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PRONOUNCEMENT (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, as you exchanged vows with one another, we witnessed the miracle of faith. As you gave and received these rings, we witnessed the miracle of hope. As you seal this commitment with a kiss, we will witness the miracle of love. Sharing with you in these three miracles gives me great joy as I now pronounce you husband and wife. KISS (The Officiant shall say): (Groom) _______________, you may kiss your Bride. (Bride and Groom kiss.) (Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor.) PRESENTATION (The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr and Mrs.) ___________________.

PRONOUNCEMENT (Groom)_________ and (Bride)_________, 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. KISS (The Officiant shall say): Groom)________, you may kiss your Bride. (Bride and Groom kiss) (Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor) PRESENTATION (The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentleman, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr. and Mrs.) ______________________________.

PRONOUCEMENT (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, today, before your family and friends, you have openly declared your love for each other. You have joined your hands, spoken your promises, and given these rings, a symbol of your lifelong commitment to each other. An so, I now bestow upon you the most honorable titles that may exist between a man and a woman; I pronounce you husband and wife. KISS (The Officiant shall say): (Groom) _______________, you may kiss your Bride. (Bride and Groom kiss) (Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor.) PRESENTATION (The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr. and Mrs.)_____________________

PRONOUNCEMENT (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, because you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage, and demonstrated this by the exchanging of vows and the giving of rings, I pronounce you husband and wife. KISS (The Officiant shall say): (Groom) _______________, you may kiss your Bride. (Bride and Groom kiss.) (Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor.). PRESENTATION (The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr. and Mrs.)__________________________

PRONOUNCEMENT (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, now that you have shared with each other these words of love and commitment, and we have witnessed the expression of your love as you have given each other these rings, and you have joined your hands and hearts before your family and friends, it is with great joy that I pronounce you husband and wife. KISS (The Officiant shall say): (Groom) _______________, you may kiss your Bride. (Bride and Groom kiss.) (Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor.) PRESENTATION (The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr. and Mrs.) ________________________.

PRONOUNCEMENT (Groom)__________________ and (Bride)__________________, because you have committed yourselves to each other and to these children, and because you have proclaimed your love for each other and for these children by the giving and receiving of rings and these gifts, I now pronounce you husband and wife and family. KISS (The Officiant shall say): (Groom)__________________, you may kiss your Bride. (Bride and Groom kiss). (Bride receives bouquet from Maid of Honor.) PRESENTATION (The Officiant shall say): Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to introduce to you for the very first time, (Mr and Mrs.)_______________ and family. or It is my pleasure to present to you (Groom)______________ and (Bride)________________ in their new relationship as husband and wife, and their son / daughter / children ___________________. or May I present to you the _______________________ family.

May the road rose to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon the fields. May the light of friendship guide your paths together. May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home. May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from your eye. And when eternity beckons at the end of a life heaped high with love, may the good Lord embrace you with arms that have nurtured you the whole length of your joy-filled days. May the gracious God hold you both in the palm of His hands. And, today, may the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts. Amen. (Irish Blessing)

May God bless your [this] marriage with family as you [they] crate a new home together. A family is a circle of strength and love. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. May every joy shared add love to the circle, and may every crisis faced together make the circe even stronger. May your [this] family become like a beautiful rainbow as each color of your [their] lives is carefully blended together with both the showers and the sunshine of God's love. (For marriages that have children involved in the ceremony)

May your marriage be blessed with faith for the future. May your hearts be filled with the happiness of hope. May your lives be enlightened with an everlasting love. May God grant you a new beginning as He opens the door to life's deepest and richest experiences. May the life you build together be a lasting testimony that a second chance is for those who never give up believing in the power of faith, hope, and love. (For second marriages)

Dear Lord, we pray that You will bless this man and this woman as they begin their new journey together. In all the experiences of life, may they always stay close to You and to each other as they share the joys and blessings, as well as the trials and heartaches. Help them to honor and keep the promises made here today. Remind them daily of Your great love for them so they, in turn, may reach out in love to others. Give them such love and devotion that each may be to the other a strength in need, a comfort in sorry, a counselor in difficulty, and a companion in joy. Amen.

May these two rings symbolize the spirit of undying love in each of your hearts. Wherever you go, may you always return to one another in your togetherness. May the home you establish be such a place of peace and joy that many will find there a friend. May your love for each other be as a pebble dropped in a pond of water. Like the ripples in the water that cross and recross one another's, may your love touch and retouch all those around you throughout your life together.

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.

May all that you are, always be in love; may all that is love, always be in you. May your love be as beautiful on each day you share as it is on this day of celebration. And may each day you share be as precious to you as the day when you first fell in love. May you always see and encourage the best in each other. May the challenges life brings your way make your marriage even stronger. And may you always be each other's best friend and greatest love.

God in heaven above, please protect the ones we love. We honour all You created as they pledge their hearts and lives together. We honour mother-earth and ask for their marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons. We honour fire and ask that their union be warm and glowing with love in their hearts, We honour wind and ask that they sail through life safe and calm as in their Father's arms. We honour water to clean and soothe their relationship that it may never thirst for love. With all the forces of the universe You created, we pray for harmony and true happiness as they forever grow young together. Amen. (Cherokee Prayer)

Oh Lord, our hearts are filled with joy on this wedding day, as (Groom) ____________ and (Bride) ____________ come before You pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understand. Rid them of all pretense and jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, best friend, and guide, so together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love, peace, and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray, and walk beside (Groom) ____________ and (Bride) ____________ throughout their lives together. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

May God bless you [May you be blessed] with hope enough to keep sunshine in your love, and Fear enough to keep you holding hands in the dark; May God bless you with Unity enough to keep your roots entwined, and Separation enough to keep you reaching for each other; May God bless you with Harmony enough to keep romance in your song, and Discord enough to keep you tuning your love so it becomes sweet music to all who may hear it.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be a shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place to enter the days of your togetherness. may beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. may happiness be your companion, and may your days together be good and long upon the earth. (Apache Blessing)

Our Father, who are 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 [debts] trespasses as we forgive [our debtors] those who trespass agains us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For this is the kingdom and the p0wer and the glory forever and ever. Amen. (The Lord's Prayer)

The Blending of the Sands is a beautiful and meaningful unifying ceremony from Hawaii that symbolizes the joining together of the Bride and Groom or the blending together of their families. There are two versions offered---one for the couple and one for the family. Glass containers are needed for the Bride, Groom, and each child represented (when children are included.) Each container is filled with a different colored sand, representing each individual's uniqueness. (Optional: the Officiant also may hold a vase filled with sand. He may begin the sand ceremony by pouring a layer of neutral colored sand in to the Unity Sand Vase, which symbolizes the foundation of the marriage.) After the Officiant reads the sand ceremony text, the Bride and Groom (and each child) pour their individual containers of sand into the Unity Sand Vase. They may wish to leave a small amount of sand in each container to symbolize that, although they now are joined as one, they still retain their own individuality. Version 1---The Couple (The Officiant says): (Groom) ____________ and (Bride) _______________, today you are making a commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. Your relationship is symbolized through the pouring together of these two individual containers of sand. (Groom) ____________, through the sands of time you have grown into the person you are today. This container of sand represents all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. (Groom) ____________, through the sands of time you have grown into the person you are today. This container of sand represents all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As you each hold your separate container of sand, it symbolizes your lives prior to this moment; individual and unique. Now as you blend the sands together, it symbolizes the blending together of your two hands, two hearts, and two lives into one. (The Bride and Groom combine their sands into the Unity Sand Vase.) Just as these grains of sand can never be separated again, so may your lives be blended together for all eternity. Version 2---The Family (The Officiant says): (Groom) ____________, (Bride) ____________, and (Children) ____________, today you are making a commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. Your new family relationship is symbolized through the pouring together of these individual containers of sand. One represents you, (Groom) ____________, and all that you are as a husband and father. One represents you, (Bride) ____________, and all that you are as a wife and mother. The other container(s) represent(s) (Children) ____________ who make(s) this family complete. As you each hold your separate container of sand, it symbolizes your lives before today. Now as you blend the sands together, it symbolizes the blending together of your hands, your hearts, and your lives into one family. (The Groom, Bride, and Children combine their sands into the Unity Sand Vase.) Just as these grains of sand can never be separated again, so may your lives be blended together for all eternity. Creative Ideas The Unity Sand container, as well as the individual containers, may be a vase, vial, bottle, jar, heart-shaped, or any other shape glass container. Choose a color of sand that reflects your unique personality. Melt some wax to seal the Unity Sand Vase, which also will hold the sand in place, and then seal it with a cork or a lid. Have your names, initials or wedding date etched into the glass of the Unity Sand Vase for a special wedding keepsake and a reminder of your union.

First Version The Ceremony of the Rose symbolizes the merging of the Bride's and Groom's families. When the Bride enters, she has in her possession two roses, usually red. As she approaches the altar, the Bride will stop and offer a rose and a kiss to her mother or significant mother figure. In doing this, she is expressing her gratitude for preparing her for this moment and for receiving the man she is about to marry into her family. When the wedding ceremony has ended and she and the Groom exit, the Bride will stop and offer a rose and a kiss to the Groom's mother or significant mother figure. In doing this, she is expressing her gratitude for preparing her new husband for this moment and for receiving her into the Groom's family. A variation you may consider is to present both roses either upon the entrance or upon the exit. Second Version (The Officiant says): (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________ have chosen to give each other a rose which is the first gift as husband and wife. (At this time, the Officiant will give both the Bride and the Groom a rose, and they in turn, will present their rose to each other.) This rose was born of the tiniest of seeds and has blossomed into the beautiful flower that it is today. And so it is with your relationship. It began as a small feeling that grew and eventually blossomed into something beautiful. And now you stand before us today to make a commitment to each other as husband and wife. Since you know that love must be shared, it is your desire to share these first gifts with two very special people, two people who helped to prepare you for this moment and molded you into the individuals that you are today. (The Bride and Groom turn and present their roses to their mothers or significant mother figures and offer a hug or a kiss.) Third Version (The Officiant says): Today you will receive the most honorable titles that exist between a man and a woman---the titles of husband and wife. You have chosen to give each other a rose as your first gift. In the language of flowers, the rose was considered a symbol of love, and a single rose meant only thing---"I love you." So it is appropriate that your first gift to each other as husband and wife will be a single rose. Please exchange your gifts. (The Bride and Groom present each other with a rose.) (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, because you both have given and received this symbol of love, I would encourage you to choose one very special place in your home for roses. Then on each anniversary, you both may take a rose to that special place as a recommitment to your marriage, and express with this symbol that your marriage is a marriage based on love. In every marriage, there are times when it is difficult to verbalize certain feelings. Sometimes, we hurt those whom ewe love most, then find it difficult to say, "I am sorry," or "Please forgive me," or "I need you." When you simply cannot find these words, leave a rose at your specially chosen place, and let that rose say what matters most---"I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember that the unspoken love is the hope you share and the faith you have in your future together as husband and wife.

The Officiant explains the significance of the handfasting ritual by saying: Have you ever wondered where the words "tying the knot' come from? The expression "tying the knot" refers to the traditional Celtic marriage ritual of Handfasting. Handfasting is an ancient Celtic word for wedding, and was recognized as. a binding contract of marriage between a man and a woman before weddings became a legal function of the government or a papal responsibility of the church. After the wedding vows and ring exchange, the couple's hands were bound together with a cord that was tied in a "love knot", signifying the joining of heir lives in a sacred union. Today, handfasting is a symbolic ceremony to honor a couple's desire for commitment to each other, and to acknowledge that their lives and their destinies are now bound together. (The Officiant holds up the cord and addresses the couple with these words.) Please hold each other's hands, palms up (her hands resting in his), so you may see the blessing they are to you. (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, this cord is a symbol of the life you have chosen to live together. Up until this moment you have been separate in thought, words, and deed. But as this cord is tied together, so shall you lives become intertwined. With this cord, I bind you to the vows that you have made to one another. With this knot, I tie you heart to heart, together as one. (The Officiant wraps the cord loosely around the Bride's and Groom's wrists to tie a "love knot" and says): (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________, the knot of this binding is not bound by the cord, but rather, by your own vows of love. For, as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union. May this "love knot" always be a reminder of the binding together of your two hands, two hearts, and two souls into one. And so are you bound, each to the other, for all the days of your lives. (Cord may then be removed and placed on the altar. Many couples choose to keep the "love knot" as a memento of their new union created that day.) NOTE: The Handfasting tradition coordinates well with ready #7, "These Hands" and "Blessing of the Hands."

This ceremony, created by Rev. Roger Coleman of Clergy Services, Inc./ was designed to significantly include the children of those being married in the wedding celebration. The Family Medallion provides a symbol for recognizing family relationships by adding a third circle to the two "marriage circles." During this part of the ceremony, the children shall come forward and form a circle with the Bride and Groom who welcome the children into the family and verbally make a commitment to them. (The Officiant says): Just as (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________ gave each other rings as symbols of their love and commitment to one another, they also would like to present [each of] you with a gift as a symbol of their love and commitment to you. The Family Medallion is made up of three intertwining circles, two of which symbolize the union of this man and woman in marriage. The third circle represents the joining of children to this union, making it complete as we celebrate the new family created here today. (The Bride and Groom present the children with the Family Medallion, and give each child a hug and a kiss.)

The Marriage Vessel and the Rose ceremony may be used as an alternative to the Unity Candle, especially for outdoor weddings. You will need a table for the vessel and the rose. Filling the vessel with water is only necessary if you use the second version. The Officiant begins by explaining the significance of the ceremony. (Officiant says): (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________ have chosen to share two gifts, The Marriage Vessel and the Rose, to symbolize their ever-growing lifelong commitment to each other. The spiritual roots of The Marriage Vessel and the Rose grow out of an understanding of God as the Potter, or Creator of life (holding up the vessel), and God as the Gardener, or Sustainer of life (holding up the rose). The vessel of clay, lovingly shaped by the Potter, is a symbol of love's strength and endurance. Likewise, the rose, born of the tiniest of seeds, symbolizes the beauty and the potential of growing in love throughout life together. The miracle of the vessel is that it not only protects, but is enriched by that which it holds, the rose. Both the vessel and the rose are individually unique, yet when combined, they create an object of even greater beauty. (Following are two popular versions of The Marriage Vessel and the Rose) First Version (The Groom presents the rose to the Bride and says): (Bride) _______________, this rose represents the beauty I see in you. / I thank you for the person you are / and the person I am becoming / because of your love for me. (The Bride presents the vessel to the Groom and says): (Groom) _______________, this vessel represents the strength I see in you. / I thank you for the love and care you have given me, / and for all we will share together in this life. (The Bride then places the rose in the vessel; the Bride and Groom hold it together while the Officiant says): As your gifts bring beauty and purpose to each other, may your lives continue to enrich and strengthen one another. (The Officiant says): (Groom) _______________ and (Groom) _______________, as you share each passing day, and as your days become years, remember this tradition you have created. On each wedding anniversary, place on additional rose in the marriage vessel to symbolize your ever-growing love for one another. May The Marriage Vessel and the Rose always be a symbol of the beauty and strength you bring to each other's lives. Second Version (The Groom hands his Bride a long-stemmed rose and says): (Bride) _______________, take this rose as a symbol of my love. / It began as a tiny bud and blossomed, / just as my love has grown for you. (The Bride places the rose into a vessel or vase filled with water and says): (Groom) _______________, I take this rose, / a symbol of your love, / and I place it into water, / a symbol of life. / For just as this rose cannot survive without water, / I cannot live without you. (The Groom responds by saying): In remembrance of this day, / I will give you a rose each year on our anniversary / as a reaffirmation of my love / and the vows we have spoken here today. (The Bride responds by saying): And I will refill this vessel with water each year, / ready to receive your gift / in reaffirmation of the new life you have given me / and the vows we have spoken here today. (The Bride and Groom join hands around the rose-filled vessel while the Officiant says): Just as this rose and vessel of water give beauty and life to each other, so may your love blossom and grow throughout your life together.

Lighting the Unity candle symbolizes the joining together or blending of separate lives. It is the coming together of two families and the merging of two individuals into one married couple, a love that burns jointly. The Unity Candle is an arrangement of three candles (the center candle sometimes being larger than the other two.) The two side candles are lit either before the wedding ceremony begins or just before the Unity Candle ceremony. These are usually, but not always, lit by the Bride's parents and the Groom's parents on their respective sides of the altar. Lighting the Unity Candle normally takes place after the Bride and Groom exchange vows and rings. The Officiant will share a few thoughts about the unity that exists between a husband and wife when they enter into marriage, after which the couple will take their respective candles and light the center candle. The couple then extinguishes their respective candles by gently blowing out the flame, symbolizing that they are now "one." Sometimes the couple chooses not to blow out their candles to symbolize that, even though they are now one, they continue to retain their individuality. CEREMONY WORDING OPTIONS Traditional Ceremony (Officiant shall say): The Unity Candle is a symbol of the union that exists between a man and a woman who enter the holy estate of matrimony. They are no longer two, but one. The Holy Bible says, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become on flesh.” In a marriage relationship, a man and a woman leave one home to establish another. These two candles represent the individual homes in which (Groom)_________ and (Bride)_________ grew up. The center candle represents the new home they are establishing today with Christ as the heart of that home. As (Groom)_________ and (Bride)_________ join together in lighting this Unity Candle, may we all reflect on the union made here this day between God, this woman, and this man. Contemporary Ceremony (Officiant shall say): Lighting the Unity Candle is a symbol of the union created by a man and a woman who enter into marriage. They are no longer two, but one. The Bible says, "For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." Today, we see tow people uniting themselves as one---as one in the flesh and as one in the spirit. These candles symbolize that union. The two outer candles represent the individual lives of (Groom) _______________ and (Bride) _______________ and the families from which they came. The lighting of this Unity Candle not only symbolizes the coming together of these two individuals, but the joining together of their families, as well. May you all recognize your continuing importance in each other's lives by sharing with each other the light of your love. Civil Ceremony (Officiant shall say): When the flames of two individual candles join together, a single brighter light is created from that union. May the brightness of this light shine throughout your lives, giving you courage and reassurance in the darkness. May its warmth give you shelter from the cold, and may its energy fill your spirits with strength and joy. Now as you light this candle, may it symbolize that today you become as one...hand in hand, heart to heart, flesh to flesh, and soul to soul. Short and Sweet Ceremony (Officiant shall say): The lighting of the Unity Candle symbolizes the joining together of your two hands, your two hearts and your two lives into one. From this moment on, the light of your love burns jointly as you walk down life's pathway together. May the path of life become brighter as the flame of your love grows stronger. Second Time Around Ceremony (Officiant shall say): The lighting of the Unity Candle is a reminder that the fires of love have once again been rekindled in your hearts. Sometimes our inner light goes out, but it is blown into flame again by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest debt of gratitude to those who have rekindled this inner light. Because the two of you are the "rekindler" of each other's flame, today you will join your inner lights into one brighter light. May the light of your lives grow and glow so others may see the flame and feel the warmth of your love. All in the Family Ceremony (Officiant shall say): OPTION A The Groom's children jointly light the Groom's candle and the Bride's children jointly light the Bride's candle. Then the Bride and Groom take their respective candles and jointly light they Unity Candle. OPTION B The Bride and Groom light the Unity Candle first with their individual candles, then take the Unity Candle and together light each child's candle from that flame. OPTION C The Bride and Groom light each child's candle with their individual candles, and together they all light the Unity Candle as a family. You will need candles for the Bride, Groom, and each child represented, in addition to the Unity Candle. The lighting of the Family Unity Candle symbolizes the blending together of two homes into one home, two families into one family, (number of family members) ______________ hearts into one heart, and many colors into one rainbow. Just as you light your candles together, so may your love for each other light up your lives, both individually and together as a family.