Handwritten Vows, Creative Ceremonies, Client Input And Wedding Dinner Prayers…
I just love it when Clients take the time to write their own vows and put a personal spin on their ceremonies.
Next month, I once again travel to the beautiful Chateau At Forest Park to Officiate.
I love this venue and had a great time just a few years ago with my Texas Twins Events Team on location with Beautiful Bride Shelby.
I wanted to share the Ceremony Script with my current Clients to give them ideas and insight on what they would like either me or one of my other five Officiants to say at their Wedding.
Officiant: “Welcome, everyone!
Today we are here to witness the marriage of ### and ### ###.
This marriage does not mark the beginning of a new relationship but rather they are here to acknowledge and affirm the choice they make every single day to stand together and to love each other wholly. It is their desire to love each other that we are celebrating here today.
Today is also a celebration for the rest of us, for it is a pleasure for us to participate in the union of two people, so wonderfully suited for one another.
Although your love joins you together as one, remember the gift of your individuality.
Continue to cherish your differences as you love each other. Be supportive of your strengths, and tender towards your weaknesses. Be comforted by each other’s presence, and be secure in each other’s absence.
Never forget that it’s the “little” things that are the big things.
Love is standing together and facing the world.
It is goofing off completely, because why not.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude.
It is not only marrying the right person – it is being the right partner.
Let it be known that ### and ### do not enter this commitment alone. ## brings with her an amazing, vibrant 11 year old son.
### will you please come forward and stand between your Mother and ###. Over the years, the three of you have gotten to know each other and you have successfully melded into a family.
### and ###, today you are making an eternal commitment to share your lives with each other and to honor ### as well, for he is sharing in this marriage and the gathering of this family has already had a deep influence upon him.
SAND CEREMONY
Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these individual vases of sand.
One representing each of you. All that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
As you each hold your separate vases, the sand within represents your lives up until this moment; individual and unique.
You may now blend the sand.
As you combine the sand together, your lives also come together as one family.
With this marriage, two families are joined.
May your family be as inseparable as these grains of sand.
We realize that in order for a home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding between the child and the adults being married.
(To ###:) Your Parents, standing before you, will strive to provide not only your basic needs, but also an environment in which you will find the confidence to reach the highest goals of your heart and also your mind.
Feel free to hug now!
*We have not decided on whether or not we want to write our own vows*
[VOWS HERE]
Officiant: These rings that you will now exchange are a symbol of your partnership and evidence that you are never alone, because you carry each other with you in everything you do.
Please take ### left hand
Do you ###, take ### to be your wife from now until the end of time?
“I do.” (slides ring on)
Please take Aaron’s left hand
Do you ###, take ### to be your husband from now until the end of time?
“I do.” (slides ring on)
In front of everyone here, by the power invested in me ……… I now pronounce you husband and wife!
Kiss the bride!
Ladies and gentlemen, I now have the great pleasure to present to you, Mr. and Mrs.###!”
This script is a perfect example of how Clients can have whatever they want included in their ceremony and, I encourage you to make whatever changes you like to make your own ceremony more personal to your wishes.
Since Wedding Meal Prayer questions often come up, I’m adding my traditional “tried and true” celebratory prayer for newly married couples and encourage my Clients to make any changes to the script as they may deem fit for their own Wedding.
“God our Father, & Lord of all Creation:
We gather here now to celebrate the love and commitment of (bride) & (groom), as they share their first meal together as husband and wife.
We thank You for giving Your Holy blessing today upon their marriage, and ask that You continue to bless them with Your love and mercy throughout their lives together.
Let this be the first of many loving meals shared together with their family and friends, and blessed by Your amazing grace.
And with (bride) & (groom), as we are their family, friends, & loved ones gathered here in Your presence,
we ask for Your Holy blessing upon this meal as together we say:
Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty; through Christ Our Lord Amen.”
Rev Wendy Wortham