Your Ceremony... Your Way
Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms
and Renewal of Vows
 

Gathering Words:

Friends and family of the bride and groom welcome and thank you for being here on this important day.  We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between Keith and Sheri, by joining them in marriage. 

All of us need and desire to love and to be loved.  And the highest form of love between two people is within a monogamous, committed relationship.

Keith and Sheri, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts.  Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand.

Marriage is going to expand you as individuals, define you as a couple, and deepen your love for one another.  To be successful, you will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humor.

So, Let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again.

Moments of Silence:

At this time, we would like to take a moment of silence to remember those who are not here with us.

Even though they are not here physically, they are a part of the foundation that makes Sheri and Keith the people they are today.

May we always remember:

Sheri’s mom Cecillia… Keith’s Mom Dorothy… or, as she was known Rusty… and, Keith’s dad Marvin Powell.

Please cherish the memories of these friends and family and all others who live on in our hearts.

Amen

Opening Blessing:

Blessed are the man and the woman who have grown beyond themselves and have seen their separations.

They delight in the way things are and keep their hearts open, day and night.

They are  like trees planted near flowing rivers, which bear fruit when they are ready.

Their leaves will not fall or wither.  Every thing they do will succeed.

Blessed is one who comes in the name of Love.

Charge to Couple:

Keith and Sheri, as you stand here today, I remind you of the serious nature of the relationship you are about to enter.  Marriage is the voluntary and full commitment of two consenting adults to love each other for a lifetime.

For a marriage to be successful, you must each be loyal to the other, stand firm in your defense of each other and be supportive of one another’s life goals and dreams.  It is a solemn, binding, yet challenging relationship.

Vows:

Keith and Sheri know that this wedding is a celebration of the marriage that has already occurred in their hearts,  a marriage that will grow, not without challenge and adversity, but with patience, love, and the belief that they have chosen wisely in choosing one another.

Please turn and face each other… join hands together… look into each other’s eyes and declare your consent:

As you, Keith, place the ring on Sheri’s finger, answer me this

Do you Keith take Sheri to be your lawfully wedded wife?  From this day forward, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ‘til death do you part?

Keith:  I do.

As you, Sheri, place the ring on Keith’s finger, answer me this

Do you Sheri, take Keith to be your lawfully wedded husband?  From this day forward, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ‘til death do you part?

Sheri:  I do.

Concluding Prayer:

It was love that brought you here today.  It’s love that makes yours a glorious union.  And, it will be love that makes your marriage endure. 

Love has given you wings, and your journey begins today.  Wherever the wind may carry you, you will stay by each other’s side.

I therefore join with everyone gathered here today in extending to you our love and support, and our wish for your relationship to simply flourish and grow throughout a long and happy life together.

The Rose Exchange:

Keith and Sheri, today you have exchanged your gifts of wedding rings  — an outward expression of your undying love and a public showing of your commitment to each other.  You are also going to receive another gift from each other.

Roses have always been a symbol of love, and a single red rose always says, “I love you.”  So it is appropriate that your next gift to each other on your wedding day, be a single red rose.  Please exchange roses.

In some ways it seems that you have not done anything at all.  A moment ago you held one small rose,  and now you are holding another.  A marriage ceremony is like this.

In some ways tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday.  But in fact, just now, you have both given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life —  one I hope you always remember.  You have exchanged  the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

Keith and Sheri, I would ask that wherever you make your home in the future, whether it be a large and grand home or a small and graceful one, that you both pick one very special location for roses.

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words to say what’s in your heart.  It might be hard sometimes to say “I’m sorry”, “I forgive you”, “I need you” or “I am hurting.”  If this should happen and you just cannot find these words, leave your spouse a rose in that special spot.

The rose says the words:  “I still love you.”  The other can accept this rose for the words that cannot be found, and remember that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure.”

Marriage Pronouncement:

Throughout this ceremony, Keith and Sheri have vowed, in our presence, to be loyal and loving towards each other.  They have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings.

There fore it is my pleasure to now pronounce them husband and wife.

You may now kiss your bride!

Presentation of Couple:

Ladies and Gentlemen, family and friends,  it is my pleasure to present, for the first time anywhere, Mr. and Mrs. Keith and Sheri Powell!
 

YOUR CEREMONY - YOUR WAY
WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, BAPTISMS
AND RENEWAL OF VOWS

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