Share your ceremony script!

[Tanya Marie]

Sounds great! I especially love you sand ceremony!

[sn0048]

So this was pieced together from everyone's amazing scripts and it was such an emotional and special day! We tried to make it as interactive as possible for everyone at the wedding with the sand and shell ceremony

 

Opening

 

This beautiful setting should remind us that, like the ocean, human life is an ebb and flow- The life of the spirit and emotions- moves in cycles. To be in a relationship does not guarantee an eternal summer. To make a sincere and honest commitment does not promise, an end to all struggle. What a good relationship does offer, much like this ocean, is the opportunity for renewal. It recognizes the abiding, shared hope that after every fall and winter, spring and summer will come again.

 

On behalf of Branden and Shivani, 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. 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 all our hearts.

 

I have also been asked by Branden and Shivani 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 Branden and Shivani 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. The institution of marriage is not entered into lightly, because it symbolizes commitment on every level. Together you will continue to meet the challenges and obstacles of life head on.

 

Marriage is an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the mutual commitment of two people sincerely in love who share the same dreams about life. But more than that, it is the intimate sharing of two lives. It is a sharing that does not diminish but enhances the individuality of each partner.

 

The marriage between Branden and Shivani 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 Branden and Shivani, love is the longing two people feel for one another. It is the need to share, in body and spirit, the warmth, serenity and peace two people can give to 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.”

 

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.

 

HAND CEREMONY

 

As an expression that you are joined together in love - will you please hold up your hands and hold one another, so you may feel the gift that you are to each other.

 

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 always.

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.

 

VOWS

 

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. Branden, take this ring, put it on Shivani's finger and repeat after me:

 

I, Branden, take you, Shivani, to be my wife,

my partner in life and my one true love.

May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.

 

 

With this ring, I give you my heart. I have no greater gift to give.

I will trust you and respect you,

I will laugh with you and cry with you.

With this ring, I pledge my life and my love to you

I will cherish our friendship

and love you today, tomorrow, and always.

 

Shivani, take this ring, put it on Branden's finger and repeat after me:

 

I, Shivani, take you, Branden, to be my husband,

my partner in life and my one true love.

May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.

 

 

With this ring, I give you my heart. I have no greater gift to give.

I will trust you and respect you,

I will laugh with you and cry with you.

With this ring, I pledge my life and my love to you

I will cherish our friendship

and love you today, tomorrow, and always.

 

Sand Ceremony

"Branden and Shivani, 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. From these two families a new family will be created today. At this time, I would invite everyone to come forward and pour their individual vials of sand.

As these containers of sand are poured into the container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Two families have now become one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your family be”

 

Closing:

 

Branden & Shivani, 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!

 

 

Shell Ceremony

 

Branden and Shivani ask that in

your mind and heart

You say a prayer for them.

At the end of the ceremony,

We will all walk down to the beach

And cast our sea shells into the ocean.

You, your prayers, and Branden & Shivani

Will now and forever

be a part of the ocean.

As the ripples touch and

intertwine with one another,

May our love also touch and intertwine

To spread love and good wishes

to all around us!

May God Bless us all!

[VioletVol]

I asked my close friend to officaite the wedding and she is honored to do so! Now to pick a script. I love so much of these. I have saved a few and hope to put it together soon. Wow! So exciting!

[MrsSparrow2B]

Aw guys... these are so amazing. I've cut and pasted them all into a word document and now will go through them to come up with something that works for us as a couple. I had no idea really where to start - thank you all so much for sharing. You'll see Julian & my vows as soon as they're done! :-)

[luciel2820]

Wow this is a great thread, i didnt think about making my own ceremony but u girls have def. inspired me to do so. It would definately be about us

[Tonir]

Shivani your ceremony sounds amazing! I love what you chose!

[KJT1985]

Ahh!! I want to use it all!! So lovely! On a side note...is anybody having music during the ceremony? Beside the processional and recessional?

[bosi]

My parents insist on singing two hymns during the ceremony

So I plan on making thempopular ones and to ask a steel band to accompany the hymns.

[KJT1985]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosi My parents insist on singing two hymns during the ceremony So I plan on making thempopular ones and to ask a steel band to accompany the hymns.

Hahaha that's awesome! I want more than just three songs but I don't know how to fit anymore in without it being an awkward - "ok let's sit and listen to this song" - kind of thing. I figured one could start while we do the sand ceremony but that won't take up a whole song....

PS- is there a different thread for music during the ceremony?

[taugania]

AWESOME!!!! Thank you to all of you for writing my script!