Marriage is a Gift from God

“Marriage is a Gift from God”

(includes parent’s commitment)

Wedding Vows

OFFICIANT:

GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, I greet you.

To our assembled guests, on behalf of GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, I welcome you. GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, on behalf of those assembled here, I welcome you as well.

We welcome you to this moment in your lives and to the place you have come to in each other’s hearts. We join with you on this day, as you commit before God and humanity that from this point forward you shall live as one.

I remind all of our guests that you have been invited here for a holy purpose, not just to witness, but to participate fully with your thoughts and prayers, asking God to bless this couple and their married life. You are here because this couple feels close to you and asks that you join with them in this dedication of sacred purpose. You represent symbolically all the people in the world who will be touched in any way by the life of this couple. You represent their friends and family, now and forever. They have chose this act of marriage and this public, holy ceremony in which to proclaim it. Together we all thank God who brought them together and ask Him always to guide their way.

(To the couple)

GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, we live at a time when very little in life is considered sacred. One thing must remain so, however, or all the world disintegrates. That is and shall be, an agreement between two people. This day we celebrate a sacred agreement between the two of you.

I congratulate you on the journey of your lives, on the strength and courage it has taken for each of you to make your way to this place. Both of you have found a way to put away childish things and embrace a very serious love. You receive on this day the blessings thereof, for yourselves and all the world.

We live in times that are beset with problems. This marriage is not to be an escape from the world, but indeed it is to be a commitment to greater service to the world. You shall not exclude the world but include it in your love. Together, in this marriage, you shall contribute more fully, for you shall be more full.

BRIDE’S NAME, GROOM’S NAME is God’s gift to you, but he is not a gift for you alone. It is God’s will that in your love, this man might find within himself a greater sense of who he is meant to be. You are asked by God to see the good in this man, to accept him for who he is and who he shall be, that thus he might be healed and made strong. In this way, God’s purpose shall be accomplished in this relationship. May this man find, literally, the kingdom of heaven through the love you share.

And so it is with you also, GROOM’S NAME, that although BRIDE’S NAME is God’s gift to you, she is not a gift intended for you alone. You are asked by God to so love this woman, that in your love she might find herself as God has created her, so beautiful and strong and brave and true, that the entire world might be blessed by the presence of a woman who shines so. May she relax in your arms as she has never relaxed before. May she know, from now on, that there is one on whose love she can depend forever.

Our prayer for both of you is that you might find in each other’s love such profound acceptance and total release, that together you might experience the forgiveness that shall free the world. May you create, with God, a piece of heaven on earth. Into a darkened world the Lord has sent your love for one another, accomplished between you, the miracle that will heal us all.

From this point forward, GROOM’S NAME, BRIDE’S NAME’s needs will carry the same priority as your own. Likewise, BRIDE’S NAME, from this point forward, GROOM’S NAME needs will be seen as important as your own. You shall not be as two conflicting or competing forces, but rather the energies of your lives shall blend into harmony and oneness through the grace of God. The angels shall dance between you, and they will rejoice in the dance of life you do together.

To both of you, I enjoin you to release at this time all impediments to your joy. In this moment may you forgive each other any past transgressions, that you might enter this marriage reborn. Allow the waters of forgiveness to wash you clean. You are given the chance to begin your lives again this day, as God grants you radical renewal through the power of this commitment. You commit to a compelling future for yourselves, for any children you have or might one day have, and to any part you might play in the healing of the world. Receive fully God’s gifts on this day, as He receives so fully the gift of your love for each other. May you rejoice in Him, as He rejoices in you.

The Parent’s Commitment

OFFICIANT:

(To the Parents)

To the parents of BRIDE’S NAME and GROOM’S NAME, congratulations on the part you have played in raising a daughter and son of such serious purpose. They accept a very mature and meaningful task in taking on this marriage. On their behalf, and on behalf of all those here, I thank you. I remind you that it is more than their blood that is joined here; it is yours as well. With this marriage, God joins your two families, and it is the family unit that shall rebuild the world. With this in mind, I ask you, BRIDE’S NAME’s parents, to take this man, GROOM’S NAME, as your son. I ask your family to take him into their hearts as son and brother, and beloved to BRIDE’S NAME.

(Optional: I ask that you forgive him any past transgressions, as I ask him also to forgive you yours.) May a great and glorious light sanctify this joining.

And of you, GROOM’S NAME’s parents, I ask the same. I ask that you take this woman, BRIDE’S NAME, into your hearts, that she might live from this day as your daughter. I ask your other children as well to receive her as their sister, for she is dear and beloved to your son, and shall be so, through the grace of God, to all your family.

(Optional: I ask that you forgive her any past transgressions, as I ask her also to forgive you yours.) May the miracle of this marriage extend throughout your family.

I would also like to ask at this time if anyone else has a problem with this marriage, because after today, please keep it quiet! As of this ceremony, may your tongues be still and utter only the positive, that your energies might support these two, that any words you say might bless and protect the holiness of this bond.

The Commitment

OFFICIANT:

GROOM’S NAME, I now ask you to say publicly any declaration of commitment you’d like to make to BRIDE’S NAME at this time. (He does.)

OFFICIANT:

BRIDE’S NAME, I now ask you to say publicly any declaration of commitment you’d like to make to GROOM’S NAME at this time. (She does.)

Exchange of Vows

OFFICIANT:

GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, I remind you that the God who brought you together and nurtured this relationship is the key to your success as a married couple. May you allow into your marriage the presence of a mystical third, who shall guide your thinking and bless your home. Call on Him consistently and often. We bring to mind as well the lives of any children who might on day gather unto you, and in the spirit of this day, we bless them also.

May this marriage be your sanctuary, your haven from worldly pain.

GROOM’S NAME, do you take this woman, BRIDE’S NAME, to be your lawful wedded wife, to love her and cherish her, honor and sustain her; through times of darkness as well as light, henceforth and forevermore? Do you promise that times of trouble will not deter you, or tempt you to forsake this love? Do you commit before God to honor this vow unto all your days?

GROOM:

I do.

OFFICIANT:

BRIDE’S NAME, do you take this man, GROOM’S NAME to be your lawful wedding husband, to love him and to honor him, nurture and sustain him, through times of darkness as well as light, henceforth and forevermore? Do you promise that times of trouble will no deter you, or tempt you to forsake this love? Do you commit before God to honor this vow unto all your days?

BRIDE:

I do.

Exchange of Weddings Rings

OFFICIANT:

And so we come, GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, to the presentation of rings by which you symbolize and bind your love.

GROOM’S NAME please repeat after me:

With this ring,
I give to you my promise that from this day forward you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May God bless you always.
May we walk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see you innocence in my eyes.
With this ring,
I give you may heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I shall do my best.
I shall always try.
I feel so honored to call you wife.
I feel so blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank God.
I thank you.
Amen.

OFFICIANT:

BRIDE’S NAME, please repeat after me:

With this ring,
I give to you my promise that from this day forward you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May God bless you always.
May we walk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see your innocence in my eyes.
With this ring,
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift tot give.
I promise I shall do my best.
I shall always try.
I feel so honored to call you my husband.
I feel so blessed to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank God.
I thank you.
Amen.

Blessing

I’d now like to ask all of you to pray with me:

Dear God,
Please bless this couple,
May their love be nurtured by You, always and forever.
May this marriage be held in Your hands and ministered unto by Your angels.
We dedicate their love to You.
May it serve Your purposes; may in increase Your dominion.
May this man grow strong in the arms of this woman.
May this woman grow glorious in the love of this man.
May the earth be brought closer to heaven through this love.
May all the world be blessed hereby.
Thank You very much.
Amen.

Pronouncement

OFFICIANT:

And now GROOM’S NAME and BRIDE’S NAME, by the authority vested in me by the state of _______ , but much more important, by the authority vested in me by the fact that I believe in the power of your agreement this day, the look of love in your eyes, and the seriousness with which you make this commitment; and because I believe my faith is shared by others gathered here, it is my honor and my delight to now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the Bride.

Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. ________.