PRE-WRITTEN WEDDING CEREMONIES
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Secular #1: Repeat After Me
Welcome to the marriage of ________ and ________.
You have been asked to gather here to witness and share in the joy
of this union.
<groom's name>, to <bride's name>: There was darkness for a long time and then there was light, and that light was you. Your love has given me wings, and our journey begins today. I pledge before this assembled company to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives one life. I want you for today, tomorrow, and forever.
<bride's name>, to <groom's name>: I have dreamed my whole life of having someone as wonderful as you love me the way you do. I give myself to you as your wife, and I promise here to treasure for all of my days the love we celebrate today. Let us bring together our lives and find ourselves anew each day.
<bride's name>, will you take <groom's name> as your husband, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?
Bride -- I will.
Ring is placed on Bride’s finger.
<groom's name>, will you take <bride's name>, as your wife, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?
Groom -- I will.
​Ring is placed on Groom's finger.
In the years that shall bring <bride's name> and <groom's name> into greater age and wisdom, we hope that their love shall be ever young; that they shall be able to always recover from moments of despair. In this hope, may they keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us, and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this earth, our home.
Inasmuch as <bride's name> and <groom's name> have declared their love to each other before family and friends, I now greet them with you as husband and wife.
You may kiss.
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Secular 2: Simple
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Opening Message
We are gathered together here to unite <names> in marriage. This contract is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.
Declaration of Intent
(Officiant to The Groom)
Do you <groom>, take this <woman> to be your lawfully wedded <wife/beloved/partner/individual>, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer keeping yourself unto <her> for as long as you both shall live?
If so, answer "I do."
(Groom to the Bride)
“I do.”
(Officiant to The Bride)
Do you <bride>, take this <man> to be your lawfully wedded <wife/beloved/partner/individual>, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer keeping yourself unto <him> for as long as you both shall live?
If so, answer "I do."
(Bride to the Groom)
“I do.”
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Pronouncement
If there is anyone present who may show just and lawful cause why this couple may not be legally wed, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. By the authority vested in me by the State of CA, I now pronounce you both husband and wife.
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Secular #3: Union
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From "Union"
by Robert Fulghum
Bride and Groom, 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 promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" - 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 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, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few 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 these vows, you shall say to the world, this is my husband, this is my wife
Vows
Do you <groom's name>, take <bride's name>, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do you part?
Groom: I do
Do you <bride's name>, take <groom's name>, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do you part?
Bride: I do
Ring Exchange
These rings are symbol of your marriage vows, the ties that bind you together as husband and wife.
As you place the rings on each other fingers you can say:
With this ring, I marry you. You are also welcome to speak your hearts.
The two of you have declared your love for each other and your intent to enter into marriage with the exchanging of vows and of rings. By the power vested in me by the state of California I now pronounce you Husband and Wife!
You may kiss the bride!
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Secular #4: Sand Ceremony (additional $25 material fee)
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Set up sand and larger vessel to pour into.
Opening Message
(Bride & groom), today you join your separate lives to make one. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families, and separate sets of friends: they represent all that you are and all that you will ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are emptied, the individual containers of sand no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. And just as these grains of sand can never be separated neither will your love.
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Declaration of Intent and Vows Exchange
Do you (bride), take (groom) to be your husband and other half, to take care of him and cherish your relationship? To love him today, tomorrow, and forever? To always be open, honest, and faithful to him. Do you take him to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?
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Bride: "I do"
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Do you (groom), take (bride) to be your wife and better half, to take care of her and cherish your relationship? To love her today, tomorrow, and forever? To always be open, honest, and faithful to her. Do you take her to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?
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Groom: "I do"
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Each person takes turns pouring their sand into the larger vessel.
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Pronouncement
By the power vested in me by the state of California, I pronounce you <Husband and Wife>!
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(Groom), you may now kiss your bride.