wedding-ceremonies

Substitute Vows

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:07:46 +0100

22 nontraditional vows: http://amplifyhappinessnow.com/blog/2014/01/23/22-vows-for-nontraditional-weddings/

Additional Readings

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:48:26 +0100

Wedding Readings

From "The Irrational Season" by Madeleine L'Engle

But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take…It is indeed a fearful gamble…Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature.

To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take…If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation…It takes a lifetime to learn another person…When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling, and which implies such risk that it is often rejected.

An Irish Wedding Blessing

You are the star of each night,

You are the brightness of every morning,

You are the story of each guest,

You are the report of every land.

No evil shall befall you, on hill nor bank,

In field or valley, on mountain or in glen.

Neither above, nor below, neither in sea,

Nor on shore, in skies above,

Nor in the depths.

You are the kernel of my heart,

You are the face of my sun,

You are the harp of my music,

You are the crown of my company

To Keep Your Marriage Brimming - Ogden Nash
To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you´re wrong admit it;
Whenever you´re right shut up.

Yes I´ll Marry You - Pam Ayres
Yes, I´ll marry you, my dear,
And here´s the reason why;
So I can push you out of bed
When the baby starts to cry
And I hear a knocking
And it´s creepy and it´s late
I hand you the torch you see
And you investigate
Yes I´ll marry you my dear
And you may not apprehend it
But when the tumble dryer goes
Its you that has to mend it
You have to face the neighbour
Should our roggie cat attack him
And if a drunkard fondles me
Its you that has to whack him
Yes Ill marry you
You´re virile and you´re lean
Your house is like a pigsty
I´ll help you keep it clean
That sexy little dinner
Which you served by candle night
As I do the chappatis you can cook it every night
It´s you who has to work the drill
And put up curtain track
And when I´ve got a migraine its you who gets the flack
I do see great advantages
But none of them for you
And so before you see the light
I do I do I do I do

It's you I like,
It's not the things you wear.
It's not the way you do your hair,
But it's you I like.
The way you are right now
The way down deep inside you
Not the things that hide you
Not your diplomas...
They're just beside you.
But it's you I like,
Every part of you,
Your skin, your eyes, your feelings,
Whether old or new.
I hope that you'll remember
Even when you're feeling blue,
That it's you I like,
It's you yourself, it's you
It's you I like!
Mr Rogers

The Art Of A Good Marriage - Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage, the little things are 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 never taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all 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 in 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 expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
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.

The Key to Love

The key to love is understanding ... The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word. but those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves.

The key to love is forgiveness... To accept each others faults and pardon mistakes, without forgetting, but with remembering what you learn from them.

The key to love is sharing... Facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together; both conquering problems, forever searching for ways to intensify your happiness.

The key to love is giving... Without thought of return, but with hope of just a simple smile, and by giving in but never giving up.

The key to love is respect... Realizing that you are two separate people, with different ideas; that you don't belong to each other, that you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.

The key to love is inside us all... It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients that will take you to its threshold; it is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work... but the rewards are more than worth the effort... and that is the key to love.

Love Is Friendship Caught Fire - Laura Hendricks

Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and does not brood over the past. It is the day-in and day-out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you do not have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough.

Today is a day you will always remember – the greatest in anyone’s life. You’ll start off the day just two people in love and end it as husband and wife. It’s a brand new beginning, th start of a journey, with moments to cherish and treasure. And although there’ll be times you both disagree, these will surely be outweighed by pleasure.

You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past, when the secrets of marriage were spoken, but now you know that the answers lie hidden inside, where the bond of true love lies unbroken. So live happy forever as lovers and friends, it’s the dawn of a new life for you, as you stand there together with love in your eyes from the moment you whisper, “I do.” And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real, may success find its way to your hearts. Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys, but today is the day it all starts.

“Hugs O’ War” by Shel Silverstein

“I will not play at tug o’ war. I’d rather play at hug o’ war, where everyone hugs instead of tugs, where everyone giggles, and rolls on the rug, where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.”

“Sooner or Later”

“Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines, and romance in the 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. 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 of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all – one known only by those who love.”

“Marriage Means Being in Love for the Rest of Your Life” by Chris Ardis

Marriage is love walking hand in hand together. It’s laughing with each other about silly little things, and learning to discuss big things with care and tenderness. In marriage, love is trusting each other when you’re apart. It’s getting over disappointments and hurts, knowing that these are present in all relationships. It’s the realization that there is no one else in this world that you’d rather be with than the one you’re married to. It’s thinking of new things to do together; it’s growing old together. Marriage is being in love for the rest of your life.

Every experience you have ever had, everything you have ever done, everything you have ever learned has brought you to this moment as you now stand before these witnesses to take each other as husband and wife. New experiences lie before you with opportunities to grow deeper in love with each other. As you walk hand in hand into the future, cherish each moment as a gift – a gift given to strengthen the bound between you.

"Blessing For A Marriage" by James Dillet Freeman

“May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another -- not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete. The valley does not make the mountain less, but more. And the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you entice one another, but not compel one another. May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another. May you succeed in all-important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults. If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back. May you enter into the mystery that is the awareness of one another's presence -- no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities. 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.”

From "The Irrational Season" by Madeleine L'Engle

"Ultimately there comes a time when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take. It is indeed a fearful gamble. Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created. To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take. If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation. It takes a lifetime to learn another person. When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling."

“Love Is Friendship Caught Fire” by Laura Hendricks

"Love is friendship caught fire; it is quiet, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection, and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and does not brood over the past. It is the day-in and day-out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you do not have it, no matter what else there is, it is not enough."

"Benediction of the Apaches"

"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 there is no more loneliness for you.
For each of you will be 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 into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth"

"A History of Love" by Diane Ackerman

“Love. What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful. It has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art, cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved, driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fueled national scandals, bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings. How can love’s spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable? Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization, with taproots spreading into deep and mysterious days. The heart is a living museum. In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit, preserved forever like wondrous diatoms, are our moments of loving, and being loved.”

"On Love" by Thomas a Kempis

“Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God. Love flies, runs and leaps for joy. It is free and unrestrained. Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, attempts things beyond its strength. Love sees nothing as impossible, for it feels able to achieve all things. It is strange and effective, while those who lack love faint and fail. Love is not fickle and sentimental, nor is it intent on vanities. Like a living flame and a burning torch, it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle.”

"Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love" by Edmund O’Neill

“Marriage is a commitment to life, to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal; a joining that is promised for a lifetime. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life’s most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other’s best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life. When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.”

“I Love You” by Roy Croft

“I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you, for the part of me that you bring out. I love you, for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart, and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can’t help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out, into the light, all the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find. I love you, because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple. Out of the works of my every day, not a reproach, but a song. I love you, because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.”

Excerpt from “The Art of a Good Marriage” by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

"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 having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is 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."

“Time In A Bottle", by Jim Croce

“If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I'd like to do, is to save every day ‘till eternity passes away, just to spend them with you. If I could make days last forever; if words could make wishes come true; I'd save every day like a treasure and then, again, I would spend them with you. If I had a box just for wishes, and dreams that had never come true; the box would be empty, except for the memory of how they were answered by you. But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them. I've looked around enough to know that you're the one I want to go through time with.”

“I Am Love"

“Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings. Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim. Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame. And though you cannot see me, I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces. I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes. I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face. I am your father's shield as he guards your home. And yet… Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear. Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always. Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless. And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children. I am woven into the whispers of passion. I am in the blessings of Grandmothers. I embrace the cries of newborn babies. And yet… Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed. Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them. Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul. And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind. I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night. I am the hug of a child. I am love.”

“Looking For Your Face” by Rumi

“From the beginning of my life I have been looking for your face, but today I have seen it. Today I have seen the charm, the beauty, the unfathomable grace of the face that I was looking for. Today I have found you, and those who laughed and scorned me yesterday are sorry that they were not looking as I did. I am bewildered by the magnificence of your beauty, and wish to see you with a hundred eyes. My heart has burned with passion and has searched forever for this wondrous beauty that I now behold. I am ashamed to call this love human, and afraid of God to call it divine. Your fragrant breath, like the morning breeze, has come to the stillness of the garden. You have breathed new life into me. I have become your sunshine, and also your shadow. My soul is screaming in ecstasy. Every fiber of my being is in love with you. Your effulgence has lit a fire in my heart, and you have made radiant for me the earth and sky. My arrow of love has arrived at the target. I am in the house of mercy, and my heart is a place of prayer.”

"Sonnet XLIII", from "Sonnets from the Portuguese" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."

“Sooner or Later”

“Hug O' War” by Shel Silverstein

"I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, where everyone hugs instead of tugs, where everyone giggles, and rolls on the rug, where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.”

“Sonnet 17” by Pablo Neruda

“I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul. I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom, and carries hidden within itself the light of those flowers, and thanks to your love, darkly in my body lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth. I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I know no other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you; so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.”

"Desiderata" by Max Erhmann (1927)

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

Excerpt from “Any Husband or Wife” by Carole Haynes

“Let us be guests in one another’s house, with a deferential “No” and courteous “Yes.” Let us take care to hide our foolish moods behind a certain show of cheerfulness. Let us avoid all sullen silences. We should find fresh and sprightly things to say. I must be fearful lest you find me dull, and you must dread to bore me any way. Let us knock gently at each other’s heart, glad of a chance to look within—and yet let us remember that to force one’s way is the unpardoned breach of etiquette. So we shall be host and hostess, until all need for entertainment ends. We shall be lovers when the last door shuts. But what is better still, we shall be friends.”

"Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare

"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou are more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;
Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade
Which in eternal lines to time thou grow’st
So long as men can breathe and eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."

"Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh no, it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering barque
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken
Love’s not time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov’d,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

"The Merchant of Venice" Act 4, Scene 1 (spoken by Portia) by William Shakespeare

"The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, [Jew,]
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy."

From "The Hymn of the Universe" by Teilhard de Chardin

"Only love can bring individual beings to their perfect completion, as individuals, by uniting them one with another, because only love takes possession of them and unites them by what lies deepest within them. This is simply a fact of our everyday experience. For indeed at what moment do lovers come into the most complete possession of themselves if not when they say that they are lost in one another? And is not love all the time achieving - in couples, in teams, all around us - the magical and reputedly contradictory feat of personalizing through totalizing? And why should not what is thus daily achieved on a small scale be repeated one day on world-wide dimensions?

Humanity, the spirit of the earth, the synthesis of individuals and peoples, the paradoxical conciliation of the element with the whole, of the one with the many: all these are regarded as utopian fantasies, yet they are biologically necessary; and if we would see them made flesh in the world what more need we do than imagine our power to love growing and broadening, till it can embrace the totality of human beings and of the earth?"

"On Love" and "On Marriage" excerpts from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran

"On Love"

"Then said the student Almitra, Speak to us of love. And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said: When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth."

"On Marriage"

"Then Almitra spoke again and said, and what of Marriage master? And he answered saying: You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another, but make not 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 eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone."

"On Children" by Khalil Gibran

“And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, ‘Speak to us of Children.’ And he said, ‘Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you, but not from you. And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies, but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be for gladness, for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.’”

"You Were Born Together" by Kahlil Gibran

"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spades in your togetherness. And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not 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 eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the land 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."

"Friendship" by Judy Bielicki

“It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel. True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life-it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic. True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential. (Bride) and (Groom) came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.”

"The Magic of Love" by Helen Steiner Rice

“Love is like magic, and it always will be,
For love still remains life's sweet mystery.
Love works in ways that are wondrous and strange,
And there's nothing in life that love cannot change!
Love can transform the most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace.
Love is unselfish, understanding and kind,
For it sees with its heart, and not with its mind.
Love is the answer that everyone seeks;
Love is the language that every heart speaks.
Love can't be bought, it is priceless and free.
Love, like pure magic, is life's sweet mystery!!”

“Blessing of the Hands"

“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 fills your mind. 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 help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. 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.”

From "The Hungering Dark" by Frederick Buechner

"Matrimony is called holy, because this brave and fateful promise of a man and a woman, to love and honor and serve each other through thick and thin, looks beyond itself to more fateful promises still, and speaks mightily of what human life at its most human and most alive and most holy must always be. Every wedding is a dream, and every word that is spoken there means more than it says, and every gesture - the clasping of hands, the giving of rings - is rich with mystery. And so it [is that] we hope with every bride and groom, that the love they bear one another, and the joy they take in one another, may help them grow in love for this whole world where their final joy lies."

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Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:44:32 +0100

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minnesota-Wedding-Officiant/251408851543426

Wedding Scripts #7 and #8

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:08:09 +0100

Wedding Script #7

In this ceremony, Groom and Bride have called us together to make a public declaration of the private commitment they have already made to one another. They are binding themselves together as a new family.

Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other, who honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together. In this ceremony, they dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other, in a union of mutual caring and responsibility. Two people in love do not live in isolation. Their love is a source of strength with which they may nourish each other. By our steadfast care, respect, and love, we can support their marriage and thus we can participate in the union they are creating today.

Groom and Bride are here surrounded by friends and family. Some people here have known you your entire lives and some for a only a few years, but no matter how long or in what circumstances they know you, I can guarantee that everyone here knows what remarkable individuals and what a remarkable couple you are. As individuals, you are remarkable for the breadth and passion of your interests and for the fact that you both have an extraordinary understanding about who you are and what you stand for. As individuals you have shined throughout all of your unique and colorful endeavors. That might have been enough, even had you never found one another, but you did find one another and this is cause for further celebration, because as a couple you are able to bring out the best in one another. You have the opportunity to create a relationship that is beautiful, original, and meaningful. You’ve impacted each other and those who surround you on this happy day. Now we surround you, Bride and Groom, and return the favor with our good wishes and our loving thoughts, as you state your intentions and declare your commitment to one another.

And now a reading from Bride and Groom’s friend, Friend’s name.
Insert reading here.

Marriage Statement:

Bride and Groom, marriage challenges us to share the same journey without abandoning the truth of our individuality; to not lose ourselves in one another, but rather walk side by side, heading in the same direction. As with all relationships, marriage is an endless presentation of choices about how we want to be with one another.

Always protect, affirm, and support each other, and be brave about sharing your vulnerabilities. Always remember that your friendship and the shared values of respect, honesty and trust are the reason that you have chosen to build a life together. Enjoy the intertwining of your independence with your intimacy. I wish you the courage to keep your hearts open to each other for the rest of your lives.

Vows: (repeat after officiant)

I, (name), take you, (name) to be my partner.
I love you for who you are, for who you might become, and for who I am when I am with you.
I adore you for being (name) and you can count on me to always be on your side.
I will respect you as an individual and an equal and I will always try to be worthy of your love and respect.
I promise to delight with you in happiness and comfort you in sorrow, through all our years and in all that life may bring us.

Ring Ceremony:

This is the point in the ceremony when I usually talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings do have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metal is liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. Hot metal is poured into a mold, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful is made from raw elements.

Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.

With that in mind, may we have the rings?

Groom, place the ring on Bride’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring / I thee wed / and pledge my life with yours.

Bride, place the ring on Groom’s finger and repeat after me:

With this ring / I thee wed / and pledge my life with yours.

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 all that is sweet and bitter in life. Each tender act, each loving word will be the declaration of what was made here today.

By the authority vested in me by the State of _____, it is my pleasure to pronounce you, spouses for life.

Please seal your vows with a kiss.

Families and friends, it is with great pleasure I present Groom and Bride for the first time as a married couple.

Wedding Script #8: Love’s Journey

Welcome family and friends

Today is a day of celebration. It is the day that ______ & _______ have asked us to join them to witness and celebrate with them their wedding, the day of joining two lives into one. It is a day of uniting family and friends, it is day where we can take time from our busy lives, to celebrate and rejoice together such a beautiful heartfelt occasion.

Address:

_______ & _________ take a moment to look around at your family and friends. They are here not because you invited them; they could have declined your invitation. They are here because of love. Being in love is not when you think you are. It’s when the people around you can tell, and all of your family and friends can tell you are in love. They are here to witness the magic of love, the exchanging of rings, your vows of commitment to each other and to continue to provide you both with support and guidance as you begin your new journey in life as husband and wife.

You are two friends who decided to journey together towards a common destination called marriage. Before you began this journey remember there will be days, when one of you will want to walk along the mountain path, while the other may prefer the valley, but always come together at the end of the day and share your experiences. There will be days when one will want to sing and dance, while the other will prefer to travel in quietness, so you will choose different paths, but take time to meet at the close of the day and be content sharing your experiences. There will be days when one may want to rest, while the other may want to move further along the path, but at the right time you will come together and be happy that each has fulfilled their own needs. There will be days when you shall travel together as one as like today your wedding day. If you can respect the other's need while still fulfilling your own, then your journey together will be an experience to rejoice in.

In just a few moments you're going to say your vows to one another. Before we do that I would like to share a reading with you.

Wedding Reading: You share the joy of a deep commitment and a sacred trust, and you have given each other the most precious gift of love. Treasure it, nurture it and encourage it with all the honesty you used in creating it. You are sharing something rare and beautiful. Always speak the truth and listen attentively so that you may understand each other’s thoughts and intentions. Inspire each other by sharing your accomplishments. Say I love you often to retain the warmth between you. Laugh a lot too, even when you are angry. Remember you are each other’s best friend. Stand together and for each other always. May each day be a blessing and the fulfillment of your dreams.

Vows : Choose 1

And now, in the presence of these guests we join this loving couple in marriage.

Vows: (Choose One)

Option 1: Your Own Vows

Option 2: I Do Vows:

(Groom) do you take (Bride) to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony? To love, honor, and cherish her, to keep her in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?

(Bride), do you take (Groom) to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony? To love, honor, and cherish him, to keep him in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?

Option 3: Repeat After Vows:

(Groom), repeat after me: I (groom), take you (bride) to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.

(Bride), repeat after me: I (Bride), take you (Groom) to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.

Rings:

May I have the rings?

Since these rings are symbols of the marriage, the circle of love that never ends, whenever you look at it, remember this joyous day and the vows we've made here today.

(Groom), take( Bride’s) ring and put it on her finger, and repeat after me: With this ring I thee wed.

(Bride) put the ring on (Groom’s) finger and repeat after me: With this ring I thee wed.

Pronouncement:

________and _________ have declared before us today your commitment to each other, and having symbolized your marriage with the exchanging of rings.

By the power vested in me I pronounce ______ & ________ as husband and wife.

You may kiss each other for the first time as husband and wife!

Introduction

I would like to introduce to you Mr. & Mrs. ____________

New unique script

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:46:00 +0100

Welcome! ___ & ____ have brought us together here for an occasion of great joy and a cause for great celebration. Having found each other, they have built the kind of relationship that will serve them well as the foundation for their marriage. They have chosen each one of you to be here with them to witness their wedding vows as they join together as husband and wife.

Marriage is a bold step into an unknown future. It is risking who we are for the sake of who we can be. In marriage, two lives are intimately shared; and the blending of the two must not diminish either one. Rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner.

Each of us knows that a marriage is not created by a law or a ceremony; rather it occurs in the hearts of two human beings. It grows out of loving, caring, and sharing ourselves with another. This ceremony is not magic, it will not create a relationship that does not already exist and has not already been celebrated in all the commitments ___ & ____ have made to each other, both large and small, in the days since they first met and recognized their connection to one another. So, in witnessing this ceremony today, we are observing only an outward sign of an inward union that already exists between ___ & ___. This ceremony is a symbol of how far they have come together and a symbol of the promise that they will make to each other to continue to live their lives together and to love each other solely and above all others.

___ & ___ want to thank each of you for coming today to share in this very special time in their lives. Those of you who have been invited here to witness ___ & ___'s wedding ceremony and to celebrate with them today will play your part in their marriage too. There are only two official witnesses at a wedding but each and every person here today will witness the words that they will speak to one another and the vows that they will make. You should take good care to remember these words; for a marriage needs the help of a community, of friends and family who will be there when needed and will do all that they can during hard times to stand by ___ & ___ and offer their support to them and the new family that they create today. May you always do all within your power to support the union that will be made here today and to nurture the bond between these two people whom you love.

It is through loving, kindness, caring, and sharing that a successful marriage is created. A good marriage takes patience, dedication, humor and forgiveness. In this spirit of patience and dedication, ___. & ___ have asked ____ to read a selection written by C.S. Lewis.

From Christian Marriage: "Being in Love"

If the old fairy-tale ending "and they lived happily ever after…." is taken to mean "They felt for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were married," then it says what probably never was nor ever would be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? What would become of your work, your appetite, your sleep, and your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love.

Love in this second sense-love as distinct from "being in love" and it is not merely a feeling. Love is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by the grace which both partners receive from God. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each could easily allow themselves to be "in love" with someone else. "Being in love" first moved them to promise fidelity but this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.

Moreover, in the spirit of humor in marriage, ____ will read an excerpt from the children’s book “I Like You” by Sandol Warburg.

I like you
And I know why
I like you because
You are a good person
To like

When I think something is important
You think it's important too

When I say something funny
You laugh I think I'm funny and
You think I'm funny too
Hah-hah

You know how to be silly
That's why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me
till I met you
I like you because
You know when it’s time to stop being silly

Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never

Oops too late
It’s quarter past silly
If I am a goofus on the roofus
Hollering my head off
You are one too

That's because
You really like me
You really like me
Don't you?
And I really like you back

And you like me back
And I like you back
And that's the way we keep on going
Every day
If you find two four-leaf clovers
You give me one
If I find four I give you two
If we only find three
We keep on looking
Sometimes we have good luck
And sometimes we don't
I like you because I don't know why but
Everything that happens
Is nicer with you
I can't remember when I didn't like you
It must have been lonesome then
I like you because…. Because….. because….
I forget why I like you
But I do
So many reasons
Even if it was way down at the bottom of January
Even if it was no place particular in January
I would go on choosing you
And you would
go on choosing me
Over and over again

That's how it would happen every time
I don't know why
I guess I don't know why I like you really
I guess I just like you…..
I guess I just like you…..

Because I like you

A successful marriage is not something that just happens. It takes work, it takes patience, and it takes time. It takes a commitment from both of you... a commitment to do whatever it takes to make your relationship thrive and not just simply survive.

____, will you take ____ to be your lawfully wedded wife and travel the rest of life’s road with her? Will you love her, laugh with her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

I do.

___, will you take ____ to be your lawfully wedded Husband and travel the rest of life’s road with him? Will you love him, laugh with him, comfort him, honor and protect him, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

I do.

____& ___, the symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this - is my husband, this - is my wife.

I, ____, choose you, ____
In the presence of our friends and families,
To be my wife/husband and partner
From this day forward;
To love you,
To be a comfort and safe haven in your life,
To hold you close,
To listen deeply when you speak,
To uphold you with my strength,
To weigh the effects of the words I speak
And the things I do,
To never take you for granted,
And to always give thanks
For your presence in my life.

(and vice versa)

This is the point in the ceremony when people talk about the wedding bands being a perfect circle, having no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings have a beginning. Rock is dug up from the earth. Metals are liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. The hot metal is forged, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful made from raw elements.

Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.

The promises which you have spoken to each other today are inscribed forever in your minds, in your hearts. But words are fleeting so let these rings serve as a reminder of the feelings you have in your hearts at this very moment. These rings are visible, tangible symbols of your commitment to one another and of your emotional and spiritual connection. These rings announce to the world that you have been found. They are a reminder and a celebration of the promises you have made today and in exchanging these bands you knit your two lives together as one. When you look at your wedding band, remember the great gift that you have been given and all that you have in one another. Remember that you have someone to share this life with. Never again will you have to walk alone.

Now, Repeat after me:

____, with this ring I am giving you my promise to always love you, cherish you, honor you and comfort you. I promise that I will love you and keep my heart open to you all the days of my life.

___ & ___, in the presence of your family and friends who have joined you to share this moment of joy in your lives, you have declared your deep love and affection for each other. You have stated your wish to live together, always open to a deeper, richer friendship and partnership. You have formed your own union, based on respect and honor.

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 all that is sweet and bitter in life. Each tender act, each loving word will be the declaration of what was made here today.

Therefore, it is my joyful responsibility to officially acknowledge your union as "Husband and Wife". You may now seal your marriage with a kiss.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you for the very first time as husband and wife, Mr. & Miss ____.

Royal Wedding Short Version

Sun, 01 May 2011 22:44:27 +0100

Royal Wedding Short Verison

Archbishop to Prince William: William Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony?

Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

He answers: I will.

Archbishop to Catherine: Catherine Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

She answers: I will.

The Archbishop continues: Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

The Archbishop receives Catherine from her father's hand. Taking Catherine's right hand, Prince William says after the Archbishop: I, William Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands. Catherine, taking Prince William by his right hand, says after the Archbishop: I, Catherine Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands. The Archbishop blesses the ring: Bless, O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and favour, and live together in love until their lives' end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prince William takes the ring and places it upon the fourth finger of Catherine's left hand. Prince William says after the Archbishop: With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honour; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The congregation remains standing as the couple kneels. The Archbishop says: Let us pray.

O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that, living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge; and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop joins their right hands together and says: Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

The Archbishop addresses the congregation: Forasmuch as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Archbishop blesses the couple: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

Royal Wedding

Sun, 01 May 2011 22:41:43 +0100

Royal Wedding Transcript(s)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8479433/Royal-wedding-the-Order-of-Service-in-full.html

THE WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God himself, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended in Holy Writ to be honourable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.

First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God, and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections, implanted by God, should be hallowed and directed aright; that those who are called of God to this holy estate, should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.

Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

The Archbishop of Canterbury says to Prince William and Catherine:

I REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.

THE MARRIAGE

The Archbishop says to Prince William:

WILLIAM Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

He answers:

I will.

The Archbishop says to Catherine:

CATHERINE Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

She answers:

I will.

The Archbishop continues:

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

The Archbishop receives Catherine from her father's hand. Taking Catherine's right hand, Prince William says after the Archbishop:

I, WILLIAM Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands. Catherine, taking Prince William by his right hand, says after the Archbishop:

I, CATHERINE Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands. The Archbishop blesses the ring:

BLESS, O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and favour, and live together in love until their lives' end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prince William takes the ring and places it upon the fourth finger of Catherine's left hand. Prince William says after the Archbishop:

WITH this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honour; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Congregation remains standing as the Couple kneels. The Archbishop says:

Let us pray.

O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that, living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge; and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop joins their right hands together and says:

Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

The Archbishop addresses the Congregation:

FORASMUCH as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Archbishop blesses the Couple:

GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

THE LESSON

I APPEAL to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18

THE ADDRESS

Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire. So said Saint Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be. Their deepest and their truest selves.

Many people are fearful at the prospects for our world, but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one. This is a joyful day. It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations. Because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.

In a sense, every wedding is a royal wedding, with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together, so that life can flow through them into the future. William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. And in the spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each other. And spiritual life grows as love finds its center beyond ourselves, faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this. The more we give of self, the richer we become in soul. The more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage, we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

It is, of course, very hard to ween ourselves away from self- centeredness, and people can dream of doing such a thing. But that the hope should be fulfilled, it is necessary that a solemn decision is made, that whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love. You have both made your decision today. I will. And by making this new relationship, you've aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely the power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence for life, for the earth, and for one another.

Marriage should transform as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform so long as we don't harbor ambitions to refault (ph) our partners. There must be no coercion if the spirit is the flow. Each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase. "When mastery cometh, the god of love anon beated his wings. And farewell, he is gone."

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there's been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive. We need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light, and this leads on to a family life, which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace.

I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen. That way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day. "God, our father, we thank you for our families, for the love that we share, and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day, keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life, and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ, and we all say amen."

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

THE PRAYERS

Let us pray.

All kneel or remain seated.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, save thy servant and thy handmaid;
who put their trust in thee.
O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;
and evermore defend them.

Be unto them a tower of strength;
from the face of their enemy.
O Lord, hear our prayer;
and let our cry come unto thee.

The Dean and the Archbishop say:

O GOD of our fathers, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same; that so, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, they may abide in thy love unto their lives' end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O MERCIFUL Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; bestow, we beseech thee, upon these two persons the heritage and gift of children; and grant that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who hast taught us that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony hadst made one, and hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh), and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, and faithful to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen.

THE BLESSING

Let us pray.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1104/29/se.05.html

The Royal Wedding: The Wedding Ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

Aired April 29, 2011 - 06:00 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(CATHERINE MIDDLETON ARRIVES AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY)

(ASSEMBLY SINGING, "GUIDE ME O THOU GREAT REDEEMER")

PIERS MORGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now inside Westminster Abbey, and you can hear the first sing -- the first hymn, "Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer." Significant to this, it was the last hymn at Princess Diana's funeral in this abbey in 1997. It's a very famous Welsh rugby anthem, which has been called bread of heaven in this country. William is a very big rugby fan and he would have chosen this for a number of reasons.

REV. DR. JOHN HALL, DEAN OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate instituted of God himself signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church, which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle as he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended in holy writ to me honorable among all men, and therefore is not by any to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly or wantonly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.

First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind, according to the will of God and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, it was ordained in order in order that the natural instincts and affections implanted by God should be hallowed and directed a rite, that those who are called of God to this holy estate should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society help and comfort that the one ought to have for the other, both in prosperity and adversity, into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.

MORGAN: And that was Dr. John Hall, the Dean of Westminster. Now, we have the Archbishop of Canterbury. ROWAN WILLIAMS, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY: -- will be disclosed. That if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it. We'll be well assured that so many as our couple together otherwise in God's word of love, are not joined together by God, neither is their matrimony lawful.

William Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony with thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?

HRH PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: I will.

WILLIAMS: Catherine Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony, with thou love him, comfort him, love him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live?

HRH PRINCESS CATHERINE ELIZABETH MIDDLETON, DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE: I will.

WILLIAMS: Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

I, William Arthur Philip Louis -

PRINCE WILLIAM: I, William Arthur Philip Louis -

WILLIAMS: -- take thee Catherine Elizabeth -

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- take the Catherine Elizabeth -

WILLIAMS: -- to my wedded wife.

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- to my wedded wife.

WILLIAMS: To have and to hold from this day forward.

PRINCE WILLIAM: To have and to hold from this day forward.

WILLIAMS: For better or for worse.

PRINCE WILLIAM: For better or for worse.

WILLIAMS: For richer or for poorer.

PRINCE WILLIAM: For richer or for poorer.

WILLIAMS: In sickness and in health.

PRINCE WILLIAM: In sickness and in health.

WILLIAMS: To love and to cherish. PRINCE WILLIAM: To love and to cherish.

WILLIAMS: Till death us do part.

PRINCE WILLIAM: Till death us do part.

WILLIAMS: According to God's holy law.

PRINCE WILLIAM: According to God's holy law.

WILLIAMS: And thereto I give thee my troth.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And thereto I give thee my troth.

WILLIAMS: I, Catherine Elizabeth -

MIDDLETON: I, Catherine Elizabeth -

WILLIAMS: Take thee William Arthur Philip Louis -

MIDDLETON: Take thee William Arthur Philip Louis -

WILLIAMS: -- to my wedded husband.

MIDDLETON: -- to my wedded husband.

WILLIAMS: To have and to hold from this day forward.

MIDDLETON: To have and to hold from this day forward.

WILLIAMS: For better or for worse.

MIDDLETON: For better or for worse.

WILLIAMS: For richer or for poorer.

MIDDLETON: For richer or for poorer.

WILLIAMS: In sickness and in health.

MIDDLETON: In sickness and in health.

WILLIAMS: To love and to cherish.

MIDDLETON: To love and to cherish.

WILLIAMS: Till death us do part.

MIDDLETON: Till death us do part.

WILLIAMS: According to God's holy law.

MIDDLETON: According to God's holy law.

WILLIAMS: And thereto I give thee my troth.

MIDDLETON: And thereto I give thee my troth.

WILLIAMS: Bless, O lord, this ring and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other and abide in thy peace and favor and live together in love until their lives' end through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

WILLIAMS: With this ring I thee wed.

PRINCE WILLIAM: With this ring I thee wed.

WILLIAMS: With my body I thee honor.

PRINCE WILLIAM: With my body I thee honor.

WILLIAMS: And all my worldly goods with thee I share.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And all my worldly goods with thee I share.

WILLIAMS: In the name of the Father.

PRINCE WILLIAM: In the name of the Father.

WILLIAMS: And of the Son.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And of the Son.

WILLIAMS: And of the Holy Ghost.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And of the Holy Ghost.

WILLIAMS: Amen.

PRINCE WILLIAM: Amen.

WILLIAMS: Let us pray. Oh, eternal God, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life, send thy blessing upon these, thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name, that living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

WILLIAMS: Those whom God has joined together let no man put us under. For as much as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given to pledge their troths either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring and by joining of hands, I pronounce that they be man and wife together in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

ASSEMBLY: Amen. WILLIAMS: God, the Father, God, the Son, God, the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you. The Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

MORGAN: And that's it. Prince William and Kate Middleton are formally married. They have become Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in what has been an extraordinary day of celebration for Britain and to the rest of the world.

Now, singing a hymn is a tribute to Charles and Camilla, it was played at Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005, St. George's Chapel, and is another great tub thumping British hymn. Enjoy this.

(SINGING "LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING")

MORGAN: And that was "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," a wonderful hymn by William Reynolds and Charles Wesley. And now, Kate Middleton's brother, James, with the reading from Romans.

JAMES MIDDLETON, KATE MIDDLETON'S BROTHER: "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable, and perfect.

Let love be genuine. Hate what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with mutual affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal. Be ardent in spirit. Serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. But take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

MORGAN: And we're now going to hear a special anthem that was commissioned by the Dean of Westminster as a wedding gift for the couple, written by John Rutter, considered by many to be the greatest living choral composer, sung by the two Choirs, one on the Westminster Abbey and one from Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of St. James' Palace.

(CHOIR SINGING THE ANTHEM "THIS IS THE DAY WHICH THE LORD HATH MADE")

MORGAN: And now we'll hear an address by the right Reverend and right Honorable Dr. Richard Chartres, who is the lord bishop of London.

DR. RICHARD CHARTRES, LORD BISHOP OF LONDON: Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire. So said Saint Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be. Their deepest and their truest selves.

Many people are fearful at the prospects for our world, but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one. This is a joyful day. It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations. Because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.

In a sense, every wedding is a royal wedding, with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together, so that life can flow through them into the future. William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. And in the spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each other. And spiritual life grows as love finds its center beyond ourselves, faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this. The more we give of self, the richer we become in soul. The more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage, we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

It is, of course, very hard to ween ourselves away from self- centeredness, and people can dream of doing such a thing. But that the hope should be fulfilled, it is necessary that a solemn decision is made, that whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love. You have both made your decision today. I will. And by making this new relationship, you've aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely the power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence for life, for the earth, and for one another.

Marriage should transform as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform so long as we don't harbor ambitions to refault (ph) our partners. There must be no coercion if the spirit is the flow. Each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase. "When mastery cometh, the god of love anon beated his wings. And farewell, he is gone."

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there's been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive. We need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light, and this leads on to a family life, which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace.

I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen. That way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day. "God, our father, we thank you for our families, for the love that we share, and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day, keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life, and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ, and we all say amen."

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

MORGAN: Inspiring words there from the Bishop of London. Other inspiring words we're hearing were that Prince William apparently said to his bride as she arrived at the altar, "You look beautiful."

We're going to hear the Motet, which is a very an interesting story. A young man called Paul Mealor, who wrote this and the special couple heard it up at St. Andrews and said we want this at our wedding. And he's a completely unknown composer until now. This will change his life forever.

(SINGING -- THE MOTET "UBI CARITAS")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us.

ASSEMBLY: Christ, have mercy upon us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE AND ASSMEBLY: Lord have merry upon us. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: O, Lord, save thy servant and thy handmaid.

ASSEMBLY: Who put their trust in thee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: O Lord, send them help from thy holy place.

ASSEMBLY: And evermore defend them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be unto them a tower of strength.

ASSEMBLY: From the face of their enemy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: O Lord, hear our prayer.

CHARTRES: Oh God of our fathers, bless these thy servants and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts, that whatsoever in thy holy word, they shall profitably learn. They may, indeed, fulfill the same, that so obeying thy will, and always being in safety under thy protection. They may abide in thy love unto their lives' end, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

WILLIAMS: Oh merciful Lord and heavenly father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased, bestow we beseech these upon these two persons the heritage and gift of children, and grant that they may see their children Christianly and virtuously brought up to thy praise and honor, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

CHARTRES: Oh God, who has taught us that it should never be lawful to put us under, those whom thou by matrimony had made one, and has consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in its signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his church.

Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word, as Christ did love his spouse the church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it, even as his own flesh. And also, that this woman may be loving and amiable and faithful to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons.

Oh Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

WILLIAMS: All mighty God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that he may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

MORGAN (voice-over): And now, one of the greatest hymns in British history, "Jerusalem" written by William Blake, music by Charles Parry, the arrangement by Edward Elgar, and every English rugby fan, and William is one of those, will know this word by word.

(SINGING)

CHARTRES: Let us pray. Almighty Lord and everlasting God, vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments, that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever. We may be preserved in body and soul, through our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

CHARTRES: The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

(SINGING) Amen.

MORGAN: And now the moment that is going to absolutely raise the roof all over Britain, the national anthem. Prepare for this.

(SINGING)

MORGAN: And if that doesn't make you proud to be British, then nothing will. Amazing scenes behind this at Buckingham Palace here as the whole crowd joined in with the national anthem. We're going to have the bride and bridegroom and their witnesses moving to the shrine of St. Edward the confessor for the signing of the marriage registers.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SINGING)

Secular Service

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:34:14 +0100

Secular Service

Welcome to family and friends:
We are gathered here today to take part in the most time honored celebration of the human family, uniting a man and a woman in marriage. ____________ and ____________ have come to witness before us, telling of their love for each other. We remember theirs is a love whose source is the affection of those who loved them into being.

Opening:
You have know 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 promises and agreements in an informal way.

All those conversations were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks -- all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" -- those late night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe" -- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.

All those common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "you know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed -- well, I meant it all, every word."

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another -- acquaintance, friend, companion, and even teacher. Now you shall say a few words that take you across the threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife.

Reading (Optional):

The Art of a Good Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson
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 bed angry. It is never taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all 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 in 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 expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.

It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding rooms for the things of spirit. 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 marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

Vows:
We remind ____________ and ____________ that they are performing an act of complete faith, each in the other; that the heart of their marriage will be the relationship they create. In a world where faith often falls short of expectation, it is a tribute to these two who now join hands and hearts in perfect faith.

__________, will you receive ______________ as your wife? Will you pledge to her your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing her with a husband's loyalty and devotion?

Groom: "I will."

__________, will you receive ______________ as your husband? Will you pledge to him your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing him with a wife's loyalty and devotion?

Bride: "I will."

Rings:
_________ and __________, receive each other from your fathers and mothers, who give you into each other's keeping, by saying now, each to the other, words which will tell of your love.

The wedding ring is a symbol of unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. And today __________ and ___________ give and receive these rings as demonstrations of their vows to make their lives one, to work at all times to create a life that is whole and unbroken, and to love each other without end.

____________, take the ring which you have selected, place it on ____________'s finger, and say to her these words.
This ring, a gift for you, symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward.

____________, take the ring and as you place it on ____________'s finger, please state your pledge to him repeating these word:
This ring, a gift for you, symbolizes my desire that you be my husband from this day forward.

Reading (Optional)
Today is a day you will always remember -- the greatest in anyone's life. You'll start off the day just two people in love and end it as husband and wife. It's a brand new beginning, the start of a journey, with moments to cherish and treasure. And although there'll be times you both disagree, these will surely be outweighed by pleasure.

You'll have heard many words of advice in the past, when the secrets of marriage were spoken, but now you know that the answers lie hidden inside, where the bond of true love lies unbroken. So live happy forever as lovers and friends, it's the dawn of a new life for you, as you stand there together with love in your eyes from the moment you whisper, "I do." And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real, may success find its way to your hearts. Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys, but today is the day it all starts.

Prayer for the Bride and Groom (Optional):
Eternal God, without your grace no promise is sure. Strengthen ____________ and ___________ with patience, kindness, gentleness, and all the other gifts you so abundantly impart, that they may fulfill the vows they have made this day. Keep them faithful to each other and to you. Fill them by your word and serve you all of their days. Amen.

Pronouncement:
____________ and ____________, 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. Having witnessed your vows for marriage with all who are assembled here, and by the authority vested in me, I announce with great joy that you are husband and wife.

Kiss:
You may kiss your bride.

Presentation:
It gives me great pleasure to present to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs.____________ .

Wedding Ceremony Readings

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:33:05 +0100

"Blessing For A Marriage" by James Dillet Freeman

From "The Irrational Season" by Madeleine L'Engle

“Love Is Friendship Caught Fire” by Laura Hendricks

"Benediction of the Apaches"

"A History of Love" by Diane Ackerman

"On Love" by Thomas a Kempis

"Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love" by Edmund O’Neill

“I Love You” by Roy Croft

Excerpt from “The Art of a Good Marriage” by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

“Time In A Bottle", by Jim Croce

“I Am Love"

“Looking For Your Face” by Rumi

"Sonnet XLIII", from "Sonnets from the Portuguese" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Sooner or Later”

“Hug O' War” by Shel Silverstein

“Sonnet 17” by Pablo Neruda

"Desiderata" by Max Erhmann (1927)

Excerpt from “Any Husband or Wife” by Carole Haynes

"Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare

"Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare

"The Merchant of Venice" Act 4, Scene 1 (spoken by Portia) by William Shakespeare

From "The Hymn of the Universe" by Teilhard de Chardin

"On Love" and "On Marriage" excerpts from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran

"On Love"

"On Marriage"

"On Children" by Khalil Gibran

"You Were Born Together" by Kahlil Gibran

"Friendship" by Judy Bielicki

"The Magic of Love" by Helen Steiner Rice

“Blessing of the Hands"

From "The Hungering Dark" by Frederick Buechner

Alternative vows

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:21:40 +0100

Alternative wedding vows

My promise to you is but a simple one. I will love you today and everyday that follows until the end of time. With the passing of every minute, my love grows stronger and my devotion grows deeper. I will love and cherish you until my eyes can no longer see your beauty, my ears can no longer hear your loving words, and my hands can no longer feel your tender caress. From this moment until my dying breath, you are my love – you are my life.