Hi there. We are getting married in November and having a family friend officate for us, this will be his first time. I created a script mixing stuff I found online and am looking for a proof read/opinions/advice on what I have come up with. We are wanting a quick and and straight forward ceremony.
Welcome family and friends. We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of Stephen and Sydney. This is not the beginning of a new relationship but an acknowledgement of the next chapter in their lives together.
I think I’ve had the good fortune to meet most of you here today at some point or another, but for those of you whom I haven’t met, my name is Joe…… [short bio info about how the officiant knows the couple].
I'm here — we're all here — to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It's not one moment — not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged — but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, binge-watching Netflix shows, getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience.
And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love — it's meant to be felt, not described.
But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here.
In the spirit of love and life, Sydney and Stephen have selected two readings to share today:
"These are the hands of your partner, young and strong and full of love, holding your hands as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will hold you and comfort you in grief and uncertainty. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and joy. These are the hands that will hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength. And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch."
This next reading is a quote that Sydney came across 8 years ago, shortly after her and Stephen began dating. She saw this quote and knew it symbolized her and Stephen’s love and has saved it all this time for this wedding.
“I love you means that I accept you for the person that you are an that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I do not expect perfection from you – just as you do not accept it from me. It means that I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times. It means loving you when you’re in a bad mood or too tired to do the things I want to do. It means loving you when you’re down – not just when you’re fun to be with. I love you means that I know your deepest secrets and do not judge you for them – asking in return only that you do not judge me for mine. It means that I care enough to fight for what we have and that I love enough not to let go. It means thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting, and needing you constantly, and hoping that you feel the same way for me.”
Stephen and Sydney – you fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter.
You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of."
Please join hands.
Will you, Stephen, keep Sydney as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day?
(Steve says I will)
Will you, Sydney, keep Stephen as your favorite person — to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day?
(Sydney says I will)
Sydney and Stephen made the decision to read their personalized vows to each other in private during their first look prior to the beginning of the ceremony.
May I have the rings?
These rings are symbols of eternity and the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end. Today you have chosen to exchange rings, as a sign of your love for each other, and as a seal of the promises you make this day.
Stephen, place the ring on Sydney’s finger and repeat after me:
I, Stephen give to you / this ring as a symbol of my commitment / to love, honor and respect you.
Sydney, place the ring on Stephen’s finger and repeat after me:
I, Sydney give to you / this ring as a symbol of my commitment / to love, honor and respect you.
Let these rings be a symbol of the never-ending love you have promised to one another.
By the power vested in me, it is now my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. Stephen you may kiss your bride.
