Weddingbee boards

noritake22    March 31, 2011   Seattle

I am having the most difficult time with these vows, and I want to get them done this weekend, if at all possible.

So far, this is what I have. Acted out, they are about 15 minutes long. I don't know if that is too long. I have been looking at shortening them, but we love all the elements that we have included, so I have not idea what we would cut. If you have any suggestions, I would be totally open to them.

We gleamed most of these vows from online. I don't exactly remember where, but here they are anyway.

Please let me know what you think....

We welcome you all here today as we have gathered together to unite in marriage /  Groom and Bride

 

This gathering is but the outward sign of an inward union of two hearts, minds, and spirits. In marriage, husband and wife are called to a new way of life. to live faithfully together in plenty and in want / in joy and in sorrow / in sickness and in health.

 

A true marriage is more than the joining of two persons.

 

In its right eminence, / it is the uniting of two souls already speaking and attuned to one another. / When such a true bond already exists, it is fitting that an outward celebration is made. / This celebration is the purpose to this gathering and this solemn ceremony.

 

We, the family and loyal friends, are here to bear witness to the bonding of Groom, and Bride as husband and wife who are already one in the spirit of love.

 

Bride and Groom this day, you have chosen to make a solemn vow of courage to support one another in wedlock.

 

It is a promise to love one another, / a promise of honesty, and to always speak, and listen, to each other in love and never in anger. / Make this promise of understanding so that you may grow together in the years to come. /

 

When a commitment this strong is made by two such courageous people, /the force of that  commitment, / of that honesty, / of that understanding, / of that courage, / reaches out and touches all of those around, / so that our lives are changed and we share a part of your love. / Like a stone dropped in a still and quiet pond, / the ripples of thy love from this celebration extend and shall change the world we live in forever.

 

Love is a miraculous gift, / and a wedding is a celebration of that. I ask both, Groom and Bride / As you stand in the presence of family and friends / to remember that love and loyalty alone will avail / as the foundation of a happy home.

 

If the solemn vow which you are about to make is kept, / and if the two of you steadfastly endeavor to do the will of the Hearts, / your life as one will be full of joy / and the home which you are establishing

will abide in peace. / No other human ties are more tender, / no other vows more sacred than those you now assume.

 

You are now taking unto your care and keeping / the happiness of the one person / whom you love best. / With them by your side. 

 

You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, / but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. / You are agreeing this day to share strength, responsibilities, honesty and love with one another forever more.

 

This service today, however, is not magic. / It will not create a relationship that did not already exist. / It is time for tying a knot in the rope of days and saying, / "We will not slip backwards, / but will go forward together." / What greater thing is there for two human souls / than to feel that they are joined for life; / to strengthen each other in all labor, / to rest one upon the other in all sorrow, / to minister to each other in all pain, / to be one with each other in silent, unspeakable memories / at the moment of the last parting. /

 

It is a time for one thing of which Groom and Bride are certain, / it is their love for one another and their desire for that love to last.

 

From this day forward, / you both shall be together even in the silent memory of all. / But let there be spaces in your togetherness, / And let the wind of the spirit dance between you. / Love one another, but

make not a bond of love. / Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Sing and dance together and be joyous, / but let each alone even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver the same music / Give of your hearts but not into each other's keeping, / for only the hand of

life can contain your hearts. /

 

Stand together yet not too near each other, / for the pillars of the temple stand apart, / and the oak and the cypress tree grow not into each other's shadow. Stand together to complement one another as you hold your heads high so all may see the love shared.

 

At the end of this ceremony, / you shall be husband and wife legally, /

 

Know henceforth, you must still decide each and every sunrise that stretches before you, / that you still want to be wed. / Make such a decision, and keep on making it, for the most important thing in life is to love and be loved.

 

May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness / as to help each other know your fullness. / May you want one another, but not out of lack. / May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. /

 

May you succeed in all-important ways with each other and not fail in the little graces. / Look for things to praise and often say "I love thee." to one another / and take NO notice of the small faults / May you have happiness and may you find it in making one another happy. / May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another.

 

Groom and Bride

 

You are about to make promises to one another. / Today, these vows are beautiful words representing even more beautiful intentions. / But you will find that as you live these vows over the years, / investing time, love and commitment to one another, / the happy times of your life / will be twice as joyous, because there will be someone to share those joys with. / And when life gets hard, / it will only be half as hard, / because there will be someone by your side / to help carry the burden.

 

I once again call upon all the family, and friends / to witness that Groom and Bride upon this 31st day of March, the  90th day, in the year 2011, do say these vows to eternally bind their hearts, bodies, and souls, to join in wedlock from this day forth.

 

(pause)

 

Groom, have you come here freely and without reservation / to give yourself to Bride in marriage? /

 

I HAVE

 

And, Groom do you now take Bride, / to be your lawful wedded wife and partner? / Do you give your solemn vow to love, honor, and protect her? / Do you vow to share the good times and your achievements / as well as the hard times and your disappointments? / Do you vow to keep her by your side in sickness and in sorrow? / Do you vow to be faithful and devoted to her, forsaking all others, forevermore?

 

I DO

 

Bride, have you come here freely and without reservation / to give yourself to Groom in marriage? /

 

I HAVE

 

And, Bride do you take Groom / to be your lawful wedded husband and partner?/ Do you give your solemn vow to love, honor and comfort him? / Do you vow to share the good times and thine achievements as well as the hard times and your disappointments? / Do you vow to keep him by your side in sickness and in sorrow? / Do you vow to be faithful and devoted to him, forsaking all others, forevermore?

 

I DO

 

(pass the bouquet to MOH and hold hands facing each other)

 

Groom, repeat after me:

 

I, Groom, take Bride / for my lawful wife from this day forward / to have and to hold as an equal partner in my life / to whom I give my deepest love and respect. / I humbly open my heart to you as a sanctuary of warmth and peace / where you may find a refuge of love and strength. / I will forever cherish our friendship / and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. / I will trust thee and honor thee. / I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, / through the difficult and the easy, whatever may come. / I will always be there. / As I have given you my hand to hold / so I give you my life to keep.

 

Bride, still facing Groom repeat after me:

 

Groom, I accept thy pledge, and take you as my husband and partner, / with your strengths and your weaknesses, / your warmth and kindness, / your protection and your guidance. / As I give you my hand, / may you receive my spirit within yours. / I release my heart to you and will give you my unquestioning love. / I will be true to thee in all things. / I will share with thee what I have and who I am. / I will love enough to risk being hurt, / trust when I misunderstand / and hold you close when I am afraid. / I will

keep with you in heartache without faltering, / and celebrate life with thee in joy / and receive you as my equal forever.

 

Groom and  Bride / as these rings are circles designed without an ending, / they speak of eternity. / By their shape, they are a symbol of the undying love that exists between you. / The substance of which they are composed is a symbol of purity, / which shall Ever characterize your mind and hearts together. / May the incorruptible substance of these rings /represent a love glowing with increasing luster through the years. /

 

May these rings which you give to one another / as a sign of your love, trust, and faithfulness. /  grant that they who give it / and they who shall wear it, remain faithful to each other / and abide in peace and favor / and live together in love until their lives end.

 

Will Tyler present the first binding circle of love to Groom.

 

Groom

 

Groom take Bride's left hand and repeat after me:

 

Bride I give you this ring / in token and pledge of wedded love and faithfulness, / as a symbol of all that we share with my constant faith and abiding love. / Receive this ring and know that I will cherish thee

above all others. / Accept this ring and know that I wed thee with my heart, body and soul. / Wear it as thine honor, and all my worldly goods with thee I share.

 

Tyler, present the second half of the binding circle of love.

 

Bride, take Groom left hand and repeat after me:

 

Groom, take this ring upon thy hand / And know that my heart is encased within it./ I give my everlasting friendship to hold. / I entrust to you with this ring, my spirit and heart. / I give you this ring as a symbol of my abiding love and constant faith. / Accept this ring and know that with it comes my heart, body and spirit. / Wear it and know that I will honor and respect thee all the days of my life.

 

Now that the ring ceremony has been completed the Bride & Groom have asked that you join them for the lighting of the Unity Candle, and signing of the marriage certificate so at this time I ask that we all watch and witness, this special moment./ The two taper candles represent their lives as individuals prior to marriage./ Together they  will pick up their individual candles and in unison, they will light the center unity candle, making two flames one./ Blowing out their taper candles symbolizes the end of their separate lives.

 

/The estate of wedlock is a special one / under the guidance of infinite wisdom and divine love. / It is therefore fitting that we pause / and realize honor this moment in our lives. / Now we will watch the Bride & Groom sign the wedding certificate.

 

(Bride and Groom light candle and sign certificate)

 

Groom and Bride / you may consecrate this celebration with your first kiss as husband and wife.

 

((After kiss))

 

By the authority vested in me by the State of Washington, and those in attendance, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife.

 

At this time the I present to you the new Mr. and Mrs. Groom H. Please follow them and the wedding party to the loggia for cocktails and pictures.

noritake22    March 31, 2011   Seattle

@Gingersnap: Thank you:-)

No, unfortunately, I did not write that, but I wish I did. I just fell in love with it because it speaks volumes. We did tweak them a bit though.

noritake22    March 31, 2011   Seattle

I forgot to mention that my son will be officiating, so the slashes (/) are in the vows, so he doesn't forget to breathe :-)

noritake22    March 31, 2011   Seattle

@SamanthaSadlier: Thank you :-)

noritake22    March 31, 2011   Seattle

Anyone else :-)