Note: Ask the couple to give you the marriage license, a few days ahead of time, so that you can have it all filled out. Also, this ensures that the license will not be forgotten.

OPENING SOLO:

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Dear wonderful God, we ask that you bless and consecrate this place for this event of marriage is holy. Surround us all as our thoughts and prayers go forth to bless this couple.

May this special couple always live in the awareness of the presence of God with a deep inner knowing that God is their help in every need.

Thank You, dear God. Unto You we give all praise and thanks for the magic of this love and its continuing relationship in holy marriage.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray . . . Amen.

This is called “Let Us Not Ask Too Much” by Clifford Gessler

Let us know how not to ask too much of each other.

Share body and mind and spirit without giving up freedom,

Love without trying to absorb, be kind yet not smother with kindness,

walk together, but neither retard the other’s pace.

I would not lead one who did not choose to follow

Or follow one who demanded that I be led.

The spark of self-hood, that high and precious thing-

Let us not dampen it with scorn or blame:

Each his own master, and the two of us richer, dearer because of it,

But neither sunk passively in the other–

That alone is true mating.

WELCOME: We welcome__________and__________their families and friends, to the celebration of their love, and we are in this place to give our blessing to their new life. They come to dedicate themselves to God and to each other, and with God’s eternal help, to fashion their house into a home, their family into a unity of God’s loving kingdom, and to achieve within their lives the hint of eternity.

__________and__________ come to publicly proclaim their love and devotion through holy marriage.

[Ask..] Who gives the bride away [Blesses]?

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the gift of love, especially the love that brings us together here today, Thank you for the meaning of real marriage in which two people become more than they are, because of their relationship to each other. Thank you for the privilege we have to be here and to be a part and party to ____________ and __________ love for each other in marriage. Amen.

Blessing For A Marriage by James Dillet Freeman
(As I read this, I will bless your marriage in prayer)

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.
May you always need one another–
not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness.
A mountain needs a valley to be complete;
the valley does not make the mountain less, but more;
and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it.
So let it be with you and you.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness,
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another.
May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, “I love you!” and take no notice of small faults.
If you have quarrels that push you apart,
May both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.
May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another’s presence–
No more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities,
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another!

PRAYER: The Lord’s Prayer

I would like you now to speak to each other saying the most important words that you will say in your marriage say “I love you” each to the other.

Look into the eyes of your partner and allow me to speak for you–

I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out.

I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the frivolous and weak things that you cannot help seeing there, and drawing out into the light all the beautiful, radiant things that no one else has looked quite far enough to find.

I love you for ignoring the possibilities of the fool in me and for laying firm hold of the possibilities of good in me.

I love you for closing your eyes to the discords in me, and adding to the music in me by worshipful listening.

I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life, not a tavern, but a temple, and of the words of my days, not a reproach, but a song.

I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me happy.

You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign.

You have done it by being yourself

After all, perhaps this is what being in love with you means.

(by Mary Carolyn Davies)

There is one place in our Bible the talks more directly, than in any other place, about the love that you are feeling, and how to keep that love alive and growing 1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

The first was “Faith”, the second “Hope”, and the third “Love”. (Adlib about the stages of their relationship)

Actually, what Paul is saying is that faith, hope and love make up a relationship Trinity which all of us can understand and believe in. Love is what makes hope beautiful and faith reliable.

Words of Guidance

______________- and — , true marriage is more than the joining of two persons in the bonds of matrimony. In its right relationship, it is the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between a man and a woman, it is proper that an outer acknowledgment be made.

This acknowledgment is the prime objective of this ceremony. We are here to bear witness to the entry of these two beloved friends, who are already one in spirit, into the closer relationship of husband and wife.

_________________ and ___________ , you are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one in the world whom you love best, and the dynamic flow of love in the heart of marriage. This love merges from, responds to, and is your fellowship with God and each other. It is your challenge to create an atmosphere of freedom in which you both can develop your potentials.

It is working together in an attitude of service for common goals. It is sharing from the depths of your being in the understanding presence of each other. It is a union of persons which respects individuality. It is the Covenant of love which accepts weakness as well as strength.

[Braid] if two hairs were taken from your head we could weave a braid, but the moment we let go it would untangle itself. However, if a third strand of hair was added, the braid would last for all eternity. And so it is with you____________and_______________. Always add God into your daily relationship, in your relationship will last throughout eternity.

God creates the fire, but you have to add the logs, to keep the fire burning. Never let a day go by that you don’t say or do something nice for the other.

Real love is not a total absorption in each other. Rather, it is looking outward in the same direction, together. Love makes the burdens lighter because you divide them, Love makes the joys more intense because you share them. Love strengthens each of you as individuals and as a team. As you live, love, work and play together, your mutual happiness is assured.

At this time I request everyone in this room to join in a Divinely appointed prayer group. Many religions are represented here today. Each person has his or her own way to commune with God. Will everyone present now join with me in a silent prayer to place your special blessing on ______________ and _____________________.

SOLO

________________ and _____________, as you stand in the presence of God, before whom the secrets of all hearts are disclosed, having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, I require and ask you both to declare before this company of friends your pledge of faith, each to the other.

________________ and ____ ___________ , will you turn and face each other and join hands.

MARRIAGE VOWS: (Man first; then Woman – pause after every four words or so, and invite groom/bride to repeat)

Groom:
I ask you to look into her eyes, speaking from your heart to her heart.

Repeat after me:

I, _________________ , choose you, ___________ to be my wife / as my friend and companion (and as friend and protector for our children). On this day, I affirm / the relationship we enjoy, / looking to the future / to deepen and strengthen it. / I will be yours / in prosperity and in struggle, I in sickness / and in health,. / in failure and in triumph. / I will cherish and respect you, / comfort and encourage you, / be open with you / and stay with you / as long as we shall live / freed and bound by our love.

Savor this moment—it is truly one of the holiest of your life.

Bride:
I ask you to look into his eyes, speaking from your heart to his heart.

I, ________________ , choose you, __________, to be my husband / as my friend and companion (and as friend and protector for our children). On this day, I affirm / the relationship we enjoy, / looking to the future / to deepen and strengthen it. / I will be yours / in prosperity and in struggle, / in sickness / and in health, / in failure and in triumph. / I will cherish and respect you, / comfort and encourage you, / be open with you / and stay with you / as long as we shall live / freed and bound by our love.

Savor this moment—it is truly one of the holiest of your life.

As you enjoy this sacred time, allow me to read “On Marriage” from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Then Almitra spoke again and said, “And what of Marriage, master?”

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens 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.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart.

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

–A marriage is not a big thing–It’s a long series of little things.

THE MAGIC OF THE ROSE (minister gifts them with a special rose)

Allow this rose to symbolize your relationship

First, the seed, as in the seed of your relationship at the very beginnings.

Second, the stem, as your relationship started to grow into something you both hoped would bloom.

Third, the unfoldment, which is what we are celebrating today, and what you will celebrate every day for the rest of your lives.

Always new, more beautiful, over time.

A rose only knows how to give.

Presentation of your first rose: I ask you to enjoy it during the special days ahead and after it begins to fade, I ask you to preserve it within the pages of the family Bible.

And thus we began a new tradition that will become something to live in your marriage.

Every Anniversary present the other person with a rose symbolizing your ever unfolding love.

And here is where the magic of the Rose will begin to work in your relationship. Anytime you have a disagreement that pushes you apart, and you cannot find the right words

to heal the disagreement .

Give of yourself – through the magic of the rose.

Give to the other person one long-stemmed rose, and he or she will know. The message will be powerfully spoken.

If such a time ever comes–
I ask you to agree in advance that you will accept the gift of the magic of the rose—do so by nodding your heads.

Ring Blessing: May I have the rings?
Hold these up for friends and family to see.
With a love that is represented here today, with friends and family gathered, I ask each present to focus on these rings and bless them with your love, and also praying that they are eternally blessed by God’s love.

Let us pray.

These rings are [This ring is] a symbol of the truth of the vows you have spoken. These rings mark [This ring marks] the beginning of a long journey together filled with wonder, surprises, laughter, celebration, and joy. May these rings glow [May this ring glowj in reflection of the warmth and the love which flow through __________ and __________ today.
May these rings serve not as locks binding you together but as keys unlocking the secrets of your hearts.

Ring Exchange:

Turn to the groom: I asked that you place this ring on the third finger of her left hand and keep holding the ring as you repeat after me: ___

Man: I love you__________and I will be your husband. / I offer you this ring, a symbol of my love / I ask that you take it / and wear it that all may know / you are touched by my love.

…Now, I ask that you can for your own blessing upon her ring by placing a single kiss upon the ring before you release it.

Woman: I love you__________and I will be your wife / I offer you this ring, a symbol of my love / I ask that you take it / and wear it that all may know / you are touched by my love.

…Now, I ask that you can for your own blessing upon her ring by placing a single kiss upon the ring before you release it.

SOLO

The Lighting Of A Candle In Marriage –

Before I pronounce you husband and wife, I would like to have both of you light this candle. The lighting of this single candle represents the bond of spiritual love that shall always mark your marriage.

Light is symbolic of that which is good. This marriage is good. This candle exemplifies the true inner light that sparks this marriage. This light is love.

The individual love-light of each person… . bride… .and groom is now joined in one light. This one light will now, and forever, dispel darkness in you… . and you.

[Bride, groom, and others bring their individual candles together, and together they light the one candle. The individual candles are then extinguished.]that

Let us pray as you watch the new flame you have created.

The light of God surrounds this marriage.
The love of God enfolds this marriage.
The power of God protects this marriage.
The presence of God watches over this marriage.
Wherever this couple is — God will be too!

SILENCE

Optional SOLO place

[Together they blow out the candle.]

Even though the outer light symbol goes out, your inner light will never stop burning for each other. Relight this candle at your first anniversary, and every anniversary after close to the time of the pronouncement.

The exact time is____________and your lives are about to change for the better.

____________ and _____________, by exchanging vows and rings, you have declared your marriage to each other in the presence of God, your family, and your friends.

Pronouncement: [Join couple’s hands and put your hand upon them.]

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pronounce you husband and wife.

Nuptial Kiss: You may seal this holy union with a kiss.

Introduction: Please face your family and friends.

I have the distinct pleasure of presenting to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs___________________.husband and wife.

Postlude

[HAND THEM THE LICENSE]

God bless you in your great work!