Possible Additions to Wedding Ceremony
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Possible Additions To The Wedding Ceremony Candle Lighting Prior to Ceremony: _______ and _______ want to thank you for sharing with them this special and joyous day. Those of you who have had the pleasure of spending some time with _______ and ______ have seen for yourselves they possess a very special love, which is full of wonder and excitement. We are here today to celebrate their love and participate in this very special occasion. Who supports _______ to be married to _______? (_______’s Mom and Dad/Parents/Mom/Dad: “We/I do”). To remind you the two lives we unite today were created by others, we ask your parents to come forward. (Parents arrive). _______, this candle represents you. We ask your parents to light your flame as they provided you the spark of life years ago. (parents light candle) _______, this candle represents you. We ask your parents to light your flame as they provided you the spark of life years ago (parents light candle). ______ and ______, this candle represents your union from this day forward. If you are truly ready to merge your lives and your passion, we ask that you light this flame together (light candle using personal candles). Breaking the Glass Ceremony: The breaking of the glass at the end of a wedding ceremony serves to remind of two very important aspects of a marriage. ______ and _______, and everyone, should consider these marriage vows as an irrevocable act, just as permanent and final as the breaking of this glass is unchangeable. But the breaking of the glass also is a warning of the frailty of a marriage. That sometimes a single thoughtless act, breach of trust, or infidelity can damage a marriage in ways that are very difficult to undo, just as it would be so difficult to undo the breaking of the glass. Knowing that this marriage is permanent, _______ and ______ will strive to show each other the love and respect befitting their spouse and love of their life. ______ & _______: Break glass! (Couple presentation to follow) Lock and Key Ceremony: You all have just witnessed ______ and _______ pledge their lives, and exchange rings symbolizing the endless nature of their love. They wish to further symbolize the strength of their commitment with a Love Lock Ceremony. A lock and key can symbolize so much. For _______ and _______ it symbolizes the opening of their hearts to one another and the locking of the commitment that now binds them together. It’s important to understand that the key to love is the ability to comprehend not only the spoken word, but those unspoken gestures, the little things that say so much by themselves. It is giving, without thought of return, but with the hope of just a simple smile; and giving in but never giving up. The key to love is forgiveness, to accept one another’s faults and pardon their mistakes, it is sharing and facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together; conquering problems and forever searching for ways to intensify your mutual happiness. A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit your keys and keys to fit your locks. When you feel safe enough to open the locks, your truest selves step out and you can be completely and honestly who you are. No matter what goes on around you, with that one person you are safe in your mutual paradise. Your soul mate is someone who shares your deepest longings, your sense of direction. When you’re upholding one another, and moving upwards together, chances are you’ve found the right person. ______ and _______, your hearts, bodies, and minds are joined together in a bond that constitutes the sanctity of marriage. This lock illustrates that you are forever joined together in a lifelong partnership and an abiding friendship, a promise between two people that you will forever be one, and that your oneness will complement and complete the two of you. This lock represents your recognition of the dedication and courage necessary for securing a strong and healthy marriage. And now as you join your separate lives into one, I invite you to lock your lock together as a symbol of your commitment to each other. As you do it, I remind you of the reason you are marrying one another: to be committed to each other as a couple forever, to keep each other safe in good times and in bad. Let this lock remind you that today you are joining your hearts and souls together for a lifetime. Remember your lock will be locked permanently because you have chosen to throw the keys to the lock into the ocean where they can never be found by anyone. This symbolizes your commitment to each other for an eternity. As these lock will be locked forever, so will your love and commitment to each other. The keys will no longer be of use because there is no need to undo the bond of your commitment made today. What your love has brought together cannot be broken, and if there is ever a time of struggle just remember this day and the promises you have made to each other. Rose Ceremony: In the Rose Ceremony, the Bride and Groom/spouses/partners give each other a Rose. Two roses are all that is necessary. The Rose Ceremony is placed at the end of the ceremony just before being pronounced husband and wife. It goes like this: A single red rose always means "I love you". Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings, which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other. Now for your first gift as husband and wife/life long partners/spouses I want you now to give each other the rose you hold (Exchange Roses). ______ and _______, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future, whether it be a large and elegant home, or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location in your home for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion of your marriage, you both may take a rose to that special spot in your home, both as a recommitment to your marriage, and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love. And try to remember this: In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It might be difficult some time to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply cannot find these words to express what you really feel, go to that spot that you both have selected and there leave a rose. That rose placed in that special location can say what matters most of all. The rose you place there will say the words: "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today. ______ and _______, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, remember this, it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure. Adding a part for children: If a couple is adding the Rose Ceremony, they may have a rose for any children of the couple. After exchanging roses, the couple will then give each child a rose, a hug, and whisper, "I love you." Not only are _____ and ______ creating a marriage today, but they also are forming a family with (child/children's name(s)). Just as it is appropriate for ______ and ______ to declare their love for each other in the gift of a rose, they also wish to show you (to the children) how much they love you with the gift of a rose. Rose Ceremony #2: The love you share has blossomed with time and comes to full bloom this day. In recognition of this process, _____ and ______ will now perform a rose ceremony. ______ (handing ______ a white rose): ______, take this rose as a symbol of my love. It began as a tiny bud and blossomed, just as my love for you has grown and blossomed. _______ (placing rose into a vase filled with water): I take this rose, a symbol of your love, and I place it into water, a symbol of life. For just as this rose cannot survive without water, I cannot survive without you. ______: In remembrance of this day, I will give you a white rose each year on our anniversary, as a reaffirmation of my love and the vows we will speak here today. _______: And I will refill this vase with water each year, ready to receive your gift, in reaffirmation of my love and the vows we will speak here today. Unity Candle Ceremony: _______ and _______ the two-lighted candles symbolize your separate lives, your separate families and your separate set of friends. I ask that you each take one candle and that together you light the center candle. The individual candles represent your individual lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one.