Marriage Ceremonies
MARRIAGE CEREMONY #6
To The Family and friends of ______________ and _________________. They
welcome you and ask you to join them today to be witness in their joyous
expressions of love and commitment.
As guests at this celebrated event, you have been invited here to share in
their happiness as you already
share in their lives. Family and friends of ____________________ unable to
witness this union also share in their joy on this day.
Between them they have known many whom they have chosen to call friends.
Those people who have touched their lives and shared in their thoughts.
They have attained a wealth of life’s experiences; some with their
association of those present here today. And so they have expressed their
desire for you to share in this, their day of commitment.
_________________________and __________________________
You stand before these people, all of whom have touched your lives, to
declare in their presence,
Your love for each other, your commitment to each other, and your desire
to unify your lives.
You both have experienced the difficulties associated with marriage and
know of the trials and tribulations of marriage and parenting.
Marriage is the highest form of expression that two people can share. It
symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives yet it must enhance the
differences and individuality of each partner. A good and balanced
relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered by the other.
Thus it is out of the tension between separateness and union that love,
whose incredible strength is equal only to its incredible fragility, is
born and reborn.
You have already made your decisions to unify your lives long before
today. These decisions were made in your hearts and expressed to each
other as your relationship developed. Together – you discussed plans for
your future, the direction of your lives, learned to understand each
other’s needs and allowed your love for each other to grow, as it
continues to grow each day. You are entering into this marriage with the
openness and understanding of what is needed for a successful
relationship.
________________________ and _________________________
You stand before me today as two mature and thoughtful people who wish to
express their emotions within the framework of a meaningful life. For your
self-reliance, courage and love, you deserve respect and admiration, and
it is these attributes which make this a serious but solemn occasion.
Marriage is the deepest and most complete commitment that two individuals
can make. It is a promise to share forever, in one another’s dreams for
the future and in the joys or sorrows of the present. It is a firm and
unshakable vow to live life together as long as life persists.
Marriage is the symbol of a loving union of two who strive to become one,
yet never lose their separate identities. Within this bond, you will
enhance each other’s individuality but will become one heart and mind.
You came here freely, willingly and lovingly to be joined together and I
charge you both as you make this commitment to each other today to
remember:
If you can love without overpowering
Appreciate each other without judging
Invite without demanding
Ask without pleading
Criticize without blaming
Help without insulting
You will truly enrich each other’s lives. For love is very patient and
kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never selfish or
rude.
It does not hold grudges and will hardly ever notice when others do wrong.
Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.
Love is forgiving and forgetting.
When you love someone you are loyal to him or her, no matter what the
costs. Believe in each other and expect the best of each other.
Remember that love and loyalty are the foundations of a happy home. Listen
to the promises you are making to each other here today. If you can live
your marriage by these vows, your lives together will be full of joy and
you will live in peace.
Knowing what you are about to undertake are both of you ready to join your
lives in marriage?
I am
Please join your right hands
______________, do you take _____________ to be your wife? To live
together as partners in marriage, to honor her, cherish her and live for
her before all others, in joy and sorrow, in good times and in hard times
as long as you both shall live?
I do
______________, do you take ______________ to be your husband? To live
together as partners in marriage, to honor him, cherish him and live for
him before all others, in joy and sorrow, in good times and in hard times
as long as you both shall live?
I do
You have told me that you wish to exchange rings as a token of the
commitments you are making to each other.
______________, will you take the ring you have brought, place it on
__________________ left hand and repeat after me.
With this ring I pledge my love to you and join my life with yours.
________________, will you take the ring you have brought, place it on
_______________left hand and repeat after me.
With this ring I pledge my love to you and join my life with yours.
Please join your hands
The giving and accepting of rings is a symbolic declaration of fidelity
and love for each other. As the rings are round and without end, so may
trust, your love and compassion each for the other be continuous and
without end. Just as the ring, made of gold, will not tarnish neither will
your love, your beliefs or commitments, as witnessed by all here this day.
Prepare candles
You have indicated that you desire to further express your love and
commitment to each other by lighting a candle to symbolize the joining of
your lives.
Please take these two candles you have been presented and join the flames
to light the single candle.
Please join hands again.
____________________ and ______________________
Having declared in the presence of these witnesses the solemn vows of
marriage, the giving and accepting of rings and the lighting of a unity
candle, you have demonstrated your love for each other and indicated by
your acts the desire to live in the sanctity of marriage.
So now, in the presence of these witnesses, and by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the State of Wisconsin, as Municipal Judge for the Town of
Salem, I hereby do declare that you are now husband and wife.
You may kiss each other
Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you:
________________________________________
Judge Mike Langel
Copyright © 2005 [Salem Municipal Court]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
09/14/07.
