Unique Ceremonies

[ndvidul]

I'm loving your script!!!  I hope you don't mind, but as I'm working on mine, I took some excerpts of yours as well.  I like how brief it is.  I feel like mine has a lot more since I incorporated 2 readings, the rose ceremony, and the hand ceremony!!  But I love what it says.  Now, it's time to share it with the FI and get his feedback/make any alterations.... then run it by our officiant!!

 

Thank you for sharing your beautiful script.

 

Originally Posted by meBonidie2be 

 

STONE CEREMONY

 

I was very unsure at first how to incorporate a lot of these things into the ceremony, so I thought i would post my script. This is my first rough draft so i would love any comments or feedback on things that could be improved.

On behalf of Casey and Brian, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful day to witness this loving couple join hands in marriage. 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, unconditional love, encouragement, 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. (pause)

 

Who gives this woman to be wedded to this man? (dad and Jeff- I do)

 

 

Casey and Brian, before you met your lives were on different paths with different destinations. Love has brought you together and joined these separate paths into one. Each of your family members and friends here today has been given a small polished stone that represents their unique individuality and their presence at your wedding today. You also each have a stone of your own that symbolizes your previous separate lives, separate sets of friends, separate families and the different life’s journeys that you once traveled. I ask that everyone please hold the stone that you have been given throughout the ceremony. Fill your stone with hope, positivity, a prayer, or blessing for happiness and good will for Casey and Brian for the future of their marriage.

 

        This marriage ceremony between Casey and Brian does not mark the beginning of a new relationship; rather, it is an acknowledgement and celebration, of a relationship that has been thriving since they met. Marriage is the mutual commitment of two people sincerely in love who share the same dreams about life. 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 institution of marriage is not to be entered into lightly; it symbolizes commitment on every level. Together you will continue to meet the challenges and obstacles of life head on with honesty, integrity, and loyalty.

            This beautiful setting should remind us that, like the ocean, human life is an ebb and flow- spirit and emotions move 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 struggles. What a good relationship does offer, much like this ocean, is the opportunity for renewal. A successful relationship recognizes that after every fall and winter, spring and summer will come again. A flourishing 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.

            Casey and Brian have written their vows for one another. Brian will you please say your vows to Casey.

Casey will you please read your vows to Brian.

 

Brian, do you take Casey to be your wedded wife? (I do)

Casey, do you take Brian to be your wedded husband? (I do)

 

"I Brian, give you Casey, this ring as an eternal symbol and daily reminder of my love and commitment to you."

 

 "I Casey, give you Brian, this ring as an eternal symbol and daily reminder of my love and commitment to you."

         

Will everyone please rise.

 

Will you, the cherished family and friends of Casey and Brian, witnessing these vows do all in your power to support them in their marriage, love them, and encourage their love for one another? (Guests- we will).

 

You may now sit. (Nicholette will gather stones)

 

We will now pause collect the stones that have been blessed with good fortune. (pause) The union of these stones has now symbolically joined your once separate lives. Through you, just as the stones have been combined, so now are your friends and family joined. Your once solitary life’s paths are also now one, and all that was once separate is now shared. In this sharing you both will find new strength and joy as together you forge a new life path. Stones stand the test of time. Over time they can even become stronger and more beautiful. Let these stones be a reminder and a memorial of the love, blessings and support that your family members and friends have provided you here today.  

Katherine Hepburn declared, "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything."  

 

No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that – through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as life-long partners.

 

 

Officiant wording followed by…

 

“You may now embrace and share your first kiss as husband and wife.â€

 

I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Bonidie!

 

Thank you for reading this!

 

[meBonidie2be]

Thank you~! Still a work in progress. I think my FI and I have decided to write our vows together and repeat the same thing. We were both getting a little stressed over that part. Hey, It was his idea to begin with to write our own. I was instantly like "ahhhhhh, really!"

[J and G 2012]

Lovepea,

We chose to have our family/freinds also say a vow, I think I got this from the thread somewhere,

 

Family and Friends Vow

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Garett and Jamie have demonstrated in your presence today, their belief in their love, and their desire to live together in Marriage. If you also believe in their love, and wish to add your blessing on their marriage today, please respond now by saying……………WE DO
And are you all willing to sustain and strengthen this marriage, by giving Garett and Jamie the public commitment of your love and support, through all the ups and downs ahead of them…If you are willing, please say……….WE ARE

 

 

Originally Posted by lovepea 

At first I thought adding in one of these "extra" ceremonies was a little cheesy, but the more I think of it, the hand ceremony is simple, yet very moving. 

 

I am still trying to think of a way to involve all the family that will be there, about 25 people, but I don't think the stone ceremony is for me.

 

 

 

[kks2012]

I really like this.

Originally Posted by J and G 2012 

Lovepea,

We chose to have our family/freinds also say a vow, I think I got this from the thread somewhere,

 

Family and Friends Vow

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Garett and Jamie have demonstrated in your presence today, their belief in their love, and their desire to live together in Marriage. If you also believe in their love, and wish to add your blessing on their marriage today, please respond now by saying……………WE DO
And are you all willing to sustain and strengthen this marriage, by giving Garett and Jamie the public commitment of your love and support, through all the ups and downs ahead of them…If you are willing, please say……….WE ARE

 

 

 

 

[kks2012]

I really like this one. Our pastor wont be present so I think I'm going to send her our ideas and see if she can add the religious perspective to it, so we have the feeling that we have one of our pastors there.
 

Originally Posted by Lolita29 

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephyD I think we will do the hands ceremony + the sand ceremony... In what order should we do things? Hands ceremony I do's + Vows Exchange of ring + kiss Sand ceremony

I'm doing both as well, and this is my order

Opening
Ceremony
Vows
Exchanging of Rings
Hand Ceremony
Sand Ceremony
Blessing
Closing

The hand ceremony leads into the sand ceremony

Hand Ceremony

The vows which have been exchanged are but words that are fleeting and the sound of them is soon gone. The wedding rings are an enduring symbol of the promises which have been made

Alphonso and Lauren, please join hands.

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 countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy.

These are the hands that will 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.

Together, with these hands, you will now pour the sand to symbolize your unity.

Sand Ceremony

Alphonso and Lauren,

As you stand beside the ocean, may your love always be as constant as the tide; waves flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea. Just as water is the eternal force of life, so is love. Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage.

You have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings. But although you will be sharing one life, never forget that you are two separate people. Cherish and affirm your differences. Love each other. Keep your commitment primary. Together you will laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and grow. Grow sometimes together, sometimes separately.

To symbolize this union and the importance of the individuals within the marriage, two separate colors of sand will be combined. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else. However when these two are blended together they create an entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity.

Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination. Please pour the sand into this common container to symbolize the union of your two lives.

(PAUSE, for the pouring of the sand. Read the following passage as Alphonso and Lauren)

Alphonso and Lauren,

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.

I used this from another bride who posted it.

 

[vickib]

The hand ceremony is my fav...thanks for posting!

[marilili]

This is such a great thread.  thanks for the ideas and information

[jlb392]

I saw a really great one on the show Four Weddings:

 

Passing of the rings:

 

both wedding bands are placed in a small bag and passed around to all of the guests.  Each guest is supposed to give the marriage their blessing.  

 

thought this was a very sweet idea and a great way to involve everyone.

[BrideVee]

I really like the hand ceremony!

[whatsup]

Some fabulous ideas, will probably use bits and pieces of a few. thanks