 The
Wedding Ceremony
One of the
most critical parts of your wedding (and yet one that is often left
till the last minute) is the actual ceremony script and vows you
exchange with your betrothed. Some people use the purely traditional
vows of their religious institution. Others prefer to write the
entire vow themselves. Many couples these days choose to land somewhere
in between.
Elements of
the traditional vow give a wedding ceremony a feeling of being just
that: ceremony. Something that has taken place for generations and
will continue to be woven through the fabric of our society for
generations to come. "With this ring, I thee wed" brings
an automatic emotional response to the participants, whereas more
casual, if more original, phrases may not.
On the other
hand, given the nature of modern relationships, traditional vows
may rather miss the mark on the reality of what today's partners
are willing to swear to. Be sure to pay attention to the words of
the vow you will be taking. You may not want to promise to "obey"
unless you actually mean to do so. Neither you nor your partner
may be excited by the idea that the man promises to give his earthly
possessions while the woman promises her fidelity - while the corresponding
oaths are left unsaid.
Below is a
sample of a simple ceremony to give you an idea of the different
stages of a typical marriage ceremony and provide you with a base
to edit and add to. To increase the length of your ceremony, you
may want to include readings, musical numbers, or religious intonations
between the various segments of the vow-taking itself.
Opening Words
Dearly Beloved, Adam and Eve have invited us here today to share
in the celebration of their marriage - their wedding.
We come together
not to mark the start of a relationship, but to recognize a bond
that already exists. This marriage is one expression of the many
varieties of love. Love is one, though its expressions are infinite.
It is fitting
to speak briefly about love. We live in a world of joy and fear
and search for meaning and strength in seeming disorder. We discover
the truest guidelines to our quest when we realize love in all its
magnitudes. Love is the eternal force of life. Love is the force
that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage.
If you would
have the foundation of your union be the love you have for each
other, not just at this moment, but for all the days ahead, then
cherish the hopes and dreams that you bring here today. Resolve
that your love will never be blotted out by the commonplace nor
obscured by the ordinary in life.
Devotion,
joy, and love can grown only if you nurture them together. Stand
fast in that hope and confidence, believing in your shared future
just as strongly as you believe in yourselves and in each other
today. In this spirit, you can create a partnership that will strengthen
and sustain you all the days of your lives.
Question of
Intent
Eve, will you have this man to be your husband, to live together
in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor
and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others,
be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
Adam, will
you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the covenant
of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her,
in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful
to her as long as you both shall live?
Will all of
you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these
two persons in their marriage?
The Vows
Adam, please repeat after me:
I , Adam,
take you Eve to be my 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 till death do us part.
Eve, please
repeat after me:
I , Eve, take
you Adam to be my 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 till death do us part.
Reflection
This is a moment of celebration. Let it also be a moment of dedication.
The world does a good job of reminding us of how fragile we are.
Individuals are fragile; relationships are fragile, too. Every marriage
needs the love, nurture, and support of a network of friends and
family. On this wedding day, I ask you not only to be friends of
Adam or Eve, but friends of Adam and Eve together, friends of the
relationship.
May the love
you have found grow in meaning and strength until its beauty is
shown in a common devotion to all that is compassionate and life-giving.
May the flow of your love help brighten the fate of the earth. May
the source of all love touch and bless us and grace our lives with
color and courage.
The Rings
From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness,
a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never ending circle
symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending. As often
as either of you looks at this symbol, I hope that you will be reminded
of the commitment to love each other, which you have made today.
Will each
of you repeat after me?
I, Adam, give
to you Eve, this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor,
and respect you. With this ring, I thee wed.
I, Eve, give
to you Adam, this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love, honor,
and respect you. With this ring, I thee wed.
Declaration
Before this gathering, Adam and Eve have promised each other their
love and have given each other rings to wear as a sign of their
deep commitment. Therefore I declare that they are husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
Create the perfect wedding ceremony
with these tips from STL Weddings:
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