Sample Religious Ceremonies
Greeting, vow and ring exchange, concluding statement.
Greeting
We are gathered here to celebrate the marriage of Marco and Maria and to support them in making this important commitment. Happy is the day when love joins two separate lives into one, even as God is one with his people. God created us for togetherness and looks with favor upon the sacred covenant made between a husband and wife.
Optional: Who presents this woman in marriage?
Ordained by God at the point of creation, and urged by the very nature of our being, marriage is an ancient and honorable relationship. Our Lord, Jesus Christ blessed this sacred union by His presence at a wedding in Cana in Galilee. It was here that he performed his first miracle by changing the water into wine. Perhaps this is deeply symbolic … that in marriage we have the opportunity to learn to change our more personal, selfish love into the richness and warmth of a more mature love, a greater love that is all-encompassing, compassionate, unconditional and divine.
Marco and Maria, you are about to launch upon an experience that is filled with pleasure, excitement and even risk, from this day forward, you must decide what it means to you to be husband and wife and to come to a deep personal understanding of that commitment.
The purity of the words and emotions you express today come easily, but nothing is more challenging than living them day after day. What you promise today must be renewed tomorrow. In your new roles as husband and wife, both of you must work diligently year after year to keep your love alive and strong.
It is with great pleasure that those of us present can share these significant moments with you. We pray that your marriage will be a pillar of strength to all who know you. May the Almighty bless you and keep you under His constant care.
Let us pray: Almighty and Infinite God, whose presence is the happiness of every condition and sanctifies every relationship, bless us today in the uniting of these two souls. Grant unto them Thy grace, so that they may enjoy the comforts and pleasures, undergo courageously the cares, and faithfully perform the duties of their new life. Lift up their hearts and minds now, that they might fully appreciate the solemnity of this occasion and the primary spiritual basis of their union. Amen.
Vow and Ring Exchange
Marco and Maria, please face each other joining both hands.
Marco, will you take Maria to be your wife, to live together in the holy bond of marriage, and will you promise in the presence of God and these witnesses to love and comfort her, honor and cherish her, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?
Maria, will you take Marco to be your husband, to live together in the holy bond of marriage, and will you promise in the presence of God and these witnesses to love and comfort him, honor and cherish him, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?
Please bring the rings forward. The circle has long been the symbol of the eternal quality of God, without beginning or end and with no point of weakness. Thus these rings serve to remind us of the relationship Maria and Marco have with God as well as their relationship with each other.
Marco, as you place this ring on Maria’s finger repeat after me. Maria, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you, my covenant to be your husband and to be faithful to you, and as a reminder of God’s presence in our lives.
Maria, as you place this ring on Marco’s finger repeat after me. Marco, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you, my covenant to be your wife, and to be faithful to you, and as a reminder of God’s presence in our lives.
The vows that have been exchanged by Maria and Marco, have been confirmed by all those present. Words are so often fleeting and the sound of them soon gone. Therefore, the wedding ring becomes an enduring symbol of the promises that have been made.
Let us pray. We praise thee, Our Lord, for the deep love that draws the two together in this sacred bond of matrimony, causing them to establish a home where happiness and truth abide. Almighty Father, let them be ever conscious of your love and faithfulness as they are faithful to one another. Help them to keep the fresh idealism and spirituality of this hour. Bless them by their love for one another and by your presence in their new union. Amen
Concluding Statement
Maria, please place your right hand into Marco’s right hand, then his left hand covering yours as a sign of his undying protection and devotion to you, then your hand over his as a symbol of the warmth and comfort you bring to him.
As you start your life together, we wish for you a love that makes both of you better people; the kind of love that will continue to give you a joy and a passion for living, and provide you with the energy and courage to face the responsibilities of your new life together.
We wish for you a home; not just a place of stucco and wood, but an island of sanity and serenity in a frenzied world; a place where you can truly be yourselves and openly share and express all of your hopes, dreams, struggles and successes. We hope that this home is not just a place of private joy and retreat, but rather one that serves as a temple wherein the values of your lives are generated and upheld; a place where family and friends feel welcomed and uplifted. We hope that your home stands as a symbol of individuals living together devoted to a marriage and life filled with love and peace.
Marco and Maria, be merciful, kind, supportive, and loving to each other. Accept life as a gift from God and your marriage as an opportunity for growth and fulfillment. Be patient with one another. Forgive freely as the Lord has forgiven you. Above everything else, I ask that you be truly loving because it is in the softening of our hearts that we can truly sense the presence of The Almighty. Let sweetness and hope rule in your hearts and in your marriage, remembering that you have promised this day to live in harmony and love forever. And never forget to be thankful for what God has given you in each other.
And now by the authority vested in me by the State of California and through the power of The Holy Spirit who performs every true marriage... I pronounce you husband and wife.
Marco, to seal this union, you may kiss your beautiful bride.
I would like to introduce the new Mr. and Mrs. Marco Sanchez.
Home Packages Gallery Locations Extras FAQ's Marriage License Military Specials Beach Weddings Links
Copyright © 2012 • Shades of You Wedding Services • 4428 Caminito Cristalino, San Diego CA 92117 • (619) 807-8537 • Email Us - Sitemap
