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 [Name] 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 [Name] 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…

A ring is a circle, so shall your love for each other be, a circle with no beginning and no end,
complete forever.

Addressing the Partner 1: Place the ring on [Name]'s left ring finger and repeat after me - With this
ring, I thee wed.

Addressing the Partner 2: Place the ring on [Name]'s left ring finger and repeat after me - With this
ring, I thee wed.

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.

I now pronounce you [husband and wife/ married/life partners/legally married/etc]. You may seal
the promises you have made to each other this day with a kiss.

Address
A wedding is such a wonderful occasion filled with hopes, dreams and excitement. We are
here today to celebrate the love that Alex and Casey have for each other, and to recognize and
witness their decision to journey forward in their lives as marriage partners.

May your love create a safe haven for you both on the journey that lies ahead of you. Lead
with your hearts and take the time to do the simple things that will nurture your love.

Deeply listen to each other—to your dreams, and to your frustrations. Be helpmates. Be
playful in finding new ways to give your love anew to each other every day.
Let your love be an inspiration to others to reach for what is good within us all. May your
love be so abundant that you have plenty to share with the rest of us as well.

It is your love that has brought us together here today. May it grow deeper and sweeter with
each passing year.

Vows and Expression of Intent

Do you, Casey take, Alex to be your partner for life. Do you promise to walk by her side
forever, and to love, help, and encourage her in all she does? Do you promise to take time to
talk with her, to listen to her, and to care for her? Will you share her laughter, and her tears,
as her partner, lover, and best friend? Do you take her as your lawfully wedded wife for now
and forevermore?

Do you, Alex take, Casey to be your partner for life. Do you promise to walk by her side
forever, and to love, help, and encourage her in all she does? Do you promise to take time to
talk with her, to listen to her, and to care for her? Will you share her laughter, and her tears,
as her partner, lover and best friend? Do you take her as your lawfully wedded wife for now
and forevermore?

Ceremony of the Rings

And now, seal your promises with these rings, the symbol of your life shared together.

Casey, please repeat after me:

Alex, this ring I give as token and pledge,

as a sign of my love and devotion.
With this ring, I thee wed.

Alex, please repeat after me:

Casey, this ring I give as token and pledge,

as a sign of my love and devotion.
With this ring, I thee wed.

Pronouncement & Kiss

Casey and Alex, by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss!

1. A Sweet, Secular Ceremony Script

From The Knot

INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME:

Good evening everyone!

From this place (here the minister or officiant should describe something about your chosen
ceremony venue/location, about the significance or beauty of the location), we take ourselves
out of the usual routines of daily living to witness a unique moment in the lives of
______ and ______. Today they join their lives in the union of marriage.

To all their guests, they are happy to share this moment with you. They have known most of
you for many years. You watched them grow up, you went to school with them, or you
worked with them. Because you are the ones who have supported them and known them so
well, it is only fitting that you are the ones to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment with them.

______ and _____ are pleased to have their parents in the front row…close to them for
the ceremony.

______ thanks her mother for providing her with every opportunity possible and being the
best mother anyone could ask for.

______ appreciates all the love and support his parents gave him over the years.

A wedding day is often a day when couples miss family members no longer with them.
For ______ and ______, there are family members whose memories they hold dear.

(Here you can insert references to loved ones that have passed away. Or you can mention
loved ones that couldn’t be present for other reasons.)

And so it is that _____ and _____ present themselves to be married today…surrounded by

the people they love the most.

Officiant:

As _____ and _____ prepared for the ceremony part of this wedding celebration, they
reflected on what it is that they love about each other. And this was was the easiest part of
planning this wedding!

To the Groom:

______ (Groom’s name), ______ (Bride’s name) loves that you blend in so comfortably with
her family. She sees in you a funny, kind, and sweet man. She loves that you think she is
funny and that you always find a way to compliment her.

She loves that you always want to be close to her. You remember details of the stories she
tells. You want to be part of her family and circle of friends. You help her around the house.
Most importantly, you are so close that even when she is at her worst, you have never made
her feel like you want anything but to be closer to her.

______ (Bride’s name), _____(Groom’s name) loves that you ______________________(fill

in the blank). He loves your brain, your smile, and your beauty. He appreciates that you are
“low maintenance.” He likes that you can be really silly. He loves your emails and texts. He
loves your cooking. He loves your kisses. He just really loves you!
You both look to a shared future that includes raising a happy & healthy family. That future
also includes a richly lived life together…going out to restaurants, hanging out with family,
relaxing at home in front of the TV, singing and dancing…Bride will do the singing,
and Groom will do the dancing.

The years will come and go…you won’t take each other for granted, you will laugh a lot,
you will be the best parents you can be, you will grow older and wiser together. It’s a good
story,and the ending is not in sight!

(Optional Reading)

MARRIAGE VOWS:

Officiant:

We come now to the words ____ and _____ want to hear the most today…the words that
take them across the threshold from being engaged to being married.

A marriage, as most of us understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in

the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope
that it will last for life.

Before you declare your vows to one another, I want to hear you confirm that it is indeed
your intention to be married today.

____, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to _____ in marriage?
If so, answer “I do.”

Groom:

I do.

Officiant:

_____, do you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to _____ in

marriage? If so, answer “I do.”

Bride:

I do.

Officiant:

_____ and _____, having heard that it is your intention to be married to each other, I now
ask you to declare your marriage vows.

Please face each other and hold hands.

Officiant:
Groom, please repeat after me…

I, _____ take you, _____ to be my wife.

I will share my life with yours,

and build our dreams together,

Support you through times of trouble,

and rejoice with you in times of happiness.

I promise to give you

respect, love and loyalty.

This commitment is made in love,

kept in faith,

lived in hope,

and made new every day of our lives.

Officiant:

Bride, please repeat after me…

I, _____, take you, _____, to be my husband.

I will share my life with yours,

Build our dreams together,

Support you through times of trouble,

and rejoice with you in times of happiness.

I promise to give you

respect, love and loyalty.

This commitment is made in love,

kept in faith,

lived in hope,

and made new every day of our lives.

EXCHANGE WEDDING RINGS

Officiant:

Your wedding ring are the outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible bond
which already unites you two hearts in love.

Groom, place the ring on Bride’s finger and repeat after me….

I give you this ring.

Wear it with love and joy.

As this ring has no end,

My love is also forever.

Bride, place the ring on Groom’s finger and repeat after me….

I give you this ring.

Wear it with love and joy.

As this ring has no end,

My love is also forever.

May the wedding rings you exchanged today remind you always that you are surrounded
by enduring love.

Officiant:

Everyone has advice for newlyweds. _____ and ______, I offer these good wishes to you on
this special day.

May your life together be blessed with prosperity and good health. May you always share
open and honest communication between each other. May you respect each other’s
individual talents and gifts and give full support to each other’s professional and personal
pursuits.

May you cherish the home and family you will create together. May all the years to come be
filled with moments to celebrate and renew your love. May your love be a life-long source of
excitement, contentment, affection, respect, and devotion for one another.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

Officiant:

And so now by the power vested in me by __________________, it is my honor and delight

to declare
you husband and wife. You may seal this declaration with a kiss.

Officiant:

I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. ______________!

2. Mildly Religious Ceremony

Ceremony found on Erin’s Blog.

We are gathered together on this day to witness and celebrate the marriage of __________ &
_________. We come together not to mark the start of a relationship, but to acknowledge and
strengthen a bond that already exists. This ceremony is a public affirmation of that bond and
as their dearest family and friends, it is our honor and privilege to stand witness to this event.

This day is made possible not only because of your love for each other, but through the grace
and support of your family and friends. It is our hope that your fulfillment and joy in each
other will increase with each passing year.

Marriage is a commitment in life, where two people can find and bring out the very best in
each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship
can equal, a physical and emotional joining that has the promise of a lifetime.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Lord, we thank you for gathering everyone here today. We
ask that you help _____ and _____ to remember the strong love that they share. To work that
love into practical things so that nothing can divide them. May their love always inspire them
to be kind in their words, considerate of the other’s feelings, and concerned for the other’s
needs and wishes. Increase their faith and trust in You. Bless their marriage with peace and
happiness and make their Love fruitful for Your glory and their joy, both here and in eternity.
Amen.

While the commitment begins with the two of you, its effect radiates outward. It touches your
family and friends and ultimately all of society. When this commitment is seriously made and
continuously fulfilled, it leads to the richest and most rewarding of human relationships.

Your relationship will take more than love. It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you
want only the best for each other. Dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow,
even when it is difficult to do so. And faith, to go forward together without knowing what the
future holds for you both.

While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They
are not a destination, but a journey. Marriage is a give and take between two personalities, a
mingling of two endowments which diminishes neither, but enhances both.

CHARGE TO THE COUPLE

Seeing that no moment is without meaning, we ask that you take this marriage as a beginning
of your lives together. Today signifies the creation of a new home and a new family for you
both. May you be fulfilled by each other’s love and friendship. May you be overjoyed by the
promises you are about to make and the life together you will create.

Remember that in every marriage, there are good times and bad, times of joy and times of
sorrow. Marriage is a journey – a time of adventure and excitement enhanced by the love,
trust, dedication and faith you share in one another.

May the promises you make to one another today, be lived out to the end of your lives.
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys, but today is the day it all begins.

_____ and _____, do you, with your family and friends as your witnesses, present yourselves
willingly and of your own accord to be joined in marriage?

[We do]

Will you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows of life, come what may, and
to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together?

[We will]

VOWS

Groom, please repeat after me.

I, ____, take you ____, to be my wedded wife

I give to you in the presence of these witnesses

My promise to stay by your side,

In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow,

As well as through the good times and the bad.

I promise to love you without reservation,

Comfort you in times of distress

Encourage you to achieve all of your goals,

Laugh with you and cry with you,

Grow with you in mind and spirit

Always be open and honest with you,

And cherish you for as long as we both shall live

Bride, please repeat after me

I, _____, take you _____, to be my wedded husband

I give to you in the presence of these witnesses

My promise to stay by your side,

In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow,

As well as through the good times and the bad.

I promise to love you without reservation,

Comfort you in times of distress

Encourage you to achieve all of your goals,

Laugh with you and cry with you,

Grow with you in mind and spirit

Always be open and honest with you,

And cherish you for as long as we both shall live

EXCHANGING OF THE RINGS

Having this love in your hearts, you have chosen to seal your vows by exchanging rings.

From the earliest times, the circle has been a sign of completeness. The rings that you have
chosen to wear have neither beginning nor end, much like your love for one another. They are
a symbol of the words that you speak today. May these rings be from this day forward, your
most treasured adornment, and may the love they symbolize, be your most precious
possession. As you wear these rings, may they be constant reminders of these glad promises
you are making today.

_____, take this ring, place it on _____’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a symbol

of my love and faithfulness to you.

_____, take this ring, place it on _____’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a symbol

of my love and faithfulness to you.

_____ and _____ from this moment forward you will never be alone. You will carry with you
the love of another person, giving you a completeness and renewed lightness. May your life
together be immersed in love and excitement. May you strive to enrich each other in every
possible way. And may you work to bring the peace you find to this world.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

Having pledged their fidelity to one another, to love, honor and cherish one another in the
presence of this gathering and by the authority vested in me by the constitution and the laws
of this state, it is my honor to now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to be the first to introduce you to: Mr. and Mrs.
_____________.

BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER NOW

3. Super Simple (and Short) Civil Ceremony

I found this one on Snippet and Ink.

WELCOME REMARKS:

Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We are gathered here today, surrounded by the
beauty of creation and nurtured by the sights and sounds of nature to celebrate the wedding of
_____ and _____.

You have come here from near and from far away to share in this commitment now they
make to one another, to offer your love and support to their union, and to allow ______ and
______ to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most
important to them.

_____ and _____ thank you for your presence here today. They ask for your
blessing, encouragement and lifelong support, for their marriage and life shared together.
They also remember other loved ones who cannot be here to share this moment.

_____ and ____, marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, who trust
that love, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who wish to
spend the rest of their lives together. It enables the two separate souls to share their
desires, longings, dreams, and memories, their joys and sorrows, and to help each other
through all uncertainties of life.

A strong marriage also nurtures each of you as separate individuals andallows you to
maintain your unique identity and grow in your own way through the years ahead. It is a safe
haven for each of you to become your best self.

You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the
companionship and blessing of a deep trust. You are agreeing to share strength,
responsibilities and love. It takes more than love to make this relationship work.
It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes
dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so.
And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both.

DECLARATION OF INTENT AND SHARING OF VOWS

_________ and _________, please join hands, look at one another now and remember this
moment in

time.

Officiant: Groom, do you take Bride to be your wife? I do.

Officiant: Bride, do you take Groom to be your husband? I do.

Officiant: _____, please take _____’s hand and repeat after me.

________, I take you as you are/ loving who you are / I promise from this day forward/ To be
grateful for our love and our life/ To be generous with my time, my energy and my affection/
To be patient with you and with myself/ To fill our life with adventure and our home with
laughter/ To inspire you to grow as an individual / To love you completely/ These things I
pledge to you

Officiant: _____, please take _____’s hand and repeat after me.

_____, I take you as you are,/ loving who you are/ I promise from this day forward/ To be
grateful for our love and our life/ To be generous with my time, my energy and my affection/
To be patient with you and with myself/ To fill our life with adventure and our home with
laughter/ To encourage you to grow as an individual / To love you completely/ These things I
pledge to you

GIVING OF RINGS

Officiant: Please present the rings

Your wedding ring is a symbol of your promise to one another. The ring, an unbroken, never
ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love.

_____, as you place this ring on Bride‘s finger, repeat these words after me:

This ring symbolizes my love for you/ and the commitments we made today

_____, as you place this ring on Groom‘s finger, repeat these words after me:

This ring symbolizes my love for you/ and the commitments we made today

CONCLUSION & PRONOUNCEMENT

______ and _____, you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of
family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given
and received a ring as a symbol of your promises. By the power of your love and
commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and
wife.

You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.

Congratulations. Friends and family, I now present to you the newly married couple. Let’s
hear it for ‘em!

4. A Traditional Religious Ceremony

Found on A Paper Proposal

OPENING PRAYER

We are gathered here in the presence of God, family and friends to unite _____ and _____ in
holy matrimony. Marriage is an honorable estate, and is therefore not to be entered into
lightly, but reverently, advisedly, soberly and with God’s blessing. Today, they will receive
God’s greatest gift; another person to share with, grow with, change with, be joyful with and
to stand with as one when trials and tribulations enter their lives. It is fitting, therefore, that
we should on this occasion begin by asking for God’s blessing on this marriage. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we gather to celebrate your gift of love, and its presence among us. We
rejoice that these two people have chosen to commit themselves to a life of loving
faithfulness to one another. We praise you, Lord, for the ways you have touched our lives
with loving relationships such as _____ and _____’s, and we give thanks for the special love
and friendship you have put in their hearts. Renew within us an affectionate and loving spirit.
Enrich our lives with the gracious gift of your love so that we may embrace others with that
same love. May our participation in this celebration of love and commitment, give to us a
new joy and responsiveness to the relationships that we cherish. In your loving arms we pray,
Amen.

You may all be seated.

DEFINITION OF COMMITMENT

Marriage is a joyous occasion. It is connected in our thoughts with the charm of love, the
warmth of home, and with all that is pleasant, as being one of the most important events of
our lives. Its sacredness and unity is the most significant and binding covenant known in
human relations.

______ and _____, let me charge you both to remember that your future happiness is to be in
mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence and affection. It is the duty of each of
you to find your greatest joy in the company of the other; to remember that your love pledged
today must remain undivided for a lifetime.

It is your duty, _____, to be to _____, a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving husband: to
support, guide and cherish her in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge
the place she holds in your life; to constantly show to her the tokens of your affection, to
shelter her from danger, and to love her with an unchangeable love.
It is your duty, _____, to be to _____, a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving wife; to
comfort, guide and cherish him in prosperity and trouble; to give to him the unfailing
evidences of your affection; to continue making the place he holds in your heart, broader and
deeper; to support him, value him and work with him to make your marriage the very best
that it can be.

I call your attention to the seriousness of the decision which you have made and the covenant
you are about to declare before God. The vows you are about to take are not to be taken
without careful thought, for in them you are committing yourselves exclusively to one
another for as long as you both shall live.

WEDDING VOWS

If you are ready to assume the obligations and duties before God, as I have defined them, you
will unite your hands and pledge your love and your lives to each other.

Groom, repeat after me.

I ____, take you, _____, to be my lawfully wedded wife, 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, for as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.

Now Bride, please repeat after me.

I _____, take you, _____, to be my husband, 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, for as
long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

You will now exchange rings as a symbol of the lifelong commitment and abiding love which
you as husband and wife have promised to each other.

Groom, please place the ring on _____’s finger, and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

And Bride, please place the ring on _____’s finger and repeat after me.

I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.

(Great Place for a Reading)

CLOSING PRAYER

Eternal God, help _____ and _____ to fulfill the promises they have made here today and to
reflect your steadfast love in their commitment to each other. Give them kindness and
patience, affection and understanding, happiness and contentment. May their family and
friends continue to support them in difficult days, so that their love for each other may
continue to grow as long as they both shall live.
Let us all pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

And the power, and the glory,

Forever and ever.

Amen.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

_____ and _____, having witnessed your vows for marriage before God and all who are
assembled here, by the authority invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You
may now kiss the bride!

It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time…

5. A Civil Ceremony – Short and Powerful

Found at Wedding Bee

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Welcome! Good afternoon, family and friends. We have come here today to celebrate the
wedding of ______ and ______. On behalf of the bride and groom, thank you for joining
us. By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each
other, and you support their decision to commit themselves to a lifelong relationship.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. By
making this commitment today, ______ and ______’s relationship will become stronger,
better, and deeper.

Today, _____ and _____ demonstrate their devotion to each other by dedicating themselves
to a life together and they show their respect for each other. By setting forth to honor the
vows they have created today, their lives, which began on separate paths, will be joined as
one.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FAMILY & FRIENDS

Today represents not only the joining of ______ and ______ but also the joining of their
families and friends.

_______ and ______ would like to recognize their parents on this occasion. They offer their
profound gratitude for all the love and care their parents showed in raising them. The
unconditional gifts of love and support that you have continually offered have inspired them
to become who they are today. Without you, this day would not be possible.

_____ have also asked that we take a moment to honor those loved ones who are not with us
today

[Names of those acknowledged here]

MARRIAGE ADDRESS

Deep abiding affection, the magical and compelling shared impulse that makes us seek each
others’ company, is among the greatest gifts of the human experience.

Any of us who has been fortunate enough to find and express the kind of loving devotion that
we are celebrating here today knows that it is an awesome and beautiful thing.

At this time, I would like to share 3 suggestions with the both of you:

My first suggestion is this:

Be constantly grateful for this precious person who has chosen to make a life with you.

My second suggestion is this:

Be generous with compliments. Be attentive and helpful. The world can be a tough place

and any of us can be subject to rough handling. Each of you can, by your tenderness toward
each other,

kind words and thoughtful actions, make your marriage and your home an uplifting refuge.

Last, but perhaps most importantly:

Make truth the unfailing bedrock of your lives together. A happy, loving marriage is built on
trust and respect. That trust and respect can only be sustained if you are both deeply
committed to always being open and truthful in every exchange no matter how small.

My hope for you is this:

That you have many long years to delight in each other’s company, to feel gratitude for your
great fortune in having found each other.

To a make home together that is at once sheltering and welcoming, to each do meaningful,
productive work at home and in the world and to love and be loved by the friends and family
who have come here today to support you

MARRIAGE STATEMENT OF INTENT/CONSENT

_______ and ______, do you, present yourselves willingly and of your own accord to be
joined in marriage?

We do.

Will you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows of life, come what may, and
to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together?

We do.

Then please turn to each other and share your vows.

VOWS

Today I promise you/that though the world may change/

and though we may change with it/

I will always love you/always treasure you/and will share all that I am with you/

I am proud, from this day forward/to be called your wife/husband

RING EXCHANGE

For thousands of years, men and women have exchanged rings as a token of their vows.

Let these rings be a sign that your love has a past, a present, and a future.

______, take _____’s ring and place it on her finger and repeat after me:

I give you this ring/as a sign that I choose you/

To be my wife/my partner/and my best friend/to the end of my days.

The love already shared by your hearts has been strengthened by the vows you have taken
and the rings you have now exchanged.

PRONOUNCEMENT

______ and ______, we have heard your promise to share your lives in marriage. In the
honesty and sincerity of what you have said and done here today, and in accordance with the
laws of the state of __________it is my honor and delight to declare you henceforth to be
husband and wife.

You may seal your vows with a kiss.

6. A Christian Wedding Ceremony – Scriptural

From a Wedding Ceremony to Remember

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

We welcome all of you here today as we have gathered together in the presence of God and
these witnesses to join _____ and ______ in holy matrimony.

Marriage is a gift from God, given to us so that we might experience the joys of
unconditional love with a lifelong partner. God designed marriage to be an intimate
relationship between a man and a woman.

______ and ______, because your deep love for each other comes from God above, this is a
sacred moment, and it is with great reverence that I now ask you to declare your intent.

CONSENT

______, do you take _____ to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in
the holy estate of matrimony? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her,
in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, remain faithful to her as long as you both
shall live?

I do.

And ______, do you take _____ to be your wedded husband, to live together after God’s
ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?

Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and
forsaking all others, remain faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

I do.

Who gives _____ to be married to ______?

(The Escort shall say): Her Mother and I or I do or We do or Her family or other.
Today is the beginning of a new life together for you. It marks the commencement of new
relationships to your families, your friends, and certainly to each other. You have invited
these special guests to share in one of life’s greatest moments as they give recognition to the
worth and beauty of your love and add their best wishes to the words that shall unite you
today as husband and wife.

God knew your needs when He brought you together. He knew exactly what you needed to
make you complete. And now, He wants you to commit yourselves to each other as the one
He has chosen to complete you.

Through the ages, man has tried to define “love.” Poems, songs, and books all have been
written trying to describe this little four letter word. But the best description I have found
comes from God Himself, since He is the Author of love. In His Word in First Corinthians,
Chapter 13. It describes the kind of love that must characterize your lives if you are to live in
joy and harmony and honor with each other, and also before God and your fellow man.

Listen to what it says:

CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13 INSERTED HERE

______, I believe you are saying to all of us today that you are committing yourself to
this woman only, moving toward her in a more open and intimate way, giving yourself to
care for her, and promising to love her as she needs to be loved.

And ______, I believe you are saying to us that you are committing yourself to this man only,
moving toward him with increasing openness, tenderness, and respect, giving yourself to him,
and trusting him as the head of your home, and, through him, listening to God’s plan for your
life together.

And so, (Groom) , if you will love (Bride) as Christ loves the church, and

(Bride), if you will respond to (Groom) as unto the Lord,

your companionship as husband and wife will blossom into a physical, emotional, and
spiritual closeness beyond which nothing can compare.

WEDDING VOWS

I, ______, take thee, ______, / to be my wedded wife, / 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, / till death do us part. / This is my solemn vow.

I, ______, take thee, _____, / to be my wedded husband, / 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, / till death do us part. / This is my solemn vow.

EXCHANGE OF THE RINGS

The wedding ring serves as a symbol of the promises you have just spoken. It is the outward
and visible sign of an inward and invisible love that binds your two hearts together. The
wedding ring also is a symbol of what God is. He is without beginning and without end—He
is eternal.

As you can see, the ring is without beginning and without end. So I believe this exchange of
rings not only reminds us of the unending love you have for each other, but also reflects the
eternal love God has for each of you.

May I have the token of Groom’s love for ______?

This ring I give in token and pledge / as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I
thee wed.

May I have the token of Bride’s love for ______?

This ring I give in token and pledge / as a sign of my love and devotion. / With this ring, I
thee wed.

WEDDING PRAYER/BLESSING

Our Heavenly Father, we ask Your blessing upon these two lives and the home they are
establishing today. May the love they have for each other grow deeper and stronger because
of their love for You.

Lord, You guided them to each other, now guide them in this new journey as husband and
wife. As they walk down this path, light their way so they may keep their eyes focused on
Your will, their hands holding fast to Your truth, their feet firmly planted in Your Word, and
their hearts bound together by Your love. This we pray in Your name. Amen.

PRONOUNCEMENT

_____ and _____, since you have consented together in holy matrimony, and have pledged
yourselves to each other by your solemn vows and by the giving of rings, and have declared
your commitment of love before God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and
wife in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God hath joined
together, let no man separate.

_____, you may kiss your Bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, Mr. and
Mrs. __________.

7. Playful Civil Ceremony

Brought to you by Miss Fancy Pants

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Welcome! _____ and _____ have brought us together here for an occasion of great joy and a
cause for great celebration. Having found each other, they have built the kind of relationship
that will serve them well as the foundation for their marriage. They have chosen each one of
you to be here with them to witness their wedding vows as they join together as husband and
wife.

Marriage is a bold step into an unknown future. It is risking who we are for the sake of who
we can be. In marriage, two lives are intimately shared; and the blending of the two must not
diminish either one. Rather, it should enhance the individuality of each partner.

Each of us knows that a marriage is not created by a law or a ceremony; rather it occurs in the
hearts of two human beings. It grows out of loving, caring, and sharing ourselves with
another. This ceremony is not magic, it will not create a relationship that does not already
exist and has not already been celebrated in all the commitments _____ and _____ have made
to each other, both large and small, in the days since they first met and recognized their
connection to one another.

So, in witnessing this ceremony today, we are observing only an outward sign of an inward
union that already exists between _____ and _____. This ceremony is a symbol of how far
they have come together and a symbol of the promise that they will make to each other to
continue to live their lives together and to love each other solely and above all others.

There are only two official witnesses at a wedding but each and every person here today will
witness the words that they will speak to one another and the vows that they will make. You
should take good care to remember these words; for a marriage needs the help of a
community, of friends and family who will be there when needed and will do all that they can
during hard times to stand by _____ and _____ and offer their support to them and the new
family that they create today. May you always do all within your power to support the union
that will be made here today and to nurture the bond between these two people whom you
love.

If the old fairy-tale ending “and they lived happily ever after….” is taken to mean “They felt
for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were married,” then it says
what probably never was nor ever would be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were.
Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? What would become of your
work, your appetite, your sleep, and your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be “in love”
need not mean ceasing to love.

Love in this second sense-love as distinct from “being in love” and it is not merely a feeling.
Love is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit;
reinforced by the grace which both partners receive from God. They can have this love for
each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even
when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each could easily allow
themselves to be “in love” with someone else. “Being in love” first moved them to promise
fidelity but this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the
engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.

DECLARATION OF INTENT
A successful marriage is not something that just happens. It takes work, it takes patience, and
it takes time. It takes a commitment from both of you… a commitment to do whatever it
takes to make your relationship thrive and not just simply survive.

_____, will you take _____to be your lawfully wedded wife and travel the rest of life’s road
with her? Will you love her, laugh with her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and forsaking
all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

I do.

_____, will you take _____ to be your lawfully wedded Husband and travel the rest of life’s
road with him? Will you love him, laugh with him, comfort him, honor and protect him, and
forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

I do.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS

_____ and _____, the symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one
another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it
all, every word.” Before this moment you have been many things to one another-
acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, and even teacher, for you have learned much from
one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words and things will never
quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this – is my
husband, this – is my wife.

I, _____, choose you, _____

In the presence of our friends and families,
To be my wife/husband and partner
From this day forward;
To love you,
To be a comfort and safe haven in your life,
To hold you close,
To listen deeply when you speak,
To uphold you with my strength,
To weigh the effects of the words I speak
And the things I do,
To never take you for granted,
And to always give thanks
For your presence in my life.

RING EXCHANGE

This is the point in the ceremony when people talk about the wedding bands being a perfect
circle, having no beginning and no end. But we all know that these rings have a beginning.
Rock is dug up from the earth. Metals are liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees. The
hot metal is forged, cooled, and then painstakingly polished. Something beautiful made from
raw elements.
Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It is the
process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all.

The promises which you have spoken to each other today are inscribed forever in your minds,
in your hearts. But words are fleeting so let these rings serve as a reminder of the feelings you
have in your hearts at this very moment.

Now, Repeat after me:

Groom (and then Bride), with this ring I am giving you my promise/to always love you/
cherish you/honor you and comfort you. I promise that I will love you/and keep my heart
open to you/all the days of my life.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

_____ and _____, no one but you can declare yourselves married. You have begun it here
today in speaking your vows before your family and friends and you will do it again in the
days and years to come, standing by each other, sharing all that is sweet and bitter in life.
Each tender act, each loving word will be the declaration of what was made here today.

Therefore, it is my joyful responsibility to officially acknowledge your union as “Husband

and Wife”. You may now seal your marriage with a kiss.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you for the very first time as husband
and wife, ____________.

These wedding scripts should get you married without spending a ton of tim