CEREMONY OF MARY AND RONALD
OPENING Welcome family and friends. In the eyes of God and each other, we are here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of true love, and to cherish the words that will unite Mary and Ronald in marriage. (Who presents this woman to be married today?) (Presenter: I do.)
Mary and Ronald, in the days ahead of you, there will be times of sadness and times of joy. Harmony will be your reward if you follow this advice:
Let your love be stronger than your anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break. Look for the best in your beloved rather than the worst.
Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. Give your partner the same courtesies and kindesses you bestow on your friends. And say "I love you" everyday.
CONSECRATION Let us pray.
Divine Creator of all this wonder, we pray that your love and your joy may flow through us at this time. Shine your light upon Mary and Ronald so that they may give each other total joy. Nourish their minds with your wisdom. Enrich their hearts with your love. Feed their marriage with your presence. Give them courage and inspiration to honor the vows they make here today.
May all who gather here as witnesses support and encourage their union, and be blessed as we celebrate with them. Amen.
VOWS Mary and Ronald, please face each other and join hands.I remind you that marriage is a precious gift; a lifelong dedication and a daily challenge to love each other more fully and more freely.
With this understanding, do you, Mary, take Ronald, to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, from this day forward? (I do)
With this understanding, do you, Ronald, take Mary, to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, from this day forward? (I do.)
RINGS Mary and Ronald have chosen rings as an symbol of their commitment to each other. From the earliest times, the ring has been an outward symbol of wedded love. An unbroken and unending circle symbolizes a commitment to love that is never ending. We ask that God bless these rings and this union of souls.
Mary, place the ring you have chosen on Ronald's finger, and say to him these words: This ring, a gift for you / symbolizes my desire that you be my husband, from this day forward.
Ronald, place the ring you have chosen on Mary'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.
Let these rings serve as locks, binding you together, and also as keys, unlocking the secrets of your love, and thus bringing you closer together.
UNITY CANDLE Please see "Unity Candle" Page. This is optional.
CLOSING To be loved is to know joy and happiness. To love is to know the joy of sharing oneself, and it is through the miracle of that love that we discover the fullness of life. May God always be with you, love you, and guide you both now and forever. May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know it's beauty all the days of your life. And may you live those days in peace, love, and happiness.
PRONOUNCEMENT Mary and Ronald, having witnessed your vows of marriage with all who are assembled here, and by the authority vested in me, I announce with great joy that you are now husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss!
PRESENTATION Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Rogers. Unity Candle / Other Ceremonies The lighting of the Unity Candle is optional, though most people prefer to add it to their ceremony. It is just a nice touch! Your ceremony needs to be indoors for this part to be added, as wind can make it a bit difficult. If the ceremony is at the Wedding Parlor, we provide a basic Unity candle set up, or if you want to bring your own, that is fine, too! If we are performing the ceremony at another location, you will need to provide it. These two candles before you are yourselves. Each of you is a whole and complete human being. Together, light the third candle in the center, but do not extinguish the first two. For in marriage, you do not lose yourself; you add something new, a relationship...the capacity to merge into one another without losing sight of your individual self. As you both light this candle today, may the brightness of these flames shine throughout your lives. May they give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strong joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed! SAND CEREMONY, couple only: g _________ and b _________ , you will now seal your relationship through the mixing of the sands. Just as two lives together now join to become one, so will the individual sands become one as they are poured. It would be impossible to separate these sands, just as it would be impossible to separate your lives after today. But remember, that in marriage, you do not lose yourself. You add something new, a relationship. The capacity to merge into one another without Losing sight of your individual self. This covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who love each other heartily and who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives. SAND POURING, Blending of a family, includes children: g __________ and b __________ , you have chosen each other today, but you have also chosen a family. We will now celebrate the unification of __________, __________, and __________ into this covenant. g __________ and b __________ please pour your sand into the vase first, showing that your marriage is the foundation of this family, a never ending source of love and support. Your sand mixes together and symbolizes your bond of love and respect that can never be separated. __________, __________, and __________ please add your sand now, and as you do, we are reminded that you are an important part of this union. And though we are all different people, it is our individuality which adds a unique color to the tapestry of the family. Like the sands poured before it, so these sands will also mix and be unable to be separated.
The Sand Pouring Ceremony is usually performed in lieu of the Unity Candle Ceremony, and works great for outdoor weddings, or for including children/step-children in the "blending" of your family. You will need to bring a vase and two smaller glasses (or several if there are children taking part). A tall glass often works well for the central vase, and juice glasses or votive holders work well for the emptying vessels. The sand for the bride and groom can be any colors you'd like, as long as they are different. If there are children taking part, they each should have their own color. Sand can be pruchased at Hobby Lobby or Michael's in the craft section. For just the bride and groom, purple and white are the typical spiritual colors, though I have even had couples use their college colors! It is your choice! Also, there are "fancy" kits just for wedding sand pouring ceremonies that you can purchase online and can be found by typing "sand pouring ceremony" into a search engine. The vase filled with sand makes a wonderful keepsake from your wedding ceremony. Below are the wordings for each ceremony.
UNITY CANDLE LIGHTING