Chaplain Debby

The step, which you are about to take, is the most important into which human beings can come. It is a union of two people founded upon mutual respect and affection. Your lives will change, your responsibilities will increase, but your joy will be multiplied if you are sincere and earnest with your pledge to one another.
__(Groom)___________, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?
_ (Bride)____________, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto him, so long as you both shall live?
Take hands and repeat after me: I, __(Groom)___________, take you, __(Bride)___________, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.
I, ___(Bride)________, take you, _(Groom)__________, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.
Do you have a ring for the bride?   Please place the ring on the bride's finger and say: With this ring, I thee wed.
Is there a ring for the groom? Please place the ring on the groom's finger and say: With this ring I thee wed.
Let these rings be given and received as a token of your affection, sincerity and fidelity to one another.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.
In as much as _____________ and _____________ have consented together in wedlock and have witnessed the same before this company, and pledged their vows to each other, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

___________ & __________, today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, as you join together in vows of marriage.

(Groom )  ___________________, do you take ________________ to he your Wife? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her? ("I do")

We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite _______________________ and ______________________ in marriage.

We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite __________ and _________ in marriage


Bride's [name], please face [Groom's name], and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you.

These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family

These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

[Groom's name], please hold [Bride's name]’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go

These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, which together you have created a new life.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.
Repeat after me: I, __(Groom)___________, take you, __(Bride)___________, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.
I, ___(Bride)________, take you, _(Groom)__________, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.
Do you have a ring for the bride?   Please place the ring on the bride's finger and say: With this ring, I thee wed.
Is there a ring for the groom? Please place the ring on the groom's finger and say: With this ring I thee wed.
Let these rings be given and received as a token of your affection, sincerity and fidelity to one another.
__________ and __________, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife.
Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.

Greeting / Welcoming Words

Blessings and welcome. We are gathered her today in the beautiful place to celebrate the re-uniting of g____ and b___ in the enduring bonds of marriage.

Let this be a day of gladness, thanksgiving, possibility, and good fortune for all of us, but especially for g____  and b____, who are here to renew and celebrate their love. Just as spring blossoms anew after a harsh winter, so must spouses renew their love for each other in their daily lives.

Today marks the _____ anniversary of your marriage and today you renew your vows and love as husband and wife. Today begins the new spring of this year's love. So may it be renewed each day in your hearts.

A Poem by James Dillet Freeman

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite
excitement marriage should bring,
and may life grant you also patience,
tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another
not so much to fill your emptiness
as to help you to know your fullness.

A mountain needs a valley to be complete;
the valley does not make
the mountain less, but more;
and the valley is more a valley because
it has a mountain towering over it.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.

May you succeed in all important ways with one another,
and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!"
and take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart,
may both of you hope to have
good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery which is
the awareness of one another's
presence—no more physical than spiritual,
warm and near when you are
side by side, and warm and near when
you are in separate rooms
or even distant cities.

May you have happiness,
and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

Question of Intention

Before we come to the exchange of vows, I will confirm your intent.

g____  and b____, have you come here freely and with the intention of a renewal of your marriage vows? (We have)

Will you continue to love and honor and comfort each other as man and wife every day as you have promised to do? (We will)

The Renewal Wedding Vows

When you first joined hands and hearts (___) years ago, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult tribulations. Therefore, you have fulfilled your promise.

With this understanding, do you g____ , continue to take b____ as your beloved wife? (I do)

Will you continue to be a tender, faithful husband? Will you continue to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto her? (I will)

With this understanding, do you b____, continue to take g____  as your beloved husband? (I do)

Will you continue to be a tender, faithful wife? Will you continue to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and keep yourself only unto him. (I will)

Rededication of Wedding Rings

The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond, which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. These circles are designed without an ending, so they speak of eternity. May the incorruptible substance of these rings represent a love glowing with increasing luster through the years and may all good and holy beings upon this Earth bless these rings which you give to each other as the sign of your love, trust, faithfulness, respect and devotion.

g____ , please place the ring on b____s left hand and repeat after me:

With this ring, I continue my promise to you that I will be your faithful partner in life,

b____, please place the ring on g____  left hand and repeat after me:

With this ring, I continue my promise to you that I will be your faithful partner in life,

Benediction

May you always remain sweethearts, helpmates and friends.
May your life together be full of kindness and understanding,
thoughtfulness and rejoicing.
May the years bring you happiness and contentment.
May you enter into each other's sorrow by sympathy,
Into each other's joy with gladness,
Into each other's hope with faith and trust,
Into each other's needs with the sure presence of love,
Into each other's lives with enthusiasm and embracing.

Pronouncement

I now pronounce that you have today reaffirmed your life’s commitment to one another. Go forth in love and friendship for the rest of the days of your lives.

You may seal your vows, and confirm your continued commitment and love for each other, with a kiss.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, once again as husband and wife: g____ and b____

Hand Fasting Ceremony

Officiant: Know now that since your lives have crossed, you have formed ties between each other. The promises you make today and the ties that are bound here will cross the years and will greatly strengthen your union. With full awareness, know that you declare your intent to be hand fasted before your friends and family. Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?

Bride & Groom: Yes, we seek to enter.

I bid you look into each other’s eyes.

[Bride's Name], will you honor him?

I will.

[Groom's Name], will you honor her?

I will.

[To Both] Will you seek never to give cause to break that honor?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. Join your hands. (First chord is draped across the bride and groom's hands.)

[Bride's Name], will you share his dreams?

I will.

[Groom's Name], will you share her dreams?

I will.

[To Both] Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Second chord is draped across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], will you share his laughter?

I will.

[Groom's Name], will you share her laughter?

I will.

[To Both] Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape third chord across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], might you ever burden him?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[Groom's Name], might you ever burden her?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[To Both] Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape fourth chord across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], might you ever cause him pain?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[Groom's Name], might you ever cause her pain?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[To Both] Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape fifth chord across the couple's hands.)

[Bride's Name], might you ever cause him anger?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[Groom's Name], might you ever cause her anger?

I might...

Is that your intent?

No.

[To Both] Will you together take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?

Yes.

And so the binding is made. (Drape sixth chord across the couple's hands. Tie chords together while saying:)