Wedding Ceremony Options
Down below you will find great options for creating your own Wedding Ceremony, please feel free to use them.
For wedding ceremonies that Weddings-By-Kevin does, please use Kevin's online ceremony form by CLICKING HERE.
1. Giving Away of the Bride Options
A. Who gives this woman to be married to this man? (I Do)
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B. Who supports this couple in their marriage?
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C. Who supports this woman in her marriage to this man
2. Greeting and Introduction Options
A. Friends and family members, we have the pleasure of seeing these two wonderful people present themselves before God, and these witnesses, for the purpose of being united in the bonds of holy matrimony.
Therefore, if any person can show just cause why these two, may not lawfully be joined together as husband and wife, let them now speak, or forever hereafter hold their peace.
~It says in my notes to PAUSE (this makes people laugh)
B. Good evening. It is truly a blessing from heaven for two people to find one another and to love so deeply that they embrace the holy bond of marriage. That is why we are all here today, to witness and celebrate _______ and _______ commitment to their union. On behalf of them, I welcome you all.
Although this is their day, it is also a tribute to all of you. For knowing you and interacting with you has helped to make our Bride and Groom who they needed to be to find each other. They would like to thank you all for that.
All of you are the threads which have been woven into the tapestry of their lives. Each one of you is an important piece in the story their life tells. YOU are the fabric that they wrap around themselves and take comfort in when the world seems cold.
And on days like today when everything is right in their world, that tapestry is proudly spread out and displayed for everyone to see, with all the glorious colors and textures that your diversity adds.
You all hold a place in their hearts reserved for those that they have chosen to call 'Family' and “Friends” and they are deeply grateful for each and every one of you here today
C. Friends and family members, we have been invited here today to share with ______ and ______ a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.
3. Words about Marriage Options
A. Marriage is the beginning of a new life, a chance at fulfilling long-held dreams, and an opportunity for great personal and spiritual growth. Marriage endures through the ages of trends and fads. Marriage thrives, and continues to live as a promise of a beautiful dream come true. As long as individuals are drawn together by God, marriage will be a natural unfolding of that relationship.
Now, Feelings come alive at a wedding. Great happiness… Some sadness…Apprehension... And quite often great feelings of anticipation and joy. There is an acute awareness that something special, something that goes to the very heart of life, is about to happen. Something is gone forever, and something is born, brand-new and tender. Something to be nurtured and cared for, protected and cherished, challenged and strengthened……
…Your never-before-created marriage.
B. Marriage is a gift from God, a miracle. After speaking to you both, it is obvious that you already know some of the great blessings marriage has to offer. It is an opportunity to feel the joy of taking care of someone who takes care of you, to be challenged towards growth yet gently nurtured, to love deeply and receive love in return. It is about trust, friendship and having a partner to share all life has to offer. It is a commitment to participate in a process of mutual evolution, understanding and forgiveness. It is indeed a sacred union to be treated with reverence.
Marriage is not a place to hide from the world. It is a safe place to grow and become wiser. It is a place to evolve into better people; so that you can go out in the world and make a difference by spreading the joy and wisdom that you have found within each other. Together in this marriage, you shall contribute more fully, for you both shall become more full.
C. Marriage is a supreme sharing, perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyful uniting of a man and a woman whose care and affection and understanding have flowered into a deep and abiding love. Those who take its sacred vows have their lives blended together into one, as the waters of two rivers are joined when they come together to form an even greater force.
No no ceremony can create your marriage. Only you can do that ~through love, patience, dedication, perseverance ~through talking and listening and trying to understand ~through helping and supporting and believing in each other ~through having really good air conditioning, if you life in California ~through learning to forgive, learning to respect and appreciate your differences, and learning to make the important things matter and to let go of the rest.
What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you have made to begin a new life today as husband and wife.
(This Option gets people laughing)
4. Words about LOVE Options
A. And now, a few words about LOVE
To a woman love means that she feels cherished and adored by her husband, she is #1 above anyone and anything else…this is what I call the LOVE principle… because women have a real need to feel deeply loved and Cherished. (not a want, but a need).
To a man love means that he feels respected and appreciated for who he is, and what he does, without feeling like she is trying to change him, or fix him… This is what I call the respect principle… because men have a real need (not a want, but a need), to feel respected, appreciated, and even a little “admired”.
Women want to feel LOVED… Men want to feel respected…
A wise man once said “The key to motivating your spouse is found in discovering what their deepest need is, then doing what you can to meet that need.
For a woman, her need is to feel deeply loved and cherished, and when her husband meets her need for love, it naturally motivates her to meet his need, for respect.
And when a wife does everything she can to meet a husbands need for respect, it naturally motivates him to show her the love, that her heart desperately cries out for.
So if you want to have a healthy loving marriage, try focusing on meeting your spouse’s deepest needs, instead of your own.
Right now, turn to your significant other, poke them in their side and say “you better be listening, he’s talking to you!”.
(This Lesson gets people laughing)
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B. I Corinthians 13:1-13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
C. “To Be One With Each Other” by George Eliot
What greater thing is there for two human souls
than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen
each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow,
to share with each other in all gladness,
to be one with each other in the
silent unspoken memories?
5. Wedding Vow Options (I Do Questions)
A. Do you Name of Spouse; take Name of Spouse, whom you hold by the hand, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad, forsaking all others, to cleave to him only, so long as you both shall live?
Answer: I do.
B. Do you "Name of Spouse"; take "Name of Spouse", whom you hold by the hand, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad, forsaking all others, to cleave to her only, so long as you both shall live?
Answer: I do.
C. Do you Name of Spouse take Name of Spouse, to be your lawfully wedded wife, your constant friend, your faithful partner and your one true love from this day forward? In the presence of God, your family and friends, do you offer your solemn vow to be her faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, and in joyful times as well as in sorrow?
Do you promise to love her unconditionally, to support her in her goals, to honor, respect, laugh with, cry with and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?
Answer: I Do
D. Do you "Name of Spouse" take "Name of Spouse", to be your lawfully wedded husband, your constant friend, your faithful partner and your one true love from this day forward? In the presence of God, your family and friends, do you offer your solemn vow to be his faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, and in joyful times as well as in sorrow?
Do you promise to love him unconditionally, to support him in his goals, to honor, respect, laugh with, cry with and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?
Answer: I Do
E. Do you, Name of Spouse, choose you Name of Spouse to be your wife, to respect her in her successes and in her failures, to care for her in sickness and in health, to nurture her and to grow with her throughout all the seasons of her life?
Answer: I:Do
F. Do you, Name of Spouse, choose you Name of Spouse to be your husband, to respect him in his successes and in his failures, to care for him in sickness and in health, to nurture him and to grow with him throughout all the seasons of his life?
Answer: I:Do
6. Exchange of Rings Options
Ring Ceremony Introduction: And now we come to the presentation of rings by which you symbolize and seal the vows you have just made to each other. Do you have your rings?
The ring is a symbol of the commitment you are making today on your wedding day, as you promise to always be there for each other, through thick and thin, through the good times … and the bad. Your wedding rings are most special because they say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are.
Your rings carry a potent double message: We are individuals and yet we belong to each other; we are not alone. As you wear these rings through time, let them reflect not only who you are, but also the glorious union that you are now creating.
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A. I give you this ring… as a symbol of my love and faithfulness… As I place it on your finger… I commit my heart and soul to you… I ask you to wear this ring… as a reminder of the vows… we have spoken today… our wedding day.
B. This ring is a token of my love… I marry you with this ring… with all that I have… and with all that I am
Response:
I will forever wear this ring… as a sign of my commitment… and the desire of my heart
C. I give you this ring… to wear with love and joy... As a ring has no end… neither shall my love for you… I choose you to be my (wife / husband)… this day and forevermore.
D. This ring I give to you… as a token of my love… and my devotion to you… I pledge to you… all that I am… and all that I will ever be… as your (husband/wife)… With this ring… I gladly marry you… and join my life to yours.
E. I give you this ring… as a visible and constant symbol… of my promise to be with you… as long as I live.
F. I give you this ring… as a symbol of… my love for you… Let it be a reminder… that I am always by your side… and that I will always… be a faithful partner to you.
G. Let this ring… be a symbol of… my promises to you… and a reminder of… my devotion to you… I am honored to call you my (wife/husband).
H. With this ring… I thee wed… and with it… I bestow upon thee… all the treasures of my mind… my heart… and my hands.
7. Extra Optional Ceremonies
A. Sand Ceremony: The bride and groom, along with their children, take individual containers of different colored sand. Then take turns pouring each their sand, into a larger container, symbolizing their Families and Friends coming together as one.
B. The Hands Ceremony
Fiancee and Fiance, Please face each other and take each other’s hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.
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 along side 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 temporarily comes your way.
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 give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.
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.
C. Rose Ceremony: A simple unity ceremony where the bride and groom exchange roses. Other variations: the families exchange roses, the bride and groom exchange roses with their families, the bride and groom exchange roses, then present their mothers with the roses.
D. Wine Ceremony: The bride and groom each take a carafe of wine and pour it into a single glass, which they both drink from.
E. The Unity Candle: The bride and groom each take a lit candle and simultaneously light a third larger "unity candle." They may blow out their individual lights, or leave them lit, symbolizing that they have not lost their individuality in their unity. Stores are now selling elaborate unity candle setups, including a candelabra that holds the central unity candle higher than the others. You may also have your unity candle personalized with your names and the date, allowing it to be a keepsake from your wedding.
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8. Declaration of Married Couple Options
A. Fiancee and Fiance, in the presence of God, your family and friends here today, you have spoken the words and performed the rites which unite your lives. It is my legal right as a minister and my greatest joy and privilege to declare you husband and wife.
You may now kiss the bride.
B. For as much as ______________ and ______________ have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this congregation, and in so doing have given and pledged their vows to each other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of rings..
I now pronounce you husband and wife!
You may now kiss the bride.
C. "By the power vested in me by the State of _______ …I now pronounce you husband and wife".
You may now kiss the bride.
9. Benediction Options (Speaking Blessings over the Couple)
A. May God’s blessings rest upon you, may God’s peace abide with you, and may God’s presence illuminate your hearts, now and forevermore. Amen.
B. May the Peace that passes all understanding be yours now and forevermore.
C. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
D. The two of you are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, may you always return to one another in your togetherness. May you two find in each other the love for which all men and women long. May you grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home that you establish be such a place of sanctuary that all who visit will find there a friend. And may the Lord bless you and keep you forevermore. Amen.
10. Introduction of Knewlyweds Options
Ladies and Gentleman I present to you for the very first time… Mr. and Mrs. _______________
*You can choose ...
A. Only "His" last name (Mr & Mrs Smith)
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B. His first and last name (Mr & Mrs John Smith)
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C. Both their first names and last name (Mr & Mrs John & Cindy Smith)