Received the ceremony script from my hotel

[katrina]

yea so today i was pretty pissed about the vow thing.. so i emailed back and found out that there are NO vows for the symbolic... it's literally "i do". so i asked if they could then send me the religious one (we're legally getting married at home) and it was clearly verrrrrry religious. which fi and i are not. so i emailed back and told her i'm pretty unhappy with my options. so she said i can send her what i want and she'll forward it on to the officiant and we'll probably have to go back and forth with some tweaking but atleast they are willing to work with me on it. if i were religious, the vows they sent are very pretty! they just aren't us... i think i'll start with the LC vows and see how it pans out from there...

[Maura]

morgan i really like the LC ceremony script. let me post my civil ceremony script for you sometime tonight when i get home.

[jajajaja]

I'm biased, but I loved our ceremony. It was personal and it held a little more modern view on marriage- at least in my opinion. I don't like the traditional script much.

 

It did get a little tricky doing the vows. I couldn't hear him well and it was a LOT to repeat. However, they were good words to repeat- even though I probably made up a few on my own for lack of hearing. LOL

[Dez921714]

I LOVE teh LC script...I'm going to copy it and save it

[aeroo]

We had a symbolic ceremony and our first WC sent me the script and it was very religious, which was not what we wanted at all. She said we couldn't change it though. But then we got a second WC since our original one moved, and the second one said that the minister can read anything that we prepared. However, I was kind of leery about it since the first WC told me something different. I didn't want to take any chances because the ceremony was very important to me and I wanted to make sure it reflected who we were. So I decided to get a friend to officiate the ceremony. I wasn't crazy about that idea at first, but I really didn't want to take a chance with a stranger saying things that I didn't want to be included in the ceremony. I had heard about ministers adding some religous script even though the couple asked him not to. In the end it was so special to have someone we love marry us and she of course read the ceremony script that I wrote. It was by far the best decision we made. I absolutely loved our script. To me, that was the most important part of the day. I will try to post it when I get back home to my computer.

 

You should definately get the ceremony script that you want. It's the moment you marry your man. You really have to believe in the words. It's so important! Good luck!

[Maura]

Ok as promised yesterday, here's the standard marriage script I got from our friend who is officiating our civil ceremony - he gave me a 100-page pdf of ceremony wording possibilities and we actually liked the traditional one the most but will be making a few tweaks to personalize it. here is the wording without our personal tweaks to it:

 

Example Wedding Ceremony - Traditional

Following is a simple, traditional wedding ceremony, showing how the various components are assembled into a complete ceremony. This is an excellent ceremony for anyone wishing to include time honored traditional wording in their wedding, and it gives you an idea of how this all fits together.

Introduction:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness as (bride) and (groom) join their lives together in Holy Matrimony, the most sacred of relationships. Because you have known and loved them as individuals, you have been invited to share in the joyous moment as they join their lives together as one.

Who brings this woman to marry this man? (optional)

Father of the bride: “Her mother and I do.â€

Charge to Couple:

This is the time which you have chosen to become husband and wife. We are here not only to witness your commitment to each other, but to wish you both every happiness in your future life together. If anyone has reason why these two should not be so joined, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace.

Within its framework of loyalty and commitment, marriage enables the establishment of a home, where through tolerance, patience and respect, the love and affection which you have for each other may develop into a deep and lasting relationship.

Reading:

The Bible has given us what may be the world’s best definition of what it means to love. I’d like to share with you a well-known passage from 1 Corinthians 13, and offer it as a model to you for the new life you are creating here today:

Love is patient and kind, it is never jealous.

Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish.

It does not take offence and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people’s faults, but delights in the truth.

It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope.

It is always ready to endure whatever comes.

True love does not come to an end.

Marriage Vows:

Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these, your family, friends and witnesses, I am to remind you of the solemn and enduring nature of the relationship into which you are about to enter.

- 4 -

Do you (Groom) take (Bride) to be your lawfully wedded wife? From this day forward, to have and to hold, forsaking all others, for better or for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and health, to love and cherish for so long as you both shall live?

Groom: “I do.â€

And do you (Bride) take (Groom) to be your lawfully wedded husband? From this day forward, to have and to hold, forsaking all others, for better and for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and health, to love and cherish for so long as you both shall live?

Bride: “I do.â€

Ring Vows:

What token of your devotion do you offer your beloved? (bride and groom retrieve rings from best man and maid of honor, handing them to minister). May these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate union. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find there a friend. May these rings, on their fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts. (Minister hands ring to groom) (Groom), in placing this ring on (Bride's) finger, repeat after me:

"I give you this ring as pledge of my love, and as the symbol of our unity. Amen."

(groom places ring on bride's finger) (Minister hands other ring to bride) (Bride), in placing this ring on (Groom’s) finger, repeat after me:

"I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity. Amen."

(bride places ring on groom's finger)

Pronouncement:

Inasmuch as (Bride) and (Groom) have consented together in marriage before this company; have pledged their faith and declared their unity by each giving and receiving a ring -- and are now joined in mutual esteem and devotion, by the authority vested in me by the Universal Life Church and the State of (State where marriage is held), pronounce that they are husband and wife. What God hath here joined together, let no one set asunder. You may kiss the bride.

Presentation of the Couple:

It is now my great honor to be the first to present Mr. and Mrs.(Groom’s first and last name); or

(Bride first name) and (Groom full name), or;

(Bride first and last name) and (Groom first and last name), as man and wife (for situations in which the bride retains her last name).