Sample Ceremony
Welcome and Opening
Family members, friends, (children of God), we are gathered together on this sacred occasion to witness (and bless) the marriage of Mary Katherine Jones and Kevin Lee Smith. We affirm that marriage is truly a gift (from God); a gift that is sealed by an act of mutual covenant. It is into this covenant that Mary and Kevin wish to enter today.
Charge to Couple and Guests
Marriage is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly. Therefore if anyone here knows of any reason why these two may not be legally joined together in marriage, please make it known at this time.
Will you, Mary, have Kevin to be your husband, your partner in life, your friend, your mate, and will you love him faithfully as long as you both shall live?
Mary answers: I do.Will you, Kevin, have Mary to be your wife, your partner in life, your friend, your mate, and will you love her faithfully as long as you both shall live?
Kevin answers: I do.Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?
Family and friends answer: We will!Wishes for the Couple
May this man and woman build a life together that is bright with the laughter of children and the smiles of friends and family. May their home be a haven from the tensions of our time and a wellspring of strength; may it be the one place where they most want to be, and may the years deal gently with them. Walking together may they find much more in life than either would have found alone.
Reading from I Corinthians
Love is patient; love is kind;
Love is not envious or boastful, arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures.
Love never ends.Reading from Kahlil Gibran, “On Marriage”
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,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand 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 they cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.Short Homily about Marriage and the Couple (about 4 minutes)
Vows:
Kevin, please take Mary’s right hand and as you look in her eyes repeat these vows you have chosen to make:
Mary, with all my love, I take you to be my wife. I will love you through good and bad, through joy and sorrow. I will try to be understanding and to trust in you completely. Together we will face all of life’s experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals. I promise I will be your equal partner in a loving and honest relationship, for as long as we both shall live.
Mary, as you look into Kevin’s eyes repeat these vows that you have chosen to make.
Kevin, with all my love, I take you to be my husband. I will love you through good and bad, through joy and sorrow. I will try to be understanding and to trust in you completely. Together we will face all of life’s experiences and share one another’s dreams and goals. I promise I will be your equal partner in a loving and honest relationship, for as long as we both shall live.
Blessing of the Rings:
Divine Spirit, in the golden glow of this day, we ask your blessing on these rings that Kevin and Mary now exchange. May they become a symbol of the light and love that you pour out on their new life together.
These rings represent the enduring trust and affection that you bring to one another and are the outward and visible symbols of an inner spiritual bond.
Kevin, as you place this ring on Mary’s hand please repeat after me: Mary, I give you this ring to wear, honoring the vows that we make today. Wear it as a symbol of my never ending love for you.
Mary, as you place this ring on Kevin’s hand please repeat after me: Kevin, I give you this ring to wear, honoring the vows that we make today. Wear it as a symbol of my never ending love for you.
Prounouncement:
In the presence of these witnesses, you have spoken the words and performed the rites that unite your lives. Kevin and Mary, you are now husband and wife in the sight of God, your family and friends, and your community. By the powers vested in me by this state I pronounce you husband and wife.
Kevin, you may kiss your bride.
Let us Pray:
Eternal Creator, preserver of all life, giver of all grace, look favorably upon this man and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony. Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy. Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours. Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others. Amen.
Blessing of Couple:
Mary and Kevin, may your home be a haven of peace and your relationship be one of truth and understanding. May you enjoy length of days, fulfillment of hopes, and contentment of mind as you, day by day, live and fulfill the terms of this covenant you have made with one another.
Presentation:
For the first time ever, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Smith.
Benediction and Dismissal:
And now to Kevin and Mary and all of you gathered here today, may God bless you and keep you. May God’s countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God look upon you with favor and grant you peace.
Go in peace strengthened by the love you have witnessed here today.
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