That would be amazing, thank you!
Here's what we went with. I took the 'last kiss' out literally seconds before the ceremony.
Potential Ceremony
On behalf of Allison and Cole,I would like to thank each of you for attending this wedding celebration. You are indeed participating in one of the happiest moments of their lives. For Allison, and Cole, your very presence here as family and honored guests not only heightens the beauty of this moment for them--but it also completes it!
(Congregation is asked to be seated)
We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of two people. Two people whose hearts and spirits are already entwined as one. In fact, those of you who know Allison and Colebest, can also attest to their love for one another and to the blended hopes, dreams and goals that they share. When such a bond exists of this magnitude, then it is only appropriate that we have an open public demonstration of their love, such as this wedding ceremony. So it is that Allison and Cole, now will profess (before God,) their family and their friends, their desire to henceforth walk the road of life together.
(Questions of intent-to groom and bride)
Do you, Cole knowing of this woman’s love for you and returning it,
Realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and accepting them, Take
Allison to be your lawfully wedded wife?
I DO
Do you, Allison, knowing of this man’s love for you and returning it,
Realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and accepting them, Take Cole,to be your lawfully wedded husband?
I DO
In lieu of thanks to the parents
SURPRISE FOR OUR PARENTS - PLEASE DO NOT GO OVER DURING REHEARSAL - Before Allison and Cole exchange their marriage vows and become a married couple, they would like the men and women who first kissed them into the world to be the last to do so in their single life. Chuck, Karen, Lois, Tim, please come up and kiss your children and be the first to send them on their way into their new life together as husband and wife.
In lieu of Address to the Couple
The Union
Robert Fulghum
(Great intro to the marriage vows)
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 commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – 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 that 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 – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.
For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my husband. This is my wife.
Marriage Vows
Wedding Vows (traditional)
I, N. (groom), take you, N. (bride),/ to be my wedded wife, / to have and to hold/ from this day forward, /for better, for worse, / for richer, for poorer, /in sickness and in health, / to love and to cherish, /as long as we both shall live.
I, N. (bride), take you, N. (groom), / to be my wedded husband, / to have and to hold /from this day forward, / for better, for worse, / for richer, for poorer, / in sickness and in health, / to love and to cherish, / as long as we both shall live.
THE PROPHET
~Kahlil Gibran~
Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forever more
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness.
And let the winds of heaven dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone.
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.
These two rings are made of precious metals and gems to represent the precious love between N., and N.,They are also circular to represent the ‘Unbroken circle of love’. For love that is freely given has no beginning or no end. May these rings always remind you that your love is never ending.
Prayer
‘May God bless these rings and the two of you who wear them. May you always abide in His peace and continue in His favor.'
Groom, please take (Bride’s) ring and place it on her left ring finger to seal your commitment of love. (Repeat after me)
N., with this ring I commit to you/ As this ring encircles your finger/ always be reminded / My love encircles your heart/
(Bride repeats the same ring vows)
"Officiant: The engagement ring is a symbol of a promise and intention. Now today, the intention is realized and the promise is fulfilled. So cole, would you please place the engagement ring back on Allison's finger over her wedding band, symbolizing that the love that brought you together will protect and sustain you."
Sand Ceremony
(Name) and (name), just as these grains of sand can never be separated, our prayer for you today is that your lives together would be longer than the time it would take to separate the individual grains of sand. (Then you can simply play beautiful music as you and your beloved slowly pour!)
Forasmuch as N., and N., have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before (God and) this company, and thereto have pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands and by giving and receiving rings, I hereby pronounce that they are husband and wife together.
Minister says to Groom
(Groom)You may kiss your bride
The brackets are the more religious aspects. Hubby and I agreed to leave them in for him while I got my more unconventional readings... And no psalms!
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