Sample Religious Ceremony

Sample religious/spiritual ceremony

Couple enters and stands before the minister. 

MINISTER: “Let us pray. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open and all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and magnify Your Holy Name. Through Your Spirit of Love, we pray. Amen.”

MINISTER:(to couple)”_____ and ____, today you are surrounded by your friends and family, all of whom have gathered to witness your marriage and to share in the joy of this occasion which will be one of the most memorable and happy days of your life. As you know, no priest, minister, rabbi or public official can marry you. You are the only one who can make this commitment. Only through a mutual commitment to love God and each other – working towards creating an atmosphere of care, consideration, and respect; by a willingness to face the tensions and anxieties that underlie human life – can you make your wedded life come alive.”

“On this day of your marriage, you stand somewhat apart from all others. You stand within the charmed circle of your love and this is as it should be. However, love is not meant to be the possession of two people alone. Rather, it should serve as a source of common energy – as a form in which you find the strength to live your lives with courage.”

“All of us here wish for you a love that makes you both come to know your perfect self, that continues to give you the joy and zest for living, and provides you with the energy to face the responsibilities of life.”

“We wish for you a home. Not just a place of stone and wood, but an island of sanity and serenity in a frenzied world. This home is not just a place of private joy and retreat, but rather serves as a temple where the values of your lives are generated and upheld. Your home can stand as a symbol of love, peach, truth and social justice. We wish for you, a home with books, poetry, and music. A home with all the things that represent the highest strivings of humankind.”

“Finally, we wish that at the end of your lives, you will be able to say these two things to each other:
“Because you have loved me, you have given me faith in myself.”
“Because I have loved you, I have received faith in humanity.”

“At this time, we remind ourselves that the estate of wedlock is a holy one and not to be lightly entered upon, but only under the guidance of Infinite Wisdom and Divine Love.”

“Scripture informs us that the first miracle of Jesus took place at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. It was there that He turned water into wine, signifying the bringing of joy into the hearts of those present. It is our belief that this same loving Christ presence is with us today. As we open our hearts to receive His blessing, He fills us with the joy of His presence.”

“Jesus said, ‘These things have I spoken to you that my joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.’ It is then fitting that at this time we should pause in our service and seek to realize the Divine Presence though prayer.”

“Let us pray. Father-Mother God, we are instructed to acknowledge you in all our ways, that you may direct our paths. Therefore, we acknowledge your presence in this place, at this hour, and in the hearts of these, your children. It is Your Presence of Love, manifesting itself at all times, and under all conditions which is the love that never fails. We would claim Your Divine blessing on this service, and the relationship now being solemnized. May they ever be conscious of Your presence of love, harmony, and peace. May abundance fill their hearts and minds. May prosperity blossom in all their endeavors and may Your presence of joy be their everlasting strength. This we acknowledge, and for all Your rich blessings, we do give thanks. Amen.”

“Will the bride’s family grant its blessing and pledge to ____ and ____ your love and acceptance?”
BRIDE’S FAMILY: “We do.”
 

“Will the groom’s family grant its blessing and pledge to ____ and ____ your love and acceptance?”
GROOM’S FAMILY: “We do.”
 

MINISTER: (to couple) “_____ and _____ will you express to each other the vows that you have chosen?”
BRIDE AND GROOM: “We will.”

MINISTER (to groom) “Look at _____ and repeat after me.”
“_____, I want to live with you just as you are. I chose you above all others. I pledge to share my life openly with you. I promise to honor and tenderly care for you. I will cherish and encourage your own fulfillment.”

MINISTER:(to bride) “Look at ______ and repeat after me.”
“______, I want to live with you just as you are. I chose you above all others. I pledge to share my life openly with you. I promise to honor and tenderly care for you. I will cherish and encourage your own fulfillment.”

MINISTER:(to couple or wedding party) “May I have the rings please?”
“Before placing these rings in their honored places, let us realize that a ring by its shape, is a symbol of eternity, without beginning or end, and it is a true emblem of the undying love that shall exist between you both. The metal is a symbol of purity which shall ever characterize our hearts and minds.” 

MINISTER:(to groom) “What pledge do you offer in token of these vows?”
GROOM: “This ring.”

MINISTER:(to groom) “Place the ring on the third finger of _____’s left hand and please repeat after me.”
“With this ring, a symbol of my love and affection, I do thee wed. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

MINISTER:(to bride) “What pledge do you offer in token of these vows?”
BRIDE: “This ring.”

MINISTER:(to bride) “Place the ring on the third finger of ____’s left hand and please repeat after me.”
“With this ring, a symbol of my love and affection, I do thee wed. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

MINISTER:(to couple) “And now, in conformance with your mutual declarations and pledges, and the giving and receiving of these rings, and by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce that you are husband and wife together. This I do in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

“May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitement a marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding.”
“May you always need one another – not to fill your emptiness but rather to help you know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete;
a 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 is be with you (to groom), and with you (to bride).”

“May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle on 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, and take no notice of small faults.”

“May you enter into the mystery, which is the awareness of one another’s presence. Warm and near when you are side by side, warm and near when you are in distant cities.”
“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. And may you say I love you often.”

MINISTER: “Let us pray. Almighty God, witness of every true marriage, and sealer of every spiritual union, we invoke and give thanks for Your blessing on these Your children. May You be consciously with them in all their ways. Bless them with goodness, truth, purity, wisdom, fidelity, forbearance, prosperity and contentment. Let their minds be illumined with Your Light Divine. Their bodies renewed and sustained by the Christ substance and their souls vitalized by your life eternal. Thank you God, for Your presence here with us and for Your blessing on this marriage. Amen.”

MINISTER:(to groom) ____, you may kiss your bride.”

MINISTER:(to audience) “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you _____ and _____, husband and wife.”