I took a several ceremony options that people shared with me to create our ceremony. Here are a few of them. Hope they help you!
Engagement Ring Ceremony
"The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention. Now the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled. Please place you engagement ring on *brides name* finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain you marriage"
Blessing of the Rings
During this ceremony *birde* and *grrom* will exchange rings. These rings are a visible sign of their commitment to one another. As the rings are passed, we invite family and friends to take part in the blessing of the rings. We ask that you wish them health and happiness, and all that is noble in life. I ask each guest to hold them for a moment, bless them with your love and make a silent wish for this couple, and their future together. When these rings come back they will contain, in their precious metal, that which is more precious, that which is priceless, your love and support for their union.
Sand Ceremony
Josh and Ashley, May your love always be as constant as the never-ending waves.
Flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea as the waters touch and nourish the many shores of the earth, may love be as moving as the sea between the shores of your souls.
just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's flow, there will never be a day without your love for each other.
You have just sealed your relationship by the giving & receiving of rings, this beautiful union is symbolized through the combining of these two individual jars of sand.
The first jar represents you, Ashley, in all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
The other jar represents you, Josh, in all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character.
They can stand on their own and be whole, without the need of any thing else.
However, when these two are blended together, they create and entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity.
Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination.
When you pour the sands into this common container, it symbolizes the union of your two lives.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual jars, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together, forming one heart, one love.
The life that each of you experienced now individually, will hereafter be inseparably united.
For the two shal become one.
Flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea as the waters touch and nourish the many shores of the earth, may love be as moving as the sea between the shores of your souls.
just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's flow, there will never be a day without your love for each other.
You have just sealed your relationship by the giving & receiving of rings, this beautiful union is symbolized through the combining of these two individual jars of sand.
The first jar represents you, Ashley, in all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
The other jar represents you, Josh, in all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.
Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character.
They can stand on their own and be whole, without the need of any thing else.
However, when these two are blended together, they create and entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity.
Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination.
When you pour the sands into this common container, it symbolizes the union of your two lives.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual jars, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together, forming one heart, one love.
The life that each of you experienced now individually, will hereafter be inseparably united.
For the two shal become one.
Hand cermony
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch."
(Bride)and (Groom), Please face each other and take each other’s hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief temporarily comes your way. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Option 2 Hand Ceremony
(Bride), please face (Groom), and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you tight when you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will give you support and celebrate with you in your accomplishments.
These are the hands of your best friend and soul mate.
(Groom), please hold (Bride)'s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to fulfill your dreams.
These are the hands of your best friend and soul mate.
Ceremony of the Blessing Stones
Ladies and Gentlemen, at this time, may I ask you all to move to the water’s edge for a Blessing Stone ceremony.
Each of you, have been given a stone to hold throughout this ceremony. The stones have now been infused with your love and good wishes to bless, and protect BRIDE & GROOM.
They ask, that in your minds, and in your hearts, you pray that their marriage be blessed.
Upon casting the stones I ask you to take notice;
As the ripples touch and intertwine with one another, may our love also touch and intertwine, to spread love and good wishes to all around us!
I ask you now, to please cast the stones into the ocean.
Each of you, have been given a stone to hold throughout this ceremony. The stones have now been infused with your love and good wishes to bless, and protect BRIDE & GROOM.
They ask, that in your minds, and in your hearts, you pray that their marriage be blessed.
Upon casting the stones I ask you to take notice;
As the ripples touch and intertwine with one another, may our love also touch and intertwine, to spread love and good wishes to all around us!
I ask you now, to please cast the stones into the ocean.
Rose Ceremony
In the Rose Ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a red rose bud. Two red rose buds are all that is necessary. If you have children involved in the ceremony, you may have a rose for each of them too. The Rose Ceremony is placed near the end of the ceremony just "after" being pronounced husband and wife.
This ceremony is what I call an "add-on" ceremony. It is intended to be added into the wedding or renewal of vows ceremony.
In the old language of flowers, a single red rose has always meant "I love you". The Rose ceremony gives recognition to the new and most honorable title of "Wife and Husband".
This ceremony originates in a classic rose ceremony from a lost and elegant age. It was rewritten by the Hon. Mark Ovard and rewritten again by Larry James explaining the true meaning of the ceremony - and in ways that can endure through your married life together - this is a unique and meaningful addition to any marriage ceremony. It will also inspire your guests.
Couples will often stop as they exit and hand the mother of the bride and groom each their rose bud, whispering "I love you," before proceeding with their exit, knowing that love is not love until you give it away! This is a nice way of involving the mother in the ceremony. Some have preferred to both turn and walk to their mothers and present the rose buds immediately following the rose ceremony.
Rose Ceremony - Short Version
Minister: Your first gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. In addition, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
You now have what remains the most honorable title that exists between a woman and a man - the title of "wife" and "husband." It is now my great privilege to be the first to address you as wife and husband and for your first gift as wife and husband, that gift will be a single red rose bud.
(Minister hands each a red rose bud)
The rose is considered a symbol of love and a single rose always means only one thing - it means, "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as wife and husband - that gift would be a single rose bud.
Please exchange the rose buds as your first gift to each other as wife and husband.
Within these rose buds, if given proper loving care, is the potential for an even more beautiful expression of Life and Love in the form of the mature flower. And so it is with your marriage. At this point your marriage is like these rose buds - ready, with proper loving care - to unfold into a very beautiful expression of life.
____________ and ____________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Whatever the situation, love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness can make everything right.
NOTE: Some couples will give their "I love you" rose buds to the mothers as they walk out. For example, the groom would give his rose bud to his new mother-in-law and the bride would give her rose to her new mother-in-law and say something like, "I'm happy to be a part of the family, etc." It works best if the giving of the rose buds to the mothers is a surprise.
Rose Ceremony - Long Version
Minister: Your first gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. In addition, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
You now have what remains the most honorable title that exists between a woman and a man - the title of "wife" and "husband." It is now my great privilege to be the first to address you as such and for your first gift as wife and husband, that gift will be a single red rose bud.
(Minister hands each a red rose bud)
The rose is considered a symbol of love and a single rose always means only one thing - it means, "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift that gift would be a single rose bud.
Please exchange the rose buds as your first gift to each other as wife and husband.
Within these rose buds, if given proper loving care, is the potential for an even more beautiful expression of Life and Love in the form of the mature flower. And so it is with your marriage. At this point your marriage is like these rose buds - ready, with proper loving care - to unfold into a very beautiful expression of life.
____________ and ____________, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you both select one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a re commitment to the holy vows which you have made before God and those present on this beautiful day.
Those of us who are already married know that marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges. We also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another.
Sometimes it is difficult to find the right words. It might be difficult to find the words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose then says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
That rose says, "I still love you."
It is wise to understand this as a statement of love and the need, or request for that extra bit of tender loving care permits the beauty of the rose to come forth from the rose bud. So also will that love permit the beauty of maturity to come forth from your marriage in every situation. Your partner should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
____________ and ____________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Whatever the situation, love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness can make everything right.
This ceremony is what I call an "add-on" ceremony. It is intended to be added into the wedding or renewal of vows ceremony.
In the old language of flowers, a single red rose has always meant "I love you". The Rose ceremony gives recognition to the new and most honorable title of "Wife and Husband".
This ceremony originates in a classic rose ceremony from a lost and elegant age. It was rewritten by the Hon. Mark Ovard and rewritten again by Larry James explaining the true meaning of the ceremony - and in ways that can endure through your married life together - this is a unique and meaningful addition to any marriage ceremony. It will also inspire your guests.
Couples will often stop as they exit and hand the mother of the bride and groom each their rose bud, whispering "I love you," before proceeding with their exit, knowing that love is not love until you give it away! This is a nice way of involving the mother in the ceremony. Some have preferred to both turn and walk to their mothers and present the rose buds immediately following the rose ceremony.
Rose Ceremony - Short Version
Minister: Your first gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. In addition, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
You now have what remains the most honorable title that exists between a woman and a man - the title of "wife" and "husband." It is now my great privilege to be the first to address you as wife and husband and for your first gift as wife and husband, that gift will be a single red rose bud.
(Minister hands each a red rose bud)
The rose is considered a symbol of love and a single rose always means only one thing - it means, "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as wife and husband - that gift would be a single rose bud.
Please exchange the rose buds as your first gift to each other as wife and husband.
Within these rose buds, if given proper loving care, is the potential for an even more beautiful expression of Life and Love in the form of the mature flower. And so it is with your marriage. At this point your marriage is like these rose buds - ready, with proper loving care - to unfold into a very beautiful expression of life.
____________ and ____________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Whatever the situation, love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness can make everything right.
NOTE: Some couples will give their "I love you" rose buds to the mothers as they walk out. For example, the groom would give his rose bud to his new mother-in-law and the bride would give her rose to her new mother-in-law and say something like, "I'm happy to be a part of the family, etc." It works best if the giving of the rose buds to the mothers is a surprise.
Rose Ceremony - Long Version
Minister: Your first gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect and a public showing of your commitment to each other. In addition, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.
You now have what remains the most honorable title that exists between a woman and a man - the title of "wife" and "husband." It is now my great privilege to be the first to address you as such and for your first gift as wife and husband, that gift will be a single red rose bud.
(Minister hands each a red rose bud)
The rose is considered a symbol of love and a single rose always means only one thing - it means, "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift that gift would be a single rose bud.
Please exchange the rose buds as your first gift to each other as wife and husband.
Within these rose buds, if given proper loving care, is the potential for an even more beautiful expression of Life and Love in the form of the mature flower. And so it is with your marriage. At this point your marriage is like these rose buds - ready, with proper loving care - to unfold into a very beautiful expression of life.
____________ and ____________, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you both select one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a re commitment to the holy vows which you have made before God and those present on this beautiful day.
Those of us who are already married know that marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges. We also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another.
Sometimes it is difficult to find the right words. It might be difficult to find the words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose then says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.
That rose says, "I still love you."
It is wise to understand this as a statement of love and the need, or request for that extra bit of tender loving care permits the beauty of the rose to come forth from the rose bud. So also will that love permit the beauty of maturity to come forth from your marriage in every situation. Your partner should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.
____________ and ____________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Whatever the situation, love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness can make everything right.
