WEDDING SCRIPT

We are gathered here today because this couple has decided to be joined in
marriage. The essence of marriage lies in committing oneself to the other person
entirely as a friend, confidant, companion, and lover. This decision should never
be made lightly, but should be considered with utmost care, respect, and loyalty.

(bride's name) and (groom's name) are taking a step together and celebrating
their love with the sanctity of marriage. And that is why, we are here to share
their love with one another and give our blessings and wishes to them for a
beautiful and happy marriage.

(bride's name) and (groom's name), today you have come here with an intention
to marry one another and join hands forever in a lifetime commitment.

If you have any personal wedding vows written, you can do so here or else, repeat
what the officiant will ask you to say.

Officiant to the Groom: Please, repeat after me ...

"I, (groom's name), take you, (bride's name), to be my lawfully wedded wife. I
promise from this day forward to be your faithful husband, for better or worse,
for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as I
shall live".

Officiant to the Bride: Please, repeat after me ...

"I, (bride's name), take you, (groom's name), to be my lawfully wedded husband. I
promise from this day forward to be your faithful wife, for better or worse, for
richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as I shall
live".
Officiant: We are gathered today to join these two people in the loving bonds of
marriage. In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of
the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the
other as our most precious gift.

Addressing the couple - Do you each enter this marriage of your own free will,
free of any reason why you should not be joined? Couple answers
Addressing the Partner 1: Do you take [Name] to be your lawfully wedded
spouse/partner/husband/wife? Do you swear in the presence of those gathered
here you will love, honor, cherish and comfort him/her, in good times and bad,
forevermore? Partner 1 answers

Addressing the Partner 2: Do you take [Name] to be your lawfully wedded

spouse/partner/husband/wife? Do you swear in the presence of those gathered
here you will love, honor, cherish and comfort him/her, in good times and bad,
forevermore? Partner 2 answers

If they have rings…

Minister : The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without

beginning or end. And today (bride's and groom's names) exchange these rings as
confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to create a life
that is complete and unbroken and to love each other unconditionally. May these
rings which you give to each other as the symbol of your love and fidelity.

(To the groom), take this ring and place it on your bride's finger, and state your
pledge to her, repeating after me:

"With this ring I thee wed.

I offer you my hand, and my heart as I know they will be safe with you.
All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

(To the bride), take this ring and place it on your groom's finger, and state your
pledge to him, repeating after me:

"With this ring I thee wed.

I offer you my hand, and my heart as I know they will be safe with you.
All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

Closing
May you always share with each other the gifts your love brings, be one in heart.
May you always create a home together to share your love, generosity, and
kindness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you [husband and wife). You may
seal the promises you have made to each other this day with a kiss.
Sample #2

The ceremony of marriage in which you come to be united is one of the first and
oldest ceremonies in the world. Marriage is the clasping of hands, the blending
of two hearts and the union of two lives into one. Your marriage must stand, not
by the authority of the State, nor by the seal on your wedding certificate but by
the strength and power of the faith and love you have for one another. 

"I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I,
(groom's name), may not be joined in matrimony/marriage to, (bride's name)." 

Sample #1

We are gathered here today because this couple has decided to be joined in
marriage. The essence of marriage lies in committing oneself to the other person
entirely as a friend, confidant, companion, and lover. This decision should never
be made lightly, but should be considered with utmost care, respect, and loyalty.

(bride's name) and (groom's name) are taking a step together and celebrating
their love with the sanctity of marriage. And that is why, we are here to share
their love with one another and give our blessings and wishes to them for a
beautiful and happy marriage.

(bride's name) and (groom's name), today you have come here with an intention
to marry one another and join hands forever in a lifetime commitment.

If you have any personal wedding vows written, you can do so here or else,
repeat what the officiant will ask you to say.

Officiant to the Groom: Please, repeat after me ...

"I, (groom's name), take you, (bride's name), to be my lawfully wedded wife. I
promise from this day forward to be your faithful husband, for better or worse,
for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as I
shall live".

Officiant to the Bride: Please, repeat after me ...

 "I, (bride's name), take you, (groom's name), to be my lawfully wedded
husband. I promise from this day forward to be your faithful wife, for better or
worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as
long as I shall live".

Officiant: We are gathered today to join these two people in the loving
bonds of marriage. In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously
into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the
love and trust of the other as our most precious gift.

Addressing the couple - Do you each enter this marriage of your own free
will, free of any reason why you should not be joined? Couple answers

Addressing the Partner 1: Do you take [Name] to be your lawfully wedded

spouse/partner/husband/wife? Do you swear in the presence of those
gathered here you will love, honor, cherish and comfort him/her, in good
times and bad, forevermore? Partner 1 answers

Addressing the Partner 2: Do you take [Name] to be your lawfully wedded

spouse/partner/husband/wife? Do you swear in the presence of those
gathered here you will love, honor, cherish and comfort him/her, in good
times and bad, forevermore? Partner 2 answers

If they have rings…

Minister : The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without

beginning or end. And today (bride's and groom's names) exchange these
rings as confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to
create a life that is complete and unbroken and to love each other
unconditionally. May these rings which you give to each other as the
symbol of your love and fidelity.

(To the groom), take this ring and place it on your bride's finger, and state
your pledge to her, repeating after me:

"With this ring I thee wed.

I offer you my hand, and my heart as I know they will be safe with you.
All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

(To the bride), take this ring and place it on your groom's finger, and state
your pledge to him, repeating after me:
"With this ring I thee wed.
I offer you my hand, and my heart as I know they will be safe with you.
All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

Closing
May you always share with each other the gifts your love brings, be one in
heart. May you always create a home together to share your love,
generosity, and kindness.

By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you [husband and wife). You
may seal the promises you have made to each other this day with a kiss.

**********Religious Ceremony Script

Welcome

Minister : Dear family and friends, on behalf of (bride's and groom's names)
I welcome you all for this marriage ceremony. We are here today to
encourage, celebrate and support the covenant these two people (bride's
and groom's names) are going to make and to share in the joy that (bride's
and groom's names) experience as they pledge their love and commitment
to each other.

Intentions

Minister : (To the groom), the woman who stands by your side is going to
be your wife. She will look to you for comfort, for support, for love, for
understanding, for encouragement, and for protection. You must never take
her for granted, and always stand by her for good or ill.

Groom : Today in presence of God, family and friends, I pledge to join my

life with yours. I promise to provide, protect, respect and support you
through all that life has to offer. I promise to stand by you through both in
good and in bad times, in happiness and sorrow, come riches or poverty.
You are God's beautiful gift to me and I will cherish you all my life!  

Minister : (To the bride), the man who stands by your side is going to be
your husband. He will look to you for comfort, support, love, understanding
and encouragement. You must never take him for granted and always
stand by him for good or ill.

Bride : Today in presence of God, family and friends, I pledge to join my life
with yours. I promise to submit, respect, support and encourage you
through all that life has to offer. I promise to stand by you through both in
good and in bad times, in happiness and sorrow, come riches or poverty.
You are God's beautiful gift to me and I will cherish you all my life!  

Minister : In the Bible, Paul wrote beautifully about the power of love in his
1st book of letters to the Corinthians, Chapter 13. 

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a
noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and
understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I
have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain
nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not
arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or
resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears
all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will
cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect
and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect
will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish
ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know
in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.
So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 

Minister : (To the groom) Genesis 2: 22 says, "the LORD God made a
woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the
man." The woman who stands by your side is going to be your wife. She
will look to you for unconditional love, support and comfort. You must
always hold her very close to your heart. 

Groom : You are the one God has specially handpicked to be my beloved
wife. I promise to nourish you mentally and physically. According to God's
instructions, I pledge to leave my father and mother and cleave with you in
every aspect of life. After the Lord, you will have the first place in my heart,
till I breathe my last. 

Minister : (To the bride), In Genesis 2:18, The LORD God said, "It is not
good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." The
man who stands by your side is going to be your husband. He will look to
you for unconditional love, support and comfort. You must be a true
helpmate to him at all times, helping him with every burden of life. 

Bride : You are the one God has specially handpicked to be my beloved
husband. I promise to nourish you mentally and physically. According to
God's instructions I pledge to leave my father and mother and cleave with
you in every aspect of life. I will not only stand by you through every
situation in life, but will also help you with every burden you face. After the
Lord, you will have the first place in my heart, till I breathe my last. 

Marriage Vows
Minister : (To the groom) Since it is your intention to marry, join your right
hands and declare your consent. Do you take (bride's name) to be your
lawful wedded wife to have and behold from this day on, for better or for
worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you
both shall live?

Groom : I Do.

Minister : (To the bride) Do you take (groom's name) to be your lawful
wedded husband, to have and behold from this day on, for better or for
worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you
both shall live?

Bride : I Do.

Exchange of Rings

Minister : The wedding ring symbolizes unity, a circle unbroken, without

beginning or end. And today (bride's and groom's names) exchange these
rings as confirmation of their vows to join their lives, to work at all times to
create a life that is complete and unbroken and to love each other
unconditionally. May the Lord bless these rings which you give to each
other as the symbol of your love and fidelity. 

(To the groom), take this ring and place it on your bride's finger, and state
your pledge to her, repeating after me:

"With this ring I thee wed.

I offer you my hand, and my heart as I know they will be safe with you.
All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

(To the bride), take this ring and place it on your groom's finger, and state
your pledge to him, repeating after me:

"With this ring I thee wed.

I offer you my hand, and my heart as I know they will be safe with you.
All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you."

Closing

Minister : (bride's and groom's names) you have given and pledged your
promises to each other, and have declared your everlasting love by
exchanging the rings. Your vows may have been spoken in minutes, but
your promises to each other will last until your last breath. As they have
pledged themselves to meet sorrow and happiness as one family before
God and this community of friends, I now pronounce them husband and
wife. You may kiss your bride.
Minister : Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. (Last
Name).

Non-Religious Ceremony Script

Welcome

Justice of the Peace : Ladies and gentlemen, today we have gathered

together to celebrate the marriage of (bride and groom's name). Marriage is
the promise between two people who love each other, who trust each
other, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who
wish to spend rest of their lives with each other. It enables the two separate
souls to share their desires, longings, dreams, joys and sorrows, and to
help each other through all uncertainties of life.

Justice of the Peace : "Marriage has certain qualities of contract, in which

two people take on the housekeeping tasks of living together, to enhance
life's joy.

However, marriage is more than a contract. Marriage is commitment to

take that joy deep, deeper than happiness, deep into the discovery of who
you most truly are. It is a commitment to a spiritual journey, to a life of
becoming - in which joy can comprehend despair, running through rivers of
pain into joy again.

And thus marriage is even deeper than commitment. It is a covenant - a

covenant that says:
I love you. I trust you. I will be here for you when you are hurting, and when
I am hurting, I will not leave.

It is a covenant intended not to provide haven from pain or from anger and
sorrow. Life offers no such haven. Instead, marriage is intended to provide
a sanctuary safe enough to risk loving, to risk living and sharing from the
center of oneself. This is worth everything." ~ Margaret A. Keip

Intentions

Justice of the Peace : (Groom's name), will you take (Bride's name), to be
your lawful wedded wife? Will you love, comfort, honor and protect her;
forsaking all others to be faithful to her until death do you apart?

Groom : I Do.

Justice of the Peace : (Bride's name), will you take (groom's name), to be
your lawful wedded husband? Will you love, comfort, honor and protect
him; forsaking all others to be faithful to him until death do you apart?

Bride : I Do.

Marriage Vows

Justice of the Peace : (To the bride and groom), repeat after me:
I, (bride name)/(groom name) take you (bride name)/(groom name) to be
my (husband/wife), and my better half. I will take care and cherish our
relationship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will always be
open, honest, and faithful to you. I take you for my (husband/wife), to have
and to hold from this day on, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for all the days of my life and
until my last breath.

Exchange of Rings

Justice of the Peace : (To the bride and groom), repeat after me:
This ring, which has no beginning and no end, symbolizes the love and
trust between us that will never cease. May its presence on your hand
remind you of my love and vow. I place it on your finger as a visible sign of
the promises which have made us husband and wife.

Justice of the Peace : Until now (bride's name) and (groom's name) have
spent each moment of their lives as separate individuals. But from this day
on, and every day after this day shall be shared and spent as one. By the
power enthroned in me, by the state of (___), I now pronounce you
husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.

Justice of the Peace : Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs.
(Last Name).