INTRODUCTION
Finding “the one” out of all the people in the entire world should be impossible! There are 7.7 billion people in the world and somehow ___________ and ______________ found each other. Here they are, in front of the most important people in their lives, making the impossible seem not only possible, but inevitable. Was it destiny? Happenstance? Total dumb luck? It doesn't matter why they met, what matters is we are here today because _____________ and __________________ love each other and have decided to show that love to the world by joining today in marriage.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Do you, _______ take ___________ to be “the one”? The one you not only give love, respect and compassion to, but also allow yourself to receive the same from?
Participant 1: I do
And do you, ___________, take _____________to be “the one”? The one you not only give love, respect
and compassion to, but also allow yourself to receive the same from?
Participant 2: I do
EXCHANGE OF VOWS
__________ and ____________, 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.
(Participants may exchange vows at this time)
RING EXCHANGE
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.
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.
DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE
_________ and _______, 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.
I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Mr./Mrs. and Mr./Mrs. _____________!