Ceremony Sample 1
Celebrant:
It is a time of celebration, for two people have come together and found mutual joy. They have shared their lives and decided to create a covenant between themselves, a partnership guided by spirit and support by our community. ____________ and ____________ ask all you in attendance in body and spirit to pledge your support and encouragement for them to keep true to their vows.
Celebrant lights two white taper candles:
We are all children of the light. I light this candle, which represents the sun, our spiritual father. I light this candle, which represents the moon, our spiritual mother. As these flames burn bright and strong, may their light bring this union between ____________ and ____________ to grow in joy and love.
Celebrant scatters flower petals in a complete circle around the couple:
Let your love be like the flowers of the earth, beautiful and divine, ever growing, spreading love and joy throughout the Earth. May you live within a circle of love and may your unity be a thing of beauty and sweetness. May your love dance in eternal circles of time, with the dance of the earth with the sacredness of life.
Bride and Groom each pick up one white candle, turn to each other, and hold the flames together to make one flame.
Celebrant:
And you begin your journey of life shared, separate beings that have come together into one light, one love. Many are the years you will share if you keep your vows, your sacred trust. May the sacred winds whisper joy into your life. May you take delight in each other for all your days. You are forever changed from this day forward. May this fire of love kindle your passions for each other throughout all your years. May your love rise anew, an eternal flame to light the day. May you grow old together and share a happy home.
Bride and Groom light a single white candle and blow out the tapers. They repeat together after the Celebrant the following:
Beloved, I seek to know you, and ask for the wisdom to love you as you are. I will take joy in you and in our life together. You are to me the whispering of the tides, the seduction of summer’s heat. You are my friend, my lover. Grow old and wise with me. I look forward to the life before us of rainbows and sunsets and a willingness to share all things. I love you. I adore you.
Celebrant to Bride:
Do you, ____________, take ____________ to be your partner in all things, to love and trust, care for and cherish?
Bride:
Yes, with all my heart.
Celebrant to Groom:
Do you, ____________, take ____________ to be your partner in all things, to love and trust, care for and cherish?
Groom:
Yes, with all my soul.
Celebrant to congregation:
May we all now pause and reflect upon the beauty of these lovers, the beauty and wonder of life. We all wish these two as many days of perfect love and perfect trust that life can bring. By the Authority invested in me, I now declare these sacred vows made manifest.
Ceremony Sample 2
Celebrant:
With great joy, we come together to join this man, ___________, and this woman, ____________, in matrimony.
This marriage is an event in the lifetime of a love. Neither I, nor all society, can join these two lovers today. Only they can do what they have chosen. They are joining themselves, each to the other. As they find union with one another, they proclaim that union today and pledge its future. We, by our participation in this celebration, do but recognize and honour their intention to dwell together as husband and wife.
Groom:
I promise you ____________, that I will be your loving and loyal husband from now on. I will share with you all of life's joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, until death parts us.
Bride:
I promise you ____________, that I will be your loving and loyal wife from now on. I will share with you all of life's joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, until death parts us.
