Writing this ceremony is horrible. FI is a non-practicing Mexican Catholic, as is much of his family. I'm a secular humanist Jew, as is the rest of my family. Our wedding ceremony is meant to be completely secular. It feels too wordy and I'm just not in love. Any recommendations?
Officiant:
Please be seated.
Family and friends of Bride
and Groom: Welcome to their wedding ceremony this beautiful fall evening.
This is the day that Groom
and Bride marry the person they love the most in the world...the one they will
laugh with, live for, and love for the rest of their lives.
So it is fitting that
you are here...the ones that are closest to them. Your presence at this wedding
celebration reminds Bride and Groom how lucky they are to share this important day
in their lives with people who are important to them. One of the wonderful
things about a wedding is that it also serves as a multi-family reunion, and it
always pleases me to learn how far people are willing to travel to be here on a
day like this, for an event like this, which just goes to show you how important
it is to mark these happy transitions in our lives. We have guests here today
from across the country and the world. Welcome! Wandajune6 and Mr. Wandajune6
thank you for joining here today
Today we have come together to
witness the joining of these two lives.
I need something here. Not sure
what.
VOWS
(Officiant hands us our written vows. We both
recite.)
GIVING
OF RINGS:
The ring is a symbol of the
unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no
giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these
rings always remind you of the vows you have made.
Officiant
- repeat after me
Wandajune6, I give you this ring,
which to me is a symbol of my love and commitment to you
Mr. Wandajune6, I give you this
ring, which to me is a symbol of my love and commitment to you
May the wedding rings
you exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded by enduring love.
Officiant:
We have been privileged to
witness a special event in the lives of Mr. Wandajune6 and Wandajune6. They
have made their commitment in our presence and given their promise to move
through life together.
INTRO ON BLESSINGS FROM FAMILY – We
asked our family to send our officiant their hopes/wishes for our marriage. We
liked the idea better than anything we saw in samples. These will be a surprise
to us.
Wandajune6 and Mr. Wandajune6 I
would ask that you always treat yourself and each other with respect, and
remind yourselves often of what brought you together today.
Lasso Ceremony
In honor of Mr.
Wandajune6’s tradition, Wandajune6 and Mr. Wandajune6 have decided to be bonded
tied together with a lasso.
(MOH and BM set up two chairs for us to be
seated on)
Officiant:
Wandajune6
and Mr. Wandajune6, I invite FSIL to place a cord over you. (FSIL ties us) This cord symbolizes an
infinite bond of love you share that keeps your relationship strong in the face
of adversity, as well as that you both are no longer two, but one in marriage.
May this cord remind you to face your life together courageously and to be
mutual in support of each other in carrying out your duties and
responsibilities as a couple and, may your love grow stronger and bind you
closer together through the years.
FSIL, please
step forward and remove the Lasso. Thank you.
(The Lasso
is removed)
Wandajune6
and Mr. Wandajune6 please rise.
(Someone removes the chairs)
BREAKING
THE GLASS:
Officiant:
In honor of Wandajune6’s
tradition, the final act of this ceremony is the
traditional breaking of the glass. This old custom has many traditions, and,
like every Jewish custom, comes with a millennia of interpretations.
Some say that it
represents a breaking with the past, and a headlong stride into the future, or
the shattering of two single lives and their transformation into a couple. The
most positive explanation we’ve found is that this symbolizes the breaking down
of barriers between people of different cultures and faiths.
I, however, dismiss
these meanings and prefer another approach. When the glass breaks, it simply
means the long speech is over, and the party begins
(MOH
provides glass. Mr. Wandajune6 breaks it)
(Mazel
tov!)
Officiant: Now by the
power vested in me by the State of Illinois, it is my honor and delight to
declare you husband and wife. You may seal this declaration with a kiss.
Your wedding ceremony
is over; it is time to celebrate!