Reading And Unity Candle Ceremony Script

PROCESSION

• Guests are seated followed by the entrance of the Bridal Party.

INVOCATION

officiant to the reception

"Welcome everyone to the wedding ceremony of [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B]. We gather here today to celebrate the most intimate of bonds between two people, marriage. You all have been invited here not just as guests to a wedding, but as close and important witnesses of the love that [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] share."

READING

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"When reflecting on the meaning of marriage, I came across an excerpt by Daphne Rose Kingma that I'd like to share with you.

'In marriage, we say not only I love you today, but also I promise to love you tomorrow, the next day and always. In promising always, we promise each other time. We promise to exercise our love, to stretch it large enough to embrace the unforeseen realities of our future.We promise to learn to love beyond the level of our instincts and inclinations, to love in foul weather as well as good, to love in hard times as well as when we are exhilarated by the pleasures of romance. We change because of these promises, We shape ourselves according to them; we live in their midst and live differently because of them. We feel protected because of them. Our souls are protected; our hearts have come home.'"

VOWS EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE COUPLE

"[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B], you have chosen to write your vows, and it is with these words you express your binding promises to love, honor, and cherish one another. If you are ready to make these promises to each other I invite you now to face each other and declare your intentions."

• THE couple read vows they have written.

RING EXCHANGE

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"I would like to say a prayer at this time. Let us pray.

Bless, o Lord, these rings that they who five it and they who receive it may abide in thy peace and continue in thy favor until their lives end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. As a visual representation of these promises,  and  will now exchange rings, a symbol of their love and their commitment to each other."

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A
"[PARTNER A], please place the ring on [PARTNER B]'s left hand and repeat after me: With this ring I join my life to yours."

• PARTNER A REPEATS THE WORDS AS THEY PLACE THE RING ON PARTNER B'S FINGER.

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B
"[PARTNER B], please place the ring on [PARTNER A]'s left hand and repeat after me: With this ring I join my life to yours."

• PARTNER B REPEATS THE WORDS AS THEY PLACE THE RING ON PARTNER A'S FINGER.

UNITY CANDLE

OFFICIANT TO THE RECEPTION

"At this time we will light the Unity Candle. [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B], please take one of the smaller candles. Each of the candles represents you as individuals. After lighting your candles.[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] please take your candles and light the center candle together. The center candle represents your the joining of two individuals into one married couple. Each year on your anniversary you will relight your candles and relive your vows."

• THE COUPLE DOES AS INSTRUCTED.

PRONOUNCEMENT

officiant to the reception

"Now that [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER A] have exchanged their vows and rings in our presence, [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER A] have in fact pronounced themselves husband and wife.

I now have the honor to introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. [COUPLE'S MARRIED NAME]  - you may now kiss your bride!"

RECESSION

End of the Wedding Ceremony.