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Welcome on behalf of the couple


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Friends, we have come here today to celebrate love.

We see it in the faces of ______________ and ____________ who stand before us, but we experience it in our own hearts as well. This love is powerful enough to untie the strong entangled knot of life. It is a love which is spoken of in all religions, which kindles our souls with hope and which is our true home, our true meeting place.

___________ and __________ have opened their hearts to one another, and today in just a few moments will share their vows of marriage together. We are deeply grateful to them for opening their hearts to us as well, inviting us to witness and share in this precious moment. To this day they bring the fullness of their being as a treasure to share with one another. Their marriage is being entered into reverently, with the recognition of a true union which has been discovered. For what greater joy is there for two human souls than to join together to strengthen each other in all their endeavors, to support each other through all sorrow, and to share with each other in all gladness?

We hope that the words and spirit of our gathering may be filled with a truth that will deepen with the passing years. We hope, too, that the meaning of the vows that ______ and _______ are about to share with one another will deepen as well, as they discover the endless possibilities of this life together.

This is a love which need not be tarnished by common events, but which can flower both in deepest adversity and in greatest joy. As the years go by, you will find more and more in one another a loveliness which neither comes nor goes, which neither flowers nor fades, no longer even taking the form of face or hand or words or knowing. Everything in your marriage can partake of this mysterious beauty beyond beauty, until wherever you turn you see reflections of this loveliness.

We ask that the vision you have of one another be always informed by that radiant power which first brought you together. Love is stronger than your conflicts, bigger than life's changes, the miracle always inviting you to learn, to blossom, to expand. It is to love that you must always return

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Good evening, and welcome to the ceremony that will unite _____ and ______ in marriage.

We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction.

Today _____ and ______ proclaim their love to the world, and we rejoice with and for them. In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are _____ and ______’s community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because _____ and _____ are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way.

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We are here to participate in a wedding. By this act we unite __________ and __________ as husband and wife. What we do today is done in conformity to the laws of the state of _____________ and in the tradition of men and women of all places and times.

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Welcome to the Celebration of Marriage

Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose comradeship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance. Today ___________ and__________ proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.

The joy we feel now is a solemn joy, because the act of marriage has many consequences, both social and personal. Marriage requires "love," a word we often use with vagueness and sentimentality. We may assume that love is some rare and mystical event, when in fact it is our natural state of being.

So what do we mean by love? When we love, we see things other people do not see. We see beneath the surface, to the qualities which make our beloved special and unique. To see with loving eyes, is to know inner beauty. And to be loved is to be seen, and known, as we are known to no other. One who loves us, gives us a unique gift: a piece of ourselves, but a piece that only they could give us.

We who love, can look at each other's life and say, "I touched his life," or, "I touched her life," just as an artist might say, "I touched this canvas." "Those brushstrokes in the comer of this magnificent mural, those are mine. I was a part of this life, and it is a part of me." Marriage is to belong to each other through a unique and diverse collaboration, like two threads crossing in different directions, yet weaving one tapestry together.

The secret of love and marriage is similar to that of religion itself. It is the emergence of the larger self. It is the finding of one's life by losing it. Such is the privilege of husband and wife - to be each himself, herself and yet another; to face the world strong, with the courage of two.

To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They are not a destination, but a journey.

The true art of married life is in this an inner spiritual journey. It is a mutual enrichment, a give and take between two personalities, a mingling of two endowments which diminishes neither, but enhances both.

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___________ and ___________ have found with each other a very special relationship.

A relationship in which each person's individuality is enhanced by the other. A relationship in which each person can express his or her emotions without fear of being judged by the other. A relationship where they openly share not only the joys of their successes but also the sorrows of their failures;   A relationship filled with mutual trust, respect, and love. Marriage symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives; it is this sharing which enhances each partner. A successful partnership always leaves room in which to grow, while it cultivates flexibility, patience, and understanding. This is the essence of the commitment and covenant being made here today.

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___________ and __________ have opened their hearts to one another, and today in just a few moments will share their vows of marriage together. We are deeply grateful to them for opening their hearts to us as well, inviting us to witness and share in this precious moment. To this day they bring the fullness of their being as a treasure to share with one another. Their marriage is being entered into reverently, with the recognition of a true union which has been discovered. For what greater joy is there for two human souls than to join together to strengthen each other in all their endeavors.

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We are gathered here to join __________ and ____________ in marriage. It is fitting and appropriate that you, the families and friends of _____________ and ____________ be here to witness and to participate in their wedding, for the ideals, the understanding, and the mutual respect which they bring to their marriage have their roots in the love, friendship, and guidance you have given them. Marriage makes us aware of the changes wrought by time, but the new relationship will continue to draw much of its beauty and meaning from the intimate associations of the past.

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________ and _______, today is a day that will change your lives forever, for today, you formally and publicly enter into a covenant relationship. Christ instructs those who enter into this relationship to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other; to pray for and encourage each other in things which pertain to God; and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life.

The church sees marriage as a covenant, a covenant between yourselves and a covenant with God. In this special union you are saying, "Yes, yes, yes" to each other in a unique way: "Yes--I will spend the rest of my life with you. Yes--we depend on a love beyond our own to sustain our love, knowing that to continue to love has its source in God, who is love. You are saying yes, we want our family and many friends with us here today, and that you will continue to live together in the awareness that others count on you and you count on them.

For the light shed by a good marriage illuminates all relationships. Yes, our love will continue after the fuel that has fired our romance has settled into an even flame. Yes, I do love you and I shall love you."

As you say yes to each other in this way, God is saying yes to the both of you.

As Jesus Christ has blessed this relationship, and as it has been declared holy throughout the life of His church, you who promise each to the other are promised God's help as you enter into the joys and responsibilities of life together.

________ and _________, I and all who are with you today wish you the responsibility to grow, to change, to surprise each other with joy, to wonder at the miracle of marriage, to be filled with affection and laughter.

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Dearly beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God, to join this man and this woman in holy marriage, which is instituted by God, regulated by God's commandments, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, to be held in honor among all people. Let us therefore reverently remember that God has established and sanctified marriage for the welfare and happiness of all humankind. Our Savior has declared that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. By his apostles he has instructed those who enter into this relation to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble, and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other and for their household in temporal things; to pray for and encourage each other in the things which pertain to God; and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life itself.

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________ and _______ have come to make their marriage vows in the presence of God and these persons. Let us now witness their promises to each other and surround them with our prayers, giving thanks to God for the gift of marriage and asking God's blessing upon them, so that they may be strengthened for their life together and nurtured in their love for God.

God created us male and female, and given us marriage so that husband and wife may help and comfort each other, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, throughout all their days.

God has given us marriage for the full expression of the love between a man and a woman. In marriage a woman and a man give support to each other, with affection and tenderness freely giving themselves to each other.

God has given us marriage for the well-being of human society, for the ordering of family life, and for the birth and nurture of children.

God has given us marriage as holy mystery in which a man and a woman are joined together, and become one, just as Christ is one with the church.

In marriage, husband and wife are called to a new way of life, created, ordered, and blessed by God. This way of life must not be entered into carelessly, or from selfish motives, but responsibly, and prayerfully.

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We gather in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage, to witness the joining together of ___________ and ___________, to surround them with our prayers and to ask God's blessing upon them, so that they may be strengthened for life together, and nurtured in their love for each other and for God.

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Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love of _________________ and ________________, as they make their pledges of marriage before God and before this company. Jesus Christ was once asked, ``What is the greatest Law that mankind must follow?'' And he answered them by saying that we must love God with all our hearts, and love our neighbors as our self.

I think that when he said these words, he touched upon something we all feel very deeply in our hearts, and that is that love is the greatest gift we can offer one another, and that is what makes marriage so very special, and such a cause of joy and celebration for all of us who have come here today to share in this event.

It is my personal prayer and hope that those of you who have already taken the vows of marriage will witness the love of these two people, and as you hear them share their vows, perhaps it will strengthen for you the memory of your happy day, and remind you of the meaning of the vows you yourselves once took. Perhaps it will even strengthen just a little bit the bonds of love that have been growing between you. If any of this should happen, it would certainly be the greatest gift that __________ and __________ could offer all of us on their wedding day.

Marriage is an act of faith and ever-deepening commitment, as well as a loving union between a man and a woman. It has been described as the best and the most important relationship that two people can share, the creation of a single growing energy of spiritual life. Marriage can be a lifelong unfolding of loving kindness, backed by the will to make it last. There is no limit to the knowing of another's soul, and when you learn to love one person, then you grow in love for all of humanity.

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Dearly beloved: we are assembled here in the presence of God to join _________________ and _________________ in holy matrimony, which is instituted by God, regulated by His commandments, blessed by Jesus Christ and to be held in honor among all people. God has instructed all who enter into this relationship to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble and sorrow; to provide for each other, and for their household, in temporal things; to pray for and encourage each other in things which pertain to God; and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life.

The Lord God said, It is not good that the Man should be alone; I will make him a helpmeet for him. The holy estate of matrimony signifies to us the mystical union between Christ and his Church, which Christ adorned and beatified with his presence and first miracle that he performed at Cana of Galilee. Therefore, it is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the Love of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come to be joined. I require and charge you both, as you stand in the presence of God, that, having duly considered the holy covenant you are about to make, you do declare before this company your pledge of faith, each to the other. Be well assured that if these solemn vows are kept inviolate, as God's word demands, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do God's will, God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.

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Jesus Christ was once asked, ``What is the greatest Law that mankind must follow?'' And he answered them by saying that we must love God with all our hearts, and love our neighbors as our self.

I think that when he said these words, he touched upon something we all feel very deeply in our hearts, and that is that love is the greatest gift we can offer one another, and that is what makes marriage so very special, and such a cause of joy and celebration for all of us who have come here today to share in this event.

It is my personal prayer and hope that those of you who have already taken the vows of marriage will witness the love of these two people, and as you hear them share their vows, perhaps it will strengthen for you the memory of your happy day, and remind you of the meaning of the vows you yourselves once took. Perhaps it will even strengthen just a little bit the bonds of love that have been growing between you. If any of this should happen, it would certainly be the greatest gift that __________ and __________ could offer all of us on their wedding day.

Marriage is an act of faith and ever-deepening commitment, as well as a loving union between a man and a woman. It has been described as the best and the most important relationship that two people can share, the creation of a single growing energy of spiritual life. Marriage can be a lifelong unfolding of loving kindness, backed by the will to make it last. There is no limit to the knowing of another's soul, and when you learn to love one person, then you grow in love for all of humanity.

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