Ami Beth Sikorski

Introduction

Officiant (to guests):

Thank you for gathering here today to witness the marriage of Brooke and Marcus in the eyes of God. Your presence here for this celebration of the love between them is a gift they will treasure forever.

Officiant (to couple):

Brooke and Marcus, you stand here before your family and friends to join your individual lives into a single union. Sitting before you are two vessels of sand signifying your lives before your marriage and one currently empty vessel that your commitment to each other will soon fill.

Prayer

Uncle Came up to pray over the couple.

Vows

Officiant (to couple):

Brooke and Marcus, I invite you to share your marital vows at this time. Please face each other and recite your vows to your partner before God and all gathered here today.

Marcus, you may go first.

Partner 1: vows

Officiant (to couple):

Brooke, you may now share your vows

Partner 2: vows

Declaration of Intent

Officiant:

At this time, please join hands with one another. Marcus, do you take Brooke to be your lawfully wedded spouse?

Partner 1: I do.

Officiant: Brooke, do you take Marcus to be your lawfully wedded spouse?

Partner 2: I do.

Sand Ceremony

Officiant (to couple):

At the beginning of the ceremony, I mentioned the vessels of sand representing your individual lives and an empty vessel representing your new life together. Your marriage today may represent the beginning of a new life together as one, but it is important to remember that this beginning is not simply a clean slate. Both of you bring to this marriage years of lived experiences that have made you the people standing here today and will continue to influence your lives in your marriage. Yet our free will allows us to grow and reconceive who we are as a person throughout our lives. As you empty your personal vessel of sand into the middle vessel, consider how your life experiences have impacted your relationship with each other and also how together, united through marriage, you will continue to redefine the person you are as you navigate through life with a teammate at your side

“Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). God created you as an individual, perfect by His glory and love. But God also said that it was not good for man to be alone, and so he created woman to be his partner and helper. Today as you make a covenant before God to join in marriage, you become one flesh. You have chosen to symbolize that union with a sand ceremony.

First, I will pour in white sand, representing your faith in God as the foundation of who you are as individuals. Now Marcus, pour some of your sand, representing yourself as an individual before you came to this union. Now Brooke, also pour some of your sand, representing yourself as an individual before you came to this union. I will then pour some more white sand, representing your faith in God as the foundation of your marriage.

Then, Marcus and Brooke pour your remaining sand together to represent your joining as one in marriage completely and eternally.

Lastly, another layer of white sand represents God watching over you and protecting you with his everlasting love.

May God bless this marriage so that you are as inseparable as these grains of sand. Amen.

Ring Exchange

Officiant (to couple):

As we come to the close of the ceremony, I would like to now invite Brooke & Marcus to exchange their wedding rings with one another. Just as a circle, the very shape of your rings, is neverending, so shall be your love and commitment to each other.

Officiant (to Partner 1):

Marcus, place the ring on Brooke’s finger and repeat after me. “I give you this ring, a token of my undying love, as I give myself to you for now and for always.”

Partner 1:

I give you this ring, a token of my undying love, as I give myself to you for now and for always.

Officiant (to Partner 2):

Brooke, place the ring on Marcus’s finger and repeat after me. “I give you this ring, a token of my undying love, as I give myself to you for now and for always.”

Partner 2:

I give you this ring, a token of my undying love, as I give myself to you for now and for always.

Pronouncement

Officiant (to guests):

By the power vested in me by God, the state of Michigan and the American Marriage Ministries, I am honored to pronounce Marcus and Brooke as husband and wife! You may now seal your marriage with a kiss.

Announcement

It gives me great honor to introduce to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Marcus and Brooke Sikorski.