Colorado Wedding Ministers

We Do I Do For YOU!

Today is a Celebration

Welcome

Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.

You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing on a stage, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who has meant anything to you in the past twenty-something years. So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others. Why this moment? It's because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier — our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we're doing right. That's why you both are standing here. That's why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity.

(Optional)

As we go forward, Name and Name would like to take a moment to recognize all those wonderful people who made today happen. The love and support of parents/ honored person(s) who supported them through all of life's happiness’s and challenges. You have watched them grow in to adulthood, and we are here to give them into the keeping of the person who will love and cherish them as much as you do. This is also a time to remember those who are not here to celebrate with us today, either because they were unable due to reasons of their own or because they are traveling down the corridors of time without us. They may not be here, but we always carry them in our hears.

Declaration of Intent

All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing — and others that are exciting and full of adventure. This is a new chapter of your love story, and its also a time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here, and a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.

We have some words about what love is from Captain Corelli’s mandolin, 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 blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.

Vows

You fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter. You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."

Will you, Name, keep Name as your favorite person — to laugh with her/him, go on adventures with her/him, support her/him through life's tough moments, be proud of her/him, grow old with her/him, and find new reasons to love her/him every day?

Name

I will.

Will you, Name, keep Name as your favorite person — to laugh with him/her, go on adventures with her/him, support her/him through life's tough moments, be proud of her/him, grow old with her/him, and find new reasons to love her/him every day?

Name

I will

Will you, Name and Name, be each other's partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?

Name and Name

We will.

Rings

You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. The stones were formed a long time ago deep with the earth. Eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. Metal was then liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees — molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape it into something extraordinary. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one other today.

Name, please place this ring on Name's finger and repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day.

Name, please place this ring on Name's finger and repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day.

Closing

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.

May you want one another, but not out of lack.

May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.

May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.

May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

A Modern Ceremony
Welcome
Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever.
You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing up here, looking all fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who has meant anything to you through out the years. So why do we do it? We do this because, the marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but why is this one is regarded to be so critical, that we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others. So again, why this moment? It is truly that despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's that great unifier, our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we're doing right. That's why you both are standing here. That's why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity.

Charge to the Couple
All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing — and others that are exciting and full of adventure. It is because of the love story between Name and Name that brings us here. We are gifted with a time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come.

I'm here — we're all here — because we want those moments for you. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It's not one moment, not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged, but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, and then surviving them! To binge-watching Netflix shows, standing in front of the freezer section at the store trying to pick the perfect ice cream, even to just getting a big hug when you get home from work. It is these everyday moments fuse together into one big experience. And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love — it's meant to be felt, not described. But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.

(Optional)
So today, we have some words about what love is, by Steve Scafidi, called a “Prayer for Marriage”
When we are old one night,
and the moon arcs over the house
like an antique china saucer,
and the teacup sun
follows somewhere far behind
I hope the stars deepen to a shine
So bright you could read by it, If you liked,
and the sadness we will have known will go away for a while,
in this hour or two before sleep,
and that we kiss, standing in the kitchen,
not fighting gravity so much as embodying its sweet force,
And I hope we kiss, like we do today,
Knowing so much good is said in the primitive tongue —
From the wild first surprising ones,
To the lower dizzy ten thousand infinitely slower ones –
And I hope while we stand there in the kitchen,
Making tea and kissing,
The whistle of the teapot wakes the neighbors.

But maybe Ogden Nash said it best-
To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up.

Vows
You fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter. You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."

Please repeat after me-
I choose you to be my husband/my wife, my partner in life. I promise you my unconditional love,
my fullest devotion, my most tender care. Through the pressures of the present
and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to love you, honor, respect
and cherish you all the days of our lives.

Will you, Name, keep Name as your favorite person — to laugh with her/him, go on adventures with her/him, support her/him through life's tough moments, be proud of her/him, grow old with her/him, and find new reasons to love her/him every day?
Name
I will.

Will you, Name and Name, be each other's partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next?
Name and Name
We will.

Rings
You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. The stones were formed a long time ago deep with the earth. Eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. Metal was then liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees, then molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements.

Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape it into something extraordinary. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one other today.

(Optional)
(Person(s) of Honor) could you please step forward and gift Name and Name with the rings?
Thank you.
My friends, if you could please hold these rings for just a moment, and I want you to think on what today means to you. What your hopes, dreams and wishes are for your future together. Infuse them with the love you share so you will always carry it with you no matter where you may travel.

Name, please place this ring on Name’s finger and repeat after me.
I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day.

Closing
No one but you can declare yourselves married. You have begun it here today in speaking your vows before your family and friends, and you will do it again in the days and years to come, standing by each other, sharing the highs and lows of life.
My hope for you is this:
May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

It's a Beautiful Day

Welcome

Hello and welcome everyone! On behalf of Name and Name, thank you for being here today!

On this beautiful day of Date we take ourselves out of the usual routines of daily living to witness a unique moment in the lives of Name and Name. Today they join their lives in the union of marriage. To everyone gathered here today family and friends, they are happy to share this moment with you. They have known most of you for many years. You watched them grow up, you went to school with them, or you worked with them. Because you are the ones who have supported them and known them so well, it is only fitting that you are the ones to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment with them.

(optional)

Name and Name are pleased to have their parents in the front row…close to them for the ceremony.

Name and Name thanks her/his mother/father/honored person(s) for providing he/him with every opportunity possible and being the best mother/father/honored person anyone could ask for. They want you to know that they appreciate all the love and support his/her mother/father/parents/honored person(s) gave him/her over the years.

(Optional)

A wedding day is often a day when couples miss those people who no longer with them. They are traveling down a different road from us, but always we hold them in our hearts. Lets take just a moment and remember all those wonderful times you shared, whether it was a meal, a dance, an adult beverage, laughing and sharing a smile or two.

Declaration of Intent

As Name and Name have presented themselves to be married today…surrounded by the people they love the most. And as they prepared for the ceremony part of this wedding celebration, they reflected on what it is that they love about each other. It is fitting to speak briefly about love. We live in a world of joy and fear, and we search for meaning and strength in the seeming disorder. We discover the truest guideline to our quest when we realize love in all its magnitudes. Love is the eternal force of life. Love is the force that allows us to overcome all obstacles. Your love that you share, gives you the opportunity look to a shared future that includes raising a happy and healthy family. That future also includes a richly lived life together…going out to restaurants, hanging out with family, playing games, or plain just annoying each other for fun, or even just binge watching TV. The years will come and go…you won’t take each other for granted, you will laugh a lot, you will be the best parents you can be, you will grow older and wiser together.

It’s a good story ,and the ending is not in sight!

It feels fitting at this time to share a small poem for this special moment.
"The Art of a Good Marriage" by Wilfred Peterson
A good marriage must be created.
In the marriage, the little things are the big things…
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once each day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of value and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love 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 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.

Vows

We come now to the words Name and Name want to hear the most today…the words that take them across the threshold from being engaged to being married.

A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.

Before you declare your vows to one another, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed your intention to be married today.

Name , do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Name in marriage?

Name

I do.

Name, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to Name?

Name

I do.

In having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, we will now hear the your promises of love to each other.

Name , please repeat after me…

I, Name take you, Name to be my wife/husband/partner in life/crime.

I will share my life with yours, and build our dreams together,

Support you through times of trouble, and rejoice with you in times of happiness.

I promise to give you respect, love and loyalty.

This commitment is made in love, kept in faith,

lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives.

Now, Name, please repeat after me…

I, Name take you, Name to be my wife/husband/partner in life/crime.

I will share my life with yours, and build our dreams together,

Support you through times of trouble, and rejoice with you in times of happiness.

I promise to give you respect, love and loyalty.

This commitment is made in love, kept in faith,

lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives.

and made new every day of our lives.

Rings

Your wedding ring are the outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible bond which already unites you two hearts in love. These rings will be a visible sign of the vows you have made. The hand you place this ring on will not stay the same. In time, wrinkles will form, calluses will come and go, and different scars may appear. Not only will each of you change physically over time, but internally you will change as well. Your ideals, values, hopes may evolve. Things that are important to you today may not be the same over time. In 10, 20, 30 years you will change, but your rings, which represent your vows, will be constant. The promises to love, cherish, and respect one another no matter what life brings or what paths you take will always be worn around your finger. Your love will be constant as you walk together into the unknown. Your rings and your vows will cling to your finger and hold you together no matter what may come.

(Optional)

Could Name, please step forward with the rings? Please hold these rings in your hands.

Warm them, think of everything that you wish and want for Name and Name . I also invite everyone here to do the same, and infuse these rings with those blessings and wishes for them to carry though out their lives together and beyond.

Name, place the ring on Name ‘s finger and repeat after me….

I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy.

As this ring has no end, my love is also forever.

Name , place the ring on Name ‘s finger and repeat after me….

I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy.

As this ring has no end, my love is also forever.

May the wedding rings you exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love.

Blessing

Everyone has advice for newlyweds. Today, I offer these good wishes not only to you, but to everyone gathered here on this special day.

May your life together be blessed with prosperity and good health. May you always share open and honest communication between each other. May you respect each other’s individual talents and gifts and give full support to each other’s professional and personal pursuits.

May you cherish the home and family you will create together. May all the years to come be filled with moments to celebrate and renew your love. May your love be a life-long source of excitement, contentment, affection, respect, and devotion for one another.

Closing

And so now by the power vested in me by the great and beautiful state of Colorado, it is my honor and delight to declare you husband/wife/partners. You may seal this declaration with a kiss.

Today We Celebrate Love

Welcome

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone.

I would like to welcome you all here today to celebrate the mutual love of Name and Name and to witness their commitment to each other in marriage. Name and Name have asked you here this afternoon because each one of you has touched their lives in some special way. Each of you is a valued part of what they are as individuals and what they’ll become as a married couple. Your presence is a gift of support and caring, and they appreciate your sharing their special day. We want to thank you all for travelling here and for helping to make it such a memorable occasion, your kindness and friendship means a lot to us. Today I invite each of you to share the joy of these two people who have found each other. I invite you to hear their understandings of love and marriage. You, their friends, are all especially welcome here because you form a circle of love. Name and Name are as they are, in part, because they have known all of you. You are not just spectators today. You are all a part of their past, and by your presence here, you promise to care for them as they move into the future. And so, to show your support I ask you to answer the following question loud and clear.

Do you all promise to love and support Name and Name as they begin their new life together? If so, say We Do!

Everyone-

We Do!

Thank you everyone.

Declaration of Love

This marriage ceremony fulfills many purposes. First, we’re here to celebrate the loving relationship that Name and Name have already created together. Secondly, we are here to witness the commitments and aspirations they will exchange in today’s ceremony. And finally, we’re here to offer our love, our support and our encouragement to them in their joyful and rather courageous adventure of marriage. Many people believe that every society needs a moral code if people are to live together in harmony, and that morality comes from within ourselves. It’s about unselfishness, kindness and consideration towards others; and it’s about accepting responsibility for our own lives, while recognizing our responsibility to the whole world. Kind of like what love does to those we love, it brings out the very best of us, and smooths those edges of challenges and hardships.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. We hope that love grows deeper each day for us and for all the married couples here today.

Vows

We’ve come to that point in the ceremony where you’re going to say your vows to one another. But before you do that, I would ask you to remember that love – which is rooted in trust and acceptance – will be the foundation of your relationship. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more important 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 another person fully and without limitation, then your lives 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. 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 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.

Name, will you have Name to be your wife/husband/partner to live together as friend and mate? Will you love her/him as a person, respect her as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep her/him beside you as long as you both shall live?

Name

I do

Name, will you have Name to be your wife/husband/partner to live together as friend and mate? Will you love her/him as a person, respect her/him as an equal, sharing joy as well as sorrow, triumph as well as defeat. And keep her/him beside you as long as you both shall live?

Name

I do

Rings

The circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth and the universe. It’s a symbol of wholeness and peace. And in the form of a ring may it stand for you as a symbol of your love for each other, looking both inwards and outwards; it’s an embrace that binds without imprisoning; it’s a support that reassures without restricting. The wedding bands that Name and Name have exchanged are a confirmation of the vows that they have made.

Name, do you have the rings?

Name, place your ring on Name's finger and repeat after me:

I, Name, take you Name to be my wife/husband/partner and with this ring I marry you and join my life to yours.

Name place your ring on Name's finger and repeat after me:

I, Name, take you Name to be my wife/husband/partner and with this ring I marry you and join my life to yours.

Closing

And as you hold each others hands look down at them and see the gift they are to you, and will hold your through out all your lives together. There are many poems, stories, and songs about love. For Name and Name, this poem called True Love By an unknown Author, sums up what Name and Name have put into place today.

True Love is a sacred flame that burns eternally,

And one can dim its special glow

Or change its destiny.

True love speaks in tender tones

And hears with gentle ear.

True love gives with open hear

And true love makes no harsh demands;

It neither rules nor binds,

And true love holds with gentle hands.

Blessing

As we close this wedding ceremony today I have a final blessing for all who have gathered here today.

May the sun bring you new energy by day,

May the moon softly restore you by night,

May the rain wash away your worries and the breeze blow new strength into your being.

And all the days of your life may you walk gently through the world and know its beauty.

Now you feel no cold, for each other will warm the other

Now there are two persons, but there is only one life before you.

Go now to your life together and may your days be good and long upon the earth.

And so with the power vested in me by the great and wonderful state of Colorado, it is with much honor and pleasure to now pronounce you married.

A Celebration for two who are in love….

Welcome
To all of our friends and family, welcome.
Our love for Name and Name brought us here today in order that we might share with them the celebration of life’s most sacred promise--the union of two people, each unique in their own right, in marriage. This union was created by friendship, respect and love. Name and Name bring with them the dreams which drew them together. They bring the fullness of their hearts as a treasure to be shared, and they bring with them the ability to view the world, themselves, and each other with a sense of humor.

(Optional)
Let us pray: Giver of life and love, we give thanks for all the beauty in the world. We give thanks for all that binds us to one another, for all the common experiences which make us kin to each other, for the example of those who have taught us what love is, and for the courage and confidence we have come to know in finding it for ourselves. We give thanks for Name and Name, who have come to this moment as two and will leave it as one, with one life ahead of them. May all that life brings them strengthen the bond they will declare here today. May they give comfort and joy, counsel and strength to each other. And may the home they share shed its peace on them and on all who seek its shelter with them.

Charge to the Couple
Since time immemorial, people have performed ceremonies to mark a transition, a change of status. We have gathered here today for the happiest of ceremonies – the change of status from single individuals to a married couple. Today is the day that Name and Name will formally and publicly make their promises to one another. Although this is indeed a high point, marriage is a journey not a destination. Marriage is more than any one single event or promise. It is a series of decisions that have been made, and will continue to be made over and over again, every day, that shows each of their care and concern for the one whom they each love most in the world.
Marriage is a promise that is renewed daily through a couples actions and a responsibility taken on in the spirit of faith, and hope, and love, that brings comfort in times of sadness and heightens our greatest joy.

Vows
A wedding is more than a celebration of the love which lives in Name and Name's hearts today. It reaches into the future and proclaims their intentions for that which tomorrow shall hold. A couple who wed are joined not only by the mutual affection and love they share, but also by their hopes, dreams and by their promises of what will be... The promises and vows they make this day shall guide them into their common future. Of all the people you know, you have chosen each other as life partners. Name and Name, are you ready to cross that threshold and join your lives together?
Name and Name
We are.

Name, if you would please repeat after me-
I, Name take you, Name, as my wife/husband/ partner in life. And I promise...
To love you day by day, taking each one as it comes; To communicate, so unspoken thoughts are not misunderstood;
To make our house a home, a sanctuary, a refuge; To stand beside you when it seems you are standing alone;
To believe in you, to believe in us, And to foster our future life together.

Name, if you would please repeat after me-
I, Name take you, Name, as my wife/husband/ partner in life. And I promise...
To love you day by day, taking each one as it comes; To communicate, so unspoken thoughts are not misunderstood;
To make our house a home, a sanctuary, a refuge; To stand beside you when it seems you are standing alone;
To believe in you, to believe in us, And to foster our future life together.

I request that you each remember to continue to cherish each other as special and unique individuals and that you each respect the thoughts and ideas of one another. And most of all, be able to forgive each other, and not hold grudges against one another. Live each day in love with each other, always being there to give love, comfort, and refuge to each other, in good times and bad.

His holiness the 14th Dali Lama, had these words about love in his Instructions for a New Millennium.
“Take into account that great love
and great achievements involve great risk.
And that a loving atmosphere in your home
is the foundation for your life.
Be gentle with the earth, be gentle with one another.
When disagreements come remember always
to protect the spirit of your union.
When you realize you’ve made a mistake,
take immediate steps to correct it.
Remember that the best relationship is one
in which your love for each other
exceeds your need for each other.
So love yourselves, love one another,
love all that is your life together and all else will follow.”

Let those words guide you through your lives together and I promise you will live a life full of love and happiness.

Rings
Now we come to the giving and receiving of the rings. A ceremony is for a day but a marriage I for a lifetime. The rings that you are about to exchange mark the beginning of a long journey together. They are also a symbol of infinity, time without end. Let your rings be a reminder of your union, and of the love that you share. As a ring is unbroken, so will your love for each other be without end. As a circle is the symbol of the sun, the earth, the universe; it is a symbol of wholeness, of perfection and of harmony. As unbroken circles with out a beginning or end, these rings you give and receive this day are symbols of the everlasting love and is an outward sign of the promises you have made to each other.

As you place your ring on Name’s finger please repeat after me-
I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity.

As you place your ring on Name’s finger please repeat after me-
I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity.

Closing
Name and Name, because you have grown in knowledge and love of each other, and because you have agreed in your desire to go forward together, seeking an even richer, deepening relationship because you see in each other that for which there are no words, and because you have pledged yourselves, one to the other, we rejoice to recognize that you are now partners in life. We rejoice this day with the union of Name and Name. We celebrate the love that has brought you to this day. With joy that deepens through many years, may you know its meaning and its mystery--how you become truly one in sharing yourselves with one another and in caring for one another, and yet, in love, remain truly two in your uniqueness.

Blessing
I have a blessing for you and everyone who has gathered here today.
May your house be a place of happiness for all who enter it, a place where the old and the young are renewed in each other’s company, a place for growing, a place for music, a place for laughter. And when shadows and darkness fall within its rooms, may it still be a place of hope and strength for all who enter it, especially for those who are entrusted to your care. May no person be alien to your compassion. May your larger family be the family of all humankind. And may the beauty and the bounty of your love for one another constantly enrich those who are nearest to you and dearest to you.

Celebration of Marriage

Welcome

Greetings and blessings to all the family and friends who have come here on this beautiful day. We have all come to acknowledge the love between Name and Name and celebrate their new marriage.

(Optional)

Before we begin do the parents, person(s) of honor or guests of Name and Name grant their blessings to this marriage?

All reply

We do.

Declaration of Intent

Let us begin-

Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance.

Today Name and Name proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.

The joy we feel now is a solemn joy, because the act of marriage has many consequences, both social and personal. Marriage requires "love," a word we often use with vagueness and sentimentality. We may assume that love is some rare and mystical event, when in fact it is our natural state of being.

When we love, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface, to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty. And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other. One, who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us.

We, who love, can look at each other's life and say, "I touched his life," or, "I touched her life," just as an artist might say, "I touched this canvas." "Those brushstrokes in the comer of this magnificent mural, those are mine. I was a part of this life, and it is a part of me." Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together.

The secret of love and marriage is similar to that of religion itself. It is the emergence of the larger self. It is the finding of one's life by losing it. Such is the privilege of husband/wife/partners in life - to be each himself/herself/ themselves yet another; to face the world strong, with the courage of two.

Vows

Do you Name take Name to no other than himself/herself, rejoicing in all the ways life may find you? To grow and grow old together? Promising to give him/her

The best of yourself, and to love her/him endlessly?

Will you Name take Name as your husband/wife/partner in life now and forever?

Name

I do

Name, please repeat after me-

Name, from the beginning of our relationship,

You've amazed me, challenged me, and changed me in a way

That no other human being ever has. Before I knew you, I wasn't living.

You saw into my heart, and you believed in me.

And now, today, my dream is coming true, you’ve opened up my eyes

And shown me what a genuine love can be. Everything I have and everything I am is yours and I give you my life and my love for all eternity.

Do you Name take Name to be no other than herself/himself, rejoicing in all the ways life may find you? To grow and grow old together. Promising to give her/him the best of yourself, and to love Name endlessly? Will you Name take Name as your wife/husband/partner in life now and forever?

Name

I do

Name, will you please repeat after me?

On this beautiful day, in the presence of these witnesses,

I, Name take you, Name, to be my wife/husband/partner in life, as well as my mate and friend.

I promise to be true to you, to love and be an equal partner with you,

To share the beautiful moments of life with you,

And to hold and strengthen you, when we come upon hard times.

I promise that as we grow old, I will never forget what we have now.

No matter how many days pass, I know our love will never fade,

And that we will grow as one. I promise to give you

The best of myself, and love you without condition.

To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They are not a destination, but a journey.

Rings

This circlet of precious metal is justly regarded as a fitting emblem of the purity and perpetuity of the marriage state. We are reminded by this circle of eternity, as it is so fashioned as to have neither beginning nor end; while gold is so incorruptible that it cannot be tarnished by use or time. So may the union, at this time solemnized, be incorruptible in its purity and more lasting than time itself.

(Optional)

(Person(s) of honor) Could you please come forward and honor this new union and gift your rings to the couple standing in front of you?

Thank you

Name please place the ring on Name’s finger and repeat after me.

I will share my joy with you, that it be multiplied. I will share your pain, that it be divided. I will walk by your side as we travel together through life's changes. I will sleep in your arms and that love will be my home. I choose you, Name above all others, to be my husband/wife/partner in life. I offer this ring as a token of our love and with it I join my life to yours.

Name, please place the ring on Name’s finger and repeat after me.

Charge to the couple

The true art of married life is in this an inner spiritual journey. It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments which diminishes neither, but enhances both. In the years which shall bring Name and Name into greater age and wisdom, we pray that their love shall be ever young; that they shall be able always to recover from moments of despair, the lithesome ways of buoyant youth. In this hope may they keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other; that they are all of us, and that together we share joyously the fruits of life.

Closing

Inasmuch as Name and Name have declared their love and devotion to each other before family and friends, I now greet them with you as husband/wife/partner in life.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be sanctuary to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no isolation for you. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two, but there is only one life in front of you.

Once again I thank all the friends and family who have honored us today in celebrating this new union between these two people and their families.

It is my honor and privilege to share with you Names.

Today is the Day!

Welcome

Welcome everyone!

We have gathered here today, to celebrate the wedding of Name and Name. To find someone with whom to love and grow and share your life is a rare and precious thing. You are fortunate to have found each other and today we are embracing the hope that you find the patience to listen, the capacity to understand, and the compassion to give comfort; each day enjoying each other’s company. Marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, who trust that love, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together. It enables the two separate souls to share their desires, longings, dreams, and memories, their joys, and sorrows, and to help each other through all uncertainties of life. A strong marriage also nurtures each of you as separate individuals and allows you to maintain your unique identity and grow in your own way through the years ahead. It is a safe haven for each of you to become your best self while together you become better than ever could be alone.

Declaration

It is fitting to speak briefly about love. We live in a world of joy and fear, and we search for meaning and strength in the seeming disorder. We discover the truest guideline to our quest when we realize love in all its magnitudes. Love is the eternal force of life. Love is the force that allows us to overcome all obstacles. May you always remember to give love freely and unconditionally from your heart. Always preserve yourself, your integrity, and your individuality; yet give of yourselves freely to each other. Because you are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust. One of the greatest lesson life teaches us about marriage as well as all of relationships, is that those who hoard the goodness of life just for themselves, miss out on the best things of this world. But the ones who give of themselves...who share the wonders of life with others...devoting themselves to enrich the marriage, relationships, and friendships... it is those people who find a blessed life.

It feels fitting that at this time I have a small poem to read to you-

This for you, for both of you, a small poem of happiness

filled with small glories and little triumphs, a fragile, short cheerful song

filled with hope and all sorts of futures.

Because at weddings we imagine the future, because it's all about "what happened next?"

all the work and negotiation and building and talk, that makes even the tiniest happily ever after

something to be proud of for a wee forever.

This is a small thought for both of you, like a feather or a prayer, a wish of trust and love and hope

and fine brave hearts and true.

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks—all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married,” and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will”—all 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 a wedding.

Vows

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed—well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another—acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world, “This is my husband.” “This is my wife.”

Name, please repeat after me-

I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who you are yet to become.

I promise from this day forward, to be grateful for our love and our life.

To be generous with my time, my energy, and my affection

To be patient with you and with myself, to fill our life with adventure and our home with laughter

To encourage you to grow as an individual, and inspire you to do so

To love you completely, these things I pledge before you today

Name, please repeat after me-

I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who you are yet to become.

I promise from this day forward, to be grateful for our love and our life.

To be generous with my time, my energy, and my affection

To be patient with you and with myself, to fill our life with adventure and our home with laughter

To encourage you to grow as an individual, and inspire you to do so

To love you completely, these things I pledge before you today

Rings

Name, Name, you have just made promises love and devotion to each other. These rings are symbols of the those vows you have just spoken. Words are intangible and difficult to hold onto, so the rings become a vessel which will hold the words you have given to one another. The words of “loving and cherishing,” “for better and for worse,” “honor and respecting,” are now encased in the ring. It is a physical way to hold on to the promises made to you. When you first put on a new ring it feels unnatural. You feel the weight and you hear it clank against objects. It’s a foreign object on your hand. But then there is a shift that happens. You become comfortable with the ring. It begins to mold your finger and feel comfortable until the day it just becomes a part of your hand. The ring is no longer a piece of jewelry that you wear. It becomes an extension of your hand. An unbroken, never ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love.

Name, please place this ring on Name s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore

Name, please place this ring on Name’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring to wear with love and joy. As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you. I choose you to be my husband this day and forevermore.

Closing

My friends, as a collection of words, this ceremony would count for little, were it not for the love and commitment you have pledged to one another. Your vows may have been spoken in minutes, but your promises to each other will last a lifetime. You have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given and received a ring as a symbol of your promises. By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.

Blessing

As a final blessing to you my friends-

May you have many joys and be the light of each other's day. May you always see and encourage the best in each other. May the challenges that life brings your way make your marriage grow stronger. May you always be each other's best friend and greatest love.

Congratulations.

You are now married!

Love’s greatest Treasure

Welcome

We are gathered here today to join Name and Name in marriage. Love is life’s greatest treasure and to embrace it wholeheartedly in the here and now is one of the most life affirming experiences a human can have. What the two of you have is so good that you desire to spend the rest of your lives together. So we have set aside this time, here in this beautiful setting, to make your relationship permanent and official, with the highest promises of love and devotion two people can make to each other.

The promises made here today will mingle with the gentle breeze, to be carried by the wind, to echo in the mountains, become absorbed into the earth, sea and sky, so that your marriage vows will follow you, wherever you go in life, as a constant sweet whisper of comfort and security.

Declaration of Intent

Someone once said: The most wonderful of all things in life, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It's a Divine destiny." Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and romance in movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Without love, we merely exist. With love, we truly begin to live! For love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely place. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy is the greatest treasure of all - one known only by those who truly love.

Vows

Name and Name, today we are recognizing your special connection. You have similarities in your values, passions and personalities. This creates a rich foundation for your marriage; one based on genuine friendship, loyalty, humor, and the sense of well being and acceptance you have when you’re together.

Name, do you choose Name to be your wife/husband/partner, to love her/him, comfort her/him, honor, treasure her/him, and forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

Name

I do

Please repeat after me-

I, Name, take you, Name, to be my wife/husband,/partner to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.

Name, do you choose Name to be your wife/husband/partner, to love her/him, comfort her/him, honor, treasure her/him, and forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

Name

I do

Please repeat after me-

I, Name, take you, Name, to be my wife/husband,/partner to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.

Rings

Name and Name, you have rings to exchange as a symbol of your marriage. The wedding ring has a circular shape, which is symbolic of wholeness, sacredness and peace. A circle begins nowhere in particular, but never ends, always returning to itself, like life and true love. These wedding rings are outward symbols of the inward promises you’ve just made to each other and to yourselves. When you slide your fingers inside these rings, you are taking responsibility for the happiness and success of your marriage, acknowledging that the health of your marriage is in your hands, your hearts and your souls, determined by your integrity in upholding the vows you have just made to each other.

(Optional)

Name(s) could you please step forward with the rings?

Name, please repeat after me, while placing the ring on Name’s finger:

I give you this ring, as a symbol of our devotion to each other.

Name, please repeat after me, while placing the ring on Name’s finger:

I give you this ring, as a symbol of our devotion to each other.

Charge to the Couple

It’s not only your similarities, but your differences that you find attractive in each other. There may be features and qualities you each lack, but are supplied by the other, making your relationship whole and balanced, opening up new possibilities for a richer future together than either of you could have separately. The sharing of values, humor and affection, strengthen a marriage, and create an atmosphere, where unique personality traits are combined into a perfect balance, where collectively two people can achieve more fullness in their lives, because the joys are intensified by being shared, and sorrows are diminished because of the support of the other. In human history, we have not yet discovered a better way of life than sharing it together in a love that is lasting and responsible. A shared and secure commitment meets our deepest human needs for love and companionship, for someone with whom we can share in an intimate and trusting way all the hopes, joys, and dreams of life.

Closing

Name and Name, the words and feelings expressed here today are not just spoken this once and then forgotten, but must be carried out with your actions every day you share together. Never forget the feelings you had when you first recognized the love between you and the respect you have for each other, despite your differences. If you experience challenging days that cause you lose sight of what you have, remember this day and the feelings you have right now, and come back to this moment in time. Remember it is your humanness that you love most in one another. It is what has made you each so special that you have chosen to spend the rest of your lives enjoying all the many wondrous qualities you have to share with each other.

Blessing

May you have many joys, and be the light of each other's day. May you always see and encourage the best in each other. May the challenges that life brings your way make your marriage grow stronger. May you always be each other's best friend and greatest love.

Pronouncement

Inasmuch as you, Name and you, Name have given and pledged your vows of love, honor and devotion to each other, I am delighted to pronounce you husband/wife/partners in life!

You may seal these vows and celebrate this moment with a kiss!

Love is that Supreme Sharing

Welcome

Hello and Welcome!

I’m very happy to welcome you all here today, on behalf of Name and Name , on this very happy occasion as we celebrate their marriage. We’ve been invited here to share with Name and Name a very important moment in their lives. In the years they’ve been together, their love and their understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they’ve decided to live their lives together as husband/wife/partners.

(Optional)

Name and Name would like to acknowledge parents/honored persons on this occasion. They offer their profound gratitude to you for all the love and care you showed in raising them. The unconditional gifts of love and support that you have continually offered have inspired them to become who they are today, and they thank you, from the bottom of their hearts, for guiding them to this celebration of love here today. Without you, this day would not be possible.

Declaration of Love

You know marriage is a supreme sharing; it’s probably the greatest and most challenging of human relationships. It’s the joyful uniting between two people whose care and affection and understanding have flowered into a deep and lasting love. Those who take its vows have their lives blended together into one, as the waters of two rivers are joined when they come together to form an even greater one. A truly spiritual marriage is an act of metamorphosis; it’s a profound mystery of creation and rebirth, as two become one. It is not a giving up or loss of oneself, but rather a giving over of oneself to something greater–a transformation of self in which each partner can say, “I am no longer only I, but also we.” It’s a process in which each can be challenged to discover new possibilities in themselves, and in each other.

In such a marriage, the wedding ceremony is the gateway into this mystery. The lives that the two of you have lived up until this moment are now, in a sense, truly completed and over. Together, you will now live within the creation of something wholly new and transcendent, something which has never existed before–your miraculous marriage– an expression that is both public and private; precious, sacred, and truly unique to the two of you. And in this act, you open yourselves to a fuller experience of the great miracle of love. No ceremony can create your marriage. Only you can do that–through love, patience, and perseverance–through talking and listening and trying to understand–through helping and supporting and believing in each other–through learning to forgive, learning to respect your differences, and learning to make the important things matter and to let go of the rest. But what this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you have made to begin a new life today as husband/wife/partner.

Vows

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 an abiding and deepening relationship. No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume. There are no ties on earth so sweet, none so tender as those you are about to assume. There are no vows so solemn as those you are about to make. There is no institution of earth so sacred as that of the union you will form, for the true home is not only the place in which you will live, but is also the dwelling place where each lives in the heart and mind of the other.

Before you take these vows look down at those hands holding yours.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

And finally, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Name , have you come here today of your own free will to take Name to be your husband/wife/partner, that you may live together as equals sharing all that life has to offer?

Name

I will

Please repeat after me-

I take you Name to be my lawfully wedded wife/husband/partner. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.

Name , have you come here today of your own free will to take Name to be your husband/wife/partner, that you may live together as equals sharing all that life has to offer?

Name

I will

Please repeat after me-

Rings

A ceremony is for a day but a marriage I for a lifetime. The rings that you are about to exchange mark the beginning of a long journey together. They are also a symbol of infinity, time without end. Let your rings be a reminder of your union, and of the love that you share. As a ring is unbroken, so will your love for each other be without end. 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 carry a potent double message: We are individuals and yet we belong; we’re 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.

Name , please place your ring for Name on their finger and repeat after me-

Take this ring as a sign of my love and as a symbol of all that we share, with this ring I pledge my love and life to you.

Name please place your ring for Name on their finger and repeat after me-

Take this ring as a sign of my love and as a symbol of all that we share, with this ring I pledge my love and life to you.

Closing

We have heard you declare your love, you gave and received vows, then gifted rings to each other as physical reminders of those vows, in front off all those gathered here today. In some ways it seems like you haven’t done anything at all. And in some ways, the act of marriage is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different from yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you have both given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life – and one I hope you always remember – the gift of true and abiding love within your marriage.

Name and Name, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is love that brought you here today, it is only love that can make it a glorious union, and it is by love that your marriage shall endure.

And so, as you, Name and Name, have openly declared your wishes to be united in marriage, and in the presence of these witnesses have pledged love to each other, and have confirmed the same by joining hands, exchanging rings and declaring your vows, I pronounce that you are now married.

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