When you plan your wedding ceremony with Reverend Pamela L. Brehm, you begin a personal journey deserving of careful consultation and attention to detail. Reverend Pamela works one on one with couples in her home office in Berks County, Pennsylvania, customizing each wedding ceremony to include the traditions, values and promises that speak to you and your fiancé best. As an Interfaith Wedding Minister, Pamela understands the evolving needs of couples making a lifetime commitment. She strives for close communication with you and your wedding professionals, ensuring your ceremony reflects your desires for your important day.
The sample wedding ceremonies below provide an overview of the components of a wedding. Customize the wedding for a ceremony that reflects your beliefs and personalities. For a glimpse at the unique experience of a wedding ceremony with Reverend Pamela, visit her testimonials page to see pictures and statements from weddings she has officiated in the past.
Reverend Pamela commits personally to every ceremony she performs, this commitment begins the moment you call to confirm your special date and schedule your consultation. Contact Reverend Pamela L. Brehm today to plan the wedding ceremony of your dreams!
Ceremony-1
Convocation
We gather together tonight not to mark the start of a relationship, but to recognize a bond that already exists. To witness and support you both as you continue on you journey together. We are grateful for this miraculous day, for the fulfillment of love we see before us in each of you, and for the joy of sharing this happy occasion. We invite the presence of Infinite Love to make this a time of thanksgiving and possibility.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Mary and John, you come before me tonight to be joined in marriage. Are you both ready to declare your commitment to one another? [We are.]
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands. Mary, please repeat after me:
I, Mary, take you, John, 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.
What may come I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold
So I give you my life to keep.
John, please repeat after me:
I, John, take you, Mary, to be my wife,
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.
What may come I will always be there.
As I have given you my hand to hold
So I give you my life to keep.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
Mary and John, your wedding rings are most special because they say even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are. Your rings carry the potent double message: We are individuals and yet we belong; we are not alone. As you wear these rings through time, they will reflect not only who you are, but also the union you are making, the fact that through the rest of your lives each of you will be imprinted by the other, yet as yourself remain. May these rings serve as a reminder of the unending love you hold in your hearts for each other today. May you wear them in peace and happiness all of your days.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
John, this ring is my thanksgiving,
my promise that I will love you,
that I will cherish and honor you.
I place this ring on your finger
that all may see
and know of my love for you.
With this ring I Thee Wed!
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
Mary, this ring is my thanksgiving,
my promise that I will love you,
that I will cherish and honor you.
I place this ring on your finger
that all may see
and know of my love for you.
Mary, with this ring I Thee Wed!
Blessing and Pronouncement
So, give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another so that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature with the passing years. May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive, leaving no tracks of resentment behind each day. May your love consist not only in gazing into each other’s eyes, but in looking outward in the same direction. May your life together be a source of strength and inspiration to yourselves, your families, your friends, and to all those whose lives you touch. I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations, you may kiss to seal your vows.
Ceremony-2
Convocation
Friends, we are gathered here to witness and to celebrate the marriage of Mary and John. We are grateful for your presence and the opportunity to share and rejoice in the making of this most important commitment.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Do you, Mary, with love and understanding, choose now to embrace John’s life with your own as your husband? [I do.]
Do you, John, with love and understanding, choose now to embrace Mary’s life with your own as your wife? [I do.]
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands.
Mary, please repeat after me:
I, Mary, take you John
to be my husband and my partner for life.
I pledge to be faithful to you
and honest with you,
to stand by you
and to believe in you and in your dreams.
I promise to cherish you
and to encourage your own fulfillment as a person
through all the changes in our lives.
I will focus on forgiveness and solutions
and acknowledge the good in you
and see your greatest possibilities.
I promise a lifetime of celebrating life.
I promise a lifetime of celebrating you.
John, please repeat after me:
I, John, take you Mary
to be my wife and my partner for life.
I pledge to be faithful to you
and honest with you,
to stand by you
and to believe in you and in your dreams.
I promise to cherish you
and to encourage your own fulfillment as a person
through all the changes in our lives.
I will focus on forgiveness and solutions
and acknowledge the good in you
and see your greatest possibilities.
I promise a lifetime of celebrating life.
I promise a lifetime of celebrating you.
Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
Traditionally, the marking of the passage to status of husband and wife is marked by the exchange of rings. These rings are 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 taken.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
I, Mary, choose you, John,
To be no other than your true self.
I make this promise loving what I know of you,
And trusting what I do not yet know,
With this ring I give myself to you
Completely, eternally, and without reservation
And make my home in your heart
Now and forevermore.
John please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
I, John, choose you, Mary,
To be no other than your true self.
I make this promise loving what I know of you,
And trusting what I do not yet know,
With this ring I give myself to you
Completely, eternally, and without reservation
And make my home in your heart
Now and forevermore.
Blessing
Mary and John, the vows you have just taken, pledging love, mean far more than mere words ever can. May their gentle spirit move in you. May your years fulfill the beauty of the feelings expressed today. And may you always put these vows above the things that make life smaller. As you have spoken your hearts and your pledges to one another have been made . . . I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations! You may share your first kiss and husband and wife.
Ceremony-3
Convocation
We are gathered here today in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage, and to witness the joining together of Mary and John. Marriage is a sign of God’s intention for wholeness in all creation. Out of the chaos, God brought order. That creative purpose is still at work. The joining together of two persons into one unique, intimate and creative unity in marriage is a demonstration of the purpose of human society. And so we celebrate the creation of Mary and John’s new family.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Mary and John, you come before me tonight to be joined in marriage. Are you both ready to declare your commitment to one another? [We are.]
Exchange of Vows and Rings
May I have the rings please.
May these rings be blessed as a symbol of this affectionate unity. Your two lives are being joined today in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, may you always return to one another in your togetherness. May you find in one another the love for which all men and women yearn. May you grow in understanding and compassion. May the home which you establish together be such a place of sanctuary that all who are here today and others through the years will find there true friends. May these rings, soon to be on your fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love that is in both your hearts.
Mary, please repeat after me:
My soul has two parts,
The half I was born with
and the half I found in you.
I marry you today
because I must assure the joining
of the parts of my soul.
I marry you today
Today, I bask in the light of your love
And the comfort of your presence.
When you fall, I will catch you.
When you cry, I will comfort you.
When you laugh, I will share your joy.
Everything I am
from this moment forth and for eternity.
With this ring I thee wed.
John, please repeat after me:
My soul has two parts,
The half I was born with
and the half I found in you.
I marry you today
because I must assure the joining
of the parts of my soul.
I marry you today
because you are me, and I am you.
Today, I bask in the light of your love
and the comfort of your presence.
When you fall, I will catch you.
When you cry, I will comfort you.
When you laugh, I will share your joy.
Everything I am
and everything I have is yours,
from this moment forth and for eternity.
With this ring I thee wed.
Blessing and Pronouncement
Mary and John, you have now affirmed before these loved ones your commitment to each other. You have come from different backgrounds. You have walked different paths. You are different individuals. Your love has transcended these differences. In the years before you may the richness of the traditions that have nurtured you enhance and brighten your lives as you help to create and shape the future. May the challenges of your life together be met with courage and optimism. May you learn from your failures and grow in your achievements. May life bless you with friends and family in a wide network of mutual support and enjoyment. May you face pain, toil and trouble with a strong but light heart. May you share with others the radiance of your seasons of joy and pleasure. May you always remember that laughter is the medicine of the gods. May the spirit of love be ever a part of your lives so that the union we here celebrate this day be worthy of continued celebration tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
With the sense of incomparable joy that you have found emotional sanctuary for your heart, that you have discovered your life’s true love, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
John, you may kiss the Bride!
Ceremony-4
Convocation
We are gathered today to unite Mary and John in marriage. This celebration is but an outward sign of an inward union of heart, mind and spirit. This is a celebration of the joining of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between two people, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgment be made. We are here to bear witness to the entry into the closer relationship of husband and wife of these beloved friends who are already one in spirit.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Mary and John, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord? [Yes, it is true.]
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands, and Mary repeat after me:
From the moment I saw you,
I knew forever wouldn’t be long enough
to share all the love
I have in my heart for you.
When I look in your eyes,
I see everything I need.
You are the air I breathe,
you are my every heartbeat.
In you I have found my safe place.
In you I have found my home.
In you I have found my dream come true.
When I least expected it,
I found my true love.
John, you are my prince,
you are my true love.
I marry you today
because life without you would be unthinkable.
You have made my life complete.
All that I am
and all that I have is yours
from this moment on.
John repeat after me:
In your eyes, I have found my home
in your heart, I have found my love
in your soul, I have found my mate
With you I am whole, full and alive,
you make me laugh, you let me cry
you are my breath, my every heartbeat
I marry you today,
because life without you would be unthinkable.
I come from darkness into the light of your love
I come from loneliness to the companionship of soul mates
I come from heartache to the comfort of your presence.
When I least expected it,
I found my true love
Everything I am
and everything I have is yours
from this moment forth and for eternity.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
The circle is a natural symbol of eternity as it has no beginning and no end. We place the ring on the left hand because it constitutes a direct path to the heart. It’s presence reminds you of the vows made today and the endless love which unites your hearts. May you wear them in peace and happiness all of your days!
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
With this ring, I thee wed.
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
With this ring, I thee wed.
Blessing and Pronouncement
May the bond you make today never be broken. May the memories you make tomorrow never be forgotten. May the good times make you laugh, and the bad times make you stronger. May your love grow more and more every day. May you never forget your individuality, but always remember, that together, you are as one life and one heart. I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations, you may seal your vows with a kiss.
Ceremony-5
Convocation
We are assembled here in the presence of God and these witnesses to celebrate the joining of this man and this woman in the unity of marriage. There are no obligations on earth more sweet or tender than those you are about to assume. There are no vows more solemn than those you are about to form. True marriage is the holiest of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Mary and John, you come before me tonight to be joined in marriage. Are you both ready to declare your commitment to one another? [We are.]
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands, and Mary repeat after me:
I, Mary, take you John, to be my husband.
I promise to be true to you,
in times of joy and sorrow,
in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you,
comfort and cherish you
all the days of my life.
John repeat after me:
I, John, take you Mary, to be my wife.
I promise to be true to you,
in times of joy and sorrow,
in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you,
comfort and cherish you
all the days of my life.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
We ask God to bless these rings as your union is blessed. May they serve an a reminder of the unending love that you hold in your hearts for each other. May you wear them in peace and happiness all of your days.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
in token and in pledge
of my constant faith
and abiding love.
With all that I am
and all that I will become,
I honor you.
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
in token and in pledge
of my constant faith
and abiding love.
With all that I am
and all that I will become,
I honor you.
Blessing and Pronouncement
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations, you may seal your vows with a kiss.
Ceremony-6
Convocation
We are gathered here to celebrate the joining of Mary and John in marriage. This joyous event is an expression of commitments that men and women have made to each other throughout human history – commitments which have made possible the growth of relationships of deep love and personal fulfillment. This ceremony is but a symbol of that which is inner and real, a union of hearts.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Mary and John, marriage is not only for happiness, but for the growth and enrichment of character. To this end there must be a dedication of each to the other and of both to a purposeful and compassionate life. Is it in this spirit that you have come to be joined together? [It is.]
John, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in marriage? Will you love her and give her your respect? Will you nurture and comfort her? Will you be present with her in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow? Will you share with her your protecting strength, the depth of your passion, the solace of your embrace? Will you share with her your quiet, and your dreams, your moments of doubt and fears? Will you share friendship and devotion as well as courage to renew the fullness of your love? [I will.]
Mary, will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in marriage? Will you love him and give him your respect? Will you nurture and comfort him? Will you be present with him in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow? Will you share with him your protecting strength, the depth of your passion, the solace of your embrace? Will you share with him your quiet, and your dreams, your moments of doubt and fears? Will you share friendship and devotion as well as courage to renew the fullness of your love? [I will.]
Let me speak then the words of a wonderful poet, Kahilil Gibran:
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 onto 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.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands. Mary repeat after me:
I, Mary, take you, John, to be my husband
and to share with me the many experiences of life.
I will love you and respect you.
I will honor you, cherish you,
and be a comfort to you.
I will keep you in times of health, happiness, and prosperity,
and in times of sickness and hardship,
should they come our way.
I acknowledge you to be my husband,
my equal, my lover,
and my closest friend.
John repeat after me:
I, John, take you, Mary, to be my wife
and to share with me the many experiences of life.
I will love you and respect you.
I will honor you, cherish you,
and be a comfort to you.
I will keep you in times of health, happiness, and prosperity,
and in times of sickness and hardship,
should they come our way.
I acknowledge you to be my wife,
my equal, my lover,
and my closest friend.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
The circle symbolizes many precious hopes and joys. It is beyond beginnings, and without end. It is the outward sign of your marriage, it represents, too your inner completeness and wholeness. The rings you have chosen to wear are now joined, such that wherever you go, you will return again and again to each other.
Mary, please take John’s rings and place it on his finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love for you
and the commitments we have made together.
John, please take Mary’s rings ,placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
as a symbol of my love for you
and the commitments we have made together.
Pronouncement of Marriage
For as much as you John, and you Mary, have chosen each other from many men and women on this earth, have declared your love and purpose before us, have made vows to each other and have symbolized this by giving and receiving rings, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations, you may seal your marriage with a kiss.
Ceremony-7
Convocation
We are gathered here today to celebrate one of the happiest moments in the lives of Mary and John, for on this day they will affirm before witnesses of earth and heaven that they believe God has purposed that they should share life in the holy bonds of marriage.
Mary and John, you are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in the world whom you love best. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities and to share love. Remember, everything beautiful that you have, came from God. In the beginning, God gave us our free will and our identity to walk this earth. Don’t ever try to change each other, because if you do, you will lose exactly what you fell in love with. So, each day try to find one more thing that is beautiful in your mate and each day know that the next day will be more beautiful than the one before. As long as you are doing this, you are seeking beauty, joy, and love in each other.
Expression of Intent to Marry
Mary and John, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord? [Yes, it is true.]
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands.
Mary, do you take this man whose hands you now hold, choosing him alone to be your wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him with kindness, understanding and respect throughout your lives? [Yes, I take John as my husband.]
John, do you take this woman whose hands you now hold, choosing her alone to be your wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her with kindness, understanding and respect throughout your lives? [Yes, I take Mary as my wife.]
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
Poet John Keats wrote: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” The ring is a thing of beauty, but it is more than a joy forever to you. It is a symbol, a symbol of your love for one another and of the fact that you are united in holy matrimony. This ring by its shape, is a symbol of the undying love that exists between you. The substance of which it is composed is a symbol of purity, which shall ever characterize your mind and hearts in all your relationships together.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
in token and in pledge
of my constant faith
and abiding love.
With all that I am
and all that I will become.
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
in token and in pledge
of my constant faith
and abiding love.
With all that I am
and all that I will become.
Pronouncement of Marriage
These two loves are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever you go, may they always return to one another in your togetherness. May you find in each other, the love for which all men and women long. May you grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home you establish be such a place of sanctuary that man will find there a friend. And may your two rings symbolize the spirit of undying love in both of your hearts. It is my honor to now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations! John, you may kiss the Bride!
Ceremony-8
Convocation and Expression of Intent to Marry
We are assembled here in the presence of God and these witnesses to celebrate the joining of this man and this woman in the unity of marriage. There are no obligations on earth more sweet or tender than those you are about to assume. There are no vows more solemn than those you are about to form. True marriage is the holiest of all earthly relationships. It should be entered into reverently, thoughtfully, and with full understanding of its sacred nature. Marriage to be complete must first be spiritual. From this inner state of conscious unity in FAITH, LOVE, THOUGHT, PURPOSE, PLAN and ACTION, there comes the outer state corresponding to it, making the outer, like the inner, peaceful and harmonious.
The state of matrimony is true marriage only when based on this deep, invisible union of two souls who seek to find completion in one another. Do you understand this?
(I do.)
Today your separate lives with their individual memories, desires, and hopes merge into one. Will you bring to this new life each for the sake of the other, the best that you have in you, seeking to express your life together, each at the highest level of his own understanding?
(I do.)
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands.
Mary, will you take this man, whose hands you hold, choosing him alone to be your wedded husband? Will you live with him in a state of true matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him and be faithful to him?
(I will.)
John, will you take this woman, whose hands you hold, choosing her alone to be your wedded wife? Will you live with her in the state of true matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, and be faithful to her?
(I will.)
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
As you take these preliminary vows, John and Mary, I would have you remember: To love is to enter a whole New World, a world of togetherness, a world of sharing… All that is dearest and deepest within your hearts.
To love is to remember and keep alive forever all those unique qualities that drew you to one another in the beginning…That wonderful feeling of oneness when your eyes met.
To love is to constantly search for new ways to bring each other to happiness, to make the most of every moment you share together, and marvel at how your feelings for one another keep rising to new dimensions.
To love is to create an oasis of tranquility for one another and a quiet place, apart from others, where you can be yourselves . . . And know within your hearts, you will be accepted by one another.
To love is to able to laugh at yourselves and be willing to say…“I was wrong, I’m sorry”…To forgive, and more importantly, to FORGET, and to always believe and trust in one another.
To love is to find beauty in all the simple things of life, and to find, within ourselves, a deeper appreciation and a new awareness of how wonderful it is to be alive…and to be together…and always believe that all things are possible with faith and love.
I understand you have brought rings as a token of your sincerity? [Rings presented.]
The ring is a symbol of the unbroken unity of truth now to be symbolized in your married life.
Bless these rings, that as they give and receive one to the other, they may ever abide in peace, living together in unity, in love, and in happiness.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
I, Mary, take you John to be my husband,
to love and to cherish, from this day forward,
and thereto pledge you my faith.
With this ring, I thee wed.
Let it ever be to us a symbol of our love.
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
I, John, take you Mary to be my wife,
to love and to cherish, from this day forward,
and thereto pledge you my faith.
With this ring, I thee wed.
Let it ever be to us a symbol of our love.
Pronouncement of Marriage
Eternal Spirit, Life, Truth and Substance of All, with whom to be in conscious union is joy, and from who to feel separated is darkness, may this man and this woman, who have entered into this spiritual union, always be conscious of Spirit’s presence. May they be one with each other as they are even now. May they rejoice in perfect love and peace together, and live always in accord with the true law of their Divine Being. And so it is.
In as much as you, John, and you Mary, have consented together in the union of matrimony and you have pledged your faith each to the other in the presence of God and this company, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Congratulations, you may seal your marriage with a kiss.
Ceremony-9
Convocation
Mary and John are here to make public their love for each other; to declare their truth for all to hear: their choice to marry and grow together. It is important to them that each and every one of you would be present here today to celebrate their marriage because each and every one of you have played a role in their individual journeys. And now, you are present to participate in their combined life journey.
Expression of Intent
Mary and John, if you are indeed, ready to say the solemn vows that will unite your lives forever . . . and enter into this union with free minds and hearts, please indicate your intention by joining both your hands together.
Exchange of Vows
Mary, repeat after me:
I Mary, take you John, to be my husband
to laugh with you in joy,
to grieve with you in sorrow,
to grow with you in love;
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,
keeping only unto you,
as long as we both shall live.
This is my solemn vow.
John, repeat after me:
I John, take you Mary, to be my wife
to laugh with you in joy,
to grieve with you in sorrow,
to grow with you in love;
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,
keeping only unto you,
as long as we both shall live.
This is my solemn vow.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
The rings you give and receive this day are the symbols of the endless love into which you enter as husband and wife.
Such a love has no beginning and no ending, no giver and no receiver.
You are each the beginning and the ending, each the giver and the receiver.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
in remembrance of this hour,
a symbol of love
that is complete, beautiful and endless.
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
I give you this ring
in remembrance of this hour,
a symbol of love
that is complete, beautiful and endless.
Blessing and Pronouncement
May this day shine eternally in your lives.
May it add brilliance to every achievement and cast a divine light over any misfortune.
May you care for each other in all sadness.
May you give cheer to each other.
May you give vitality to each other in all undertakings.
May all that is virtuous, beautiful and honest, remain with you always!
I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may share your first kiss!
Ceremony-10
Convocation
Friends, we have come here today to celebrate love. We see it in the faces of Mary and John, who stand before us, but we experience it in our own hearts as well. This love is powerful enough to untie the strong entangled knot of life. It is a love which kindles our souls with hope and which is our true home. Mary and John have opened their hearts to one another, and today, in just a few moments, will share their vows of marriage together. We are deeply grateful to them for opening their hearts to us as well, inviting us to witness and share in this precious moment.
Expression of Intent
Mary and John, the vows you are about to exchange serve as verbal representation of the love you have promised to each other. For it is not the words you speak today which will unite you together as one, but the inner sense of love and commitment that each of you feels within your soul. No other human ties are as tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.
If you are indeed ready to say the solemn vows that will unite your lives forever…and enter into this union with free minds and hearts, please indicate as much by joining both your hands together.
Exchange of Vows
Mary, repeat after me:
John, I come here today
To join my life to yours.
I promise to be true to you,
To respect you,
And to grow with you through the years.
Time may pass,
Fortune may smile,
Trials may come;
No matter what we may encounter together,
I vow you will be my only love.
I will make my home in your heart
from this day forward.
John, repeat after me:
Mary, I come here today
To join my life to yours.
I promise to be true to you,
To respect you,
And to grow with you through the years.
Time may pass,
Fortune may smile,
Trials may come;
No matter what we may encounter together,
I vow you will be my only love.
I will make my home in your heart
from this day forward.
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
May I have the rings please.
These rings are an external and visible sign of the internal and spiritual bond of love which unites your two hearts. May they serve as a seal of the vows you have made to one another. Bless these rings as you give and receive them – may you ever live in harmony, unity, love and happiness from this day forward.
Mary, please take John’s ring, placing it on his finger as you repeat after me:
With this ring
I give you all that I am
and ever hope to be.
John, please take Mary’s ring, placing it on her finger as you repeat after me:
With this ring
I give you all that I am
and ever hope to be.
Blessing
Mary and John…This is your love story come true, your journey into marriage. Cherish this bond, it belongs only to the two of you. Start each day with gratitude and compassion for each other, and unconditional love will follow. Believe in each other; support each other’s dreams. Remember to dream together too! Always give more than you think the other needs. Say “I love you!” and “Thank you!” every day. Trust, respect and appreciate each other. Be spontaneous, have fun! Stand together, but let there be space in your togetherness. Know when to listen, to talk, to let your heart feel. Apologize. Forgive and forget. Work together. Play together. You have been chosen for each other! With each passing year, you will grow closer together, drawing strength from one another. You will be blessed with the greatest happiness in life, to love and be loved.
Pronouncement
It is my honor and joy to pronounce you united in love and in life, in heart and soul as husband and wife.
You may kiss to seal your vows.
Ceremony-11
Convocation
Family and friends, on behalf of John and Mary, I would like to thank all of you for being here to share in their special day. This moment in time is truly a cause for joyous celebration, for they are coming to be united together in the covenant of marriage.
Expression of Intent
Mary and John, this is the time you have chosen to become husband and wife. Love brought you together and to this moment, and love is what will bind your lives together in marriage. Your love is as strong as a mountain, as large as the sea, more plentiful than the sands on a beach, as bright as the sun, and as comforting as the light of the moon when it brightens a dark night. You are among the truly blessed in this life . . . to be standing here today, about to take this step with the person your heart chose for you . . . it is the greatest joy in human existence. I now ask each of you, are you ready to enter into this marriage, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things? [ I am. ]
Exchange of Vows
Please join hands.
Mary, do you embrace John as your husband, companion and best friend for life? Do you promise to love, adore and encourage him? Share the good times and achievements as well as the disappointments? Share friendship and devotion as well as courage to renew the fullness of your love? [ I do. ]
John, do you embrace Mary as your wife, companion and best friend for life? Do you promise to love, adore and encourage her? Share the good times and achievements as well as the disappointments? Share friendship and devotion as well as courage to renew the fullness of your love? [ I do. ]
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
Marriage is a state in which two people come together and create a union that is greater than the mere sum of two individuals. It is difficult to express in words the profound relationship that is love.
What tokens do you have of your love and regard for one another? [Rings are presented.]
Through the ages, the circle has been an emblem of the sincerity and permanence of a couple’s love and regard for one another and their union. Please take these rings and exchange them in the spirit of love.
[John and Mary repeat, in unison, after Minister.]
I give you this ring
as a token that I shall love you,
in all times, in all places, and in all ways.
Blessing
Mary and John, may you…
Always keep this covenant which you have made.
Be a blessing and a comfort to each other, sharers of each other’s joys,
Encourage each other in whatever you set out to achieve.
Trust each other, trust life and not be afraid.
May you always remember the inspiration of this hour and continue to love one another forever.
Pronouncement
As you have spoken your hearts and your pledges to one another have been made…I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may seal your vows with a kiss.
