Writing a Ceremony.

Congratulations!

Something to consider when planning your marriage is the ceremony itself.
I've gathered many pieces here that you are welcome to put together to make your own ceremony.
They are in sections: beginnings, vows, rings, and different introductins to the ring part of the ceremony, theres a section on endings, or pronounciation of marriage, a few suggestions on different ways to say, “you may now kiss”.
The final section I like to call readings, you might like to think of it as nice filler pieces.

I think a good place to start is with the government supplied ceremony,
please notice the structure, theres a welcome everyone/we are gathered here today, followed by some readings about how serious marriage is, followed by vows, rings, and the ending.
This is our basic structure.
Many ceremonies do their own differences but most stay to this structure. Examples of differences might be opening with a poem before even welcoming anyone, or inviting a family member up to read something nice, anything you like is acceptable, its your wedding!
The only two legal requirements are:
1- you must each swear that there is no lawful reason that you may not be married
and
2-that you take each other as husband or wife or spouse.


The Marriage Ceremony
Introduction
We are gathered in this place to witness the formal joining in the legal state of matrimony
for this couple, according to the order and the custom prevailing, and under the authority
given and provided by the Province of Alberta.
The state of matrimony, as understood by us, is a state ennobled and enriched by a long and
honourable tradition of devotion, set in the basis of the law of the land, assuring each participant
an equality before the law, and supporting the common rights of each party to the marriage.
There is assumed to be a desire for a life-long companionship, and a generous sharing of the
help and comfort that a couple ought to have from each other, through whatever
circumstances of sickness or health, joy or sorrow, prosperity or adversity, the lives of
these parties may experience.
Marriage is therefore not to be entered upon thoughtlessly or irresponsibly, but with a due
and serious understanding and appreciation of the ends for which it is undertaken, and of the
material, intellectual and emotional factors which will govern its fullfillment.
It is by its nature a state of giving rather than taking, of offering rather than receiving, for
marriage requires the giving of one’s self to support the marriage and the home in which it
may flourish. It is into this high and serious state that these two persons desire to unite.

Therefore:
I charge and require of you both in the presence of these witnesses, that if either of you know of
any legal impediment to this marriage, you do now reveal the same.
Let ___(party 1) repeat after me:
I solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, ___(party 1),
may not be joined in matrimony to ___(party 2).
Let ___(party 2) repeat after me:
I solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, ___(party 2),
may not be joined in matrimony to ___(party 1).

There having been no reason given why this couple may not be married, I ask you to give
answer to these questions:
Do you ___(party 1) undertake to afford to ___(party 2) the love of your person, the
comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding; and to share
equally of the necessities of life as they may be earned or enjoyed by you; to respect the dignity
of their person, their own inalienable personal rights, and to recognize the right of counsel and
consultation upon all matters relating to the present or the future of the household
established by this marriage?
Answer: I do
Do you ___(party 2) undertake to afford to ___(party 1) the love of your person, the
comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding; and to share
equally of the necessities of life as they may be earned or enjoyed by you; to respect the dignity
of their person, their own inalienable personal rights, and to recognize the right of counsel and
consultation upon all matters relating to the present or the future of the household
established by this marriage?
Answer: I do

The Marriage Vows
Let the couple join their right hands and let ___(party 1) repeat after me:
I call on those present to witness that I, ___(party 1) take ___(party 2) to be
my lawful wedded wife/husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, in whatever
circumstance or experience life may hold for us.
Let ___(party 2) repeat after me:
I call on those present to witness that I, ___(party 2) take ___(party 1) to be
my lawful wedded wife/husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, in whatever
circumstance or experience life may hold for us.

The Rings
Inasmuch as you have made this declaration of your vows concerning one another, and have set
this (these) ring (rings) before me, I ask that now this ring (these rings) be used and regarded as a
seal and a confirmation and acceptance of the vows you have made.
Let ___(party 1) place the ring on the third fingerof ___(party 2)’s left hand, repeating after me:
With this ring, as the token and pledge of the vow and covenant of my word, I call upon those
persons present to witness that I, ___(party 1) do take thee, ___(party 2) to be my lawful wedded
wife/husband.
Let ___(party 2) say after me:
In receiving this ring, being the token and pledge of the covenant of your word, I call upon those
persons present to witness that I, ___(party 2) do take thee, ___(party 1) to be my lawful wedded
husband/wife.
If a second ring is presented, let one party placethe ring on the third finger of the other party’s left
hand, repeating after me:
With this ring I promise and give to you the truth and faithfulness of my life in marriage.
Let the other party reply:
In receiving this ring I promise and give to you the truth and faithfulness of my life in marriage.
The Declaration
And now, forasmuch as you ___(party 1) and ___(party 2) have consented to legal
wedlock, and have declared your solemn intention in this company, before these witnesses,
and in my presence, and have exchanged this (these) ring (rings) as the pledge of your vows to
each other; now upon the authority vested in me by the Province of Alberta, I pronounce
you as duly married.
May you enjoy length of days, fulfillment of hopes, and peace and contentment of mind, as
you day by day live and fulfill the terms of this covenant you have made with one another.


Here are some pieces I've gathered, hopefully its easy for you to pick what you like, and build a ceremony that fits you personally.

Introductions
Jasper is a long way to come for many guests, its often a good opportunity to thank them and to express how much it means to you for them to have come all this way.


We are gathered here today to celebrate the wedding of ____ and ________.
You have come here to share in their special day,
to offer your love and support to this union,
and to enable them to start their married life together
surrounded by some of the people dearest and most important to them.


Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of________and ____________ . 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 ________and ____________ to start their
married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.

________and ____________ thank you for your presence here today, and now they ask for
your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support in their marriage.


Welcome and thank you for being here to celebrate with ________ & ________!
We are gathered in this place to witness the
formal joining in the legal state of matrimony
for this couple, according to the order and the
custom prevailing, and under the authority
given and provided by the Province of Alberta.

Welcome family, friends and love ones.
We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of __________ and ____________
You have come here to share in their special day,
to offer your love and support to this union,
and to enable them to start their married life together
surrounded by some of the people dearest and most important to them.
The distances you have travelled to be here is a beautiful tribute to the love of this couple!
__________ and ____________ know that your taking the time,
and making the journey here, took considerable effort
and they want you all to know the deep appreciation and gratitude
that they feel in their hearts for this.
All of you here are the most important people in their lives. You have shared their best and worst days and you are an irreplaceable part of their yesterdays, their today, and all of their tomorrows.


__________ and ____________ wish to warmly welcome you and thank you for being here with them in this beautiful place on this beautiful day to share in what is one of the most profound human experiences, the pledging of one soul to another for a lifetime.



welcome to one and all, who have travelled from near and far. __________ and ____________thank you for your presence here today, and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support, for there decision to be married.


With great joy, we come together to join this man, and this woman, in matrimony.

Welcome! You are the people that matter the most to .__________ and ____________ Thank you for your support on this day, for showing your love and care towards these two and for bearing witness to their marriage.


Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of __________ and ____________ You have come here to share in
this formal commitement they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow _______ and ________to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.



We have gathered here on this glorious day to celebrate the love between ______&_________ to witness your marriage as life partners, and your commitment to each other. Today we are gathered here to celebrate the love, respect and trust to the extent of lifelong commitment in the marriage of __________ and _______

"Marriage. Marriage is what brings us together today.

Welcome Family and Friends, thank you for gathering with us today to bear witness to the joining of these two people, these two families, these two lives that forevermore shall be one person, one family, one life.


Welcome all and thanx for coming!
__________ and ____________ have chosen you to be here with them to help celebrate this day,
Because of the important roles you have played,
and the important roles you will all play in each others lives!
Thank you all for being here to day as we celebrate!
We are not here to join __________ and ____________,
we are here because they are already so well joined.
Theyve been joined for so long that they figured they might have missed a step, lets get dressed up and have a party and sign some papers!
You have all grown together for many years,
to day its official
to day you each get a whole new set of parents, relatives, and its all legal.
What a great deal!
So today we celebrate!
Not only the joining of families but stating of lifetime commitment.
That part was never a requirement in dating,
but over the years __________ and ____________, have come to realize that theyve found the right partner!They have found the person that their good times are enhanced by sharing,
their bad times are relieved by the others support and compassion.
Their differences arent conflicts but character, because of their mutual respect and admiration of each other
Today both __________ and ____________ are confident to say, theres no problem committing my life to my partner, weve been doing it for many years already.
Today we simply get together, and re affirm. the love and commitment of this couple and this family!
And thats a great reason to celebrate!
So congratulatios to you all!
Its each of you that makes today extrodinary!


Welcome to this joyous occasion! We are gathered here today to join __________ and ________ in marriage. It is fitting and appropriate all present here to witness their wedding. For them to share their ideals, understanding, and mutual respect that they will bring to their marriage beginning today.


___________ & __________, today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, as you join together in vows of marriage.
We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of two people, ____________ and ____________, whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one. They now desire to profess before all the
world their intention henceforth to walk the road of life together.


Vows:
I ________ ask you _____ to be my wife, my friend, my lover and my partner in life.
I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and success.
When our way becomes difficult, I promise to stand by you, and uplift you,
so that together we can accomplish, more than we could more than we could alone.
You are the person I want to spend the rest of my life with,
and today I give myself joyfully and faithfully to you in marriage.
I love you beyond words, and I offer myself to you with all of my faults,
and all of my strengths. You are my best friend and my most precious gift in this life.



I, ____________, take you, ____________, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us.with you all of life's joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, until death parts us.
.

You are the person I want to spend the rest of my life with,
and today I give myself joyfully and faithfully to you in marriage.
I love you beyond words, and I offer myself to you with all of my faults,
and all of my strengths. You are my best friend and my most precious gift in this life.


I call on those present to witness that I, ________take ________ to be my lawful wedded wife, my partner in life and my one true love.
I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before.
I will trust and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles
we may face together.
I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward as long as we both shall live.



Today I will marry my friend,
the one I will live with, dream with and love.
I take you to be my husband/wife
From this day forward I will cherish you,
I will look with joy down the path of our tomorrows
knowing we will walk it together side by side,
hand in hand and heart to heart.


I, ________ , take you ________, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love.
I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honour you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep.


I call on those present to witness that I, choose you, ________, to be my lawful wedded spouse, my partner in life and my one true love. In front of our family and friends, I offer you this solemn vow:
, I choose you as the person with whom I want to spend my life and today I give myself faithfully to you in marriage. I love you beyond words, and I offer myself to you with all of my faults and all of my strengths. You are my best friend and my most precious gift in this life. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you in times of joy and happiness, and to comfort and support you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort, today and always.





I _____ ask you __________ to be my wife, my friend, my lover and my partner in life.
I will be yours in plenty and yours in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and triumph.
Together we will dream, We will stumble but We will restore each other.
When our way becomes difficult, I promise to stand by you, and uplift you, so that together we can accomplish, more than we could alone.
I will love and comfort you, hold you close, prize you above all others, and remain faithful to you, all the days of my life.


I ________ affirm my love to you __________ as I invite you to share my life. I promise always to respect your needs. I will endeavor through kindness, unselfishness and trust to achieve the warm rich life we now look forward to. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I take you ________to be my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live.


I _______, take you ________ to be my (husband/wife), my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my unconditional love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.

I,_____, take you,______, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know, in all the ways that life may find us.

I, ________, take you_____ to be my wife, friend and love, beside me and apart
from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be
no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not yet know.
Always by your side in good times and bad, regardless of challenges we may meet.
I give you my heart, my love, my hand in all our days together.


I, _____, take you, _____, to be my spouse (wife/husband) from this day forward to share the joys and sorrows of life together, to honour your integrity, and to love you.

I, _______, take you, _____, to be my wife, my constant friend,
my faithful partner, and one true love. I promise to honor you, believe in you, protect you,
and do everything in my power to make your life happy and fulfilled. I will love and respect
you always.

I _____ affirm my love to you _____ as I invite you to share my life. I promise always to respect your needs. I will endeavor through kindness, unselfishness and trust to achieve the warm rich life we now look forward to. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I take you (Brides Name) to be my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health while we both shall live.


I _____, take you ______
to be my wife, friend, and partner,
my inspiration and guide.
In front of our family and friends,
I offer you this vow:
In times of wealth and in times of want
I will be at your side.
In sickness and in health,
in joy and sorrow,
I will be at your side.
I will encourage and support you
in pursuing your goals and dreams.
In times of hope and despair,
living and dying. I will be at your side.I take you melinda to my wife.
Im the luckiest man in the world
I love you so much,
I promise to listen and care and feel
I promise to be the best I can be for you,
and I promise to keep getting better at it.
I love you so much.
You teach me,
you help me,
you clam me and you excite me!
I hearby commit the rest of my life to you.
And I hope that it touches you as deeply
as I am touched
that the greatest woman ive ever met
wants me in her life
forever!
Thank you!
I love you!


Ring intros.
These rings are a symbol of an unbroken circle of love.
Love freely given has no beginning and no end,
May these rings represent the comfort and happiness a lifetime spent together can bring,
may they always remind you of the vows you have taken here together today.


May I please have the rings
these rings are a very special gift on your wedding day!
Their shape , the never ending circle, represents your eternal love for each other,
the substance they are made of symbolizes the value and the purity of your love!


The ring finger of the left hand, the side of the body that holds the heart, has long been used for the wedding band because for centuries people believed that there was a vein that ran directly from that finger to the heart. I now ask that ______ and _____ symbolize their hearts’ connection and their commitment to each other by exchanging rings.


We will now exchange rings. These rings are a symbol of an unbroken circle of love.
Love freely given has no beginning and no end,
no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver.
May these rings represent the comfort and happiness a lifetime spent together can bring,
may they always remind you of the vows you have taken here together today.


I now ask that ______ and ______ symbolize their hearts’ connection and their commitment to each other by exchanging rings. (to guests) Before they exchange rings, ______ and ______would like each of you to take a moment now to silently offer a blessing or wish for them and their life together.
(short pause)
Thank you. These rings, now blessed, are a symbol of love and faithfulness and seal the vows of this marriage.

Inasmuch as you have made this declaration of your vows concerning one another, and have set these rings before me, I ask that now these rings be used and regarded as a seal and a confirmation and acceptance of the vows you have made.

May your rings shine with love, light and happiness, reminding you always of the unique promises you have made to each other today. They symbolize equally the strength of your individuality and your union.

.These rings are the outward and visible signs of the inward and invisible love, which binds your hearts together and will endure all obstacles.

Your rings are a symbol of the love and unity that brought you here today.
Each day in life may you see the ring on your finger and let it remind you of the love that you have. In times of doubt may this symbol remind you of each smile and each tear invested in your shared experience, and the deep meaning they bring. May this ring represent the security, comfort and happiness that a lifetime spent together can bring.

These rings by their shape are a symbol of the undying love that exists between you. The substance of which they are composed is a symbol of purity, which shall ever characterize your mind and hearts in all you face together"For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. These simple bands are not of great value themselves, but instead are made precious by your wearing of them. A circle is the symbol of eternity -- a sign that life, happiness, and love have no beginning and no end. It is worn on the third finger of the left hand, because it was traditionally believed that a vessel from the ring finger flows directly to the heart, -- the perfect spot to place a symbol, representing eternal love and commitment.

I now ask that______ and ______ symbolize their hearts’ connection and their commitment to each other by exchanging rings.

The circle is the symbol of the sun, earth, and universe. It is the symbol of peace. Let this ring be the symbol of unity and peace in which your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, return unto one another and to your togetherness.

Ring Vows:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and of the vows we have taken here today.

With this ring, I thee wed.


I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I love you

with this ring I thee wed. Take it and wear it as a symbol of all we shall share

I give you this ring, to wear with love and joy, to be a visible and enduring reminder
of my love for you and the vows we have made today.
As I place it on your finger, I commit my life, heart and soul to you.
from this day forward you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home.


______, I give you this ring to wear with love and joy and as a visible and enduring reminder of my love for you and the vows we have made today. As I place it on your finger, I commit my life, heart and soul to you.


I give you this ring to wear with love and joy as a visible and enduring reminder of my love for you and the vows we have made today. As I place it on your finger, I freely commit myself to you and the adventure we are undertaking together.


With this ring, as the token and pledge of the vow and covenant of my word, I call upon those persons present to witness that I, do take thee, ________ to be my lawful wedded wife.

With this ring, I thee wed. I give you my heart, my love, my hand in all our days together.


I, __________, give to you __________, this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love, honour, and respect you.


. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, my trust, and my pride that you are
my wife. With this ring, I thee wed.


This ring I give to you as a token of my love and devotion to you. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your wife. With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours.


I give you this ring to wear upon your hand as a symbol of our unity in steadfast love.


May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love.


Endings:
You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage.
You have made special promises to each other,
which have been symbolized by the joining of hands,
the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings
in front of myself your family and friends, these witnesses.
Now by the authority vested in me by the beautiful province of Alberta ,
I now pronounce you as husband and wife.

By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife!

__________and __________
you have gathered us here today
to witness your promises to each other
which have been expressed in vows
you have exchanged rings as a symbol or the permanance of your commitment
in front of myself, these witnesses your family and friend
most importantly each other
by the powers vested in me by the beautiful province of alberta im now hounored and proud
to now pronounce you as husband and wife!!



And now, as you have consented to legal wedlock, and have declared your solemn intention in front of your loved ones, and in my presence, and have exchanged these rings as the pledge of your vows to each other; Now upon the authority vested in me by The Province Of Alberta , it is my honour to pronounce you as duly married.


And now, forasmuch as you __________and __________ have consented to legal wedlock, and have declared your solemn intention in this company, before these witnesses, and in my presence, and have exchanged these rings as the pledge of your vows to each other; now upon the authority vested in me by the Province of Alberta, I pronounce you as duly married.
May you enjoy length of days, fulfillment of hopes, and peace and contentment of mind, as you day by day live and fulfill the terms of this covenant you have made with one another.


__________and __________, you have promised to share your love and dreams as you continue in your lives together. As you have freely promised to commit yourselves to each other today, and symbolize it with the giving and receiving of rings, it is my pleasure to now pronounce you husband and wife.

Now upon the authority vested in me by the OUTSTANDINGLY BEAUTIFUL Province of Alberta , I pronounce you Husband and Wife.


As you have freely promised to commit yourselves to each other today, and symbolized it with the giving and receiving of rings, it is my pleasure to pronounce you husband & wife.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years.
May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the Earth.
And now, forasmuch as you have consented together to marriage, and have declared your intention before these witnesses, and in my presence, pledged your faith and declared your unity by each giving and receiving a ring and by joining of hands, by the authority vested in me by the Alberta , I now pronounce you husband and wife.

And now
__________and __________
you have come to the very edge the continent single,
what a place to start your lives as a married couple,
you have brought us all here to witness your promises of love, tolerence, and devotion to each other
you have stated these promises in the form of vows
which have been reinstated symbolized in the exchange of rings,
in front of myself your families and most importantly each other.
And now by the powers vested in me by the beautiful province of alberta
Im proud and honoured, touched
to join this family
by pronouncing you you now
husband and wife!!


Inasmuch as you two have come before your friends and family and have declared your love and devotion to each other, I now greet you with them as husband and wife

Readings:

Four or five readings, dispersed throughout the ceremony, between the introduction and the vows, between the vows and rings, before the ending, seems to be an average length ceremony.
Here's many to choose from, feel free to write or find your own as well.

Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure in which two people can embark together.
No ceremony can create a marriage, only you can do that:
through love and patience, through dedication and perseverance, through talking and listening,
through helping, supporting and believing in each other.
By learning to forgive and appreciate your differences,
through making the small things matter, and letting go of the rest.


Before you are joined together in marriage
in my presence and in the presence of these your family and (friends) witnesses,
I am bound to remind you of the solemn and
firm nature of the relationship into which you are about to enter.
Marriage as most of us understand it, is the voluntary commitment
of a man to a woman and a woman to a man to the exclusion of all others
and is entered into with the desire, the hope and the firm intention
that it will last for life.


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.


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 remembering to say "I love you" everyday.
It is taking time to breath through anger.
Its about sharing laughter
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world
It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating patience, understanding and compassion towards the other
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering together how perfect marriage can be.

As we stand beside the ocean tide, may your love always be as
constant and unchanging as these never-ending waves that pour
beneath your feet. Flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea, your love
came softly upon your hearts, just as the foam comes softly upon the
sand. And just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's flow,
so will there never be a day without your love for each other. May your love
be as unchanging and dependable as the tide. As these waters nourish
the earth and sustain life, may your constant devotion nourish and sustain
you both until the end of time.




"Love one another, but not make a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but not eat from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together,
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."



Two lives, two people, so very different yet so similar.
Together we stand as one, sharing our future as it comes. The past is that past.
Buds are yet to blossom, with care and trust, the best is yet to be revealed.
Honesty and kindness are the fruits of love.



(this one the best man and maid of honour brought some wine to the bride and groom followed by this reading:)

The years of our lives are a cup of wine poured out for us to drink.
The grapes when they are pressed give forth good juices for the wine.
Under the winepress of time, our lives give forth labor and honor and love.
Many days you will sit at the same table and eat and drink together.
Drink now and may the cup of your lives be sweet and full to running over.

The Bride and Groom touch their glasses and drink a sip of wine.



Marriage is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.


What could be greater for two human souls,
than to feel that they are joined for life-
to strengthen each other in all labor,
to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain,
to be one with each other
in silent unspeakable memories




"Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks to another day of loving.
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home in the evening with gratitude, and then sleep with a prayer
For the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."



Today is a witnessing and celebration of one of the most powerful and intimate human acts. The sacred space created when there is a union of souls has both a sublime quality and a part that resonates within the very core of each of us. _______ and____ share a common bond with every human who has ever felt the presence of their beloved within their own spirit. They also share a moment in time with all of those who in the real tangible, physical, day to day world, have found the one person they could share it all with. The joys and the sorrows, the triumphs and the tragedies, the large and the small are all theirs together. Not only are we here for the celebration of the joining of these two wonderful people, but to get a glimpse of what this truly means from their perspective. To this end they have chosen to share with you their vows.



please hold each other’s hands, so you may reflect on the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
These are the hands that will hold yours as you walk through this crazy life together.
These are the hands that will pull you close as you dance together each night.
These are the hands that will always find yours in times of darkness.
These are the hands that will gently wipe both tears of joy and sorrow from your eyes.
These are the hands that will support you when you feel unsteady.
These are the hands that will remind you you are not alone.
These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick and and console you when you are grieving.
These are the hands that will reach to reassure you when you are worried and keep you safe when you are scared.
These are the hands that will celebrate you in times of joy and excitement.
These are the hands you can trust to protect your innermost secrets and hopes and encourage you to follow your dreams.
These are that hands that will hold you, take care of you and adore you for a lifetime.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as you build your future together. Together, everything you wish for can be realized.
Cherish these hands that you see before you this day. Give them the strength to hold tightly during the storms and darkness of life. Keep them tender and gentle as you nurture, support and love each other. Help these hands to continue building a relationship of kindness, faith, respect, trust, love, and commitment.

Heres another version of the “Hand Ceremony”


Will you please face each other and hold hands, so you may feel the gift you are to one another.
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 tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you hold your family as one.
And lastly these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.



Today is the public affirmation and acknowledgment of all that you are to each other. Seemingly your relationship will be as it has always been, yet there is a power in the spoken word. May that power bring you all the love & laughter, warmth & closeness, security & comfort, peace, joy & happiness that this world has to offer.



In a sense, the person you marry is a stranger about whom you have a magnificent hunch. This person is someone you love, but her depths, her intimate intricacies, you will come to know only in the long unraveling of time. To get married is to embark on the journey of getting to know each other, of coming to see each other as you really are. This companionship on life's journey is the hallmark of marriage and its sweetest and most fundamental gift.


Apache prayer:

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now you will feel no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place, to enter the days of your life together.
And may your days be good, and long upon the earth.




May you find delight in each other and grow in love until your lives end.
May your lives be guided by love
May your hearts be filled with thanks for the possibilities that life has given you together
May you look at each other and see
May you listen to each other and hear
May you speak to each other and encourage
May you treasure all life as precious
May your life together be splashed with wonder and be touched by magic
May your lives be filled with radiance and enkindled by love
May your lives be stronger, fuller and more gracious together
May you cherish each others hopes and be kind to each others dreams


This marriage is an event in the lifetime of a love. Neither I, nor all society, can join these two lovers today. Only they can do what they have chosen. They are joining themselves, each to the other. As they find union with one another, they proclaim that union today and pledge its future. We, by our participation in this celebration, do but recognize and honor their intention to dwell together as husband and wife.



Their love and lives have developed into a partnership that proves to be strong, rewarding,
beautiful, and now they have decided to continue their lives together as husband and wife.
They want to say it before all of you. Right here, right now!


This wedding is like no other, the love of these two has affected all of us to trek great
distances to the edge of the country to be right here, for this very moment.
_______and__________wish to express their deepest appreciation to you all in making the effort
to undertake the journey here.We made it!


The uniting of two individuals from two separate families and backgrounds to establish a new
family is an important and memorable event. For us, attached as we are to _______and__________
by special bonds of love and affection,the uniting of these two people in heart and body and
mind, is an occasion of great significance which we can all celebrate.

just as two very different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful tapestry, so can your two lives merge together to form a very beautiful marriage. To make your marriage work will take love. Love should be the core of your marriage, love is the reason you are here. But it also will take trust - to know in your hearts you want the best for each other. It will take dedication - to stay open to one another; to learn and to grow together even when this is not always so easy to do. It will take faith - to always be willing to go forward to tomorrow, never really knowing what tomorrow will bring. And it will take commitment - to hold true to the journey you both now pledge to share together.





Remember, then, that your decision this day is your act of faith in one another.
Your faith must not be a vain hope in what the other will do or will not do, might
become, or not become. Yours must be that deeper faith, that you each will be
acceptable in the other’s eyes despite the changes of the years, and the difficulties
encountered in life. Such faith requires, that you honour yourself as well as attend
the needs of the other. Such faith requires that you each be open to that divine
spark within you, and be willing to be guided by the grace of its light. Your pledge
to one another is a devotion in freedom, never a license to control. Your covenant
will endure the trials of time only as you keep to that sacred integrity. Finally, do
not forget that a generous sense of humour and mirth is a great redeemer in times
of trial and strain.


We are not here to mark the start of your relationship, but to give formal recognition of the bond that already exists. This is much more than a civil occasion, it is the Declaration of your two hearts, built upon experience, and enriched by your love. With love it is possible to live a wonderful life together, each seeking and encouraging the joy, comfort, health, and the enrichment of the other.

It is one of life's richest surprises when the accidental meeting of two life paths lead them to proceed together along the common path as husband and wife. It is one of life's finest experiences when a casual relationship grows into a permanent bond of love. This meeting and this growth bring us together today.



So We gather here today to witness and affirm your legal, spiritual and
moral commitment, _______ and ________ your hearts and spirits are
entwined as one. In the years you have been together, your love and
understanding of each other has grown and matured, and you now intend
to walk the road of life together. You now desire to profess before all the
world your decision henceforth to live your lives together as husband and wife.



We have been invited here today to share with _______ and ________ a profound moment in their lives. In the time they have been together their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured. Now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.


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 _______ and ________ proclaim their love and commitment, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in a new chapter of the life they now undertake together.


So what do we mean by love? 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. One who loves us gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us.


you are about to make promises to one another. Today, these vows are beautiful words representing even more beautiful intentions. But you will find that as you live these vows over the years, investing your time and your love and your commitment to one another, the happy times of your life will be twice as joyous, because there will be someone to share those joys with. And when life gets tough, it will only be half as bad, because there will be someone by your side to help carry the burden.

as a forest has rough spots, so does a marriage,
but when you stand above it as we are today
its obvious that its still a beautiful forest despite its brambles and thorns beneath

what could be greater for two human souls
than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen
each other in all labor, to comfort to each other in all sorrow,
to share with each other in all goodness and
to be one with each other in the
silent unspoken memories?



May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other
know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another,
but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not
fail in the little graces. 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 in making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.



Now that you are two, everything is amplified, from bliss to sorrow. It is in front of their family and closest friends that they acknowledge there will be tough times, but will come through stronger and proud, You are important in their lives and they realize at times they may need counsel and support.


Marriage is, by its nature, a state of giving rather than taking. Marriage requires the giving of one’s self to support the marriage and the home so that it may flourish. The desire by both people to give love, to stay in love, and to work at love, to listen and to speak to one another, is the foundation of marriage. It is into this precious and elevated state that_______ and ________ wish to unite.

"True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons. In its right relation, it's the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between man and woman, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgment be made. This acknowledgment is the prime object of this gathering and this ceremony. We are here to bear witness to the entry into the closer relationship of husband and wife of these beloved friends who are already one in spirit.



You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in all the world whom you love best. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and to share love.

At the end of this ceremony, legally you will be husband and wife, but you still must decide each and every day that stretches before you, that you want to be married. Make such a decision and keep on making it, for the most important thing in life is to love and be loved.


Love is always patient and kind.
It is never jealous.
Love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense and is not resentful.
Love takes no pleasure in other people's faults, but delights in the truth.
It is always ready to excuse, to protect, to trust, and to hope.
It is always ready to endure whatever comes.
True love has no limit. It never fails & shall never come to an end.


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 remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world
It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding, and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.






Love is not a matter of counting the years --
it's making the years count.


Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like a volcano 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 e