We have come
together here in celebration of the joining together of
Bride and Groom. There are many things to say about marriage. Much
wisdom
concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through
all
paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more
knowledge is
gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this
knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with
them the
knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom
that
comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love,
life is
nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to
Life,
posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If
we learn
no more in life, let it be this.
Marriage is
a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought
and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups
and its
downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this,
Groom and
Bride have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others
would ask,
at this time, who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a woman is not
property
to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of
her own
will and if she has her family's blessing.
Bride, is it
true that you come of your own free will and accord?
[BRIDE] Yes,
it is true.
[Officiant]
With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you.
[FATHER] She
comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her
family's blessings.
[Officiant]
Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that
which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the
stones, as
time doth pass, remember...
Like a stone
should your love be firm like a star should your love be
constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in
your
marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the
power of
love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication
make you
inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be
understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come,
but they
will pass quickly.
Be free in
giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the
ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for God is with you always.
Groom, I
have not the right to bind thee to Bride, only you have this
right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in
her hand.
[GROOM] It
is my wish.
[Officiant]
Bride, if it be your wish for Groom to be bound to you,
place the ring on his finger. (places ring on Groom's left ring finger)
Bride I
have not the right to bind thee to Groom only you have this right. If
it be
your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand.
[BRIDE] It
is my wish.
[PRIEST]
Groom, if it be your wish for Bride to be bound to you, place the
ring on her finger.(places ring on Bride's left ring finger) (to Groom)
Repeat
after me:
I, (grooms
full name), in the name of the spirit of God that resides
within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love
that
resides within my heart, take thee (bride's full name) to my hand, my
heart,
and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by
thee, to
possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for
naught can
exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly
and
completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and
in
poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love
again. I
shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy
beliefs,
thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.
(to Bride)
I
(bride's full name), in the name of the spirit of God that resides
within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love
that
resides within my heart, take thee, (Groom's full name) to my hand, my
heart,
and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to
possess
thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can
exist in
the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and
completely
without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty,
in life
and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not
seek to
change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people,
and thy
ways as I respect myself.
[Officiant]
(hands
chalice to the groom, saying:) May you drink your fill from the
cup of love.
(Groom holds
chalice to bride while she sips then bride takes chalice
and holds it to groom while he sips. The chalice is then handed back to
the
Priest who sets it on the table. Next the Priest takes the plate of
bread,
giving it to the groom. Same procedure repeated with bread, groom
feeding bride
and bride feeding groom.)
Dear
friends and family, since Groom and Bride have thus pledged themselves
in the
presence of this company and they have spoken the words and performed
the rites
which unite their lives, I do now, by the powers vested in me by the
laws of
the State of Kansas/Missouri, pronounce that you are husband and wife.
Groom,
you may now kiss Bride.
I
present to you Mr. & Mrs. Groom
(or Bride & Groom).