Ceremony # 5 * Civil *
Words of Welcome
We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of Jane and Joe in marriage. Let us rejoice with and for them in the new life they will begin together this day.
Marriage Address
Joe and Jane, marriage is not only for happiness, but for the growth and enrichment of character. There must be a dedication of each to the other and of both to a purposeful and compassionate life.
Declaration of Intent
Is it in this spirit that you have come to be joined together?
If so, please say…It is. Then in this spirit, please join hands…and with your hands…your hearts.
Jane, will you have Joe to be your husband, to live together in marriage?
Will you love him and give him your respect? Will you nurture and comfort him? Will you be present with him in sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow? Will you share with him your protecting strength, the depth of your passion, the vigor of your embrace? Will you share with him your quiet, and your dreams, your moments of doubts and of your fears? Will you share friendship and devotion as well as the courage to renew the fullness of your love? If so, please say…I will
And Joe, will you have Jane to be your wife, to live together in marriage?
Will you love her and give her your respect? Will you nurture and comfort her? Will you be present with her in sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow?
Will you share with her your protecting strength, the depth of your passion, the vigor of your embrace? Will you share with her your quiet, and your dreams,
your moments of doubts and of your fears? Will you share friendship and devotion as well as the courage to renew the fullness of your love? If so please say…I will.
Reading
Let me speak then in the words of a wonderful poet, Kahlil Gibran:
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 one loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each 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 unto 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 the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
and let the winds of heaven dance between you
Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
Wedding Vows
Jane, do you take Joe to be your husband promising to love, honor, and cherish him for all the days of your lives? If so, please say…I do. Then please repeat after me.
I, Jane, take you, Joe
to be my husband
and to share with me
the many experiences of life.
I will and respect you.
I will honor and cherish you,
and be a comfort to you.
I will keep you in times of health,
happiness and prosperity,
and in times of sickness,
tension, and hardship,
should they come our way.
I acknowledge you to be my husband,
my equal, my lover,
and my closest friend.
And Joe, do you take Jane to be your wife promising to love, honor, and cherish her for all the days of your lives? If so, please say…I do. Then please repeat after me.
I, Joe take you, Jane
to be my wife
and to share with me
the many experiences of life.
I will love and respect you.
I will honor and cherish you,
and be a comfort to you.
I will keep you in times of health,
happiness and prosperity,
and in times of sickness,
tension, and hardship,
should they come our way.
I acknowledge you to be my wife,
my equal, my lover,
and my closest friend.
Exchanging of Rings
The rings…
These rings which you will exchange are the most precious gift you can give to one another because they announce to the world that even in your uniqueness, you have chosen to share your life with another. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are, but also the life you have created together.
Ring Vows
Joe, please place this ring partially on Jane’s finger and repeat after me
I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love for you
and of the commitments
we have made together.
Jane, please place this ring on Joe’s finger and repeat after me:
I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love for you
and of the commitments
we have made together.
Pronouncement
By the love that has brought you here today
and by the honesty of your commitment
in the presence of family and friends,
we observe joyfully
that you have declared yourselves to be husband and wife.
The Kiss
You may kiss your bride.
Presentation
And now it is my great honor and pleasure to present to you…
Mr. & Mrs. _______________
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