Wedding Ceremony

By ULC Wedding Ceremony

ULC Wedding Ceremony The following ceremony has been described as the most beautiful ever witnessed. Feel free to use it in your wedding, and to edit it as you wish. It is non-denominational, but does not neglect the spiritual aspect of marriage, and is perfect for use in an interfaith marriage, or for any wedding solemnized by a Universal Life Church minister. If it were possible to begin this ceremony by gathering together all the wishes of happiness for and from all present here . . . if we could gather together those precious wishes of affection and our very fondest hopes and turn them into music, we would be listening now to a most inspiring anthem, composed of the most harmonious notes possible to produce. Even though this is not possible, just speaking of it should assure_________ and_________that our hearts are attuned to theirs in these moments so meaningful to all of us. For what greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness. Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between the parties. It has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between two human beings; the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention since no earthly happiness exceeds that of a reciprocal satisfaction in the conjugal state. Marriage should be a life-long consecration to the ideal of loving kindness, backed with the will to make it last. True love gives nothing but itself and takes nothing but from itself. Love does not possess, nor would it be possessed. For love is sufficient unto love. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. To awake at dawn with a winged heart and Give thanks for another day of loving. To rest at noon and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude, And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart And a song of praise upon your lips. _____________ will you take ____________ to be your wedded wife, to love, to cherish, to continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion? (Groom replies "I will") And _____________will you take_______________ to be your wedded husband, to love, to cherish, to continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion? (Bride replies "I will") Please hold hands and repeat after me: "__________, you are consecrated to me now as my wife from this day forward, to love, to cherish and to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, in sadness and in joy, to share together as long as we both shall love. Amen." And,_____________, you are consecrated to me now as my husband, from this day forward, to love and cherish, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, in sadness and in joy, to care and share together as long as we both shall love. Amen" What token of your devotion do you offer your beloved? (bride and groom retrieve rings from best man and maid of honor, handing them to minister). May these rings be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity. 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 yearn. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place of sanctuary that many will find there a friend. May these rings, on their fingers, symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in the heart. (Minister hands ring to groom) ________, in placing this ring on _______'s finger, repeat after me: "I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity. Amen" (groom places ring on bride's finger) (Minister hands other ring to bride) ________, in placing this ring on _______'s finger, repeat after me: "I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity. Amen" (bride places ring on groom's finger) Inasmuch as _______ and ________ have consented together in marriage before this company; have pledged their faith and declared their unity by each giving and receiving a ring -- and are now joined in mutual esteem and devotion, I, as an ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church, pronounce that they are husband and wife together -- and offer them the Benediction of the Apaches: Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness for you. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two bodies, But there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, To enter into the days of your togetherness. And may your days be good and long upon the earth. ******************** The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar