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Text in italics are words spoken by the Bride & Groom or Ceremony participants other than the Celebrant. Text in { } are words spoken by the Celebrant to the guests, and generally explain what is happening or about to happen in the Ceremony. Text in [ ] are actions by the Bride & Groom, Celebrant, or other Ceremony participants. All other text are words spoken by the Celebrant directly addressing the Bride & Groom, and/or the guests.
Processional
Opening Words
Welcome everyone
to the marriage of
Lia Full Name and John Full Name.
John and Lia,
it is this day you take a giant step of courage,
of commitment,
to communicate your love,
to understand and grow.
When a commitment this strong
is made by two people,
the force of that commitment,
of that love,
of that courage,
reaches out and touches all of us around you,
so that our lives are changed
and we share a part of your love.
Like a stone dropped in a still pond,
the ripples of the love from this celebration
extends and changes the world we live in.
True marriage is more than
joining the bonds of marriage for two persons.
It is the uniting of two souls
already attuned to each other.
When such a true bond already exists between man and woman,
it is fitting
that an outer acknowledgement
be made.
This acknowledgement
is the prime objective
of this gathering
and this ceremony.
We are hear to bear witness
to the entry into the closer relationship
of husband and wife
of these beloved friends
who are already one in spirit.
Remembrances
At this time,
we would like to honor the memory of Lia's Father Ed
who is here today in spirit
and in our hearts.
Celebrant's Address
John & Lia
asked me to give an address today
as part of their wedding ceremony.
I don't have the chance to give many addresses
during the course of the wedding season, so
I have to put some thought into them when I give them.
And,
as I thought about it,
I figured I would draw from my own experiences
as the basis for the address.
As some of you may know,
though most of you don't,
when I'm not performing marriages,
I am a professional Career Counselor -
so I like to give advice.
And further,
I'm a Career Counselor whose been married for 21 years,
so you know I can't resist the urge
to give John & Lia some advice
specifically
about marriage.
So that's what I'm going to do in my address today.
Lia & John,
today is the beginning
of an exciting new life together
for the two of you.
It marks the commencement of
new relationships to your families,
your friends,
and certainly to each other.
In a sense,
this marriage begins...
to complete you.
Total completeness,
however,
is a process that takes patience,
perseverance,
and the pursuit of particular principles -
principles that must be implemented
so you can achieve the oneness
that is intended
for your marriage.
So, here are five little
"pearls of wisdom"
I want to share with you
as you begin this new partnership
on your journey to total completeness.
First, LISTEN.
Listen to each other.
Try to hear what each other
is really saying.
What you say
and how you say it
is the foundation
upon which to build your marriage.
Say things that will encourage
and support
your partner.
Take the words you hear from each other
into you heart
and let them become building blocks
for a solid marriage...
stepping stones to happiness.
Communication is very important in marriage.
Take the time to talk with each other.
But more importantly,
take the time...
to listen,
for in listening,
you communicate that you value your partner's thoughts
and feelings.
Second, LEARN.
Learn from each other.
Both of you are different in many ways.
You each bring
certain abilities
and specific gifts
into this relationship.
But do not become threatened by your partner's strengths
or talents.
Join forces.
Accept their strengths
and combine them with yours
because you both have so much to give
to this marriage.
Every day will be an adventure
as you learn and understand something new
about one another.
If you learn from each other,
not only will you be better individuals,
but also
a better couple.
Your marriage will grow stronger
because of your desire
to understand your partner.
Listen, Learn, and third
LABOR
- or work.
Be willing to work
on your relationship.
Someone once said,
"Anything worth having in this life
is worth working for."
Make every effort to make this
the very best marriage on earth.
You don't find precious gems
just lying on top of the ground.
You have to dig
and work hard
to get them.
But once you find them,
they are worth every bit of effort
you made.
So too,
if you work on your relationship,
it will be like finding those precious gems,
and you'll "strike it rich"
because of all your labor.
Listen, Learn, Labor, and fourth,
LAUGH.
Learn to laugh.
Laugh at yourself,
and laugh at each other.
Laughter is good medicine!
Getting married is a serious step,
and it should be taken seriously.
But I am also serious when I say that
having fun
and being able to laugh
at our mistakes and shortcomings
goes a long way in solidifying the mortar
of this institution
we call marriage.
Studies show that laughter has a profound
and positive
effect on the body.
Indeed...
it seems laughter IS the best medicine
for a long and happy life.
I guess it can be said that he who laughs...
lasts.
So the best way to make your marriage work
is to make it play.
Listen, Learn, Labor, Laugh, and finally,
LOVE.
What is love?
And who am I to talk to you about love?
We can all see it in your eyes!
Countless songs have been sung about it.
Poems too many to number
have been penned describing it.
Books as numerous as the stars in the sky
have been authored
by both men and women
trying to help us understand it.
But love is not just something you hear about,
it's not just something you read,
it's not just something you feel...
It's something you do.
And... Love is powerful.
It can outlast anything.
Love is,
in fact,
the one thing that still stands...
when all else has failed.
And so...
LISTEN, LEARN, LABOR, LAUGH, and LOVE.
Practice these five principles
and your marriage will blossom
and grow
into a life-long partnership
that will endure the challenges of life...
and withstand the tests of time.
Charge To The Couple
{And now we will proceed with what we call the
Charge to the Couple,
where I remind Lia and John
of the importance of the commitment
they are
making to each other today.}
Lia and John,
remember to treat yourself and each other with respect,
and remind yourself often
of what brought you together today.
Give the highest priority
to the tenderness,
gentleness,
and kindness
that your marriage deserves.
When frustration and difficulty assail your marriage
- as they do to every relationship at one time or another
- focus on what still seems right between you,
not only the part that seems wrong.
This way,
when clouds of trouble
hide the sun in your lives
and you lose sight of it for a moment,
you can remember
that the sun
is still there.
And if each of you will take responsibility
for the quality of your life together,
it will be marked by abundance
and delight.
As the two of you come into this marriage
uniting you as husband and wife,
and as you this day
affirm your faith and love for one another,
I would ask that you always remember
to cherish each other
as special and unique individuals,
that you respect the thoughts,
ideas,
and suggestions
of one another.
Be able to forgive,
do not hold grudges,
and live each day
that you may share it together,
as from this day forward
you shall be each other's home,
comfort,
and refuge,
your marriage strengthened
by your love
and respect
for each other.
Just as two threads
woven in opposite directions
will form
a most beautiful tapestry,
so too
can your two lives
merged together
make a beautiful marriage.
To make your relationship work
will take love.
This is the core of your marriage
and why you are here today.
It will take trust,
to know
in your hearts
that you truly want the best
for each other.
It will take dedication
to stay open to one another
and to learn and grow together.
It will take faith
to go forward together
without knowing exactly
what the future brings.
And it will take commitment,
to hold true to the journey
you both pledge today
to share together.
Reading
{And now,
Susan Kennedy
will perform a reading}
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In the Art of Marriage:
The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding, and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
Statements Of Appreciation
[Lia Hands Bouquet to M of Honor]
[Lia and John Face Each Other and Join Hands]
{And now we come to an activity called the
Statements of Appreciation.
Here, John will proclaim what he loves about Lia,
and why he has chosen her to marry,
and Lia will do the same for John.}
John:
Lia, you are everything I could ask for in a wife.
You are thoughtful, loving, honest, and above all,
you are my friend.
I accept you now for who you are
and for who you will become. With you,
I look forward to the future, to sharing our sorrows
and celebrating our triumphs,
to learning more about each other,
and to growing old together. I want nothing more
than to share my life with you, in your loving arms.
Lia:
John, you have become my closest friend. I look forward to waking up by your side each morning, and to returning
to the warmth of your arms at the end of each day.
I love your humor, your cheerfulness, your intelligence,
your creativity, your silliness, and your peaceful nature.
I feel honored to take you as my husband,
and I know that our children will be blessed
with a wonderful father.
Together we have more strength and creativity
than we ever had on our own.
Expression of Intent
{At this time, Lia and John
will make public
their intention to marry...}
Lia,
do you take this man
to be your wedded husband,
to share your life with him,
and do you pledge that you will love,
honor,
and care for him
in tenderness and affection
through all the varying experiences
of your lives?
Lia: I do.
John,
do you take this woman
to be your wedded wife,
to share your life with her,
and do you pledge that you will love,
honor,
and care for her
in tenderness and affection
through all the varying experiences
of your lives?
John: I do.
Vows
John, and Lia,
of the billions of people who inhabit our planet,
you have found and chosen each other!
It is appropriate
that your unique relationship
brings you to the milestone
we celebrate today.
You have been through many changes together
during the past eight years,
and you remain remarkably compatible and comfortable
with each other,
sharing good cheer,
significant values,
and an enduring desire to establish your own family.
Your relationship abounds with good will.
Although you differ from one another,
you have found much of value in common:
your humor,
your ability to communicate,
your shared wish to live each moment fully.
It is now time
to make the promises,
your vows,
that will commit you to each other
from this day forth.
[Celebrant Gives Vow Card To John]
John:
Lia, I promise always to love, honor, and protect you;
to promote your dreams and aspirations;
to share in your triumphs and failures;
to be true to myselfand true to you; to cherish your laughter
and your beautiful smile; to build a loving family;
and to nurture our love forever. I say these things
with all my heart.
[Celebrant Gives Vow Card To Lia]
Lia:
John, in marrying you,
I commit to loving you unconditionally, through the ordinary, the extraordinary, and the trying moments of our lives;
communicate with you openly and honestly;
to encourage our growth - not only as a couple,
but as individuals;
to create a strong and loving family together;
and to be your best friend, your lover, and your wife.
Blessing of the Rings
[Celebrant Takes Rings From Pillow of Ring Bearer, Connor]
{And now,
before John and Lia exchange their wedding rings
I'd like to say some words
about the importance
and symbolism
of these rings}
Rings are an ancient symbol,
blessed and simple.
Circles -
for love that is given
comes back around.
Round like the sun,
like a perfect pearl,
like arms that embrace.
Therefore,
may these symbols remind you,
John and Lia,
that your love,
like the sun,
illuminates;
that your love,
like the pearl,
grows in luster;
and that your love,
like arms that embrace,
is a grace upon this world.
May you wear them in peace
and deepening love.
Exchange Of The Rings
{And now,
John and Lia
will exchange their wedding rings}
[Celebrant Gives Ring Vow Card To John]
[Celebrant Hands Lia's Ring to John]
John, please place the ring on the tip of Lia's finger,
and recite your ring vows...
John:
I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.
[Celebrant Gives Ring Vow Card To Lia]
[Celebrant Hands John's Ring to Lia]
Lia, please place the ring on the tip of John's finger,
and recite your ring vows...
Lia:
I give you this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness.
Crystals Ritual
{And now, Lia and John will perform what is called
the Crystals Ritual...}
[Celebrant directs John & Lia to proceed to the Crystals Table]
[Celebrant cues Musician to Start Ritual Music]
John and Lia,
you have just sealed your relationship
by your vows,
and the giving and receiving
of your wedding rings,
and this covenant
is a relationship pledge between two people
who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives.
The most beautiful example of this partnership is
the marriage relationship.
You have committed here today
to share the rest of your lives
with each other.
Today,
this relationship is symbolized
through the pouring of these two individual containers
of Crystals into one.
One container
representing you, John
and all that you were,
all that you are,
and all that you will ever be,
and the other representing you, Lia,
and all that you were,
and all that you are,
and all that you will ever be.
As these two containers of Crystals
are poured into the third container,
the individual containers of Crystals
will no longer exist,
but will be joined together as one.
John & Lia,
please pour your individual containers of crystals
into the third container.
[Lia and John pour sand into container]
John & Lia,
just as these Crystals
can never be separated and poured again
into the individual containers,
so will your marriage be.
[Celebrant directs Lia and John to proceed back
to original positions]
[Celebrant cues Musician to End Ritual Music]
Pronouncement of Marriage
[Lia Takes Bouquet back from M of Honor]
{At this time we come to the Pronouncement of Marriage.
The Pronouncement is my public, and legal, proclamation
that Lia and John are married.
It is the exact moment
of Marriage...}
John and Lia,
now that you have heard the words about love and marriage,
now that you have shown us the example of your love
and celebrated your union
by reciting your vows,
giving each other your beautiful rings,
and performing the Crystals Ritual
it is with great joy and happiness
that I now pronounce you
husband and wife.
Permission to Kiss
[Celebrant says nothing, Lia & John Kiss]
Good Wishes
These two lives are now joined
in one unbroken circle.
Wherever they go,
may they always return to one another
in their togetherness.
May these two find in each other
the love
for which all men and women
long.
May they grow in understanding
and in compassion.
May the home that they establish
be such a place of sanctuary
that man will find there a friend.
And may their two rings
symbolize the spirit of undying love
in the hearts
of both of them.
Presentation of the New Couple
[Lia and John Turn and Face Their Guests]
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to present to you...
John & Lia Last Name!
Recessional
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You have committed here today
to share the rest of your lives
with each other.
Today, this relationship is symbolized
through the pouring of these two individual containers of Crystals
into one.
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BLUE SKY WEDDING CEREMONY INFORMATION
