Sample Wedding Ceremony
Procession
(After Father and Mother of the Groom are seated, Groom will walk to altar to join Minister, and this will key musicians). Bridal party walks in as follows:
> Bridesmaid escorted by Groomsman
> Bridesmaid escorted by Groomsman
> Maid/Matron of Honor escorted by Best Man
> Bride escorted by Her Father/Other Escort (and Mother, if Bride wishes)
(When the Bride, escorted by her parents, reaches the altar, the Groom's parents will rise and join him at altar)
Presentation of the Bride/Groom
Minister: "Who gives -- to be married to --?"
Parents of Bride: "We do."
Minister: "Who gives -- to be married to --?"
Parents of Groom: "We do."
Minister: "The parents, and guests may be seated."
Invocation:
Minister: "Mother-Father God, you have promised that when two or three are gathered in Your Name, that Your Divine Presence is here among us. We thank you for bringing us all together this evening to celebrate the marriage of your beloved children -- and --."
Convocation:
Minister: "Love is a miraculous gift, and a wedding is a celebration of that magic. We are gathered here today to celebrate that gift of love that -- and -- have found in one another, and to share with them the magic of this occasion. Marriage is a very special place, the sheltered environment in which we can endlessly explore ourselves in the presence of another, and in which we can offer the possibility of the true reflection of another. We are so honored that -- and -- have invited us to share in their celebration, in this beautiful and inspiring place, which represents a reflection of each other's true essence."
[Candle lighting, Sand Ceremony, Sharing of wine/gifts, Special Readings, Songs, etc can be inserted here.]
The Address
Minister: "Marriage involves sharing, loving and compromise. It asks that we care for and nurture a partner through all types of life experiences. It is also a road for our own self-discovery. As you risk revealing yourselves to each other through all your changes, uncertainties and milestones, your marriage will be become more of an adventure than work.
As you pledge your hearts to each other, pledge also to respect that each of you has unique thoughts, feelings and viewpoints. You may agree on many issues and decisions, but you are also free to disagree and keep growing and changing in unique ways.
Above all, bring humor to this commitment that you are about to make to one another. Laughter is the heart at play. Humor an enliven the good days and pull you through the rough ones. When you look back at the sounds of your marriage, let it be laughter that echoes through all your memories."
Expression of Intent:
Minister: "Do you -- choose -- to be your honored and cherished husband, to live with him, and love him for the rest of your days?"
Bride: "I do."
Minister: "Do you -- choose -- to be your honored and cherished wife, to live with her, and love her for the rest of your days?"
Groom: "I do."
Vows
(Couple can write their own vows or Minister can read traditional as couple faces each other and hold hands.)
Minister to Bride: "I, --, take you, --, to be my beloved husband, to have you and hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, and to love and cherish you always."
Minister to Groom: "I, --, take you, --, to be my beloved wife, to have you and hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, and to love and cherish you always."
(Minister requests the rings from the Best Man and holds them in her open hand before the couple.)
Blessing of the Rings:
Minister: "Rings are an ancient symbol, blessed and simple. Round like the sun, like the eye, like arms that embrace. Circles represent love that is given and which comes back around, again and again. Therefore, may these symbols remind you that your love, like the sun, illuminates; that your love, like the eye, must see clearly; and that your love, like arms that embrace, encircles you with grace."
Ring Exchange:
(Bride takes Groom's left hand in her right, and while she is putting the ring on his ring finger repeats after the Minister)
"--, as a sign of my love for you and my desire to share my whole life's journey with you, I give you this ring with the pledge that I shall cherish and care for you with all my heart and soul from this day forward."
(Groom takes Bride's left hand in his right, and while he is putting the ring on her ring finger repeats after the Minister)
"--, as a sign of my love for you and my desire to share my whole life's journey with you, I give you this ring with the pledge that I shall cherish and care for you with all my heart and soul from this day forward."
Benediction:
Minister: "May light and love surround both of you, and all who have gathered here. May your hearts always be guided to take the high road, and may you be blessed with every step of your journey together. May love, joy, prosperity and peace be yours in abundance."
Pronouncement and The Kiss:
Minister: "Now that you, -- and you, --, have promised to give yourselves to one another and to love each other through your sacred vows and through the giving and receiving of these rings, by the power vested in me by the Baltimore Spiritual Science Center and the State of Maryland, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together may he generously bless forever. You may now kiss one another."
Presentation of the Newlyweds:
Minister: "It is my extreme pleasure to now introduce you for the first time as husband and wife, --."
Recessional
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Sample Pagan/Wiccan Handfasting and Wedding
Invocation:
Symbols of the four elements significant to the couple should be placed around the circle at their respective quarters:
• North: Earth - Spirits of the North, whose element is Earth,
Give your blessings to -- and --
Who are about to be married, and
Grant to their union your gifts of stability, strength and steadfastness
• East: Air - Spirits of the East, whose element is Air,
Give your blessings to -- and --
Who are about to be married, and
Grant their union your gifts of wisdom and understanding.
• South: Fire - Spirits of the South, whose element of Fire,
Give your blessings to -- and --
Who are about to be married, and
Grant their union your gifts of love, passion and creativity.
• West: Water - Spirits of the West, whose element is Water,
Give your blessing to -- and --
Who are about to be married, and
Grant their union your gifts of intuition and inspiration.
Minister: “We welcome -- and -- to this Sacred Circle, which has been prepared as a place where they will be joined in Physical and Spiritual Marriage. Love is a miraculous gift, and a wedding is a celebration of that magic. We are gathered here today to celebrate that gift of love that -- and -- have found in one another, and to share with them the magic of this occasion. Marriage is a very special place, the sheltered environment in which we can endlessly explore ourselves in the presence of another, and in which we can offer the possibility of the true reflection of one another.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, -- and -- have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.“
Expression of Intent:
Minister: “--, please repeat after me declaring what you have to offer this woman for her love.”
Groom: “I present to her my love and my pledge. May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, not grieve her in any form or fashion. Accept this, my beloved, as a token of my trust.”
Minister: “And -- your response is…”
Bride: “My Love, I accept your pledge, and your love, as I accept thee, Beloved. Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine.”
Minister: “--, please repeat after me declaring what you have to offer in return for the love of this man.”
Bride: “I present to him my love and my pledge. May I never knowingly or willingly do such a thing to harm, not grieve him in any form or fashion. Accept this, my beloved, as a token of my trust.”
Minister: “And -- your response is…”
Groom: “My Love, I accept your pledge, and your love, as I accept thee, Beloved. Know what is in my heart, as I know what is in thine. The magic of my will, of my love, shall ever be thine.”
Vows:
(Couple repeats after minister as they face each other and hold hands.)
Minister to Bride: “I --, take you --, to be my husband, my partner in life, and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my heart.”
Minister to Groom: “I --, take you --, to be my wife, my partner and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life heart.”
Minister requests the rings and hold them in her open hand before the couple.
Blessing of the Rings:
Minister: “All things in nature are circular – night becomes day, day becomes night and night becomes day again. The moon waxes and wanes and waxes again. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and then the Spring returns. These things are part of the Great Mysteries. These circles of gold, like the Mysteries of the Universe, are without beginning or end. As they are now placed on your hands, they represent a seal of your love and respect for each other.”
Ring Exchange:
[Groom takes Bride’s left hand in his right, and while he is putting the ring on her ring finger repeats after the Minister]: “--, as a sign of my love for you and my desire to share my whole life’s journey with you, I give you this ring with the pledge that I shall cherish and care for you with all my heart and soul from this day forward.”
[Bride takes Groom’s left hand in her right, and while she is putting the ring on his ring finger repeats after the Minister]: “--, as a sign of my love for you and my desire to share my whole life’s journey with you, I give you this ring with the pledge that I shall cherish and care for you with all my heart and soul from this day forward.”
Sharing of the Bread and Wine
Minister: [handing the chalice to Groom] “This is your first drink together as husband and wife. May you never thirst.” [Groom holds the chalice while Bride drinks from it, then Bride takes the chalice while Groom drinks from it. The chalice is handed back to the Minister.]
Minister: [handing the plate of bread to Groom] “This is your first food together as husband and wife. May you never hunger.” [Groom holds the plate while Bride eats a piece of bread, then Bride takes the plate while Groom eats a piece of bread. The plate is handed back to the Minister.]
Handfasting
[Minister binds couple’s right hands in the traditional manner.]
Minister: “With this binding I tie you, heart to heart, together as one. With this knot you are joined in sacred union. May the Lord and Lady smile upon thee, and bless you with health and prosperity. May neither take advantage of the other, for remember what one may not provide, the other may.”
Benediction:
Minister: “May light and love surround both of you, and all who have gathered here. May your hearts always be guided to take the high road, and may you be blessed with every step of your journey together. May love, joy, prosperity and peace be yours in abundance.”
Pronouncement and The Kiss:
Minister: “In giving thanks we acknowledge and welcome this happy moment. Let everyone here now offer, in his or her own way, a silent prayer of thanksgiving in honor of -- and --’s commitment to each other this day.
“The circle is completed, as we have offered our thanks back to the One from whom all blessings flow. Therefore, by the power vested in me by the Baltimore Spiritual Science Center, and the State of Maryland, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss each other.”
Jumping the Broom
Minister: “This will be your first act of working together as Husband and Wife. May the athame cut all ties with the old and the broom sweep they away to make way for new and wonderful things to come.”
[Minister leads to couple to the athame and broom and they jump it to leave the circle. Minister picks up athame and returns to altar.]
Closing the Circle
Minister: [Walks back to the altar.] “We thank the elementals of life for their attendance this day and ask that they go forth and herald this union.”
• East: “Hail, O powers of Air! Thank thee for thy attendance! Sally forth and
announce to all this union!”
• South: “Hail, O powers of Fire! Thank thee for thy attendance! Sally forth and
announce to all this union!”.
• West: “Hail, O powers of Water! Thank thee for thy attendance! Sally forth and
announce to all this union!”
• North: “Hail, O powers of Earth! Thank thee for thy attendance! Sally forth and
announce to all this union!”
Minister: [Holding athame, starting at North, circling widdershin [counterclockwise] the parameter of the circle three times] “Three times round. Once for the daughter, twice for the crone, thrice for the Lady and the Lord who sit upon the throne! So mote it be!”
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