Rev. Lauren Moloney
Brief Elopement Ceremony Officiant: Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? Bride and Groom: Yes, We Seek to Enter. Officiant: In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home The heat of the heart's passion The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all encompassing passion of the sea. Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North Firm foundation on which to build Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives A stable home to which you may always return. Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union. I bid you look into each others eyes. Officiant: Is that your intent? Officiant: [Bride's Name], Will you cause him pain? Officiant: Is that you intent? Officiant: [To Both] Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? Officiant: And so the binding is made. Join your hands Officiant: [Groom's Name], Will you share her laughter? Officiant: *To Both* Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? Officiant: And so the binding is made. Officiant:Is that your intent? Officiant:[Groom's Name], Will you burden her? Officiant:Is that your intent? Officiant: Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union? Officiant:And so the binding is made. Officiant:[Groom's Name], will you share her dreams? Officiant:*To Both* Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes? Officiant:And so the binding is made. Officiant: Is that you intent? Officiant: [Bride's Name], will you cause him anger? Officiant: Is that your intent? Officiant: *To Both* Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union? Officiant: And so the binding is made. Officiant: [Groom's Name], Will you honor her? Officiant: *To Both* Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor? Officiant: And so the binding is made.
____________ & ___________ today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and
give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, as you join together in vows of marriage.
(Groom) , do you take ____________ to be your wife? (I do)
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others & holding
only unto her? (I do)
(Bride) , do you take ____________ to be your husband? (I do)
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others & holding
only unto him?(I do)
(If rings are exchanged: they are handed to the officiant who then hands the brides ring
to the groom)
(Groom), I ____________, take thee, ______________ to be my wife- to have and to
hold all the days of our lives, with this ring I thee wed. (place ring on finger)
(hand Bride the Grooms ring)
(Bride) I___________, take thee, ______________ to be my husband- to have and to
hold all the days of our lives, with this ring I thee wed. (place ring on finger)
____________________ & __________________, in so much as the two of you have
agreed to live together in matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these
vows,
I now declare you to be Husband & Wife
Congratulations, you may now kiss.
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The Following samples are from the book: The Ultimate Wedding & Ceremony Workbook
which can be purchased at: http://www.ulcseminary.org/
Charge To Couple 4
________ and________ by coming here today, you have now taken the initial step in
what hopefully will be a wonderful and lasting life together.
Understand, that a union between two people takes work.
Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, neither is a relationship ever complete.
It needs constant nurturing.
A good marriage is one that fosters respect, a devoted love, and a willingness to
make sacrifices for each other.
These are the foundation blocks of a newly formed union.
Symbolically you have been brought together as one,
yet are still two separate entities with unique ideas, talents and ways of being.
Respect and value those differences, and your relationship will flourish.
--Jeffery L. Termini
Rings 1
The wedding ring is a symbol of married love,
the precious metals show that your love is your most precious possession,
and the unending circle symbolizes that your love may never cease.
As you place the ring on (her/his) finger, please repeat after me:
_________, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love.
I ask you to wear it as a sign to the world that you are my wife.
With this ring, I thee wed.
_________, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my love.
I ask you to wear it as a sign to the world that you are my husband.
With this ring, I thee wed.
--Rev. Marcy Ann Cheek
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Ceremony below copied with permission from www.allseasonsweddings.com
[Groom's Name], Will you cause her pain?
Groom: I May
Groom: No
Bride: I may
Bride: No
Bride and Groom: Yes
*First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands*
[Bride's Name], Will you share his laughter?
Bride:Yes
Groom: Yes
Bride and Groom: Yes
*Second chord is draped across the couples hands*
[Bride's Name], Will you burden him?
Bride: I may
Bride: No
Groom: I may
Groom: No
Bride and Groom: Yes
*Drape third chord across the couples hands*
[Bride's Name], will you share his dreams?
Bride: Yes
Groom: Yes
Bride and Groom: Yes
*Drape fourth chord across the couples hands*
[Groom's Name], will you cause her anger?
Groom: I may
Groom: No
Bride: I may
Bride: No
Bride and Groom: We Will
*Drape fifth chord across the couples hands*
[Bride's Name], Will you honor him?
Bride: I will
Groom: I will
Bride and Groom: We shall never do so
*Drape sixth chord across the couples hands*
*Tie chords together while saying:*
The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making of breaking of this union.
*Once chords are tied together they are removed and placed on altar*