Marriage Ceremony

(For Guests and Family, Expanded Ceremony, Gender Neutral)

-Prelude Music (a variety of songs)

Grandparents are seated by ushers

Parents walk down aisle, sit at the front

Magistrate:

Welcome, we are here today to celebrate the marriage of ____________ and ____________ .

We will open with reading for the couple. (read by Magistrate or friend of couple)

-First Reading:  “Why Marriage?” by Mari Nichols-Haining,

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me...

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship...

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements...

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me, I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage...

Because of this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.

Magistrate:

Marriage needs a community of support

Please respond with “We Do” at the end of the reading to show that you will form a community around  ____________ and  ____________ as they start their lives together.

-Group Declaration of Support for the Couple:

(Guests respond by saying "We Do")

As family and friends, you form a community of support that surrounds
 ____________ and  ____________.  Each of you, by your presence here today, is being called upon to uphold them in loving each other.  Always stand beside them, never between them.  Offer them your love and your support, not your judgment.  Encourage them when encouragement is needed and listen to them when they ask for advice.  In these ways, you can honor this marriage into which they have come to be joined today [pause]

Do you offer your love and support to strengthen their marriage and bless this family created by their union?

{We Do.}
 

-Exchange of Vows:

I, ____________ take you, ____________, to be my husband/wife, my constant friend, and my love from this day forward. I vow to be your faithful partner, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, in joy as well as sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, and to cherish and respect you. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.

I, ____________ take you, ____________, to be my wife/husband, my constant friend, and my love from this day forward. I vow to be your faithful partner, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, in joy as well as sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, and to cherish and respect you. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.

Magistrate:

____________ and  ____________, please repeat the following poem together as a way to confirm your vows and feelings for each other.
 

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 me.
I love you.

-Exchange of Rings:

____________, take  ____________’s ring and place it on her/his finger and repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you to be my love, my partner and my best friend, to the end of my days.  Wear it, think of me, and know that I love you.

____________, take  ____________ ’s ring and place it on his/her finger and repeat after me:

I give you this ring as a sign that I choose you to be my love, my partner and my best friend, to the end of my days.  Wear it, think of me, and know that I love you.
 

Magistrate:

As you look to your hand and your wedding band throughout the years, it will speak softly of the great gift you have been given in one another.  May it be a reminder of this moment, that you have someone to face the challenges of life with who loves you more than anything else in the whole world.  Never again do you walk alone, for your love shall be with you always.  For you, ____________and ____________, your rings specifically represent the resiliency of your relationship and the love that has flourished throughout your shared journey of life.  

-Announcement of married couple

Having witnessed your marriage vows with all who are assembled here today and by the authority vested in me by the State of Nebraska, it is with great joy that I now pronounce you legally married, spouses for life.

You may now seal your promises with a kiss.

-Recessional (music chosen by couple)

Wedding party participant: Thank you for joining ___________ and ___________ in their ceremony. They are going to take a few quick pictures and will be back to start the party.  Please enjoy yourselves and welcome them back when they return.