Opening Remarks

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

Giving in Marriage

Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?
(Father) Her mother and I do

Thank you for your sanction. You may be seated.

The Welcome

Groom and Bride would like to also thank you all for being here with them today, and for supporting them through everything that it has taken to make this day a reality. They know that your taking the time, and making the journey, took considerable effort for a good many of you and they wanted you all to know the deep appreciation and gratitude that they feel in their hearts for this. All of you are the most important, and have been the most influential people in their lives. All of the time, and conversations, that you have had with Groom and Bride even before they met have helped to make them who they needed to be to first find themselves and then each other. You have shared in their best and their worst days, and you are an irreplaceable part of their yesterdays, their today and all of their tomorrows. For all of you are among the greatest gifts that life has given them. All of you are those they can call Family and Friend.

The Address

Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending of two hearts, the union of two lives into one. Your marriage must stand, not by the authority of the state, nor by the seal on your wedding certificate, but by the strength and power of the faith and love you have in one another.

Reading

We read in The Prophet, True love gives nothing but itself, and takes nothing but from itself, for love is sufficient unto love. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself, to awake at dawn and give thanks for another day of loving, to rest at noon and meditate love's ecstasy, to return home at eventide with gratitude, and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart, and a song of praise upon your lips. The Charge Groom and Bride, I would ask that you both remember to treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourself often of what brought you together today. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage - as they do to every relationship at one time or another - focus on what still seems right between you, not only the part that seems wrong. This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight. Now, bride, will you please pass your flowers. Turn and face one another and join hands to express your vows of love and devotion each to the other.

The I Do’s

Will you please, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, now join your hands and face me. Do you Bride/Groom, offer yourself wholly and joyfully, and do you choose Bride/Groom as the person with whom you will share your life, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, loving what you know of her, and trusting what you do know yet?(I Do)

Wedding Vows

I, (Bride/Groom), take you, (Bride/Groom), to be my friend, my lover, the (mother/father) of my children and my (husband/wife). I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity.

Unity Sand Ceremony

Groom and Bride, there is a song that speaks of a long and winding road and before you met, your lives were on such a road… each going in different directions and seemingly leading two different destinations. But somewhere along the way you took a fork in the road to a destination called love and today you find yourselves standing together at the entrance of a new path that will join your once separate journeys into one. Before each of you there is a container of sand. Each container represents the separate journeys you once were on. They also represent your own sets of friends and families that once were apart. I will ask that in a moment you both blend your individual container of sand together representing the coming together of your friends and family, through your marriage, into one. And as the sand is blended into one container, your once solitary journeys will now be one of companionship, as you walk a single path together into your future.

Ring Exchange Prelude

Having this kind of love in your hearts for one another, you have chosen to exchange rings as the sign and seal of the promises you are making to one another today. Rings are very large in their significance. They are made of a precious metal and precious stone and that reminds us that love is neither cheap nor common; indeed, love is very costly and dear to us. These rings are also made in a circle and their design tells us that we must keep love continuous throughout our whole lives even as the circle of the ring is continuous. As you wear these rings, whether you are together or apart for even just a moment, may these rings be a constant reminder of the promises you are making to one another this day.

Ring Exchange

To Groom: Do you have a ring for Bride? Groom, will you please take this ring and place it upon the third finger of Bride's left hand, and holding her hand in yours, please repeat this promise to Bride, saying after me: With this ring, I seal my promise, to be your faithful and loving husband.

To Bride: Do you have a ring for Groom? Bride, will you please take this ring and place it upon the third finger of Groom's left hand, and holding his hand in yours, please repeat this promise to Groom, saying after me: With this ring, I seal my promise, to be your faithful and loving wife.

I now ask that you blend your containers of sand together. As the sand has blended together, your lives are now joined. Your friends and family are as one as well, for now you will share those who are in your lives and will walk hand-in-hand along the path of your marriage-united and strong as husband and wife.

Closing Remarks

May these two find happiness in their matrimony; may they live faithfully together, may they ever remain compassionate. May years be rich in the joys of life, and their days be long upon the earth

Declaration of Marriage

Bride and Groom, you have come here today before us and before god and have expressed your desire to become husband and wife. You have shown your love and affection by joining hands, and have made promises of faith and devotion, each to the other, and have sealed these promises by the giving and the receiving of rings. Therefore, it is my privilege and by the authority given to me by the state of Florida, I now pronounce that you are husband and wife.

The Kiss

Groom, you may kiss your wife.

The Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. _____________.