse between them, which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole and before an immense sky.
That is why this too must be the criterion for rejection or choice: whether you are willing to stand guard over someone else's solitude, and whether you are able to set this same person at the gate of your own depths.
So those who love must try to act as if they had a great work to accomplish: they must go into themselves and gather and concentrate themselves; they must work; they must become something. For the more we are, the richer everything we experience is. And those who want to have a deep love in their lives must collect and save for it, and gather honey.
Vows
Rabbi:
NotFroofy and 2dBride, I now invite you to join hands and make your vows, in the presence of your family and friends gathered here.
NotFroofy:
I, NotFroofy, take you, 2dBride, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.
2dBride:
I, 2dBride, take you, NotFroofy, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.
Ring Exchange
NotFroofy:
Harei at m'yuchedet li bikdushah.
With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.
2dBride:
Harei at m'yuchedet li bikdushah.
With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.
Nuptial Blessing
Rabbi:
Y'varekh'kha Adonai v'yishm'rekha, ya-er Adonai panav elekha vichunekha, yisa Adonai panav elekha v'yasem l'kha shalom.
May these two be blessed and kept against harm.
May they be sustained in good times and bad.
May they have peace in their lives.
(to be continued)
[Updated on: Wed, 03 June 2009 01:32]
Wedding site (including vendor reviews) and items for sale
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| Interfaith Lesbian Jewish ceremony (Part 2) [message #963848] |
Tue, 26 May 2009 00:27 |
2dBride
Messages: 360
Registered: March 2009
Location: Washington, DC |
Member |
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SHEVA BRACHOT (SEVEN BLESSINGS)
Rabbi: In the Jewish tradition, the couple is blessed with seven wedding blessings. Six of these blessings give thanks for the creation of the world, human beings, peace and harmony and the joy of the bridal pair. The 7th, the blessing over the wine, symbolically sanctifies this day and this marriage. I now bless you, NotFroofy and 2dBride, with these traditional Hebrew blessings. As I finish reading the Hebrew for each blessing, one of your guests will follow with an English interpretation.
1. (On the wonders of the world)
Rabbi:
Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam she-ha-kol bara likhvodo.
Reader #2: Blessed is the wonder of creation, the earth, the provider of all things. May you be inspired each day by the abundance of the natural world, by science and technology, as well as art, music, literature, and creative expression.
2. (On the spirit of humanity)
Rabbi:
Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam yotzer ha-adam.
Reader #3: Blessed is the essence of humankind. People have the capacity for love and friendship, generosity, kindness and compassion. May you express these qualities freely and be blessed to receive them throughout your lives.
3. (On the diversity of humanity)
Rabbi:
Barukh chakham ha-razim. She'ein da'atam domeh zeh la'zeh v'ein pirtzufam domeh zeh la-zeh v'ha-kadosh Barukh hu yode'a ma b'lev kulam.
Reader #4: Blessed is the design of humankind. The diversity of humanity is remarkable: out of the same basic shape, infinite variations. May you find comfort in the similarities shared by all of the world’s cultures and celebrate the qualities which make us different.
4. (On a better world)
Rabbi:
Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam ha-tov v'ha-meitiv.
Reader #5: Blessed is the joy of this gathering. Despite its blessings, we live in a broken world. May you be blessed to live in a world where there is food for those who are hungry, homes for those who are homeless, freedom for those who are oppressed, and peace and equality for all.
5. (On the joy of love)
Rabbi:
Sameach t'samach re'im ha-ahuvim barukh attah Adonai m'sameach ba'alat ha-brit u-ba'alat ha-brit.
Reader #6: Blessed is the joy of lovers. Today we celebrate with 2dBride and NotFroofy as they freely unite in marriage. May you live in a world where this freedom is extended to all couples, allowing anyone to marry without judgment, impediment, or persecution.
6. (On rejoicing)
Rabbi:
Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher bara sason v'simchah, chatan v'kalah, gilah rinah ditzah v'chedvah, ahavah v'achavah v'shalom v're'ut. Barukh attah Adonai, m'same'ach ba'alat b'rit im ba'alat b'rit.
Reader #7: Blessed is the joy of gladness and celebration. With the breaking of the glass today’s ceremony will end and celebration begin. As we shout “Mazel Tov” let us wish good luck for the brides and make this wish for ourselves and our loved ones: May every day be full of happiness, love, friendship, harmony, laughter and rejoicing.
7. (Over wine)
Rabbi:
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam borei p'ri ha-gafen.
Reader #8: Blessed is the human capacity for joy, embodied in the symbol of wine. The ritual of drinking wine at Jewish celebrations is an expression of joy and sanctification. May you find something to celebrate every day of your life, and may your cup runneth over.
Breaking of Glass
Rabbi:
As we all know, the world is not a place of shalom, of wholeness and peace. The world has been shattered into fragments by violence and injustice. As we hear the glass shatter, we are reminded of this shattered world, and of the power your love has to make the world a better place, to heal some of those fragments.
[Break glass.]
Now by the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the presence of these witnesses, I declare you married under the laws of Massachusetts and the traditions of Moses and of Israel, and join with this happy company in wishing you every success and every joy in the days ahead.
[Kiss.]
SIMAN TOV U-MAZAL TOV!
RECESSIONAL
Spring, from Four Seasons - Vivaldi
POSTLUDES
Sonata in C Major K545 - Mozart
Allegro from Water Music - Handel
[Updated on: Wed, 03 June 2009 01:29]
Wedding site (including vendor reviews) and items for sale
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #963963] |
Tue, 26 May 2009 13:20 |
RavenMoon
Messages: 4
Registered: May 2009
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Hey, I've been lurking here for a while looking for interesting/alternative vows and readings and have finally got the outlines of my ceremony. My FH and I are great lovers of mythology, especially the Vikings as well as the modern heavy metal/folk music that is based on their mythology, so we decided to try and do a Viking theme.
We are having the ceremony at our local town hall and having a registrar conducting the ceremony. I am a bit worried about whether our ceremony will be a bit much for a traditional registrar, I have mentioned that we want to have a Viking theme, which they seemed up for, but I don't know how 'out there' they will let us go, so it would be great if I could get any feedback on what I've put together from you guys here as your ceremonies all seem so excellent.
Thank you!
Viking Wedding Ceremony
Registrar: We come here this night, to share our joy at the joining of this couple. Marriage is the joining of two people, the union of two hearts. We enter it joyfully and in the knowledge that love is both our highest achievement and life's most precious gift.
On behalf of G and R, I would like to welcome and thank you for being here. They are delighted that you are here today to share in their joy during this wonderful moment in their lives. When you entered the hall you received a stone. G and R ask that you hold this stone in your hands throughout the ceremony and put your blessings for them on it. At the end of the ceremony they ask that you put them in the vase at the back. This vase of stones will be in their home as a reminder of all who were present today at their wedding.
G and R will not be making long vows and speeches to each other today. They have spent almost every moment of the last ten years together, learning and growing up and changing through their experiences into adult life at each others side. They feel they have proved to each other and those around them the deep love and commitment they already share, which goes beyond mere words, and have chosen today to celebrate their relationship with each other and to symoblise their hopes for the future. The readings you will hear today have been chosen by Rhiannon and Graham because they symoblise how they feel about each other and how they believe love should be perceived.
First Reading: Mum
Letters of Vincent Van Gogh to his brother, Theo. The first is dated March 21, 1883.
"It may seem to you that the sun is shining more brightly now, and that everything has taken a new charm. That, at any rate, is the inevitable consequence of true love, I believe, and it is a wonderful thing.
And I also believe that those who hold that no one thinks clearly when in love are wrong, for it is at just that time that one thinks very clearly indeed, and is more energetic than one was before. And love is something eternal; it may change in aspect, but not in essence.
And there is the same difference between someone who is in love and what he was like before as there is between a lamp that is lit and one that is not. The lamp was there all the time, and it was a good lamp, but now it is giving light as well, and that is its true function. And one has more peace of mind about many things, and so is more likely to do better work."
On April 3, 1878, he wrote to Theo:
"It is good to love as many things as one can, for therein lies true strength, and those who love much do much and accomplish much, and whatever is done with love is done well....Love is the best and noblest thing in the human heart, especially when it is tested by life as gold is tested by fire. Happy is he who has loved much, and is sure of himself, and although he may have wavered and doubted, he has kept that divine spark alive and returned to what was in the beginning and ever shall be. If only one keeps loving and does not squander one's love on trivial and insignificant and meaningless things, then one will gradually obtain more light and grow stronger."
Registrar: G and R have chosen to follow many traditions of the Vikings in their celebration today. One of the most important parts of a Viking ceremony was the exchange of gifts between the couple, witnessed by their friends and family. The wife would present the husband with a newly forged sword so he could defend their home and his family, which would also be kept to be given to their first born son. The husband would give his wife the keys to their new home to symbolise his commitment to her and to show that what's his in now hers. R and G have chosen to present these gifts to each other today, in front of these witnesses to symbolise the new stage in their journey together.
(Brides maid hands R sword and Grooms man hands G the key and the couple exchange gifts while registrar reads below)
May love flow between you as endless as the waters of Hvergelmir, as powerful as Thor's Hammer, and as fierce as the fires of Muspelheim. May the joy of youth and the wisdom of age bless your hearts until that day when the glorious final battle is upon you.
May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace when the day is done.
Second Reading: Groomsman ?
When people think of the Vikings the most obvious image is not one of people in love but of mighty warriors in battle. In fact, there is much evidence that love and passion was as important to the Vikings as it is to us today. The Vikings named it inn mátki munr, "the mighty passion." The following reading is from the 'Saxo Grammaticus' which records the moving last speech of a man about to be hanged, as he speaks of his beloved:
“There shall be one end for us both; one bond after our vows; nor shall our first love aimlessly perish. Happy am I to have won the joy of such a consort; I shall not go down basely in loneliness. So let the encircling bonds grip my throat in the midst; the final anguish shall bring with it pleasure only, since the certain hope remains of renewed love, and death shall prove to have its own delights. Each world holds joy, and in the twin regions shall the repose of our united souls win fame, our equal faithfulness in love.”
Registrar: G and R, before you are joined in matrimony it is my duty to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. Marriage according to the law of this country, is the union of one man with one woman voluntarily entered into life to the exclusions of all others. I am now going to ask each of you in turn to declare that you know of no lawful reason why you may not be joined in matrimony.
R: I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I R may not be joined in matrimoney to G.
G: I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I G may not be joined in matrimoney to R.
Registrar: Now, G and R will first declare their intent to marry, and I ask you both now in front of your family and friends, gathered here in witness and support:
Do you freely choose to unite in marriage, to be faithful in mind, heart, and hands, and to trust one another as you and your love evolve?
(WE DO)
I invite you to join hands as you repeat your vows.
R: I call upon these persons here present to witness that I R do take thee G to be my lawful wedded husband.
As long as fire burns
wind blows
water flows to the sea
the sun shines
and the earth yields,
As long as the fir tree grows,
fish swim, the stag runs,
and the falcon flies
in the long days of spring,
May the wind ever fill its wings."
G: I call upon these persons here present to witness that I G do take thee R to be my lawful wedded wife.
As long as fire burns
wind blows
water flows to the sea
the sun shines
and the earth yields,
As long as the fir tree grows,
fish swim, the stag runs,
and the falcon flies
in the long days of spring,
May the wind ever fill its wings."
Third Reading: (still not decided, maybe Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy)
Registrar: In a Viking ceremony the feast in the mead-hall was considered an integral part of the ceremony, none so much as the ceremonial drinking of the bridal ale, where the wife would present her new husband with a cup of mead which they would then both drink and by doing so, the bride and groom were made one in the eyes of the law, symbolically affirming their new kinship. R will now present G with the bridal ale.
R: (presenting G with the cup)
Ale I bring thee, thou oak-of-battle,
With strength blended and brightest honor;
'Tis mixed with magic and mighty songs,
With goodly spells, wish-speeding runes.
(both drink)
Registrar: As in many cultures and traditions, the ring is an ancient symbol used to seal a solemn promise. These wedding rings, the perfect circle of love, will serve as symbols of your unending love and faithfulness and remind you of the vows and covenants you have made today. In following with the Viking tradition G and R will exchange their rings on the hilt of the sword emphasising the sacredness of the compact between man and wife and the binding nature of the oath which they take together, so that the sword is a threat to both should the oath be broken.
R: (Handing Grouse ring on sword) With this ring and by the life that courses through my blood I take thee to my hand, my love and my spirit.
G: (Handing R ring on sword) With this ring and by the life that courses through my blood I take thee to my hand, my love and my spirit.
Registrar: Inasmuch as you have stated the vows which now bind you together in your love and, by the giving and receiving of rings, you have pledged yourselves to one another, I declare that you are partners in marriage. You may now share your first kiss as a married couple.
[Updated on: Tue, 26 May 2009 14:31]
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #967585] |
Sun, 14 June 2009 22:57 |
cosmose
Messages: 11
Registered: September 2008
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Member |
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So we just got married last weekend. Mr. Comose comes from a historically Christian family and was raised atheist. I come from an ethnically Jewish family that is also atheist. We wanted a Jewish wedding, or as our officiant Micha'el Esfromes put it "a wedding with Jewish signposts." We are creating a Jewish home (because we identify it as such and because our year is marked by the Jewish holidays and filled with Jewish traditions). We wanted to limit the use of the G-word. And we didn't want anything said we don't believe. So we wrote our own version of the seven blessings, taking the theme of each blessing and interpreting it in a relevant way for our lives. What we came up with was, to me, the most moving part of the whole ceremony -- hearing our friends bless the occasion with these truly meaningful words. Inspiration comes from the New Jewish Wedding and several Indie Bride posts. May what we came up with be inspiration for others. Except where identified, the blessings were only said in English.
Blessing One: (Unchanged said in Hebrew and English) Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe who created the fruit of the vine.
Blessing Two: Bless the ongoing creation of the universe, the wonder of the world. Bless this wedding as part of glorious creation.
Blessing Three: Blessed is the creation of humanity. We rejoice in our shared existence.
Blessing Four: Blessed is humanity's ability to create. Truly infinite, bounded only by the reach of our imagination.
Blessing Five: Blessed is the gathering of people. We have come from all over to celebrate as a family of friends. We are grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with each other. We are blessed to be together.
Blessing Six: Grant great joy to these loving companions. Blessed are those who gladden the groom and the bride.
Blessing Seven: (said in English and in Hebrew, essentially unchanged except substituting "the world" for "Jerusalem" and "Israel")Bless this creation of joy and gladness, groom and bride, merriment, song, dance and delight, love and harmony, peace and companionship. May there be heard throughout the cities and the streets of the world, the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the rapturous voices of the wedded from their bridal chambers, and of young people feasting and singing. Blessed are all who gladden the bridegroom together with the bride.
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #967878] |
Tue, 16 June 2009 11:40 |
porcelainmonkey
Messages: 202
Registered: May 2009
Location: Baltimore, MD |
Member |
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We just got married this weekend, so the ceremony is still pretty fresh. We had a wonderful celebrant who gave us a handbook full of sample ceremony texts and readings, and we mostly cobbled it together from that, with some IB thrown in. Our vows we cribbed from a Buddhist ceremony I found (I'm pagan, he's Christian, and we both have Buddhist leanings).
[PorcelainMonkey enters with her parents. Mr. Monkey is standing at the front with his parents].
Rev: Who stands in support of this woman in marriage?
PorcelainMonkey's parents: We do.
Rev: Who stands in support of this man in marriage?
Mr. Monkey's parents: We do.
[Parents sit.]
WELCOME/OPENING BLESSING
Rev: As we begin this joyous event, we extend words of gratitude to the happy couple for inviting us here today to share in their joy. We recognize and appreciate the love they publicly profess for each other and begin this ceremony by extending our warmest wishes for blessings upon them as they unite their souls together through marriage. We pray that the spirit of love enter their bodies, refreshes their souls and joins them together. We give thanks for the honor we have been given to listen with admiration as they speak their sacred words of love to each other; vows to guide them forward together each day of their lives. We wish for them always a blessed and sacred marriage.
As we begin this most sacred ceremony, please bow your heads, and if you are comfortable, take the hand of someone close to you, as we take a moment of silence to settle ourselves and find that place of peace that is deep inside each one of us.
[Moment of silence.]
And so we pray. Together we give thanks and extend gratitude, one to the other, for the opportunity we have been given today to be united in the common purpose of celebration. We give thanks to this couple for inviting us here to share in their joy. We give thanks for this day, for the spirit of love, for laughter, for friends and for family, and together we ask blessings upon all, extending our blessings toward the wider community and the world.
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey, as you begin your married lives together, I’d like to share some words of wisdom to guide you on your path in life together. Remember always the love you are expressing to each other today. The happiest relationships maintain their strength through the practice of daily devotion to each other. Each day of your lives, remember to communicate your devotion to each other through kind and gentle words, kind and gentle actions and loving deeds. Always remember the reasons you fell in love. When times grow hard, find refuge in your love for each other. Be each other’s confidant, friend and lover. Allow your relationship to stretch you to become all that you were meant to be for love is not a restrictive force. Rather, love nurtures, supports and delights in the growth of the beloved.
READING
PorcelainMonkey's sister/Maid of Honor: "Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog" by Taylor Mali
First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like [Baltimore].
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?
On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breaths
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.
Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.
Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!
Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.
But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.
RING WARMING
Rings are tied onto a pillow made by PorcelainMonkey's mother. The pillow is passed among all the guests, who hold their hands over the rings, giving their personal blessings.
Rev: These rings, now warmed by your loved ones will forever show the world you are one and they will carry with them the eternal love and blessing of your families.
VOWS
Rev: PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey 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.
Rev: PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey, do you pledge to help each other to develop your hearts and minds, cultivating compassion, generosity, and patience, as you age and undergo the various ups and downs of life and to transform them into the path of love?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
Rev: Do you pledge to see all circumstances as challenges to help you grow, to open your hearts, to accept yourselves and each other; and to generate compassion for others who are suffering?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
Rev: 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?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
Rev: 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 radiate this love outwards to all beings?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
Rev: Do you pledge to work for the welfare of others, with all of your compassion, wisdom and skill?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
Rev: Do you pledge day to day, to be patient with yourselves and others, knowing that change comes slowly and gradually, and to seek inspiration not to become discouraged?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
Rev: Do you pledge to remain optimistic that you can achieve your greatest potential and lasting happiness?
PorcelainMonkey and Mr. M: We do.
RINGS
Rev: As symbols of this sacred rite of marriage, you have chosen to exchange rings. We ask for blessings upon these rings and for you, PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey. The circular form of these rings symbolizes the endless nature of your love for each other. A ring has no beginning and no end—always returning to itself, again and again, like time and life. The empty space inside the ring symbolizes a gateway or door leading to your future, both known and unknown. Fill that space with love and trust by the wearing of your rings, always remembering why you came here today and your faith in the act of commitment you now make.
Rev (to Mr. Monkey): Please repeat after me:
Mr. Monkey: PorcelainMonkey, you are my best beloved and my friend. This ring is a symbol of my love for you and my commitment to our marriage. Will you be my wife?
PorcelainMonkey: I will.
Rev (to PorcelainMonkey): Please repeat after me:
PorcelainMonkey: Mr. Monkey, you are my best beloved and my friend. This ring is a symbol of my love for you and my commitment to our marriage. Will you be my husband?
Mr. Monkey: I will.
PRONOUNCEMENT OF COUPLE
Rev: PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey, this is the moment you have been waiting for. All of your plans for today have lead up to this very moment. During this ceremony, you have shared your words of love and commitment to each other through the giving and receiving of your vows and promises. You have symbolized your commitment to each other through the exchanging of your wedding rings. All here present have witnessed, publicly, your expression of love and devotion for each other. Because of these things, it is with great joy and honor that I now pronounce you to be husband and wife. You may now seal this covenant with a kiss.
[*smooch*]
BENEDICTION
Rev: PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey, you are now husband and wife. As you go forward on your path in life together, we send you forward with our wishes for joy and happiness. May you always remember the love that brought you together today. May you find in each other’s arms the strength, comfort, support and nurturing that is intended to be experienced by every husband and wife. May you find in each other’s presence the ability to express yourselves freely and openly and to become all that you are meant to be. May your home be a place of love and peace, always. This and more we wish for you every day of your lives.
And now, to all present here, it is with great joy that I present to you, for the very first time, PorcelainMonkey and Mr. Monkey, now joined together as husband and wife. You may all applaud the happy couple!
"pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." - thich nhat hanh
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #967928] |
Tue, 16 June 2009 16:06 |
rosetta
Messages: 23
Registered: October 2008
Location: st. louis |
Member |
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Here is the script from my wedding this past weekend. Lord knows how much this thread helped me, I hope my ceremony can help someone else! We had a unity tree ceremony that went over really well.
Seating of Guests: Let it Be, Two of Us
Processional
Song: Canon D by Pachabel
Seating of Readers
Seating of Grandparents
Seating of Mothers
Song: Something by the Beatles
bridesmaids walk down, one by one
Flower girls + ring bearer walk down, sit front row with parents behind them.
Song: Here comes the Sun by the Beatles
rosetta and Dad of bride walk down together
Dad of bride and mr.cool shake hands and Dad of bride sits down
Celebrant:
This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Good afternoon all! On behalf of the rosetta, mr.cool, and their families I extend a heartfelt welcome to all of you. My name is -- and I am honored to lead today's ceremony of marriage between mr.cool and rosetta
I would like to start the ceremony with a prayer
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, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen.
mr.cool and rosetta, we have gathered here today in this beautiful graden in your honor as you commit a lifetime of love to each other. We have come with hopes and dreams and joy in our hearts as we celebrate the decision you have made to marry. And as we come together in the blooming glory of this garden, we are not alone. We are joined by those of our family who could not be here today in body, but rather in spirit and love. Let us take a moment to breathe, admire the beautiful setting, and remember those who we miss.
Moment of silence of reflection
Celebrant: Reader #1 will now share a poem rosetta has dedicated to mr.cool.
"I carry your Heart with Me" by e e cummings
i carry your heart with me
(i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it
(anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear no fate
(for you are my fate, my sweet)
i want no world
(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you -- whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing -- is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Celebrant: Family and friends, we are present on this joyful occasion because in some way our lives have touched the lives of mr.cool and rosetta. Today we rejoice with them. Today we pray for them. But let our care, our thoughts and prayers for them continue beyond this day. Will you, family and friends, stand beside mr.cool and rosetta, celebrating the decision they have made to marry; pray for them, and do all in your power to support and uphold this marriage in the days and years ahead?
If so, please say we will.
--Interlude as all of family say they will, and Grandmas bring up empty terra cotta pot, hug mr.cool and rosetta and place it on the table-- Song: Grow Old Along with Me by John Lennon --
Celebrant: Will Mom of bride and Mom of groom, Dad of bride please come forward. (pause)
The union of mr.cool and rosetta brings together family traditions and roots in the hope that a new family tree may become strong and fruitful. Theirs is a personal choice and a decision for which they are primarily responsible. Yet their life together will be greatly enriched by the support of the families from which they come.
Mom of bride, Dad of bride, and Mom of groom, you have raised rosetta and mr.cool to be the adults they are today. Through your love, support and guidance they flourished, and now it is time for them begin their own family.
Will you, their parents, offer your blessing and encouragement to them in their marriage? If so, please say we will.
--Parents say "We will", get the sapling and place it in the pot, mothers hand mr.cool the dirt and rosetta the watering can, we hug and they sit down -- Song: In My Life by the Beatles
Celebrant: Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.
Do you, mr.cool, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, freely choose now to speak the words that will unite yours and rosetta’s lives in marriage? Do you promise to always be open, honest, and patient, trust rosetta, and be worthy of her trust? Do you promise to communicate with rosetta fully and fearlessly as you find your way together? As your life unfolds before you, you will remain true to the promises you make this day?
mr.cool: I do
(mr.cool scoops dirt with a hand trowel and puts it in the pot around the sapling)
Celebrant: Do you, rosetta, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, freely choose now to speak the words that will unite yours and mr.cool’s lives in marriage? Do you promise to always be open, honest, and patient, trust mr.cool, and be worthy of his trust? Do you promise to communicate with mr.cool fully and fearlessly as you find your way together? As your life unfolds before you, you will remain true to the promises you make this day?
rosetta: I do
(rosetta waters the sapling)
Celebrant: Reader #2 will now read a poem mr.cool has dedicated to rosetta.
"Rose of my heart" by Johnny Cash
We're the best partners this world's ever seen,
Together as close as can be.
Sometimes it's hard to find time in between,
To tell you what you are to me.
You are the rose of my heart,
You are the love of my life.
A flower not fading nor falling apart,
If you're tired, rest your head on my arm.
Rose of my heart.
When sorrow holds you in her arms of clay,
It's rain drops that fall from your eyes.
Your smile's like the sun come to earth for a day,
You brighten my blackest of skies.
You are the rose of my heart,
You are the love of my life.
A flower not fading nor falling apart,
If you're cold, let my love make you warm.
Rose of my heart.
So hard times or easy times, what do I care,
There's nothing I'd change if I could.
The tears and the laughter are things that we share,
Your hand in mine makes all times good.
Celebrant: From that moment of yes when your engagement began until this moment of yes, you have been making promises and reaching agreements together. All those conversations that were held while riding in the car, while cooking dinner or while walking your dog Dewey—those late-night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe"—and all those words written to each other when you were far apart; All these common things, and more, are the real process of wedding.
The symbolic vows you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word."
Please join hands and recite your vows.
mr.cool:
I love you. You are my best friend.
Today I give myself to you
I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you,
and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad,
when life seems easy and when it seems hard,
I promise to continue to love you faithfully,
as it is your heart that moves me,
your mind that challenges and inspires me,
and your hands that I wish to hold forever
rosetta:
I love you. You are my best friend.
Today I give myself to you
I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you,
and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad,
when life seems easy and when it seems hard,
I promise to continue to love you faithfully,
as it is your heart that moves me,
your mind that challenges and inspires me,
and your hands that I wish to hold forever
Celebrant: The wedding ring is a circle, a symbol of wholeness, and peace; a representation of the seasons and of life itself, and the symbol of your love and commitment to one another. We all bless these rings with our best wishes for your continued happiness together.
best man, will you please hand mr.cool rosetta's ring?
mr.cool:
Today, tomorrow, always,
My love surrounds you.
May this ring remind you of my constant heart.
A commitment made in love, kept in faith,
lived in hope, and eternally made new.
Celebrant: MOH, will you please hand rosetta mr.cool's ring?
rosetta:
Today, tomorrow, always,
My love surrounds you.
May this ring remind you of my constant heart.
A commitment made in love, kept in faith,
lived in hope, and eternally made new.
Celebrant: "I really do believe that both of you are at the beginning of a wonderful journey. As you start traveling down that road of life, remember this: There are never enough comfort stops. The places you are going to are never on the map. And once you get that map out, you won’t be able to refold it no matter how smart you are.
“So forget the map, roll down the windows, and whenever you can, pull over and have a picnic."
mr.cool and rosetta,
before this ceremony
you signed the legal papers.
You have received the blessing
of your family and friends,
made vows,
and exchanged rings.
Congratulations, you are now married!
So start your marriage now, with a kiss!
[mr.cool and rosetta kisses, everyone cheers!]
Celebrant: I now present mr.cool and Mrs. rosetta!
Cue "All you need is Love"
June 12, 2009!
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #970180] |
Sat, 27 June 2009 20:47 |
chitownbride
Messages: 8
Registered: June 2009
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Member |
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I'm married now & I'm so glad that my sister-in-law told me about this website. Thank you oh so very very much to the indiebride peeps who helped us craft an amazing wedding ceremony. This site was full of great ideas, inspiration, and supportive help. Thank you!
We only had a maid of honor & a best man. The people who did our readings could've been in our wedding party too, but we wanted to keep things simple. Here's our ceremony. I hope it helps someone else to craft their ceremony.
Just some background--our celebrant is my best friend's mom. She got ordained online with the Universalist Church. She knows us, feels more spiritual than religious...which reflects our philosophy, and we felt so lucky that she agreed to do the ceremony for us. (if you know someone who will do it for you, I highly recommend it.)
Guests get seated--listening to random music
"Lovely Day" by Bill Withers plays
Groom walks down the aisle
Celebrant waiting at the front
Groom's parents walk down the aisle
3 readers with their significant other's walk down the aisle
<no ring bearer or flower girl...too many family politics involved...we did invite children to our wedding>
maid of honor & best man walk down the aisle
"At Last" by Etta James plays
bride & her father walk down the aisle
1. Gathering Words:
Welcome, everyone, to bride and groom's wedding. You were invited here today because you are the people who mean the most to them and their families. There is nothing sweeter, happier, or braver than a wedding ceremony. And your presence here shows your love and support for bride and groom as they begin their loving, daring adventure. We are honored to have you here.
2. Opening
My name is A. My husband and I have known bride and her family since she and my daughter became friends in the 7th grade. Our families have had many wonderful experiences together, but one of them is something of a metaphor for what is happening today.
Many years ago we asked Mr & Mrs if bride could go on vacation with us out of the country. They were worried, of course, to have their young daughter travel so far without them. But they were happy that bride would have new experiences, and they knew we would protect and care for their daughter as our own.
Today groom and bride are asking each other to take the ultimate long distance voyage. And their parents, like all of us, including bride & groom, are uncertain about what lies ahead for them in the future. However, as in the past, those worries are overshadowed by happiness and trust. We are happy they will experience the wonders of married love and we have absolute trust in the protection and care they will give each other for the rest of their lives. So we wish them a heartfelt Bon Voyage.
3. Memorial <we did this as a not-too-sad way to remember people who had passed away...it felt right for us & for those of you who are familiar with the Catholic Church...it was sort of like that Peace be with You moment they have during Mass...we also played music during this part).
Tonight, there are loved ones that can not participate in the celebration. While we miss them greatly, may the great joy and guidance they brought to our lives be reflected today and every day. For now, let's please take a moment to greet warmly those of us who are here tonight.
4. Readings
<the celebrant announced each reader's name, but not the source info on the reading>
<we sat the readers on the aisle seats so they could easily get up to the front by us>
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper[...]
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.
Douglas Adams--So Long and Thanks for the Fish
They looked at each other for a moment.
The moment became a longer moment, and suddenly it was a very long moment, so long one could hardly tell where all the time was coming from.
For Arthur, who could usually contrive to feel self-conscious if left alone for long enough with a Swiss Cheese plant, the moment was one of sustained revelation. He felt on the sudden like a cramped and zoo-born animal who awakes one morning to find the door to his cage hanging quietly open and the savannah stretching grey and pink to the distant rising sun, while all around new sounds are waking.
He wondered what the new sounds were as he gazed at her openly wondering face and her eyes that smiled with a shared surprise.
He hadn't realized that life speaks with a voice to you, a voice that brings you answers to the questions you continually ask of it, had never consciously detected it or recognized its tones till it now said something it had never said to him before, which was "Yes".
Jackie Clement, Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, February 15 2004
“Mature love, the love that grows in a committed relationship, does not come from romantic dinners and champagne. It is forged in fire, through the trials, the boredom, the shared tears and laughter, the decisions and doubts and debts of life together. It takes work and the willingness to extend yourself beyond your own skin, taking into account that you are not one, no matter how romantic that may sound. You are two, with different thoughts and desires, customs, dislikes, and expectations. And if you can still meet each other with all those differences, you will know true love. If, instead of giving yourself up to the other, you extend yourself to meet the other, you will have a basis for life together.”
5. The Ring & The Vows
A: This is the point in the ceremony when people talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metals are liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. The hot metal is forged, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful made from raw elements.
Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.
With that in mind, bestman, may I have the rings?
<the celebrant said each line...we repeated after her>
Bride:
Together with you,
I want to live a life
full of the kind of love
and the kind of laughter
that makes strangers stop and stare.
I will take care of you
and give you peace of mind and heart.
Babe, I love you and stuff--will you be my husband?
Groom: I will.
Groom:
Together with you,
I want to live a life
full of the kind of love
and the kind of laughter
that makes strangers stop and stare.
I will take care of you
be supportive and joyful with you.
Babe, I love you and stuff--will you be my wife?
Bride: I will.
A: And when you wake up tomorrow and tomorrow will you promise this all again?
Bride & Groom together: We will
6. Marriage, Pronouncement, Kiss, Presentation
A: Up until now you've made your promises privately to one another, now each of us here have witnessed the vows you have made & the rings you have exchanged. We respect & honor the covenant of marriage you have made. All that remains is to pronounce with great joy that bride & groom are fully and forever, husband and wife!
A: You may kiss the bride.
A: Ladies & gentlemen, please join me in receiving Mr. & Mrs.
"I Feel Good" by James Brown plays...wife, husband, and friends dance/walk down the aisle to chilled champagne & more dancing!
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #970893] |
Sat, 04 July 2009 01:14 |
chameleon
Messages: 12
Registered: November 2008
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Member |
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Here's the ceremony from our wedding two weeks ago. It felt just right for us and really seemed to resonate with our guests--we received so many compliments on how natural and genuine it was.
One note that isn't clear in the script: we had our grandmothers hold the rings during the ceremony and hand them to us at the appropriate time. They were thrilled when we asked them to be "ring bearers," and (corny as it sounds) I love feeling that our rings are infused with their love and good wishes.
Thanks to all the IBs who posted sample ceremonies; it was so incredibly helpful during the writing process. By the same token, please feel free to borrow if anything here strikes you, and best of luck!
First Reading
Walt Whitman - We Two, How Long We Were Fool'd
We two, how long we were fool'd;
Now transmuted, we swiftly escape as nature escapes,
We are Nature, long have we been absent, but now we return,
We become plants, trunks, foliage, roots, bark,
We are bedded in the ground, we are rocks,
We are oaks, we grow in the openings side by side,
We browse, we are two among the wild herds spontaneous as any,
We are two fishes swimming in the sea together,
We are what locust blossoms are, we drop scent around lanes mornings and evenings,
We are also the coarse smut of beasts, vegetables, minerals,
We are two predatory hawks, we soar above and look down,
We are two resplendent suns, we who balance ourselves orbic and stellar, we are as two comets,
We prowl fang'd and four-footed in the woods, we spring on prey,
We are two clouds forenoons and afternoons driving overhead,
We are seas mingling, we are two of those cheerful waves rolling over each other, interwetting each other,
We are what the atmosphere is, transparent, receptive, pervious, impervious,
We are snow, rain, cold, darkness, we are each product and influence of the globe,
We have circled and circled till we have arrived home again, we two,
We have voided all but freedom and all but our own joy.
Introduction
Officiant: We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments and to add our best wishes to the words that will unite this couple in marriage. Let this be a day of gladness, thanksgiving, possibility, and great good fortune for these two young people, who have called us together to bear witness as they publicly affirm the private commitment they already share.
<P> and <S>, to marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take. Committing ourselves to one person for life is not a rejection of freedom. Rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent. Your lives will change, your responsibilities will increase, but your joy, trust, and understanding will be multiplied if you are sincere and earnest in your pledge to one another.
Remember that love is not meant to be the possession of two people alone. Rather let it serve as a source of common energy, as a form in which you find the strength to live your lives with courage. From this day onward, you must come closer than ever before, but at the same time your love should give you the strength to stand apart and seek out your own destinies, to make your special contribution to the world which is always part of us and more than us.
Second Reading
Rumi - This Marriage
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade, like the desert palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcomed as the moon in a clear blue sky.
Charge to Family and Friends
Officiant: Will the parents of the bride and groom please come forward? For nearly twenty-five years, you have nurtured <P> and <S>'s independence and guided them into young adulthood. Without you, their marriage could not be possible. All the love and caring you gave to them will now be given to each other, and in turn, they will pass it along to their own family. This generation to generation lineage of love is how, in a very real sense, we become immortal. As <P> and <S> move into the next stage of their lives, will you give them your blessing and pledge to them your continued love and support? If so, please answer, "We will."
Parents: We will.
Officiant: Today <P> and <S> are surrounded by the love of grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Some of you have known them their entire lives, some for less than a year. But no matter how long, or in what circumstances, you form the community within which their marriage will grow and thrive. Will you also give <P> and <S> your blessing and pledge to them your continued love and support? If so, please answer, "We will."
Guests: We will.
Third Reading
Rainer Maria Rilke - From Early Poems
Understand, I'll slip quietly
away from the noisy crowd
when I see the pale stars
rising, blooming over the oaks.
I'll pursue solitary pathways
through the pale twilit meadows,
with only this one dream:
you come too.
Charge to the Couple
Officiant: <P> and <S>, you are about to take the next step in a journey which began four years ago. You have become an integral part of each other's lives. You have created a home together and become part of one another’s families. By living together, you have proven you can endure the challenges a partnered life entails. This adds credibility, insight, and depth to the promises you make today.
Still, every marriage requires a leap of faith. Through all the changes of your lives, will you keep faith that your love can endure all things, and work, even when the work is hard, to honor your vows? If so, please answer, "We will."
<S&P>: We will.
Exchange of Vows
Officiant: I now ask you to face each other, join hands, and share your marriage vows.
<P>: <S>, of all people on this earth,
I choose you to be my wife.
For all the days before me,
I promise to be loving, generous, and kind,
to communicate fully and fearlessly,
to trust you and be worthy of your trust.
With fierce pride in who you are
and deep faith in who you are becoming,
I promise to support you, to guard your solitude,
and to cultivate a shared life of laughter, purpose, and joy.
Whatever life brings, I am your partner.
I will strive to be my best for you.
<S>: <P>, of all people on this earth,
I choose you to be my husband.
For all the days before me,
I promise to be loving, generous, and kind,
to communicate fully and fearlessly,
to trust you and be worthy of your trust.
With fierce pride in who you are
and deep faith in who you are becoming,
I promise to support you, to guard your solitude,
and to cultivate a shared life of laughter, purpose, and joy.
Whatever life brings, I am your partner.
I will strive to be my best for you.
Exchange of Rings
<P>: <S>, take this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion. I am proud to be your husband.
<S>: <P>, take this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion. I am proud to be your wife.
Proclamation
Officiant: According to the laws of Vermont, and by virtue of the power vested in me by the state of Vermont, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce <P> and <S> <B>!
[Updated on: Sat, 04 July 2009 01:16]
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #970931] |
Sat, 04 July 2009 13:11 |
ginanred
Messages: 121
Registered: August 2008
Location: SF |
Member |
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A lot of this was stolen from indiebride, so thank you!
Introduction written by our officiant (my cousin)
Seven Blessings:
each of our seven family members read something they wrote or chose to "bless our marriage"
Marriage Equality:
(Read by a friend)
"ginanred and bubbs would like to acknowledge that not everyone can
legally get married to the person that they love. As they celebrate
their love and join their families together today and this marriage is
recognized, by the state of California, ginanred and bubbs, along with
vowing to be together for the rest of their lives, also vow to work
toward and fight for marriage equality."
Then, read this quote from the decision:
Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the 2003 case in which the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that the state may not deny
the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage to
same-sex couples:
We share a common humanity… Simple principles of decency dictate that
we extend to the plaintiffs, and to their new status, full acceptance,
tolerance, and respect. We should do so because it is the right thing
to do. The union of two people “is a coming together for better or for
worse, hopefully enduring, and intimate to the degree of being sacred.
It is an association that promotes a way of life, not causes; a
harmony in living, not political faiths; a bilateral loyalty, not
commercial or social projects. Yet it is an association for as noble a
purpose as any involved in our prior decisions.”
Schmoopiness:
(we read secret things we wrote to each other to show our love)
Officient intro to vows:
Vows:
officient:
Will you make a home together, grow old together, and during your lifetime make a difference in our world, living consciously and deliberately, surrounded by those you love?
Us:
We will
officient:
Do you promise to work toward maintaining a peaceful home where you can go to rest, play, rejuvenate, and let go?
Us:
We do
officient:
Do you promise to continue to contribute to maintaining a home, family, and a relationship as equally as you are able?
Us:
We do
Our vows to each other:
bubbs:
I vow to remain earnest in my desire to be socially conscious; to allow my heart to be pressed by the ills of the world, and to respond accordingly.
I promise to love our children unconditionally.
I promise to do my best to make each day better for you, even when I have little left to give.
I promise to learn from you, to communicate openly, and to honor our differences.
I promise to help you if you want to change, but never to try to change you.
I promise to make the effort to continue to bring joy, excitement, and playfulness to our relationship
I promise to say nice things to you.
ginanred:
I vow to remain earnest in my desire to be socially conscious; to allow my heart to be pressed by the ills of the world, and to respond accordingly.
I promise to love our children unconditionally.
I promise to do my best to make each day better for you, even when I have little left to give.
I promise to learn from you, to communicate openly, and to honor our differences.
I promise to help you if you want to change, but never to try to change you.
I promise to make the effort the to continue to bring joy, excitement, and playfulness to our relationship
I promise to say nice things to you.
officient:
Do you choose each other as partners in a relationship built on respect, caring, and growth; through good times and hard times; as friends, companions, and partners; giving your best to fulfill your lives together?
Us:
We do
officient:
bubbs, please repeat after me
I joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept its obligations (bubbs repeats here)
My promises to you, in the presence of loving family and friends, is valid and binding. (bubbs repeats here)
From this day forward, we are family. (bubbs repeats here)
ginanred, please repeat after me
I joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept its obligations (ginanred repeats here)
My promises to you, in the presence of loving family and friends, is valid and binding. (ginanred repeats here)
From this day forward, we are family. (ginanred repeats here)
Rings
officient:
bubbs, place this ring on ginanred’s finger and repeat after me:
Let this ring serve as a reminder of the promises we just made.
ginanred, place this ring on bubbs’s finger and repeat after me:
Let this ring serve as a reminder of the promises we just made.
Ketubah/marriage contract:
officient:
I now invite you to sign the ketubah. The ketubah is a contract, a visual reminder of the promises you are making today. This contract will be displayed in your home and will help you to remain true to you intentions through your lives together.
Introduction as husband and wife
My wedding planning adventure:
http://homegrownwedding.com/
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #974322] |
Fri, 31 July 2009 11:26 |
susq725
Messages: 40
Registered: January 2009
Location: Madison, WI |
Member |
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Here is our ceremony - it ran about 20-25 minutes long. I owe much of this to previous IndiBrides, as I pieced the ceremony together from here and other sources. Friends and family have said this was the best, most meaningful ceremony they'd ever been to and that it was very "us". So, thank you IndieBrides!!!
PROCESSIONAL
DJ plays music during seating
Accoustic guitar while parents are seated
“Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
Junior Bridesmaids and Ring Bearer
Susan and her dad
Susan and dad exchange hugs, Joe and Susan’s dad shake hands, and Susan and Joe join together facing each other before the guests.
WELCOME
Joe and Susan want to welcome you to this celebration of their love for one another. Those of you who have had the pleasure of spending some time with them, have seen for yourselves that they possess a very rare and exceptional love. Joe and Susan have gathered you here because in some way you have touched and shaped their lives. Today they create a marriage that will need your deepest love, understanding and support. Thank you for sharing one of life’s happiest moments with them. They are also grateful for those who can be here only in spirit and they feel blessed by everyone’s love and good wishes. May you all be as important a part of their tomorrow as you are of their today.
PRESENTATION
Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other, who honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together. In this ceremony, Joe and Susan dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other, in a union of mutual caring and responsibility. Therefore, it is all the more important that those of you here with Joe and Susan may stand as witnesses to the happiness which they have found together, and to the promises they have made to each other. As they join their lives in marriage, they also bring you together in a new relationship, creating new bonds of trust and ties of affection. Will all of you, who have supported these two in friendship and love, now bestow your blessing upon them as they marry? If so, please show them your support by saying “We Will!”
INTRODUCTION
Joe and Susan, on behalf of your loved ones who are here with you today, I would like to mention some of the things we wish for you:
We wish for you a love that is rich, deep and powerful enough to inspire others and to support you both in bringing forth the best that is within you.
We wish for you the kind of home that will be a sanctuary for both of you, a place of peace, freedom, vitality, growth and humor.
We wish for you a gentle and peaceful life that nurtures and comforts you.
We wish for you a noble life, which reflects your honesty, kindness, and integrity.
We wish for you an adventurous life, exploring the fullness of your own and each other's true selves.
Let life amaze you and bring you great joy. Live it fully. Love its changes and choices.
Finally, we wish that at the end of your lives you will be able to look back and smile upon the life that you have shared together, pleased, satisfied, and fulfilled.
READINGS
In the spirit of the importance of strong friendships to a marriage, Joe and Susan have selected two readings about love that especially resonate with them.
I’d like to introduce [brother of groom] who will do both readings.
“Love” by Roy Croft
I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
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 could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself.
“Friendship” by Judy Bielicki
It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel. True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life – it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic. True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failing, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential. Susan and Joe came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and most importantly, the fun of true friendship.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT JOE AND SUSAN [written by officiant based on questionnaires she had us each fill out]
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Joe, do you take Susan to be your wife? Do you promise to love, adore, and encourage her? Share the good times and achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep her in sickness and in sorrow and to be loyal to her forevermore?
[I Do]
Susan, do you take Joe to be your husband? Do you promise to love, adore, and encourage him? Share the good times and achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep him in sickness and in sorrow and to be loyal to him forevermore?
[I Do]
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
Joe and Susan, your love has brought you to this place and this perfect moment, and you are now ready to declare the heartfelt vows you have written in honor of your love for each other.
Insert our vows here…
HAND BLESSING
Susan, please hold Joe’s hands palms down, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to completely love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
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 lovingly hold all of the animals you share your lives with now and in the future.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief engulfs your heart.
These are the hands that when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
Officiant to Joe: “Please take a good long look at the position of your hands…..because this is the last time you will have the upper hand!” [many laughs here!]
Joe, please hold Susan’s hands palms down, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she promises to completely love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.
These are the hands that will lovingly hold all of the animals you share your lives with now and in the future.
These are the hands that when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.
May these hands be blessed that we see before us this day. May they always be held by one another. May they have the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. May these hands continue building a relationship founded in love, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for perfection. May Joe and Susan see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.
RING EXCHANGE
[Officiant to Joe]: What token do you give in love?
Let this ring symbolize the devotion and commitment you hold for Susan. This ring, given in love, is an affirmation to all that bear witness that you and Susan are truly joined together as husband and wife.
Please place this ring on Susan’s finger and repeat after me:
[Groom]: Susan, I give you this ring as I give you myself. It is a circle without end. With this ring I marry you and join my life to yours.
[Officiant to Susan]: Susan, what token do you give in love?
Let this ring symbolize the devotion and commitment you hold for Joe. This ring, given in love, is an affirmation to all that bear witness that you and Joe are truly joined together as husband and wife.
Please place this ring on Joe’s finger and repeat after me:
[Bride]: Joe, I give you this ring as I give you myself. It is a circle without end. With this ring I marry you and join my life to yours.
CLOSING COMMENTS
May the love which has brought you together today be a source of strength in the times to come. May it bring you and those around you inspiration and hope. May it be a tide of joy which carries you over the troubled waters. May it be a flame of wisdom in the dark and a cloak of comfort in the cold. May this love root you deeply in your life and lift you up higher than the stars. And may it bring you happiness and peace.
PRONOUNCEMENT
Joe and Susan, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. I now pronounce you husband and wife.
KISS
Joe, the moment you’ve been waiting for all day… you may now kiss the bride!
PRESENTATION
It is my pleasure to present to you
Joe and Susan Lawniczak!
RECESSIONAL
"Embryonic Journey" by Jefferson Airplane
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #978137] |
Fri, 04 September 2009 15:54 |
mnlily
Messages: 15
Registered: September 2009
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Member |
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Below is our ceremony. We designed it based on the structure of christian (mainly catholic) weddings we were familiar with, but with non-religious readings and music to fit our beliefs. Hope this helps couples who also want a non-traditional wedding, but are realizing that means more work for them with designing the ceremony from scratch! FYI: the whole ceremony (not including prelude and postlude) took about 25 minutes.
Prelude: Ipod music (approx 25 min)
- “Canon in D”: Pachelbel
- “Sheep May Safely Graze” Bach
- “Prelude in C”
- “Sonata for Two Pianos” Mozart
Processional
*on piano. Got sheet music from Schmidt music store
- Ode to Joy (Beethoven): Mothers seated, Wedding party entrance
- The Prince of Denmark's March/Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke): Bride’s entrance
Greeting from officiant (judge)
Officiant wrote/ad-libbed a brief greeting.
Reading 1: Philosophers’ Musings on Marriage
What could be more sweet than to live with one to whom you are united in body and mind, who talks with you in secret affection, and to whom you have committed all your faith and your fortune? What in all nature is lovelier? You are bound to friends in affection. How much more are you bound to a husband or wife in the highest love... Nothing is more safe, tranquil, pleasant and loving than marriage.
~ Erasmus
What marriage may be in the case of two persons of cultivated faculties, identical in opinions and purposes, between whom there exists that best kind of equality, similarity of powers and capacities with reciprocal superiority in them – so that each can enjoy the luxury of looking up to the other, and can alternately have the pleasure of leading and being led in the path of development – I will not attempt to describe. To those who can conceive it, there is no need; to those who cannot, it would appear the dream of the enthusiast.
~ John Stuart Mill
Song 1: “Here is My Heart” a song writen by Mr Lily and his bandmate and performed by the bandmate (singing and guitar)
Reading 2: Adaptation “Love”, author unknown
Love is a friendship that has caught fire.
It is quiet understanding,
mutual confidence,
sharing and forgiving.
Love is loyalty through good and bad.
It settles for less than perfection,
and makes allowances for human weakness.
It’s the day-in and day-out chronicle of compromises,
small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals.
Love is content with the present.
It hopes for the future and it doesn’t brood over the past.
Reading 3: adaptation of “WHY MARRIAGE?” by Mari Nichols-Haining
Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...
Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the potential of me...
Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who is thankful for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...
Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship.
Words of Wisdom from Officiant
We asked the officiant to give a short speech. He chosen to mainly read another reading he found which fit well with the ones we had selected.
Statements of Intent we wanted to get to say 'I do'
Officiant: Mr Lily and Lily, the vows you are about to exchange serve as a verbal representation of the love you promise to one another. First, please declare your intent.
Officiant: Do you Mr Lily, take Lily, to be your partner and wife, promising to stand beside her whatever the future may bring?
Officiant: And do you Lily, take Mr Lily, to be your partner and husband, promising to stand beside him whatever the future may bring?
Lily: I do
Vows
Officiant: Now, please turn and declare your wedding vows to each other. [given that they were long, we read them off pieces of paper rather than doing a repeat after me thing)
Mr Lily: Lily, I promise to be your faithful and loving husband,
to cherish your intellect and uniqueness,
to delight in your happiness and comfort you in sorrow,
to communicate openly and honestly and to listen carefully,
to support and inspire you,
and to be your eager partner in exploring the things we have yet to learn and places we have yet to go.
My love is yours now, and for all the days before us.
Lily: Mr Lily, I promise to be your faithful and loving wife,
to cherish your intellect and uniqueness,
to delight in your happiness and comfort you in sorrow,
to communicate openly and honestly and to listen carefully,
to support and inspire you,
and to be your eager partner in exploring the things we have yet to learn and places we have yet to go.
My love is yours now, and for all the days before us.
Ring Exchange
Officiant: May I have the rings please? Mr Lily and Lily, may your wedding rings be forever a reminder of the vows you have made to each other here today. May they be for you always your most treasured adornment, and may the love they symbolize be your most treasured possession.
Officiant: Mr Lily, please place this ring on Lily's finger and repeat after me: “I give you this ring as a symbol and reminder of my love for you and my commitment to our marriage. I am honored to call you my wife.”
Officiant: Lily, please place this ring on Mr Lily’s finger and repeat after me: “I give you this ring as a symbol and reminder of my love for you and my commitment to our marriage. I am honored to call you my husband.”
Unity Candle Introduction
Officiant: Mr Lily and Lily will now take one of the two separate candles symbolizing their separate lives, separate families, and friends. Together, they will light the center candle symbolizing the joining of their lives.
Blessings During Unity Candle Ceremony: Irish Wedding Blessings – authors unknown
(a reader read these as we lit the candle)
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship and your hearts joined forever in love.
May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from your eye.
May the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts.
Pronouncement
Officiant: Mr Lily and Lily, you have signified your commitment to each other and to marriage through the making of vows, the giving and receiving of rings, and the lighting of the unity candle. I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Presentation of couple as husband and wife
Officiant: I am pleased to present to you for the first time – Mr. and Mrs. Lily.
Recessional: “Wedding March” by Mendelssohn
[officiant was asked to blow out the candles as people were watching the recessional]
Postlude: Ipod music
“Water Music”: Handel
[Updated on: Thu, 08 October 2009 17:49]
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #978190] |
Fri, 04 September 2009 19:00 |
hugitout
Messages: 137
Registered: July 2008
Location: Cape Cod and SFO |
Member |
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Resources:
- Ceremony hand outs from our UU minister and from a minister that officiated at my brother's wedding in Vermont.
- Indiebride (or course!)
Processional - wedding party et al walk in
Hugitout enters escorted by brother and nephew/godson
Call to order
Minister rings meditation bell 3 times
Gathering Words
Throughout the memory of humanity
the founding of a new family has been noted as an act of high and holy order.
It has been celebrated with a service of marriage in sacred groves,
in humble meeting houses,
under vaulted arches,
in temples with ancient rites,
and in makeshift spaces with hurried words.
We gather here today in this place because of what we share;
a desire to affirm and support the relationship of Hugitout and Bourbonman.
Marriage requires a commitment to care for another person,
to show concern for the life and growth of those whom we love.
Marriage requires a commitment to respond to another person,
to help meet their needs.
Marriage requires a commitment to respect the unique individuality of that person,
to help them grow and unfold for their own sake.
Marriage requires a commitment to transcend our own egos,
to use reason and humility to understand another person;
and by doing this, we discover ourselves.
All these commitments require that we give ourselves to another person;
by this giving we experience our strength and our vitality.
We experience ourselves and overflowing and alive.
Today we affirm and celebrate the wedding of Bourbonman and Hugitout.
Reading
Scaffolding, by Seamus Heaney
Masons, when they start upon a building,
are careful to test out the scaffolding;
Make sure the planks won't slip at busy points,
Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.
And yet, all this comes down when the job's done
Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.
So if, my dear, there sometimes seems to be
old bridges breaking between you and me,
Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall,
confident that we have built our wall.
Remembrances and Acknowledgments
There are many special people who are unable to be here with us today.
Let us call them forward in our hearts and minds
Hugitout’s Father: who taught Hugitout the value of humor,
instilled a love of beer, homemade bread and bluegrass music,
and whose intelligence and energy is evident in all of his descendents with us here today.
Hugitout;s Grandparents:
Bourbonman’s Grandparents:
Moment of silent meditation
Declaration of Support
(Responsive reading led by siblings)
This couple comes together out of a community of friends and relatives. They ask our support as they together begin the adventure of married life. We come today to join in marriage Hugitout and Bourbonman. It is our hope that their individual lives may together explore new dimensions of life.
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE CONTINUING TASK OF HELPING THEM IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE TO BUILD A DEEP AND ABIDING LOVE.
We ask for them the excitement of new discoveries and new creations, that their lives may be an adventure together wherever they may go.
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE CONTINUING TASK OF HELPING THEM IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE TO LIVE THE MOST FULLY HUMAN LIFE.
We know that love is not a state of being easily achieved. We ask that Bourbonman and Hugitout find the courage and the patience to overcome any obstacles, to open a profound communication - the very cornerstone of all relationships of love.
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE CONTINUING TASK OF HELPING THEM IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF A MARRIAGE PLEDGED TO HONEST STRUGGLE, OPEN WORDS, AND SHARED LIVES.
We recognize that love is not limited nor can it be contained. We ask that the unique expression of love that Hugitout and Bourbonman feel for each other reach out beyond themselves - to their family and to the world in which they live.
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE CONTINUING TASK OF HELPING THEM IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE TO LET THEIR LOVE SO SHINE THAT IT TOUCHES ALL WHO KNOW THEM; AND MAY THEIR LIVES BE LIVED NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR ALL.
Homily
This was crafted just for us by our minister. Hmm, I should probably get a copy of that…
Consent to be married
Hugitout and Bourbonman have honored and loved each other, both when it has been easy and when it has been hard, and therefore, it is fitting that they should now express to us what has been expressed already between them.
Hugitout, do you wish for this man to become your husband?
Hugitout: I do.
Bourbonman, do you wish for this woman to become your wife?
Bourbonman: I do.
Bourbonman and Hugitout, will you continue to encourage and inspire one another – to be the best that you can be?
WE WILL.
Do you promise to live each day as the first, the last, the only day you will have with each other.
WE WILL.
Wedding Vows
I, Bourbonman, take you, Hugitout in marriage, to be no other than yourself.
I promise to trust and support you,
To love you for who you are,
And to accept who you become.
I will listen to you openly,
Communicate honestly,
And be present with an open mind.
I will celebrate our differences,
Nurture what we share,
And work to honor these promises, for the rest of my life.
I, Hugitout, take you Bourbonman in marriage, to be no other than yourself.
I promise to trust and support you,
To love you for who you are,
And to accept who you become.
I will listen to you openly,
Communicate honestly,
And be present with an open mind.
I will celebrate our differences,
Nurture what we share,
And work to honor these promises, for the rest of my life.
Ring Exchange
The circle is a symbol of the sun and the earth and the universe. This ring is the symbol of the unity with which your two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle, and in which, wherever you go, you will always return unto one another to your togetherness.
Hugitout: I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and trust, now and in the years to come.
Bourbonman: I give you this ring as a sign of my love and trust, now and in the years to come.
Seven Blessings
(my great-grandparents were Jewish and I liked this modern interpretation)
May you be blessed with love. May your admiration, appreciation and understanding of each other foster a love that is passionate, tranquil and real. May this love between you be strong and enduring, and bring a deep and abiding peace into your lives.
May you be blessed with a loving home filled with warmth, humor and compassion. May you create a family together that honors traditions old and new. May you teach your children to have equal respect for themselves and others, and instill in them the value of learning.
May you be best friends and work together to build a relationship of substance and quality. May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship. May you respect each other’s individual personality and perspective, and give each other room to grow in fulfilling your dreams.
May you be blessed with wisdom. May you continually learn from one another and from the world. Together, may you grow, deepening your knowledge and understanding of each other and of your journey through life.
May you be blessed with health. May life bring you wholeness of mind, body and spirit. May you keep each other well-balanced and grounded, and live long that you may share many happy years together.
May your life be blessed with the art and beauty of this world. May your creative aspirations and experiences find expression, inspire you, and bring you joy and fulfillment. May you find happiness together in adventures big and small, and something to celebrate each day of your lives.
May you be blessed with community. May you always be blessed with the awareness that you are an essential part of a circle of family and friends. May there always be within this group love, trust, support and laughter, and may there be many future occasions for rejoicing in their company.
Pronouncement
Hugitout and Bourbonman, by exchanging vows and rings, you have affirmed your marriage to each other in the presence of this company. Henceforth, each of you will see your own experience in a new light as your life together unfolds. May you have the courage to love each other in truth today, and in the truth that is yet to be, the truth that shall be always new.
Final Blessing
Hand in hand, heart with heart, may you walk the pathway of life in faith, hope and love.
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| Re: Sample Ceremony Repository [message #982056] |
Fri, 30 October 2009 09:54 |
ChromeTutu
Messages: 610
Registered: March 2008
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Member |
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This is whopping long, but I thought I’d post it. FarmerBoy did most of the writing, I stole a lot of the format from a book about writing your own vows – it’s been mentioned here a few times, I just can’t remember it off the top of my head right now.
L is our “celebrant”, I’m CT, my husband is FB, and FIL is the Judge. The readers were our sisters.
L:
Welcome friends and family on this lovely day in this wonderful place where we come to witness the marriage of FB and CT. My name is L, an aunt to B and a friend to both. We are here beneath this great tree; looking at a house they have made a home, to help them in the next step of their journey together.
In the words of William Saroyan (in Mama, I Love You), “People come to weddings to celebrate their own.” It is in this spirit that we are here today to celebrate not only the wedding of CT and FB but to celebrate other weddings, marriages that have made today possible. A wedding day is a snapshot of history, a single memorable day that sums up untold moments of joy and sorrow, a still life of generations of history. CT and FB have invited all of you to bring photos of your own weddings and those of your loved ones who are no longer here so they may be surrounded by the witness of those who have gone before, who have shown with their lives the gravity of the solemn vows they are about to swear. As today progresses they invite you to join in the celebration of love that so many have taken before them. Each photo is a memory of a specific time and place and yet represents a whole history, a thousand words of time and place. Let us remember today the triumph and tribulations, the joys and the sorrows, the hope and the aspirations that each photo represents.
In each wedding couple, we see love standing before us -- we see it here between FB and CT. Love is a great and gentle power, but a marriage is a life’s work. It is too great a task for two people alone to construct an unshakable foundation for a marriage and so today we gather to witness, bless, and together erect the cornerstone of FB and CT’s life together.
I would like to invite C, FB’s sister, to offer a blessing by Robert Louis Stevenson.
C comes to the front and reads:
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, the work, the food,
And the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
For our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen.
L:
As Jose Saramago writes (in The Cave), “A man only lives for two days, today and the ones that went before.” The past is a memory that grows as one ages and yet is forever separate from today, time teaches us lessons that can be ignored or heeded in the today. That is the only way forward, to build upon all the yesterdays to their best advantage. Times of struggle, of hardship, times when we think we can no longer progress; we do not cherish and photograph those days and yet those are the days couples must triumph over in order to deliver us all here today. We are surrounded and supported by an invisible web of connections of family and friends, and today we forge a new connection between the families of CT and FB, connections that will soon be summed into a single photo, a memorable moment in the progress of time.
Saramago continues “that all the days gone by were once the eves of days to come and all future days will in turn be the eves of other future days. To become an eve, if only for an hour, is the impossible desire of every yesterday that has been and gone and of every today that is happening right now.” As the sun sets this evening, today will develop into the future.
FB and CT, as you spend your days together, you will create your own future, and your own right now -- may you, together, strive to expand your reach beyond the small little judgments, stinginess, the momentary lack of trust, pride or self-focus, the unintended unkindness – and strive, instead, for their beautiful opposites; and tomorrow become more than what you are today.
I would like to invite D, CT’s sister, forward to read “I carry your heart with me” by e e cummings.
D comes forward and reads:
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
L continues:
It is love, of course, true love, unconditional love, the love of the tree for the earth, the love of the bird for the sky, the love of God for creation, that shatters all limitations, that dissolves all fears. This unconditional love is the true gift of marriage.
Though marriage is high spiritual work, to labor through challenges is also to deliver yourself to joy; to be exuberant and playful, to bask in the companionship of the person who delights you, to participate in the pleasures of incarnation by being happy animals: creatures of passion, habit, and comfort. It is joy that brings you to marriage, joy that inhabits its happiest moments, and joy with which you shall contemplate your lives together as they draw to a close. Thus, it is with joy that we welcome FB and CT to the spiritual undertaking that is marriage.
I would like to invite J, FB’s sister, to read from Thomas a Kempis.
J comes forward and reads:
Love is a great thing,
A great good in every way,
And it leads smoothly over all roughness.
For it carries a burden without being burdened, and makes every bitter thing sweet and tasty.
Nothing is sweeter than love,
Nothing stronger,
Nothing higher,
Nothing wider,
Nothing more pleasant,
Nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.
Love flies, runs, and leaps for joy.
It is free and unrestrained.
Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds.
Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil,
attempts things beyond its strength.
Love sees nothing as impossible,
for it feels able to achieve all things.
It is strange and effective,
While those who lack love faint and fail.
Love is not fickle and sentimental,
nor is it intent on vanities.
Like a living flame and a burning torch,
it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle.
L:
Today we wish for FB and CT a sense of delight, excitement, possibility, and challenge about what they are undertaking, we pray for them the benediction of company, the encouragement of witness, and the boundless joy of always living in the midst of love. Friends, help give them peace of heart and strength of spirit so they may honor the vows they make here today.
Judge comes forward, L stands to side.
Judge:
Do you, FB, take CT to be your wife,
To cherish and comfort,
To honor and protect,
To stand with her in joy
And to raise her up above sorrow,
To share with her in times of want
As well as plenty,
And, forsaking all others,
To go with CT through age, infirmity and finally death
With the love you have for her untarnished in your heart?
FB:
I do.
Judge:
Do you, CT, take FB to be your husband,
To cherish and comfort,
To honor and protect,
To stand with him in joy
And to raise him up above sorrow,
To share with him in times of want
As well as plenty,
And, forsaking all others,
To go with FB through age, infirmity and finally death
With the love you have for him untarnished in your heart?
CT:
I do.
Judge:
These rings are a token of the vows you have made here today. FB, place this ring on CT’s finger and repeat after me:
With this ring, I marry you.
[pause]
I am yours. You are mine.
Of this we are certain.
[pause]
You are lodged in my heart,
The small key is lost.
You must stay there forever.
FB takes CT’s ring, places it on her finger.
Judge:
CT, place this ring on FB’s finger and repeat after me:
With this ring, I marry you.
[pause]
I am yours. You are mine.
Of this we are certain.
[pause]
You are lodged in my heart,
The small key is lost.
You must stay there forever.
CT takes FB’s ring, places it on his finger.
Judge:
FB and CT, because you have come together this day and pledged to each other all of your days remaining, and because we have witnessed the truth, depth, and strength of your love, by the authority invested in me by the State of New Jersey, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
We kiss!
L returns to center:
I would like to present to you, FB and CTB! Now go forth from this place with jubilation in your hearts and gladness in your feet. Amen.
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