Rev: (Groom) and (Bride).
Today you are surrounded by your friends and family, all of them
gathered to witness your marriage and to share in the joy of this
occasion, a day which will be one of the most memorable days of your
life.
The commitment which you are about to make is an important one. The
essence of this commitment is the taking of another person as lover,
companion, and friend. It is therefore a decision which is not to be
entered into lightly, but rather undertaken with great consideration
and respect for both the other person and oneself.
Love is one of the highest experiences that we human beings can
have, and it can add deep meaning to our lives. The sensual part of
love is one of life’s greatest joys. When combined with friendship,
both are infinitely enhanced.
These sentiments are echoed in a book by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. She
writes, "For marriage, which is often spoken of as a bond, becomes
actually many bonds, many strands, of different textures and
strengths, making up a web that is taut and firm. The web is
fashioned by many kinds of love; romantic love at first, then a
slow-growing devotion and, playing through these, a constantly
rippling companionship. It is made of loyalties, and
inter-dependencies and shared experiences. It is woven of memories
of meeting and conflicts; of triumphs and disappointments. It is a
web of communication, a common language, and the acceptance of lack
of language, too; a knowledge of likes and dislikes, of habits and
reactions, both physical and mental. It is a web of instincts, and
intuitions, and known and unknown exchanges. The web of marriage is
made of nearness, in the day-to-day living side by side, looking….in
the same direction. It is woven in space and time of the substance
of life itself.
Lord, we ask for your blessing on the marriage of (Groom) and
(Bride). Make them rich with your peace whereby they may enjoy the
comforts, and share the experiences, insights and lessons of life.
May they grow individually and as a supportive and loving couple.
May they experience your presence, love and guidance every day. Amen
Rev: Will (Groom)’ and (Bride)’ family please stand.
(Groom) and (Bride) wish to acknowledge the significance of your
life-giving relationship to them. Although they have a life of their
own, they are inseparably bound to other lives; especially to yours.
Will you, the family of (Groom) and (Bride), grant them your
blessing and pledge them your love and acceptance?
Parents: We will.
Rev: We are here then, to celebrate the love (Groom) and (Bride)
have for each other and to give recognition to their decision to
accept one another totally and permanently. Into this state of
marriage these two persons come now to be united.
Rev to Groom: (Groom) please repeat after me, I, (Groom), take you,
(Bride), 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, until we are parted by death.
Rev to Bride: (Bride) please repeat after me, I, (Bride), take you,
(Groom), to be my husband, 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, until we are parted by death.
Rev: (Groom) and (Bride) will exchange rings as a symbol of their
vows. The ring is an ancient symbol of such vows, as the circle is
considered to be the most perfect form of all forms in nature. As
the years pass your rings will gain in value for they are the
constant symbol of your lifetime together.
Rev to Groom: (Groom), as you place this ring, symbol of your
commitment in marriage on (Bride)’s finger, please repeat after me,
"with this ring I wed you and pledge my faithful love."
Rev to Bride: (Bride), as you place this ring, symbol of your
commitment in marriage on (Groom)’s finger, please repeat after me,
"with this ring I wed you and pledge my faithful love."
Lord we ask your blessing on (Groom) and (Bride). Strengthen them
with the experience of your love and guidance. Help them to fulfill
the vows they have now taken. Guide them in the manner and way you
choose so that they may love you and one another all the days of
their lives. Enable them to help, encourage, comfort and support one
another from now on. Amen.
We give thanks for the nurture and support of family and friends.
Let us, who share the circle of celebration today, be renewed in our
commitments to one another, that we may participate in a kinder and
ever improving society.
Rev: (Groom) and (Bride), for in as much as you have pledged
yourself to one another in this affirmation of love and commitment
you are now husband and wife.
(Groom) and (Bride), now that you are married, keep this covenant
that you have made. Be a blessing and a comfort to each other, share
each other’s joys and be consolers in each other’s sorrows.
Encourage each other in whatever you set out to achieve. May you not
only accept and give affection between yourselves, but also
together, have affection and consideration for others. From this
moment on, go your separate ways together, remembering always to be
each other’s best friend.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon
you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance
upon you and give you peace, both today and forever. Amen.
May the love you hold for one another, now sealed in marriage,
continue to mature, so your life together may be a source of
strength and inspiration to the community of your family and the
wider circle of the world.
You may kiss your bride.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you, Mr.
and Mrs. __________________.
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