This is another opportunity for lovely reading of your choice, following the Ring Ceremony and leading to the conclusion of your marriage ceremony.
Please choose a family member or friend to recite, or your Celebrant can do it for you. If you decide on one of the additional ceremonies following, they can be adapted for your children, if you have any, to take part in.
Apache Blessing
Now you will feel no storms, for each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness, for each of you is companion to the other,
You are two persons, but there is one life before you, and one home.
Turn together to look at the road you traveled, to reach this
– the hour of your happiness.
It stretches behind you into the past. Look to the future that lies ahead.
A long and winding, adventure-filled road,
whose every turn means discovery, new hopes, new joys, new laughter,
and a few shared tears. May happiness be your companion,
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead;
And through all the years to come.
Go this day to your dwelling place and enter into your days together.
May your days be good and long upon the earth.
Your adventure has just begun!
Go As One
Let us take a moment of silence as we think of the love that ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ have for each other, and to remember that we all receive love and have love to give.
‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’, you have committed yourselves to one another in love, joy and tenderness. You stand on the threshold of a relationship experience that touches the richest meanings and deepest mysteries of human life.
We have all shared this moment with you and trust that you continue to grow in faith, hope and love.
‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’, go as one. May your unity last through all your life together, through trials and triumphs that lie ahead.
Go in love – our love goes with you.
Closer to Heaven
Dear God/Higher Power, please bless this couple.
May their love be nurtured by you, always and forever.
May this marriage be held in caring hands and ministered unto by your angels.
We dedicate this love to you.
May this man grow strong in the arms of this woman.
May this woman grow glorious in the love of this man.
May the earth be brought closer to heaven through this love.
May all the world be blessed hereby.
Wondrous Days
Family and friends, I would ask you now to join with me in asking for the blessings of happiness, peace, love and joy to surround ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ for all their wondrous days.
May they always look at each other with the love we witness today.
Give Thanks
Let us give thanks for the joy of this occasion, for the wonderful bond between these two people, for the sincerity of their vows and the strength of their spirits.
Let us give thanks for the ways in which love comes into our lives and for all the joys, the possibilities and challenges of marriage (and parenthood).
Let us give thanks for the homes from which ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ have come, and for the development of their unique personalities.
Let us wish ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ the grace to fulfil their Vows and intentions expressed today in lifelong, steadfast affection and ever-deepening love.
May the love and beauty of this marriage refresh the lives of all who have gathered here today, and may the vows made by ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ remind us of our love for others.
May the fondness we have for them grow in depth and meaning in the years to come.
‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ go in love, our love goes with you.
All Your Days Together
May the future fulfil the promise of today.
May the richness of your love grow and be shared forever.
As your wedding brings you happiness today, so may your marriage bring you continued love, fun and adventure through all your days together.
Irish Wedding Prayer
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
Abundance
Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves.
When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.
In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there.
And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.
John Lennon’s Dream
Before I pronounce you marriage partners,
I have just one more thing I want you to do.
Your wedding day is one that seems to fly.
It’s a day filled with emotion friends, rings and dances.
Many people remember how fleeting their own wedding day was.
So I want you to take a few seconds to look into each others eyes.
Think about the happiness that you’re feeling in this place, in this moment.
Really let that feeling register in your heart and mind.
Now, I want you to think about your life together in twenty years.
Where are you? What are you doing?.
We all know that your visions of the future are not identical, but always complementary.
John Lennon once said “a dream you dream alone is only a dream,
a dream you dream together, that is reality”.
Native American Blessing
Above you are the stars,
below you are the stones.
As time does pass, remember;
Like a star should your love be constant.
Like a stone should your love be firm.
Be close, yet not too close.
Possess one another, yet be understanding.
Have patience with the other;
For storms will come, but they will pass quickly.
Be free in giving of affection and warmth.
Have no fear,
For the Great Spirit is with you, now and always.
Blessing of the Hands
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you,
that are holding yours on your wedding day,
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 passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
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 tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, 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.
Your Journey
Bless this marriage, as ‘Bride’ and ’Groom’ begin their journey down the road of life together.
May they respect each others likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs,
hopes and dreams, and fears even though they may not always understand each other.
May they rest in the knowledge that no matter what happens by holding on to each other things will work out for the best.
Most of all, help them to keep the torch of love burning with the fire that they now share in their hearts.
Grow Together
Thank you for this joyous day.
Thank you for the Light that has entered ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’s’ life.
Thank you for all the miracles and blessings.
Please bless this union.
Help ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom’ find the perfect place in this world for their love to flourish.
Let the radiant light of their love shine on all those around them.
May all their future creations be blessed.
Bless them with the inner gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness and truth that they may live and grow together in love and peace.
Sweet Music
May you be blessed with Hope enough to keep sunshine in your love, and Fear enough to keep you holding hands in the dark;
May you be blessed with Unity enough to keep your roots entwined, and Separation enough to keep you reaching for each other;
May you be blessed with Harmony enough to keep romance in your song, and Discord enough to keep you tuning your love so it becomes sweet music to all who may hear it.
Kimberly Sanders ♥ Marriage Celebrant, Auckland ♥ Lucky in Love Wedding Planner
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