| Sample Ceremony I – Sharon Kadinksy and Timothy Golding Example of a wedding ceremony incorporating the pieces from New Words for Weddings Volume 1. This ceremony is reasonably brief and traditional.
Introduction:
Celebrant:
Good afternoon everyone. My name is Melanie James and I welcome you all here today to witness the joining of Sharon Kadinsky and Timothy Golding in marriage.
Sharon and Timothy, you care deeply for one another and you see this wedding as the opportunity to declare before us all your love, and your intention to live together as husband and wife.
The joy of Sharon and Timothy's love touches us all, and we a privileged to be here to today to celebrate their happiness.
Sharon and Timothy see this ceremony today as a stronger commitment to their relationship. They have called you together, their family and friends, to make this commitment clear to you and to call on your acknowledgement and support.
This ceremony gives public recognition to their love.
Love makes burdens lighter because you divide them; it makes joys more intense because you share them. It makes you stronger so you can reach out and live life in ways you would never dare to risk on your own.
Love is an experience that we share with all people throughout the world. Yet to everyone who falls in love it is the most unique and precious thing in the world.
Sharon and Timothy, you have chosen words written by Melanie James, called Proclamation, to help express the way you feel today as you commence your married life together.
They are marrying each other today
Because they truly want to live
The words of this marriage ceremony.
They take each other for all time,
They will care and nurture each other;
Hold each other
Through good times and bad.
They will show through the way
They live together,
That they honour and cherish each other.
They want their lives to proclaim always
The love they speak before us today.
Official statement:
Before we proceed further I am obliged to inform you that I am duly authorised by law to conduct marriages according to the law.
Before you are joined in marriage in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, I am obliged to remind you of the solemn and binding nature of the relationship into which you are about to enter.
Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
Giving away of the bride:
A noted writer and marriage celebrant, Dally Messenger, said that one of the most understated but deepest relationships in human life is that between a caring father and a loving daughter.
He noted that one of the rare occasions that this relationship is acknowledged is at a wedding ceremony.
Peter, today, represents his family, but in this special gesture, he symbolises his own love for his daughter. So it is with great pleasure that that I now ask, who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Peter: I do.
Peter places Sharon's hand in Timothy's hand and then returns to the other guests.
The Asking
Sharon and Timothy before we proceed, I ask you whether you are both here today giving yourself freely to one another in marriage.
Sharon and Timothy: We are.
Celebrant to Timothy:
Timothy Golding, do you take Sharon Kadinsky to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep only unto her, so long as you both shall live?
Timothy: I do
Celebrant to Sharon:
Sharon Kadinsky, do you take Timothy Golding to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep only unto him, so long as you both shall live?
Sharon: I do
Celebrant:
I ask now that you face each other and hold hands as you take your vows.
Timothy, please repeat after me:
I call upon the persons here present to witness that I Timothy, take you, Sharon, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as we both shall live and hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
(name of bride), please repeat after me:
I call upon the persons here present to witness that I Sharon, take you, Timothy, to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish for as long as we both shall live, and hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
Symbols of Unity – The Rings
Sharon and Timothy, you have exchanged vows declaring your commitment as husband and wife, I now ask you to exchange the wedding rings that are a symbol of your love and unity.
(Sharon and Timothy stay in the same position, the celebrant will take the bride's ring from the best man and give it to the groom, who holds it over the tip of the bride's ring finger on the left hand, and repeats the words, phrase by phrase, after the celebrant.
The groom then slides the ring onto the bride's finger.
This is then repeated by the bride for the groom's ring.
Timothy:
Sharon, with this ring I wed you. Take it and wear it as a sign of my love and faithfulness.
Sharon:
Timothy, with this ring I wed you. Take it and wear it as a sign of my love and faithfulness.
Celebrant:
"These rings tell the world that you have publicly declared your love for each other.
These rings hold in them forever the happiness and joy felt by each of you today.
These rings will stay with you always and symbolise your unity.
These rings honour you and show your pride in your commitment to this marriage." (words by Melanie James acknowledged in service
booklet but not during the service)
Celebrant:
I would now like to read a poem called, Vessel of Love:
From here you are one, but two;
Like decantered wine you've poured
Your souls into one vessel -
Tall and generous to hold this great love;
Blended and enhanced by the union;
Still able to be poured into separate glasses
When you need to fly solo;
But safe in knowing you are
Part of this vast vessel of love.
And so Timothy and Sharon have declared before us today their commitment to each other.
They have made special promises and have symbolised their union with the exchanging of rings.
By the power vested in me as an authorised marriage celebrant, I now declare Timothy and Sharon to be husband and wife.
Timothy, you may now kiss the bride.
Signing of the register - The register and marriage certificate are signed. Bride signs, then groom, then bridesmaid, then best man, then celebrant.
The celebrant will then present the couple with their marriage certificate.
Ladies and Gentleman, please congratulate the bride and groom, Mr and Mrs Golding.
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