Share your ceremony script!

[evtalbot]

I'm so thankful for this thread! I absolutely love the hand ceremony ~ and also how the guests all say "WE DO!". Definitely going to incorporate some of these ideas. Thanks ladies!

[taimeaka16]

All of them are beautiful, thanks for the inspiration!!

[taimeaka16]

Really LOVE the Hand ceremony

[amynjoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geminie Hello I found this beautiful opening... I'm not sure how the rest of our symbolic ceremony will go, but i really want to add the hand ceremony as well. That was one of the most beautiful passages I have ever read for a wedding! "You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married†and continued with “I will and you will and we willâ€- those late night talks that included “someday†and “somehow†and “maybeâ€- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “ You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.†Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- best friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. 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."

Awww, I love this

[ajlbuaxo]

Thanks to all that posted! It will really help so much when planning I know I will be cutting and pasting out of everyones!

[KristieF]

A big thank you to everyone for sharing their ceremony scripts, they are all so touching and beautiful. But now I have to explain why I'm all teary-eyed at work! LOL this forum is going to get me fired one day

[BahiaBride16]

Thank you for all of your posts! Its been a huge help. Here is what I came up with for our ceremony (well I cut and paste most of it) So thank you again!!! :-)

 

Opening

On behalf of Nicole and Jamie, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful day to witness their marriage ceremony. The fact that you all have 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 all for being here to celebrate their big day.

 

I have also been asked by Nicole and Jamie 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.

 

Ceremony

For Nicole and Jamie marriage is an affirmation of life, an undying commitment, a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual bond between two people. It is created from the purest of friendship, respect and love. Together you will continue to meet the challenges and obstacles of life head on.

 

Marriage has been described as living in love with your best friend. Love is one of the few constants in the universe. It is reality, affinity, and communication. Only love is capable of joining living beings by their deepest essence, uniting, completing, and fulfilling them.

 

The marriage between Nicole and Jamie 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.

 

For Nicole and Jamie, love is the longing two people feel for one another. A simple touch, a hand held at a time of uncertainty. This is what it means to be intimately human. It is the intention behind the kiss that says, “Despite the vastness of this earth, despite the chaotic details that make up our lives, despite the hundreds of people we will meet in our travels, you are mine and I am yours forever.â€

 

Love is life’s highest emotion. It makes us less selfish, it makes our personalities grow, and it makes our lives more meaningful. It is caring about the welfare and happiness of your partner as your own. Love makes burdens lighter because you divide them. It makes joys more intense because you share them. And it makes you stronger so you can reach out and become involved with life in ways you dared not risk alone.

 

A successful relationship takes more than just love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both.

 

You have chosen to walk through life together. 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.

 

Vows

Jamie, as I say these words, would you please repeat after me…

 

I love you, Nicole. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.

 

I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life. I am forever yours……faithfully.

 

Nicole as I say these words, would you please repeat after me…

 

I love you, Jamie. You too are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.

 

I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life. I am forever yours……faithfully

 

Rings

Nicole and Jamie, your rings are intimately associated with your intent to honor and treasure the vows you have made today. By exchanging rings, resolve to live your vows and not to let them drift in shallow promises. Believe and trust that the words you have spoken have the capacity to create the marriage, family and life of your dreams, and that the rings you exchange will have the power to return you to your vows.

 

Jamie as you place this ring on Nicole’s finger please repeat after me…

 

Nicole, I give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows made between us today. I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways, forever.

 

Nicole, if you accept please say I do…

 

Nicole as you place this ring on Jamie’s finger, please repeat after me…

 

Jamie, I to give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows made between us today. I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways, forever.

 

Jamie, if you except, please say “I Doâ€.

 

Closing:

Nicole & Jamie, remember to treat both yourself 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, difficulty or fear assail your relationship – as they threatened all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you. In this way, you can ride out the times 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 lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight.

 

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 laugh often and enjoy each other every day, steadfast in hope and confidence, 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 moon, and the sea, I have the pleasure of announcing you as husband and wife.

 

You may now kiss the bride!

 

Balloon Release

Nicole and Jamie would like to end their ceremony, by asking all of you to take a balloon.

 

They would love if you would write a wish for them and their new life together, on your balloon.

 

Now if everyone could release their balloon with their wish to be taken into the endless sky.

[vlynnw]

Aeroo, I love your script! I see you got married at the Gran Porto, my FI and I are considering that as one of our options. I would really appreciate any advice you have with the resort and how everything went!!

[Jo 2010]

Oh my god this is such a good thread!

 

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful vows everyone!

[jh17]

Thank you everyone for the ideas! Here is my draft script-I am not thinking about making some changes after seeing this thread though-I really like the idea of thanking the guests and parents in the opening....

 

Opening

Friends, we have been invited here today to share with GROOM and BRIDE a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife.

 

The Giving of the Bride

Who gives this woman to be married to this man? (Bride’s father says ‘I do’)

 

Marriage

You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in the world whom you love the best. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities and love.

 

At the end of this ceremony, legally you will be husband and wife, but you still must decide each and every day that stretches before you that you want to be married. Make such a decision and keep on making it.

 

May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say ‘I love you” and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.

 

Marriage is a way of life that all should revere and none should undertake lightly. If anyone present knows a reason why GROOM and BRIDE may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.

 

Declaration of Consent

GROOM, do you take BRIDE to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?

 

If so, answer “I do”

 

BRIDE, do you take GROOM to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?

 

If so, answer “I do”

 

Vows

BRIDE, I choose you to be my wife. I promise to be true and faithful to you from this day forward in all of life’s circumstances as we face them together. In the joys and sorrows, good times and bad, in sickness and in health I will always be there for you. Before us lies an open road filled with adventure and love and I choose to spend today and all of my tomorrows together with you.

 

GROOM, I choose you to be my husband. I promise to be true and faithful to you from this day forward in all of life’s circumstances as we face them together. In the joys and sorrows, good times and bad, in sickness and in health I will always be there for you. Before us lies an open road filled with adventure and love and I choose to spend today and all of my tomorrows together with you.

 

Exchange of rings

 

I, GROOM give you, BRIDE this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

 

I, BRIDE give you, GROOM this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.

 

Declaration of Marriage

Now that GROOM and BRIDE have given themselves to each other before us and have shown their affection and trust by the giving and receiving of rings, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

 

 

Sand Ceremony

We now ask that the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom step forward for the sand ceremony.

 

BRIDE and GROOM 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 will begin by asking the mother’s of the bride and groom to each pour a layer of sand. (mothers pour sand). The sand poured by your mothers is the foundation of your lives and marriage.

 

BRIDE and GROOM 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.