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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 to Bagpipes
Opening Words
[Father Remains Up Front]
Good afternoon,
We are gathered here
in the presence of God and of this company
to join in holy marriage
Christine Full Name and Douglas Full Name.
Presentation of the Bride
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Christine's Father: Her mother and I do.
[Bride's Father Returns to Seat]
Opening Prayer
{Let us bless this joyous union with prayer.
Please bow your heads}
God of light,
who gives us the longing for love
and the capability of loving,
we give you thanks for Christine and Doug,
for their open hearts
and willing spirits,
and for the example of love
that they embody here
in our presence.
Be with them
on this joyous occasion
of showing their love
and making their vows;
and be with us,
their witnesses,
that we may all be changed
by what is said
and witnessed
here.
Handbinding Ritual
{Now, we are going to perform a ritual called
a Handbinding.}
[Christine Hands Bouquet to Maid of Honor Lauren]
[Christine & Doug Face Each Other and Join Hands]
In ancient Celtic culture,
couples announce their marriage through what is called
a Handbinding.
When a couple joins hands and takes on a new life together, their destinies are tied
into one future.
This tradition includes a cord
to symbolize that as husband and wife,
Douglas and Christine
will be bound together
as one family.
[Celebrant Holds Ribbon Up so Guests can See It]
The Ribbon we will be using today is a handkerchief from Christine's Grandmother.
Douglas and Christine have chosen to unite their hands
and hearts
into one life.
[Celebrant ties Christine's and Doug's Hands in a Bow with Ribbon]
Notice that each person is still an individual but now they are working together.
Douglas and Christine,
as your hands are bound together now,
so your lives
and spirits
are joined in a union of love
and trust.
Above you are the stars
and below you is the earth.
Like the stars
your love should be a constant source
of light,
and the earth,
a firm foundation
from which to grow.
[Celebrant Unties Hands
and Drapes Ribbon on Podium Under Book]
Prayer/Charge To The Couple
Dear God,
look mercifully upon your children,
Christine and Doug,
and be generous with them,
so that
in the unfolding veils of time,
they may truly stand for one another
as emblems
of the incarnation
of your love.
Give them a sense of joy,
excitement,
possibility,
and challenge about what they are undertaking here,
the ever-unfolding and beautiful work
of refining their spirits in the presence of each other's witness,
of becoming the bearers of your love.
And knowing that this is a high
and often difficult work -
that its rewards are uncommon,
invisible often in ordinary day-to-day life,
we pray for them
the benediction of company,
the encouragement of witnesses,
the boundless joy of living always in the midst of love.
Give them peace of heart
and strength of spirit
so they may honor the vows
they make here today.
And may the promises they make
inspire and instruct each one of us
who celebrates with them.
Amen.
Reading by Celebrant
On this blessed day,
we celebrate the Celtic spirit of
A-num Ca-ra.
A-num Ca-ra is translated from the Gaelic as
"soul friend."
By entering into a partnership with you're
A-num Ca-ra,
you are joined in an ancient and eternal way
with this person
whom you cherish.
In everyone's life there is a soul mate
whose love embraces us.
We recognize today
the soul mate that Doug and Christine
have found
in each other.
They will now recite their own vows
in this spirit.
Vows
[Doug takes Vow Card from Tux and Reads Vows]
[Celebrant Hands Vow Card to Christine, who then Reads Vows]
Expression of Intent
{Now, Doug & Christine will make public
their intention to marry.}
Doug,
will you have this woman to be your wedded wife,
to live together in the holy estate of matrimony?
Will you love her,
comfort her,
honor and keep her
in sickness and in health,
and, forsaking all others,
keep you only unto her,
so long as you both shall live?
Doug: I will.
Christine,
will you have this man to be your wedded husband,
to live together in the holy estate of matrimony?
Will you love him,
comfort him,
honor and keep him
in sickness and in health,
and, forsaking all others,
keep you only unto him,
so long as you both shall live?
Christine: I will.
Blessing of the Rings
[Celebrant asks Best Man Jimmy for the Rings]
{And now,
before Doug and Christine exchange their wedding rings
I'd like to say some words
about the importance
and symbolism
of these rings}
A circle is the symbol of the sun,
the earth,
and the universe.
It is a symbol of holiness
and of perfection
and of peace.
In these rings
it is the symbol of unity,
in which your lives
are now joined
in one unbroken circle,
in which,
wherever you go,
you will always return to one another
and to your togetherness.
Exchange Of The Rings
{And now,
Doug & Christine
will exchange their wedding rings.}
[Celebrant Hands Christine's Ring to Doug]
Doug, take Christine's Ring and place it on the tip of her finger
and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you has no end.
Just as the ring endures, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I take you to be my trusted confidante
and partner for life.
[Celebrant Hands Doug's Ring to Christine]
Christine, take Doug's Ring and place it on the tip of his finger
and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you has no end.
Just as the ring endures, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I take you to be my trusted confidante
and partner for life.
Pronouncement of Marriage
{At this time we come to the Pronouncement of Marriage.
The Pronouncement is my public, and legal, proclamation
that Christine and Doug are married.
It is the exact moment
of Marriage...}
Doug and Christine,
in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together
in Matrimony,
have promised your love for each other
by your vows,
the joining of your hands,
and the giving of these rings,
I now declare you to be
husband and wife.
Permission to Kiss
You may kiss the bride!
Presentation of the New Couple
[Christine Takes Bouquet back from M of Honor]
[Celebrant Asks Christine and Doug to Turn and Face Their Guests]
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to present to you...
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Last Name!
Recessional to Bagpipes
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Douglas and Christine,
as your hands are bound together now,
so your lives
and spirits
are joined in a union of love
and trust.
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