Wedding Ceremony 1

“You have come here today, ... and ... because you believe that by being together your lives will be better and more productive than they would be apart.

In marriage a new perspective is created by the joining of male and female views of life and the world. Through this partnership, each partner becomes stronger, each becomes wiser, each becomes more loving.

But marriage is a garden which needs to be tended every day: the benefits we receive through marriage are not free. If we don't make time to tell our partner how much we value what we have together, we will begin to take each other for granted and lose the very special quality that we originally united to enjoy.

The importance of marriage to humans is so great, that it is the oldest rite or ritual of any kind recorded in history; its scope so great that it is virtually the only custom recognized by every human government and religion. It is into this dynamic and wonderful state of partnership that you two come, today, to be joined.

In honor of the solemn pledge you are about to make, and symbolizing its unbroken perpetuity, please join right hands.

[groom]/[bride], do you take [bride]/[groom] to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband; to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer for poorer, in prosperity or adversity, to love and to cherish, so long as you both may live?

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 the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

May I have the rings please, and join all your hands together.

Throughout human tradition, when you make a pledge, it has been deemed good to have a token to remind you of that pledge. For this purpose you have chosen rings. They are appropriate to the task because they are circles never ending, like the promises you make to each other today. And they are made of precious metal, never to be tarnished, like the love you express before myself and these witnesses. Please place these rings, and honor each other in their giving.

Repeat after me: I [groom]/[bride], take you [bride]/[groom] to be my wife/husband. I promise you love, honor and respect; to be faithful to you, and not to forsake you, until death us do part.

From this day forward, may you live together in peace; may you grow each day in understanding and compassion. When you are apart, may you return to one another in togetherness. May the home you establish be a place of sanctuary, where many will find a friend. And what we have joined together, let no one put asunder.

Because you two came here today intending to marry. Because you joined hands and made solemn vows, and exchanged rings to remind you of those vows, and you are now joined as partners in mutual love and respect: according to the powers vested in me by the Territorial Court of the Turks & Caicos  Islands, and the highest power of the land and the sea; I pronounce that your wedding vows are sealed and you may henceforth be known to all as husband and wife.

You may now kiss each other...

Wedding Ceremony 2

Hold my hand and I'm yours,
And your heart will stay close to mine,
For I know the sun must rise with the dawn,
And at night the stars must shine.

 And the wind must wander the ocean
And sing with the waves of the sea;
Just so, I know, I'll be by your side,
And you will be wedded to me

    Today we are here to celebrate with ... & ...a very special day.  Today is special because it is a day when they pledge their love and devotion for one another.  We will see and hear this love being expressed and we will see two people come together as husband and wife.  Although marriage is sanction legally by the laws of the land, it is also in agreement with the laws of God and must be cemented by the emotional agreement and love that the couple has for each other.  Marriage, in its purest form, is the highest and happiest of human relationships.  It is the preserver of true love and the foundation of the home.  I urge this couple, PAUL & RACHEL, as they enter the happy institution of marriage, to develop a relationship that will mature through every changing season, to create lasting memories, to help each other through good times and difficult times, and to let the pledges they make here today be a guiding light to a committed marriage. 

     QUESTION OF INTENT FOR THE COUPLE: ..., have you come here today of your own free will to take ... as your wife?  Do you promise to love and cherish her through sickness and in health, through good times and bad as long as you both shall live?  RACHEL, have you come here today of your own free will to take PAUL as your husband?  Do you promise to love and cherish him through sickness and in health, through good times and bad as long as you both shall live?

The Irish Wedding Blessing

VOWS:

I, ..., take you, ..., to be my wife, my friend, my partner in life, and my one true love.  On this special day, I give to you my promise to trust you, honour you, and stay by your side as your husband through the best and worst of times.  I promise to grow with you in mind and spirit and to always be open and honest with you.  I also give you my hand to hold, my dreams to share, and my life to keep until death do us part.  These are my promises and pledge to you today.      

I, ..., take you, ... to be my husband knowing that you will always be my best friend, my partner in life, and my one true love.  Today, I promise to be your wife, your best friend, and your soul mate.  I promise to share all your dreams, your sadness, your sorrows, and your happiness.  I will be open and honest with you always.  I give you my hand, my heart, my honour, and my respect, and promise to grow with you in mind and spirit.  Where you go, I will go, where you stay, I will stay until death do us part.

EXCHANGE OF THE RINGS - The minister asks for the rings and will say:  Throughout human tradition, when you make a pledge, it has been deemed good to have a token to remind you of that pledge.  For this purpose, you have chosen rings.  They are appropriate to the task because they are circles never ending, like the promises you make to each other today.  And they are made of precious metal, never to be tarnished, like the love you expressed here today.  Please place these rings on each other finger and honour each other in their giving by repeating after me. 

The Groom – This ring, a symbol of unbroken love, seal my promise, to be your faithful and loving husband, with all that I am and all that I have. 

The Bride - This ring, a symbol of unbroken love, seal my promise, to be your faithful and loving wife, with all that I am and all that I have. 

After the rings: Now that “... & ...” has come and demonstrated their love to all present by joining hand and heart and exchanging vows and rings, we can see that their love is real.  Hence, by the authority vested in me by this country, I am happy to pronounce that this couple can now be called husband and wife.  may you union be full with happiness and your years together lead to full contentment. 

More Blessing & Vows

The Art of Marriage   Sand Ceremony   Blessing of The Apaches   Very short Ceremony