Writing your own Wedding Vows can be a beautiful gift from the heart to each other.  When you take time to write your own vows, it gives you the opportunity not only to personalize them, but to deeply embrace each word you select.  The Wedding Vow is not simply pretty words; it is a sacred declaration of commitment about how the individuals intend to nurture, support, and love each other as marriage partners. 

For those who do not wish to write their own vows, the following represents some more traditional samples to choose from.

I, <<Groom>>/<<Bride>>, take you <<Bride>>/<<Groom>> to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, according to God's Holy Word, and thereto, I pledge you my love.

Do you <<Groom>>/<<Bride>> take <<Bride>>/<<Groom>> to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward? 
       (I DO)
Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health? 
       (I DO)
And, forsaking all others, will you remain only unto her for as long as you both shall live? 
       (I WILL)

I, <<Groom>>/<<Bride>> , take you <<Bride>>/<<Groom>> to be my wife/husband, I give oath, in the presence of family and friends that I shall stand beside you and love you always, in times of celebration and in times of sadness, in times of pleasure and in times of pain, in times of sickness and in times of health. I have given you my hands to hold and I give you my life to keep.

I, <<Groom>>/<<Bride>> , take you <<Bride>>/<<Groom>> to be my wife/husband I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever I will trust and honor you, I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst I will always be there. I have given you my hands to hold and I give you my life to keep.

I, <<Groom>>/<<Bride>> take you <<Bride>>/<<Groom>> to be my wife/husband I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust and honor you, I will love you faithfully. For better, for worse I will always be with you. According to God's holy word, I give you my hands to hold, and my life to keep.

Opening Prayer #1


 

Heavenly Father, you have made us male and female, and given us the desire to be united to the one we love and to become one flesh.  We thank you for the love <<Groom>> and <<Bride>> have for you and for each other.  We believe and trust that you have led them to this day and we ask your blessing as they exchange their vows and seal their promises.  As they become husband and wife, may they do so not only in our presence, but in yours.  With your grace surrounding them and your love within their hearts. We pray these things through Christ, your Son.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, <<Bride>> and <<Groom>> are now about to vow their unending loyalty to each other.  We ask you to accept the shared treasure of their life together, which they now create and offer to You.  Grant them everything they need, that they may increase in their knowledge of You throughout their life together.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Our Father, love has been Your richest and greatest gift to the world.  Love between a man and woman which matures into marriage is one of Your most beautiful types of loves.  Today we celebrate that love.  May your blessing be on this wedding service.  Protect, guide, and bless <<Bride>> and <<Groom>> in their marriage.  Surround them and us with Your love now and always.   Amen.

Today we call forward and stand in the light of the Holy Spirit and the light of the Christ within each of us.  We join together in support of <<Bride>> and <<Groom>> and ask, as a community gathered in your name, Heavenly Father, that as you gladdened the wedding in Cana of Galilee by the presence of your Son, so, by his presence now, bring your joy to this wedding and bless <<Bride>> and <<Groom>> with a loving, healthy, and happy marriage.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, we are here to celebrate the marriage of <<Bride>> and <<Groom>>.  We pray that they each may find a depth of kindness, caring and joy through this union that will serve as a safe haven for them as they journey through their lives together.  We also pray that together they may build a life that brings them balance, health and great learning as they venture through the trials and triumphs to come.  May they strengthen their bond of love and find a gentle peacefulness in being together hand in hand.  And finally, for those of us who are here with our partners today, we ask for a blessing of renewal and devotion to the vows we have made.  May we comfort each other with our love today and every day.  Amen.

Let us lift our hearts together as one in jubilant celebration of the marriage union we are about to witness between <<Bride>> and <<Groom>>.  As they enter into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, we are blessed to witness the magnificence of their love, their open hearts, and their vibrant and willing spirits.  Inspired by their love, let each of us rededicate ourselves to the loving relationships in our own lives.  May we all be enriched for having shared this day together.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the joy of living, and especially for the joys of love and marriage. You have loved us, and You have made us so that we can love and be loved in return.  Thank You that we need not walk the road alone, but that You provide someone to share our dreams and comfort us in our sorrows.  Bless <<Groom>> and <<Bride>> today as they begin their lives together as husband and wife. Preserve and protect this love they have expressed.  May they know happiness and fulfillment; may they experience contentment and peace.  As they come to know each other better, may they also learn to know You in ever increasing faith.  Amen. 

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his to face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up the light of his continence upon you, and give you peace.

May the love of God be above you to overshadow you, beneath you to uphold you, before you to guide you, behind you to protect you, close beside you and within you to make you able for all things, and to reward your faithfulness with the joy and peace which the world cannot give -- neither can it take away.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom be glory now and evermore.  Amen.

Join with me as we ask God's blessing on this new couple.  Eternal Father, redeemer, we now turn to you, and as the first act of this couple in their newly formed union, we ask you to protect their home.  May they always turn to you for guidance, for strength, for provision and direction.  May they glorify you in the choices they make, in the ministries they involve themselves in, and in all that they do.  Use them to draw others to yourself, and let them stand as a testimony to the world of your faithfulness.  We ask this in Jesus name.  Amen.

Three candles are lit representing the sacred bond between husband and wife.  First the tapers may be lit by the mother of the bride & the mother of the groom as they are being seated or they may be lit by the best man and the maid of honor or the Bride and the Groom may light each other's candle (there are no set rules it's your wedding, do what appeals to you).  Then, by combining their flames, the couple light the third candle together, symbolizing their eternal unity.

This moving marriage ceremony is best performed at any indoor location because of the wind factor.  As an alternative you may want to consider option #2 or #3  when ceremony is performed outdoors.  Also, think about the wind when considering a runner.  Just realize that there may be a wind problem.

In the Rose Ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a Rose.  In the old language of flowers, a single red rose always meant "I love you".  The rose ceremony gives recognition to the new and most honorable title of "Husband and Wife".  The couple is also advised to use this symbolic rose in trying times when they cannot seem to find the right words to say, such as "I am sorry," or "I forgive you," or "I am hurting."  The rose then says what matters most of all, "I still love you," and can overpower all other things and all other words.  If there are children who will be included in the new family, each child may then be given a rose and a hug by the bride and groom, thus showing that the couple's union and their love extends to and includes the children as well, and that a new family is being formed. 

Like the unity candle, the sand is used to symbolize the uniting of the bride and groom. Their separate lives are symbolized by two vials of sand (usually different colors). After the exchange of rings, the officiant explains the meaning of the Unity Ceremony. The Bride and Groom then come together, and pour into one vial, the two individual vials of sand. Their flowing together symbolizes the joining of the couple as they share their first experience of unity as husband and wife. The newly formed union is represented by the intertwined pattern of sand created by the couple. This symbol is then a keepsake of your wedding day.

This ceremony too can be extended to include children. After the bride and groom have poured in their sand, the children can then add their container of colored sand to the unity container, thus including them in the newly formed family.

Much like the Sand Ceremony, the water ceremony has the bride and groom (or members of their families) pour water from separate glasses into a single bowl, vase, or glass. The bride and groom may also share the glass of water, with each drinking from it. Alternatively, colored water can be used to create a new color when combined.

More and more couples are coming together with children from previous marriages or some other circumstance and would like to include them in the marriage ceremony.  The presentation of a medallion to each child is the perfect way to pledge to that child that they are not being replaced or forgotten.  The Family Medallion was created for just such an occasion. 

The Family Medallion is three interlocking rings representing the parents and child
inside the larger ring representing the family.