Michael Lee Holtgrave

PROCESSION

The ceremony begins.

GREETING & INVOCATION

Officiant to the Couple and Reception

Welcome family and friends, thank you for being here to share this special day with (Partner One) and (Partner Two) as we celebrate their love and forever commitment to each other.

I also want to mention (Children’s Names), as they are on this journey too. (Partner One) and (Partner Two), remember to teach each of them with love and patience, because they will look to you for guidance in their lives as they grow.

After meeting through online dating, (Partner One) and (Partner Two), you created a strong bond, making your relationship work during COVID even in your tiny apartment.

To keep your relationship strong, I encourage you to continue to be firm in your faith, which will lead to oneness in your hearts.

Your union brings with it love, joy, and happiness. Love is the greatest gift God gave us all, and I encourage everyone here to share their love every day with those around you.

(Partner Two) and (Partner One), remember the joy you have today and the love you have for each other, which will continue to grow as time passes.

I encourage you to always remember this Bible verse from Corinthians, which gives us the best description of love:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things [and most of all, your love can] endure all things."

DECLARATION OF INTENT & VOWS

Officiant to the Couple

Your vows are your verbal affirmation to marry, and your promise of forever to each other.

Officiant to Partner One

(Partner One), do you wish to marry (Partner Two)?

Partner One

I do.

Officiant to Partner One

Repeat after me:

I, (Partner One), take (Partner Two),

to forever be my wedded (wife/ husband/ partner)

from this day forward,

in sickness and in health,

and to love and cherish as long as we both shall live.

Partner One repeats each section as it's spoken

Officiant to Partner Two

(Partner Two), do you wish to marry (Partner One)?

Partner Two

I do.

Officiant to Partner Two

Repeat after me:

I, (Partner Two), take (Partner One),

to forever be my wedded (wife/ husband/ partner)

from this day forward,

in sickness and in health,

and to love and cherish as long as we both shall live.

Partner two repeats each section as it's spoken

RING EXCHANGE

Officiant to the Couple

Your rings are a symbol to the world of your marriage, but they are also a symbol of your love for each other, so I want to encourage you when you look at your ring to remember your love for each other.

You may exchange them now.

The couple exchanges rings.

MARRIAGE PRAYER

Officiant to the Couple and the Reception

Let us bow our heads and pray a blessing on this marriage:

Bless their marriage, O God, as they begin their journey down the road of life together. We don’t know what lies ahead for the road turns and bends. But help them to make the best of whatever comes their way.

Help them to continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met. Help them to realize that nothing nor no one is perfect and to look for the good in all things and all people including themselves.

Help them to respect each other’s likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams and fears even though they may not always understand them.

Help them to learn from each other and to help each other to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Help them to realize that no matter what happens to them they will hold on to each other and know that things have a way of working out for the good.

Help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives.

But most of all, dear God, help them to keep lit the torch of love’ that they now share so that by their loving example they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children’s children forever.

Amen

CLOSING WORDS

Officiant to the Couple

(Partner One) and (Partner Two), as you stand here holding hands, I want to remind you that these are the hands of your best friend, a person vibrant with love, that will be there to catch you when you fall, that will lift you up when you are down, and celebrate the good times. From this day forward, remember to always hold each other’s hand.

I also want to encourage you both to spend time together, go listen to live music, attend another CMA festival and try not to get trampled by people from all over the world, go on vacations, take lots of pictures, and most of all, celebrate the love you have for each other.

Keep making memories that years from now you will look back on and celebrate the life and love you have together. Remember the traits you love in each other for those are the reasons you fell in love.

(Partner One) and (Partner Two) remember today and the loved ones you got to celebrate it with. Today is a celebration of your love for each other as (husband and wife / or any variation of partners).

PRONOUNCEMENT & INTRODUCTION

Officiant to the Couple

(Partner One) and (Partner Two), I pronounce you married! You may now kiss!

Officiant to the Reception

Let’s celebrate with (Mr. and Mrs. Smith / any variation of introduction the couple prefers)!

RECESSION

The ceremony ends.