Share your ceremony script!

[AllieH]

I am guessing most of these are for a symbolic ceremony. when you do the civil (legal) ceremony in Mexico, there's a specific ceremony that they have to do in order to make it legal. I've read that it has to be done in Spanish, and then translated into English, but other brides have said their officiant did it in English for them. 

 

we went the symbolic ceremony route, and wrote our own ceremony/vows. 

 

Originally Posted by jennc 

Please excuse me if I sound silly but are these scripts for a symbolic or civil ceremony I'm getting married in Mexico this spring and I can't find the vows/script that is used, can anyone please help ?

 

 

[jennc]

Thanks allieH , I had read that symbolic wasn't legal anywhere else ?

[Peach]

Originally Posted by jennc 

 

Thanks allieH , I had read that symbolic wasn't legal anywhere else ?

 

Symbolic is just the way it sounds... it symbolizes your wedding, it is not a legal (civil) ceremony. So for many DW brides, it is what they view as their wedding, though they may have filled out the paperwork (i.e.: legal ceremony) beforehand.

 

Hope that helps!

[jennc]

Oh right I get you, thanks this has really helped xx

[AandNJam]

I'm so glad I found this thread, it's so helpful! Thank you ladies! I'm also glad to see I'm not the only that got emotional reading these.

 

The first time I heard the hand ceremony was when Ashley "the bachelorette" and JP got married on TV. Glad to see it in writing, so I can also use it!

 

I love the kids thoughts on love too!

[Billandstina]

Ohhhh this thread is so helpful!! I love love love the hand ceremony! Do any of you have any ideas how we can tie in a knot tying ceremony into it? Maybe towards the end? I'm trying to find fitting wording and we'll be doing it instead of a sand ceremony. Any help would be super appreciated!

[LKocelko]

Finally finished! Thanks to Allie for sharing hers as a starting point! I'm wonder, though, if it is too long?

 

 

Lindsey & Sam Wedding Ceremony:

 

SONG: iPod playlist “Ceremony Seatingâ€

 

Guests seated

Minister takes place at altar

Groom escorts his mother down the aisle

Groom stands at altar with minister

Mother of the bride escorted to her seat by best man

MOB & MOG stay standing, and minister indicates all guests should stand

 

SONG: iPod playlist “Bride walkâ€

 

Bride entrance, escorted by father

 

Presentation of Bride (Minister):

Who presents this woman to be married to this man?

FOB: I Do.

FOB shakes groom’s hand, kisses bride on cheek, places bride’s hand in groom’s hand

 

FOB is seated.

MOH straightens bride’s train, takes bouquet.

Bride & Groom face each other and join hands

 

Greeting (Minister):

Welcome everyone.  On behalf of Lindsey and Sam, we thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful afternoon in Mexico to witness and celebrate their union in marriage. That so many people have traveled great distances to be here today is a testament to the love and support they have.

 

Ceremony (Minister):

Sam, and Lindsey, your family and friends have gathered here to celebrate the love you have found in each other and support your decision to commit yourselves to one another for the rest of your lives.

 

Our ceremony today is based on the relationship that you, Lindsey and Sam, share and have built with each other. It is indeed, a joyous occasion when two souls are united in love; when two hearts experience the same feelings and two persons act as one in this most beautiful union. We affirm this love you have for each other.

 

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re marriedâ€, and continued with “I will†and “you will†and “we will†– all those late night talks that included “someday†and “somehow†and “maybe†– and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.â€

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world: this is my husband. This is my wife.

 

Note to Minister: Ask Jamie to come forward, hand microphone to Jamie

 

Reading (Jamie):

A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we’re pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise. Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we’re two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we’ve found the right person. Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life.

Marriage Vows (Minister)

(note to Minister: echo style, with bride and groom repeating each line)

Lindsey, repeat after me:

 

I, Lindsey, take you Sam

(echo)

to be my husband and partner in life.

(echo)

I promise to always hold you with tenderness and have the patience that love demands

(echo)

To choose compassion when anger feels easier

(echo)

To give and receive comfort during hard times

(echo)

To share my heart with those you love

(echo)

To speak when words are needed, and share the silence when they are not.

(echo)

To grow with you and love you through all our adventures in life

(echo)

You are my love and my life, today and always.

(echo)

 

Sam, repeat after me:

I, Sam, take you Lindsey

(echo)

to be my wife and partner in life.

(echo)

I promise to always hold you with tenderness and have the patience that love demands

(echo)

To choose compassion when anger feels easier

(echo)

To give and receive comfort during hard times

(echo)

To share my heart with those you love

(echo)

To speak when words are needed, and share the silence when they are not.

(echo)

To grow with you and love you through all our adventures in life

(echo)

You are my love and my life, today and always.

(echo)

 

Exchange of Rings (Minister):

Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today.

 

Sam, place the ring on Lindsey’s finger, and repeat after me:

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with that all that I am and all that I haveâ€

 

<Sam echoes>

 

Lindsey, place the ring on Sam’s finger, and repeat after me:

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with that all that I am and all that I haveâ€

 

<Lindsey echoes>

Note to Minister: Ask Tim to come forward, hand microphone to Tim

 

Reading (Tim):

A good marriage must be created.
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things...

It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once each day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is speaking words of appreciation and 
demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right partner...
It is being the right partner.

 

Sand Ceremony (Minister):

Before each of you there is a container of sand. Each container represents the separate journeys you once were on. They also represent your own sets of friends and families that once were apart. In a moment I will ask that you both blend your individual containers of sand together, representing the coming together of your friends and family, through your marriage, into one. And as the sand is blended into one container, your once solitary journeys will now be one of companionship, as you walk a single path together into your future.

I now ask that you blend your vases of sand together.

 

SONG: iPod playlist: Sand Ceremony

 

<Lindsey and Sam take turns pouring the sand>

As the sand has blended together, your lives are now joined, your separate journeys through life are now one. Sam and Lindsey have chosen to pour their individual sands together in layers, showing they will each maintain their individuality and all the traits that make them unique. Your friends and family are also now joined together, for you will share those who are in your lives and will walk hand-in-hand along the path of your marriage - united and strong as husband and wife, as inseparable as these grains of sand.

 

Closing (Minister):

Lindsey and Sam, remember to treat both 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, difficulty or fear assails your relationship – as they threaten all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you. In this way, you can ride out the times when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives.

 

And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight.
Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another so that you may grow. May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union.

 

May the love you now share continue to grow, and may the happiness you bring to each other be a continuing part of your life together.

 

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

 

Sam, you may kiss your bride.

(kiss!)

Minister: It’s my pleasure to introduce to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.

 

SONG: iPod playlist: Recessional

[Billandstina]

I love how detailed this is!! I'm guessing that's a really wise thing to do if we want it the way we want it! I need to get cracking on this!! lol!

[LKocelko]

Originally Posted by Billandstina 

 

I love how detailed this is!! I'm guessing that's a really wise thing to do if we want it the way we want it! I need to get cracking on this!! lol!

 

We kept saying, "Okay, this weekend let's do the ceremony" and never did. Once we sat down and actually did it it didn't take too long. I had already googled a bunch of non-religious wedding vows and readings, so we were just going thru what I had found. Allie passed her template along, and said with it being so detailed the officiant had no issues.

[Billandstina]

Very cool! Maybe I can bribe the FI with Jameson to sit down and do this soon. He's already said he doesn't want to do our own vows...and to an extent I agree...but we both have a sense of humor and I feel like it would be great to put some of that and our personality into it as I know our guests (only family) would understand and find the ceremony more memorable. Let's hope I can sway him!