We have come together on this special day to witness the marriage of (groom) and (Bride) to surround them with our love and to share in their joy.
The Meaning of Marriage
Marriage is a vision of life together in which two people live in a unity of body, mind and soul.
It is a relationship in which neither takes life from the other but, in love and grace, new life is formed between which is deeper and more creative than each living alone.
In marriage two people dare to make the commitment to love each other for the rest of their lives. They do this not because they believe that this will be easy, but as a grand hope which they share.
They announce their love as a sign of the beginning of a new journey into life together, treading into an unknown future with freedom and grace.
They make this commitment before us with a great sense of responsibility and care. They invite our support in sustaining their relationship and our joy in celebrating this act of love. Let us join them in this sacred moment and surround them with our love.
The Questions
I ask you to answer the following questions.
To the Groom:
(Groom), do you find within you a special love for (Bride) that convinces you that you want to spend the rest of your lives together?
(Groom), do you find within you the courage to resist the many deaths by which love can die?
(Groom), are you willing to love (Bride) into her unique fullness and to take the risk and accept the vulnerability of love again and again?
To the Bride:
Alison, do you find within you a special love for (groom) that convinces you that you want to spend the rest of your lives together?
Alison, do you find within you the courage to resist the many deaths by which love can die?
Alison, are you willing to love (groom) into his unique fullness and to take the risk and accept the vulnerability of love again and again?
The Wedding Vows
I ask you to stand facing each other, holding hands, and repeat after me The Wedding Vows.
(Groom) to Alison
I, (groom) take you Alison.
To be my wife.
Knowing in my heart that you are
My friend forever
My faithful partner
And my one true love.
(Bride) to (groom).
As freely, (groom), as god has given me life
I join my life with yours
Wherever you go, I will go
Whatever you face, I will face
For good or ill, in happiness or sadness
Come riches or poverty
I take you as my husband and will give myself to no other.
Release your hands please.
The giving of the Rings
These rings mark the beginning of a new life journey together filled with wonder, surprise, laughter, tears, celebration, grief and joy. May these rings be a sign to you of the continuing love you have pledged to one another today?
Proclamation of the Marriage
In the presence of us all, (groom) and (Bride) have made their solemn vows. They have confirmed their marriage by the joining of hands and the giving of rings. I therefore announce you man and wife.
(The bride and groom kiss).
Hopes for the Marriage
May (groom) and (Bride) live lives of love and peace together and always remember their joy on this day.
May they be honest in their relationship, sharing the truth in kindness and trust, so that their love may grow in maturity and depth.
May they be there for each other, in time of grief or struggle, holding each other close in comfort, drawing strength and courage from each other and from those around them.
May their life be full of laughter, lifting up the delights in life and humor in the harder times.
May their home be filled with joy, as it is joined with the life of others, and as they grow closer to each other, in the shared journey of life.
And may each of us here this day be given new hope in the commitment to live and be affirmed in our love for others.
(Groom) and (Bride) receive the blessing which is yours from God.
Go into your new life together in grace and peace.
The Sending Out
Go in peace. And may your faith in love be lifted up, hope and trust be found within you and courage for commitment be born anew.
SIGNING OF THE CERTIFICATE
I would now like to invite (groom )and (Bride)and their two witnesses to join me in signing the certificate.
Commitment Ceremony
We are here on this special day to share a most important moment in (Groom) and (Bride)’s lives.
These two people love each other, and continue to live their lives together as loving partners.
These surroundings were not chosen by chance, but for the beauty around us, the strength it offers and the peace it brings combine to make this a most perfect setting for the exchange of vows of love.
Preamble
(Groom) and (Bride) believe that a commitment such as this is founded on sincerity and understanding which leads to tolerance, confidence, and trust. They know it involves respect for each other’s individuality and the acceptance of each other’s weaknesses, faults and prejudices. They believe too that those qualities which attracted each to the other can continue to develop during a lifetime spent together.
A happy relationship will enable them to establish a home where there will be love and stability, where their family and friends will find welcome, peace and support and which will be a base for their life together.
Love between two people is the richest experience that is possible to humankind. Such love reduces selfishness, deepens personalities and, above all, gives life purpose and meaning. We are here because (Groom) and (Bride) do not and cannot live in isolation. Their love touches all of us and it is fitting that we should celebrate their happiness.
(Groom) and (Bride) believe their commitment brings a special kind of security and a deep sense of loving concern to each other at all times. It is giving them an atmosphere in which they can continue to grow and develop both separately and together.
We are about to share in a very special ceremony. It is not often we have the opportunity to see two people so obviously in love, wishing to renew their love lifelong commitments to one another.
(Groom) and (Bride) have developed a relationship which is based on respect, acceptance of each other’s wishes and faults, and a very firm desire that their relationship will strengthen then deepen. They know that this commitment is far more than simply living together as lifelong partners.
A happy and successful relationship relies on partners being prepared to contribute to achieve an ultimate and mutual goal. They know also that, whilst neither seeks nor expects perfection in the other, there is nothing that their love cannot overcome, when they face it together.
Their love is based on a foundation of trust and a common value system in terms of life, people, relationships and happiness.
We are happy here today to celebrate their commitment to each other.
(Groom) and (Bride) stand here today as two best friends who have found true love. They strongly believe in the mutual support that each derives from the other and in the bond formed by respect for each other’s ideals and goals.
The Commitment
Before you, (Groom) and (Bride) joined together in my presence, I want to remind you of the solemn, the serious and the binding nature of the relationship into which you are now about to enter.
This commitment, as we understand it, is made voluntarily and fully by the two partners.
It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others and is entered into with the desire, the hope and the firm intention that it will last for life.
Therefore I ask you, (Groom) will you take (Bride) to be your lifelong partner? Will you love and respect (Bride), be honest and stand by (Bride) so you can genuinely share your life together?
(Groom): I will.
Now I ask you (Bride) will you take (Groom) to be your lifelong partner? Will you love and respect Kieth, be honest and stand by (Groom) so you can genuinely share your life together?
(Bride): I will.
When two people pledge to love and care for each other for life, they create a spirit unique to themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words.
It is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.
Vows/Promises
You will now declare your vows, your promise of commitment to each other. Please face each other and join your hands.
(Groom), please read your vows to (Groom)
( celebrant places microphone close to (Groom))
And now (Bride), please read your Vows to (Groom)
( Celebrant places microphone close to (Bride) )
Exchange of Rings
These rings mark the beginning of a new life journey together filled with wonder, surprise, laughter, tears, celebration, grief and joy. May these rings be a sign to you of the continuing love you have pledged to one another today.
(Exchange of rings)
In the presence of us all, (Groom) and (Bride) have made their solemn vows. They have confirmed their commitment to one another by the joining of hands and the giving of rings.
Sealing of Commitment
May (Groom) and (Bride) live lives of love and peace together and always remember their joy on this day.
May their life be full of laughter, lifting up the delights in life and humor in the harder times.
May their home be filled with joy, as it is joined with the life of others, and as they grow closer to each other, in the shared journey of life.
And may each of us here this day be given new hope in the commitment to live and be affirmed in our love for others.
(Groom) and (Bride) may you go into your new life together in grace and peace. May your faith in love be lifted up, hope and trust be found within you and courage for commitment be born anew.
With the promises they have made to one another, and by the power of their love (Groom) and (Bride) have been joined in a spiritual union. They are now partners sharing one life from this day forward.
((Groom) and (Bride) kiss)
Signing of the Certificate
I would now like to invite (Groom) and (Bride) and their two witnesses to join me in signing the certificate.
The Celebration of Marriage for :
(Groom) & (Bride)
THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE
We are gathered here today to celebrate and share in the joy of this occasion as [(Bride)] and [(Groom)] promise to share their lives together.
A happy marriage is one based on mutual love, tolerance, compassion and truth. It is the sharing of life and all its fortunes with consideration and understanding of the needs of each other.
While each marriage is unique, a really happy marriage is founded on love. There is nothing in life that love cannot change. Love is, of its nature, unselfish, understanding and kind. True love is a commitment of both the heart and mind and there can be no stronger bond to ensure a happy married life.
[(Bride)] and [(Groom)] on this you’re wedding day you will begin a new life together. Your relationship will be strengthened and deepened, as marriage is the special sharing of two lives – a sharing which should not diminish but rather enhance your individuality.
[(Groom)] in taking [(Bride)] to be your wife are you willing to love and accept her for the person she is and to remain beside her always? Groom: I do
[(Bride)], in taking [(Groom)] to be your husband are you willing to love and accept him for the person he is and to remain beside him always?
Bride: I do
I will now ask [(Bride)] and [(Groom)] to make their promises to one another.
Please face each other and join hands and repeat after me. [(Groom)], please repeat after me.
I take you [(Bride)] to be my lawfully wedded wife. Secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my partner in life.
I give to you my promise to stay by your side, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in good times and bad.
I promise to love and cherish you, respect you and protect you from harm, be truthful and honest with you and be faithful to you for as long as we both shall live.
[(Bride)], please repeat after me.
I take you [(Groom)] to be my lawfully wedded husband. Secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my partner in life.
I give to you my promise to stay by your side, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in good times and bad.
I promise to love and cherish you, respect you and protect you from harm, be truthful and honest with you and be faithful to you for as long as we both shall live.
Rings
Could I have the ring please?
Please continue to face each other as you both make your individual ring exchange to one other.
[(Groom)], please place the ring on [(Bride)]’s finger and repeat after me:
[(Bride)], just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal.
[(Bride)], with this ring I thee wed.
[(Bride)] please place the ring on [(Groom)]’s finger and repeat after me:
[(Groom)], just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal.
[(Groom)], with this ring I thee wed.
[(Bride)] and [(Groom)] , it is the love in your relationship which has brought you to this your wedding day and true love overcomes all things. May you be willing and grateful to give and receive love, share each others happiness and uncertainties and always remember to be each others best friend.
Prayer
Let us pray for [(Bride)] and [(Groom)] .
Merciful God, giver of life, bless [(Bride)] and [(Groom)] whom you have now joined in marriage.
Grant them your wisdom and devotion in their life together, that each may be for the other a strength in need, a comfort in sorrow and companion in joy.
So unite their wills in your will and their spirits in your Spirit that they may live and grow together in love and peace, all the days of their life. Amen.
Friends, as you have just heard, [(Bride)] and [[(Groom)] freely agree to be joined in marriage. As a witness in the giving and receiving of rings, by the power vested in me as a Pastor in the Balinese Church, I now have much pleasure in declaring them to be husband and wife.
A kiss will now seal their union –
Now I like to invite your friends and guest for the flower shower.