Share your ceremony script!

[zelda062]

Thanks to everyone on here for the wonderful ideas that I stole for my ceremony wording!!  Here is mine!

 

Opening

 

On behalf of Erhard and Wendy, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here in Mexico on this beautiful day to witness their marriage ceremony.  The fact that you have all traveled such a great distance to be here today is a testament to the amazing amount of love and support they have.  Many of you have given them much happiness, love, warmth, and guidance through the various stages of their lives.  They would like to sincerely thank you for being here to celebrate their big day.  A special and respectful acknowledgement must also be made to those friends and family members who were unable to attend, or have passed on, but whose spirit remains alive and strong in our hearts.

 

You have chosen to walk through life together.  There is no truer statement of love.  Before this moment you have been many things to each other – best friend, companion, lover, partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another over the years.  Soon you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you.  For after the vows, you shall say to the world, this – is my husband, this – is my wife.

 

Hand Ceremony

 

Erhard and Wendy, please face each other and hold each others’ hands in your own, so you may feel the gift that you are about to receive on this day.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love, that hold yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other, today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will support you and give you strength when you need it.

And lastly these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Our prayer for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true.

 

Vows

 

Erhard, in the company of your family and friends and with their love and support, do choose now to stay this path with Wendy, wherever it leads, whatever the outcome; to travel with her through the adventures of life, loving her by your side; in all that you will find? Do you pledge your friendship, faith and love?
-- I DO

Wendy, in the company of your family and friends and with their love and support, do you take Erhard to be no other than himself, loving what you know of him, trusting what you don't yet know; with respect for his integrity and faith in his abiding love for you; in all that life may bring you? Do you pledge your friendship, faith and love?
-- I DO

 

Exchange of Rings

 

May I have the rings.

 

Notice that these rings are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end.  They represent the unconditional love that you have for one another.  Let these rings serve as a bond between you and wear them with honor and pride, as they are a visible reminder of the vows and promises that you make here today.

 

Erhard, take this ring, put it on Wendy’s finger and repeat after me:

 

Wendy, I give you this ring, as a symbol of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows made between us today. It is a reminder that I will love you, honor you, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways…I am forever yours.

 

Wendy, take this ring, put it on Erhard’s finger and repeat after me:

 

Erhard, I give you this ring, as a symbol of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows made between us today. It is a reminder that I will love you, honor you, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways… I am forever yours.

 

(Engagement Ring)

 

The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention.  Now the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled.

 

Erhard, please place the engagement ring on Wendy’s finger over her wedding band to symbolize the love that brought you together, will always protect and sustain your marriage.

 

Sand Ceremony

 

Erhard and Wendy,

 

Before the two of you met, your lives were on separate roads ... each going in different directions and seemingly leading to different destinations. But somewhere along the way, through some twist of fate, you did meet, and you fell in love. Today, you find yourselves standing here together at the threshold of a new path, as you promise to forever join your once separate journeys into one.

 

These two containers of sand represent your different lives.  Each container represents the separate journeys you once were on.  They also represent your own sets of friends and families that once were apart.  I will ask that in a moment you both blend your individual containers of sand together…representing the coming together of your friends and family, through your marriage, into one.  And as the sand is blended into one container, your once solitary journeys will now be one of companionship, as you walk a single path together into your future.

 

Erhard and Wendy pick up their individual containers of sand, and blend them together.

 

Erhard and Wendy, just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual container, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together forming one heart, one life, and one family.

 

Blessing

 

Erhard and Wendy,

 

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.  Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.  Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.  May beauty surrounds you both in the journey ahead and through all the years.  May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.

 

Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.  Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves.  When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.  In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there.  And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

 

Closing

 

Erhard and Wendy, remember to treat each other with respect and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.  Give to one another new experiences of joy.  Challenge one another so that you may continue to grow.  May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature with the passing years.  May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union.  Be slow to anger, quick to forgive, leaving no tracks of resentment behind.  May your love be a sanctuary and a source from which you draw strength to live your lives with enthusiasm and imagination.

 

May the sun bring you new energy by day.

May the moon softly restore you by night.

May the rain wash away your worries,

And may you live the days of your lives in peace, love, and happiness.

 

I now pronounce you husband and wife!

 

Wendy, you may now kiss your groom!

 

With friends and family, along with the sun, the sand, and the sea, I have the pleasure to present to you for the very first time…Mr. and Mrs. Erhard and Wendy Lederer! 

[CBREWSTER]

Tear Tear! This thread will be of great help! Thanks Ladies for sharing!

[katelynn]

Here is what I have so far..I am still tweaking it as I am wondering if its too long?!

 

Good afternoon, we meet here today in nature surrounded by the beautiful ocean and blue sky to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite MIKE and KATE in matrimony.

On behalf of MIKE and KATE, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful day in Jamaica to witness their marriage ceremony. The fact that you all have travelled such a great distance to be here today is a testament to the amazing amount of love and support they have. Many of you have given them much happiness, love, warmth, and guidance through the various stages of their lives. They would like to sincerely thank you all for being here to celebrate their big day.

I have also been asked by MIKE and KATE to thank their parents for the wonderful lives they have given them, for the hard work and guidance they have provided, for their everlasting love, support, and encouragement. It is from them that they have learned the true meaning of love, friendship and family.

 

I now ask Garry Palmateer to come up and lead Mike and Kate in a hand ceremony.
 

HAND CEREMONY

Lead by Garry Palmateer

As an expression that you are joined together in love – Mike will you please hold up Katee’s hands, so you may feel the gift she is to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
 

Kate would you please hold Mike’s hands palms up and take a good long look at the position of his hands, "because this is the last time you will have the upper hand".

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.
And these are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Our wish for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true

 

VOWS

 

The marriage between MIKE and KATE does not mark the beginning of a new relationship; rather, it is an acknowledgement and celebration, of a relationship that has been flourishing since they met. MIKE and KATE you have chosen to walk through life together, and there is no truer statement of love. The choice was not made by any one moment, but by being together you grew to realize that you belonged together and that you fulfilled each other’s needs. You have come to thrive upon each other’s presence, loyalty and wisdom. The foundation of your love is profound friendship. A friendship you have nurtured until at last you realized that you wanted to be together always. The commitment you make today will be the foundation on which you will build your life together.  Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife."

 

At this time I ask those who are holding on to the rings to please present them (SEAN AND SARAH) Your wedding rings represent the unconditional love that you have for one another and are a symbol of the vows that you will make today. Mike, take this ring, put it on Kate's finger and repeat after me:

 

Today, I, Mike choose you, Kate, to be my wife.

This is a symbol of my unending devotion to you,

I promise to encourage and comfort you, and to always be by your side through our life’s journey

I promise to support you when life seems easy and when it seems hard,

You are my best friend and the one I choose to spend my life with,

With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours

 

Kate, please place the ring on Mike’s finger and repeat after me:â€

 

Today, I, Mike choose you, Kate, to be my wife.

This is a symbol of my unending devotion to you,

I promise to encourage and comfort you, and to always be by your side through our life’s journey

I promise to support you when life seems easy and when it seems hard,

You are my best friend and the one I choose to spend my life with,

With this ring, I gladly marry you and join my life to yours

 

As you stand beside the ocean, may your love always be as constant as the never-ending waves, flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea; Your love came softly upon each others heart, just as the foam comes softly upon the sand, and just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's waves, so there will never be a day without love for each other. You have pledged yourselves on this day that your love will be as dependable as the tide; as these waters nourish the earth and sustain life, may your constant devotion nourish and sustain you until the end of time. 

                       

I now ask Anne Wagar to come up to lead the sand ceremony

 

Sand Ceremony

Reading: Anne Wagar

 

KATE and MIKE today you join your separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent all that you are and all that you’ll ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so your marriage will be.
 

We now ask that the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom step forward for the sand ceremony. We will begin by asking them to each pour a layer of sand. (mothers pour sand). The sand poured by your mothers is the foundation of your lives and marriage.

KATE and MIKE please pour your sand now, as your lives are now joined as one. This newly formed union and joining of families is represented by the intertwined pattern of sand created by you and your family

 

"Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand, one representing you KATE and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, MIKE, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be."

 

Closing

MIKE & KATE, remember to give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another so that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature with the passing years. May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive, leaving no tracks of resentment behind each day.

We who are present today, hope that the inspiration of this moment will never be forgotten. May all your days and years to come be filled with vision, joy and passion. May the love you now share continue to grow, and may the happiness you bring to each other be a continuing part of your life together. May you continue to live well, laugh often and love much and enjoy each other every day, believing in yourself and believing in each other. May your love be a sanctuary and a source from which you draw strength to live your lives with enthusiasm and imagination. May the people you touch in your lifetime know how much you love and care for one another and may you love one another forever.

With friends and family, along with the sun, the sky, and the sea, I have the pleasure of announcing you as husband and wife.

You may now kiss the bride!

[NikkiT1021]

This is a great thread!!  We haven't started working on this yet, but have gotten so  many great ideas from all of you!  Thanks!!

[vlynnw]

 

 

 

Just want to give back by sharing my ceremony script.  I've pieced everything together from past brides so thank you to everyone who has posted their ceremony! 

ceremony script.docx

[ckntb]

Thanks for all the great ideas...we are still nine months away so I'm sure I'll be back to this thread once we are working on the ceremony details.

[LD8685]

Thanks for the great ideas!

[LisaMatterni]

I do enjoy reading the scripts here. You all ready doing a great job on it. Awesome!!!

[wed101911]

Thank you for the great ideas everyone!

[JayKay]

Thanks for all the great ideas! This will be extremely helpful when we start writing ours!