Ceremony
Because I'm a glutton for punishment and haven't DIY'd enough of this wedding already, I wrote our entire ceremony, too. I borrowed bits and pieces from all over the internet. A family friend is officiating, and he's never been an officiant before, so hopefully it all goes smoothly. Anyway, here it is!
Officiant – Greeting
Welcome friends and family. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Vicki and Jordan. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Vicki and Jordan to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.
Officiant
Who gives this woman to this man?
Dad
Her mother and I do.
Officiant
You never know the biggest day of your life is the biggest day. Not until it's happening. You don't recognize the biggest day of your life, not until you're right in the middle of it. The day you commit to something or someone, the day you meet your soul mate, the day all your dreams come true. The day you realize there's not enough time, because you want to live forever. Those are the biggest days. The perfect days.
Reading by FSIL
Officiant
(The Union, Robert Fulghum)
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past six years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.
For after today you shall say to the world – This is my husband. This is my wife.
Officiant – Declaration of Intent
Vicki, will you take this man whose hand you now hold, choosing him alone to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, showing kindness, understanding and respect throughout your lives– I will
Jordan, will you take this woman whose hand you now hold, choosing her alone to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, showing kindness, understanding and respect throughout your lives? – I will
Reading by Godparents
Officiant - Vows
Vicki, please repeat after me.
I Vicki, take you Jordan
To be my lawfully wedded husband
To have and to hold
From this day forward
For better or for worse
For richer or for poorer
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish
Now, always, and forever
Jordan, please repeat after me.
I Jordan, take you Vicki
To be my lawfully wedded husband
To have and to hold
From this day forward
For better or for worse
For richer or for poorer
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish
Now, always, and forever
Reading by Jordan's Cousins
Officiant – Exchange of Rings
From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness and a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending.
The wearing of a wedding ring is the outer symbol of your inner commitment. It says to all of the world that “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
As often as either of you looks at this symbol, I hope that you will be reminded of the commitment to love each other, which you have made today.
Repeat after me
(Jordan)
I give you this ring to wear with love and joy.
As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.
I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore.
(Vicki)
I give you this ring to wear with love and joy.
As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.
I choose you to be my husband this day and forevermore.
Officiant – Pronouncement
Vicki and Jordan, you have shared this moment and these promises with your family and friends, as a symbol of deeply loving each other. You have formed your own union in friendship and respect for one another as well as in love.
By the authority vested in me by the State of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jordan, you may kiss your bride.
It is my pleasure to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Lastname!
Officiant – Greeting
Welcome friends and family. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Vicki and Jordan. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Vicki and Jordan to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.
Officiant
Who gives this woman to this man?
Dad
Her mother and I do.
Officiant
You never know the biggest day of your life is the biggest day. Not until it's happening. You don't recognize the biggest day of your life, not until you're right in the middle of it. The day you commit to something or someone, the day you meet your soul mate, the day all your dreams come true. The day you realize there's not enough time, because you want to live forever. Those are the biggest days. The perfect days.
Reading by FSIL
Officiant
(The Union, Robert Fulghum)
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.
The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past six years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.
For after today you shall say to the world – This is my husband. This is my wife.
Officiant – Declaration of Intent
Vicki, will you take this man whose hand you now hold, choosing him alone to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, showing kindness, understanding and respect throughout your lives– I will
Jordan, will you take this woman whose hand you now hold, choosing her alone to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, showing kindness, understanding and respect throughout your lives? – I will
Reading by Godparents
Officiant - Vows
Vicki, please repeat after me.
I Vicki, take you Jordan
To be my lawfully wedded husband
To have and to hold
From this day forward
For better or for worse
For richer or for poorer
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish
Now, always, and forever
Jordan, please repeat after me.
I Jordan, take you Vicki
To be my lawfully wedded husband
To have and to hold
From this day forward
For better or for worse
For richer or for poorer
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish
Now, always, and forever
Reading by Jordan's Cousins
Officiant – Exchange of Rings
From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness and a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending.
The wearing of a wedding ring is the outer symbol of your inner commitment. It says to all of the world that “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
As often as either of you looks at this symbol, I hope that you will be reminded of the commitment to love each other, which you have made today.
Repeat after me
(Jordan)
I give you this ring to wear with love and joy.
As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.
I choose you to be my wife this day and forevermore.
(Vicki)
I give you this ring to wear with love and joy.
As a ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.
I choose you to be my husband this day and forevermore.
Officiant – Pronouncement
Vicki and Jordan, you have shared this moment and these promises with your family and friends, as a symbol of deeply loving each other. You have formed your own union in friendship and respect for one another as well as in love.
By the authority vested in me by the State of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jordan, you may kiss your bride.
It is my pleasure to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Lastname!