Does this sound okay or should I move things around, take things out?
Officiant's
opening words
Giving of the
bride/support of the marriage
Officiant:
"Today, as we join (Groom) and (Bride) in marriage, we
celebrate them as they begin a new family together.
Will you
(parents' names) bless (couple's names) in their marriage? Will you
celebrate them in their times of joy, and bolster them and their
marriage in times of hardship? "
Answer: "We
will."
Reading
by officiant
“Please
take each other's hands”
These
are the hands of your best friend that are holding yours
as you
promise to love each other all the days of your life.
These
are the hands that will work together
as you build your future
and make your dreams a reality.
These are the hands that
will comfort you in illness and trials,
and
share joy and happiness of life together.
These are the
hands that will passionately love you
and cherish you through
all the years.
May you always hold each other and give
strength to each other
to
hold on during the storms and stresses of life.
Our
vows (Written together)
Declaration
of Intent
Officiant:
And now I ask you to please face one another.
(Bride
and Groom face each other)
Officiant:
To Groom:
Do
you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded wife? If so answer “I
do”.
Groom
Responds: I do.
Officiant:
To Bride:
Do
you take ________ to be your lawfully wedded husband? If so answer “I
do”.
Bride
Responds: I do.
Exchange
of Rings
Officiant: To Groom:
____________ will you take this ring and place it upon ____________’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me, these words:
"With this ring, I give you my heart, I promise from this day forward, you shall not walk alone, may my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home."
Officiant: To Bride:
____________ will you take this ring and place it upon ____________’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me, these words:
"With this ring, I give you my heart, I promise from this day forward, you shall not walk alone, may my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home."
Marriage
reading by officiant
Wilferd
A. Peterson’s poem, “The Art of Marriage.” (longer
version)
Happiness
in marriage is not something that just happens,
A good marriage
must be created.
In the art of marriage, the
little things are the big things.
It
is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to
say, “I love you,” at least once a day.
It is never going to
sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
The
courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
It should continue
through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and
common objectives.
It is standing together facing the
world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole
family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
Of
duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words
of appreciation
And demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful
ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is
cultivating flexibility, patience,
Understand and a sense of
humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is
giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is
finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search
for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship
in which the independence is equal,
Dependence is mutual and the
obligation is reciprocal.
It not only marrying the right partner,
it is being the
right partner,
It is discovering what marriage can be, at its
best.
Final
comments by Officiant
Bride
& Groom kiss
Introduction
of Married couple