We got married a few months ago, and we wrote the ceremony and vows ourselves. I wanted to share them with you guys in case any of you were looking for something short and simple.
Notes: Our wedding was at our officiant's house (on the back porch!), and the only people there were ourselves and seven other people. The three-times response for the declaration of intent is stolen from a Zen Buddhist ceremonial structure which is near and dear to my husband, and something we really wanted to include because it made us think about what we were saying.
We did warn our guests about it, because we didn't want my parents to get freaked out about being asked more than once!
All that said, steal away…
Officiant: Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate H and Vicky's wedding, and welcome to our home.[H and V enter]
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Officiant: Let us pray: We offer thanks this day for those who are gathered here, for V and H, and for their marriage which we are here to bring into being. Amen.”
H: Thank you for coming to share your presence with us during this joyous event in our lives. We really appreciate your support in making this ceremony just as we'd like it.
V: Mom, Dad, thanks for being here and for supporting our decisions so enthusiastically. And thanks to those loved ones who are not present here today.
[V and H turn to Officiant]
Officiant: H, will you have V to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, keep her, in sickness and in health, and be faithful to her? Will you do this?
H: I will.
Officiant: Will you do this?
H: I will.
Officiant: Will you really do this?
H: I will.
Officiant: V, will you have H to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor him, keep him, in sickness and in health, and be faithful to him? Will you do this?”
V: I will.
Officiant: Will you do this?”
V: I will.”
Officiant: Will you really do this?”
V: I will.”
Officiant: Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage? Will you do this? If so, answer “we will.”
Guests: We will.
Officiant: Will you do this?
Guests: We will.
Officiant: Will you really do this?
Guests: We will.
Officiant: You may now make what promises you will to each other.
V: H, I vow to be your companion through good, bad, and indifferent times; to work toward and to allow space for growth in ourselves and in our relationship; and to endeavor to always act out of love.
H: V, I vow to be your companion through good, bad, and indifferent times; to work toward and to allow space for growth in ourselves and in our relationship; and to endeavor to always act out of love.
Officiant: I now declare you married in the eyes of God, the law, and all beings.”
[V and H kiss, and the ceremony concludes.]
Any other simple wedding ceremony peeps in the house? Get in on the spirit of sharing and paste your ceremony scripts in the comments!
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This is lovely!
I have needed EXACTLY THIS! Thank you so much.
I really like the part about being married in the eyes of ‘all beings’. I’m writing our ceremony at the moment and I might nab that! Thanks 🙂
I love the part where the officiant asks the witnesses to promise to uphold the marriage! I’m stealing that part.
I like the part when he asks will u do this