CHILDREN’S CEREMONY
After the bride and groom’s vows to each other, depending on who is bringing children into the marriage, the pastor has the other spouse make these vows to the child(s)_________________I promise to be a good and faithful husband to you, and also a patient, loving father to ___________________ (children’s names) Caring for them and providing for them as my own. I promise to be their strength and their emotional support, loving them with all my heart forever.__________ I promise to be a good and faithful wife to you, and also a patient, loving mother to __________________ (children’s names)Caring for them and providing for them as my own. I promise to be their strength and their emotional support, loving them with all my heart forever. And now, (children’s names) do you promise to love and respect your parent’s new husband/wife? Do you promise to support their marriage and their new family? Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being their children, and to encourage them and support them in your new life together.
BLESSING OF THE HANDS
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.
UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY
____________(Bride’s name) and ____________(Groom’s name), the two separate candles symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. I ask that each of you take one of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle. The individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one.
Note: A new element that I have seen recently at weddings is the blending of glass crystals that can later be made into a glass blown scuplture which becomes a treasured piece of art. For more information visit UnityinGlass.
SAND CEREMONY
Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand one, representing you BRIDE and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, GROOM, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
ROSE CEREMONY
In the rose ceremony, the bride and groom give each other a rose. Two roses are all that is necessary. The rose ceremony is placed at the end of the ceremony just before being pronounced husband and wife. It goes like this:
A single red rose always means “I love you”. Your 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. Now for your first gift as husband and wife I want you now to give each other the rose you hold. (exchange roses)_________ 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 pick one very special location in your home for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion of your marriage, you both may take a rose to that special spot in your home, both as a recommitment to your marriage – and a recommitment that this will be a marriage based upon love. And try to remember this: In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It might be difficult some time to say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”; “I need you” or “I am hurting”. If this should happen, if you simply cannot find these words to express what you really feel, go to that spot that you both have selected and there leave a rose. That rose placed in that special location can say what matters most of all. The rose you place there will say the words: “I still love you.” the other 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, remember this, 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.
IRISH BLESSING
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
BREAKING OF THE GLASS
Breaking the glass is a Jewish tradition dating back many, many centuries.
There are many ideas of why a couple breaks the glass during a celebration of marriage, but there are three thought to be most authentic.
Temple: Breaking of the Jewish wedding glass is a reminder of the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem.
Be Fruitful: A hope that your happiness will be as plentiful as the shards of glass…or that your children will be as plentiful as the shards of glass.
Marriage is Forever: A broken Jewish wedding glass is forever changed, likewise, the couple are forever changed by the marriage and take on a new form.
Minister places the glass at the foot of the man, counts 1,2,3 and when the Groom breaks the glass, everyone says: “Mazel Tov!”
BUTTERFLY RELEASE PRAYER
Today, we release a butterfly as a symbol of new beginning and life.We celebrate the resurrection and rejoice in the wonder, and reconnection. As it glides away in the air, flutters among the blossoms there, and stops to rest on a flower or two, we remember that there is nothing too small that our faith in Christ should ever stall.