Marriage Ceremony

(Contemporary, Gender Neutral)

Words of welcome

My name is ____________________ (Officiant), and on behalf of ____________ (Partner 1) and ____________ (Partner 2), welcome and thank you for being here today to share in their joy during this special moment in their lives.

By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and you support their decision to commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives.

The greatest happiness in life is loving and knowing that we are loved for ourselves.  

This afternoon we are here to celebrate love. We come together to witness and proclaim the joining together of these two individuals in matrimony.

Marriage is the union of two people in heart, mind, body, and spirit. It is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, honestly, and deliberately.  It is into this union that ____________ (Partner 1) and ____________ (Partner 2) come now to be joined.

Reading

Now a reading that expresses the joy and love of this occasion. It is called “To My Friend” [or alternate submitted by couple]:

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 because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate 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. Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.

The expression of intent

____________ (Partner 1) you have chosen ____________ (Partner 2) to be your life partner. Will you love and respect [him/her]? Will you be honest with [him/her] at all times? Will you stand by [him/her] through whatever may come?

(Answer: "I will")

____________ (Partner 2) you have chosen ____________ (Partner 1) to be your [lawfully wedded life partner/lawfully wedded wife/lawfully wedded husband].  Will you love and respect [him/her]? Will you be honest with [him/her] at all times? Will you stand by [him/her] through whatever may come?

(Answer: "I will")

The affirmation of family and friends

Now, in a spirit of joy and affirmation, I want to ask those in attendance a question. Do you, the families and friends of ____________ (Partner 1) and ____________ (Partner 2), give them your blessing and support and wish them a wonderful life together?

(Answer: "We do")

The exchange of vows

____________ (Partner 1) and ____________ (Partner 2), now we come to your vows. May I remind you that saying your vows is one thing but nothing is more challenging than living them day-by-day. What you promise today must be renewed tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you. Will you now please turn and face each other.

____________ (Partner 1), please repeat after me, I ____________ (Partner 1) choose you ____________ (Partner 2) to be my [life partner/wife/husband], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish, and to be faithful to you alone. This is my solemn vow.

Now ____________ (Partner 2), please repeat after me: I ____________ (Partner 2) choose you ____________ (Partner 1) to be my [life partner/wife/husband], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish, and to be faithful to you alone. This is my solemn vow.

The giving and receiving of rings

May I have the rings please.

____________ (Partner 1), I give you this ring, that you may wear it, as a symbol of our love and the vows we have made this day. I pledge you my love and respect, my laughter and my tears. With all that I am, I honor you.

____________ (Partner 2), I give you this ring, that you may wear it, as a symbol of our love and the vows we have made this day. I pledge you my love and respect, my laughter and my tears. With all that I am, I honor you.

Affirmation of the marriage

May those who wear these rings live in love all their days. May the love which has brought you together, continue to grow and enrich your lives. May you continue to meet, with courage, any problems which may arise to challenge you.  May your relationship always be one of love and trust.  May the happiness you share today be with you always. And may everything you have said and done here today become a living truth in your lives.

Declaration of Marriage

____________ (Partner 1) and ____________ (Partner 2), we have heard your promise to share your lives in marriage. We recognize and respect the covenant you have made here this day before the law and each one of us as witnesses.

By the powers vested in me by the laws of the State of Nebraska, I declare that the two of you are now legally married spouses for life.

Introduction of the couple

Please join me in honoring ____________ (Partner 1) and ____________ (Partner 2) as they begin this new and exciting phase of their journey together.