Welcome

In the light of the universe, and each other, we are here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to cherish the words that will unite Groom and Bride in marriage

Opening

Bride and Groom in the days ahead of you, there will be times of difficulty and conflict. When you find yourselves in these situations, I ask you to reflect on this marriage 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 spouse the same courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends. Say "I love you" every day.

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Vows

Groom and Bride, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift; a lifelong dedication to love and a daily challenge to love one another more fully and more freely. With this understanding:

Do you, Groom, take Bride to be your beloved wife?
Do you promise to be a tender, faithful husband?
Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto her?

And do you Bride; take Groom to be your beloved husband?
Do you promise to be a tender, faithful wife?
Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto him?

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Rings

Groom and Bride have chosen rings as outward symbols of the commitment they make today. From earliest times, the ring has been a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never-ending circle symbolizes a commitment to love that is also never ending. Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, signifying to all the uniting of this man and this woman in marriage.

Groom, take the ring that you have selected, place it on Bride's finger, and say to her these words.
This ring I give to you as a token of my love and devotion to you. It symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your husband. With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours.

Bride, take the ring that you have selected, place it on Groom's finger, and say to him these words.
This ring I give to you as a token of my love and devotion to you. It symbolizes my desire that you be my husband from this day forward. I pledge to you all that I am and all that I will ever be as your wife. With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours.

Let these rings serve not as locks binding you together, but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and thus bringing you closer together forever.

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Sand Ceremony (see our store for ceremony vases)

Bride and Groom, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. At the beginning of your ceremony, your parent’s poured sand into two separate vessels. This represents your separate families and lives to this moment.

These two separate containers of sand represent you, Bride and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and you, Groom and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be both as individuals.

Groom and Bride, as you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one.

You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of Bride and Groom into one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.

Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away your worries.
And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness

Charge to the Couple

Bride and Groom as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect.

Pronouncement

Bride and Groom in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of your hands, and witnessed by all those who are present here today. It gives me great joy to say, by the authority vested in me, I now declare you to be husband and wife.

You may now seal your vows with a kiss.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, for the first time as husband and wife: Mr. & Mrs. Groom’s last name or full name!