| CANDLE CEREMONY Minister: Fire is believed by many to represent passion and purity. It is also associated with the security of home and family; as the warmth of the hearth and the 'home fires'. We kindle this light in harmony with all that is good in life. Fire's dancing flame symbolizes the beauty and vitality of the love that has brought this man and this woman here today, and will enrich and sustain their lives through the years ahead. The Minister hands a candle to the bride and lights if for her, then gives one to the groom, and lights it for him. Bride and groom go to the larger candle and light it together. They set their candles on either side of the large one, letting them continue to burn. Minister: _________and _________, as together you now light the single candle, while leaving the separate candles burning, may it be known to all that you are individuals, each unique and different. You have chose the loving commitment of shareing your lives, your hearth and your home together. |
| POETRY CEREMONY Any poem can be used. I just chose this one as an example. The bride and groom need not memorize the poem, I will provide a typed card at the appropriate time during the wedding. HOW DO I LOVE THEE? Elizabeth Barrett Browning Groom: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace. Bride: I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right; I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. Groom: I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. Bride: I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints - I love thee with the breadth, smiles, tears, of all my life! |
| These are just portions of some of my most popular ceremonies. They can be combined with others, combined with each other, or even with your own words. Remember, this is your wedding! |
| WINE CEREMONY Minister pours out two glasses of wine. Minister: These glasses of wine symbolize the sum of your life experiences. They contain within them the sweet flavors of love, joy, wonder and contentment. Minister hands a glass of wine to the groom and a glass of wine to the bride. Minister: This same cup, at times, holds the bitter taste of sadness, pain, and despair. When you drink of this cup of life, you invite the full spectrum of experiences into your life. The bride and groom each drink 1/2 of the wine in their glasses. Minister: As you drink from this cup, you accept the commitment to draw from your marriage all that you need to wash away the bitter flavors of life and to savor the sweet flavors you may encounter on your journey together. The bride and groom exchange glasses. They each drink the 1/2 of the wine, and hand the glasses back to the Minister, who sets them aside, and proceeds with the rest of the ceremony. This ceremony can be modified and done with beer instead of wine if that is the drink the couple prefers. |
| Multiple Candles Ceremony Multiple candle ceremonies are often used when the bride and groom want to include family and/or friends in their ceremony or when they have children from previous marriages and are comining families. This ceremony makes the family/friends/children feel especially included. Any number of candles can be used. Each candle is a different color, and each color expresses a wish, or blessing, for the newlyweds. |
| Ceremonies |
| NEW! Ask about the three new ceremonies I've been working on: 'Hands', especially for those hoping to have children soon, and 'Sand' pour colored sand into a heart shaped bottle as you say your vows, and an Hawaiian Ceremony where you exchange beautiful flowered Leis. |
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